"Gendarmes d'élite de la Garde" Topic

Hi!

I've painted some Gendarmes d'élite of the Imperial Guard, I hope you'll like them :

link

Max

How unusual and well done. I expected just another bunch of riders in visored bearskins. When I say "just" I do mean probably my favourite uniform of the era (OK maybe the Polish Lancers of the Guard, or even the Grenadiers a Cheval in full dress)

These must be Paul Hicks' castings. The facial features are so characteristic. Are they Brigade Games Miniatures, if so?

They are early rig to judge by the headgear and Consular style ensign. Great attention to detail with the buff belts, edged white and various straps similar.

Confess I know little about their service. Did they see action anywhere. Too easily confused with the Gendarmes d'Espagne in a similar outfit, but who certainly saw some conflict in the guerilla war.

Yes, I do like them, as novel (a pied) and both well researched and executed

Thank you Deadhead for your kind comment.

They are from Paul Hicks' brigade games indeed !

Their bicornes place them at the beginning of the empire.

As gendarmes, they were not a fighting unit, but they were used to suppress the Spanish rebels.

I think the main difference between the "gendarmes d'élite" and the "petite gendarmerie d'Espagne" was the blue collar instead of red…

Actually, I think these castings were meant to be the Gendarmes of the line, as opposed to the Gendarmes d'Elite of the Imperial Guard. Nothing to keep you from painting them as the later, of course. I have these same figures, and you've done a far better job on them than I was able to do!

And thanks to you for the reply.

I did spot the collars, when trying to tell them from the Gen de Esp gents.

The collar matching the coat collar was a distinguishing feature for most (stress most) Garde units, bit like the aiguillettes also.

How I do miss 28mm but Waterloo Remodelled calls me