Saturday 23 November 2013

Spanish Gendarmes

Spanish Gendarmes

This post shows the resurrection of some very old figures. I used to have a Wars of the Roses collection made of Old Glory, Foundry and Front Rank figures which I have sold off on Ebay over the past year. I never got round to painting all of the Foundry men at arms and they have sat in a draw for around 10 years. I rediscovered them recently and thought a lot of the harness they are wearing are more suitable for the 1490s than the Wars of the Roses and that they would be perfect for the early Italian Wars like the War for Naples. I have put them on horses by The Assault Group and also added 3 of the Spanish Gendarmes by The Assault Group, the pack carrying swords: http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/store/product.php?productid=2572&cat=120&page=4 . I have swapped the swords with lances and added hilts to the empty scabbards. All of the figures, Foundry and TAG, have lances by The Assault Group.
With regards to the old Foundry figures very little conversion work was required. All that was needed in order to fit the TAG horses was a small saddle added to the front of the figure with greenstuff as the Foundry horses have this modelled on the horse while TAG have it modelled on the rider. This was relatively easy to do, a good example can be seen on the middle figure in the second photo below. They needed the legs straightened a little as they tend to be riding in too much of a seated position for some one in full harness. I also had my first opportunity to experiment with the metal feathers that Simon had provided me with: http://je-lay-emprins.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/plume-castings.html . These are fantastic and really useful for renaissance conversions. On the closest figure in the below photo I used some feathers with the orb shaped holder in a hole I drilled in the helmet. I then added some feathers without the holder behind to create a substantial Gendarme style plume. I am really pleased with the result.
These Gendarmes will fit in really well with the early part of my collection shown here: http://camisado1500s.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-war-for-naples-1499-1504.html . As they are all on TAG horses they will mix well with the TAG Cavalry I already have for this era. While I commend The Assault Group for the beautiful Tudor figures they have recently released for the 1540s I really hope they return to the early Italian wars at some point as they have made some great figures for the 1490s -1500 era. As if I don't have enough Landsknechts already I would love them to complete the greens they started: http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/cms/uploads/LandsknectDoll2.jpg http://www.theassaultgroup.co.uk/cms/uploads/LandsknectDoll1.jpg as these early Landsknechts would be perfect for the 1499-1503 period which much of my collection is geared towards. While most of my Swiss are perfect for this early part, the Landsknechts I have are more for the 1510s and 1520s.
The flag is the same Adolfo Ramos one shown in my post of Renaissance banners. It is perfect for the early Italian Wars Spanish as it bears the motto of Ferdinand of Aragon: "Tanto Monta". The use of this motto seems to be disputed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanto_monta,_monta_tanto,_Isabel_como_Fernando but as it was on the 15th century sword of state held by the monarchs for ceremonial occasions I think it goes well here.

Spanish Gendarmes

A mix of late 15th and early 16th Century Harness, the middle figure shows the saddle modelled  in greenstuff

Flag bearing the motto of Ferdinand of Aragon

13 comments:

  1. Looking good, very good...and strong, very strong!
    Great work on these Gendarmes!

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  2. Great work, the attention to detail really makes these unique. Not bad for a 'back of the drawer' find.

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  3. They look great, and a great bit of mix and match work.
    Are those metal plumes commercially available, they are superb.

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  4. Thanks guys. Chris the plumes are indeed very useful but unfortunately I do not think are are commercially available.

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  5. Real shame , sure would save time making your own. Thanks anyway Oli

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  6. Excellent additions to the collection!

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  7. I like the look of these, great stuff Oli

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  8. Did the Spanish had Gendarmes too ? I thought it was only the French.

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  9. Hi Oli,

    I've come back to this post as I'm doing some Spanish Gendarmes for my Cerignola 1503 to Ravenna 1512 project. I have the TAG Gendarmes but I was trying to at least giving the front ranks of 12 (so six in the front ranks) some kind of barding. The only barded horse miniatures I have ben able to find where the TAG mini's fit neatly are the old Venexia Condotta range now sold by Lancashire Games- link below.

    These seem a little too early but they are the best I've found thus far. I think the Foundry Barded Horses of the period are too late for my needs. What do you think?

    https://www.lancashiregames.com/lg/28mm-italian-wars.html

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    Replies
    1. Hi Darrell, I hope you are doing well mate.

      I know what you mean about the barding, I agree the Foundry style bard with their Gendarmes is a little too late for 1503, although by Ravenna would probably be ok. Interestingly having watched this during lockdown, https://www.facebook.com/loricaclothing/videos/steeds-of-steel-armored-horses-of-medieval-renaissance-europe/965840287167859/ I am now convinced that the Foundry style of bard would have been hardened leather rather than of steel. The lacing and style of bard seems to indicate this, which is annoying as I painted a fair few of mine as if they were made of steel!

      Some of the Eureka barded horses may suit but they are really small minis, most are certainly for a bit later and I am not sure they would fit.

      Have you tried fitting them onto the plastic Perry horses. I know they are massive but that may work as the plastic can be cut to fit the Gendarmes.

      The ones from Lancashire games look like they could work, the only other option I can think of at the mo is these: https://www.bicorne.net/acatalog/CON-H015---16th-Cent.-walking-in-plate-bard-1720.html#SID=164 but they don't look like great sculpts!

      Let me know what you decide to go with, I look forward to seeing the resulting unit as I am sure they will look superb!

      Cheers
      Oli

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    2. Thanks Oli. I might order a couple from Bicorne (I never even considered the old Connoisseur range. I had quite forgotten about it). I did have a word with Pete at TAG and he said that late this year they will be releasing some "Horses with Burgundian Bards", though I'm not quite sure what he means.

      Either way, I'll let you know.

      Cheers mate.

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    3. No worries Darrell, yes I have had a bit of correspondence with Pete and I think he plans to release some early Maximilian style cavalry to go with the early Landsknecht (which by the way are perfect figures for the Landsknecht Maximilian sent to Cerignola - but sadly not so much for Ravenna, those fashions changed pretty quickly!). I think he probably means the Bards for them.

      Cheers
      Oli

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    4. Ah, now things make more sense. I couldn't work out what time scale he was looking at for the Burgundian barded horses and was a little afraid he might go for the Ceresole time frame like he has with the Valois French.

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