Dragoon said:
The trumpeter's pelisse was a different color than that worn by the rest of the Chasseurs as Bricoleur has stated in his post. While the pelisses of the troopers were an orange-red, those worn by the trumpeters were closer to a light Polish Crimson. This would also be the color of the trumpeter horse's schabraque for parade dress. An excellent reference on this subject is "Napoleon's Elite Cavalry-Cavalry of the Imperial Guard-The Paintings of Lucien Rousselot" with text by Edward Ryan.
It's hard to tell by the photos if the K&C trumpeter's pelisse is a different color than the rest of the troops. But it does look a little too dark as compared to the illustrations by Rousselot.
You have 100% right, Dragoon.
I have the complete collection: "Planches de Lucien Rousselot de l'Armée Française". Rousselot was the official French army painter, specialised in the Napoleonic period and member of the society " la Sabretache". Don't argue with those guys about French Uniforms! Almost all the other authors are refering to Lucien Rousselot. Planche N° 83 illustrates the trumpeters of the Chasseurs à cheval. The pelisses and saddle clothing (shabraque) is indeed crimson (pink/cramoisie) and not the red of the troops!!
I also quote Brassey's, History of Uniforms: Napoleonic Wars; Napoleon's Army: page 22:
" Trumpeters: sky blue dolman with crimson collar and cuffs, gold and crimson cords; brass buttons, crimson pelisse with sky blue and gold cords...."
Troops: "green dolman with green collar, RED cuffs, orange cords; brass buttons, RED pelisse with orange cords...."
It's the same crimson as we find back on the polish lancers, the Chevau-légers de Berg ,...
It surprises me that Andy should not has been aware about the correct uniforms. In collector nr. 14 'Summer 2006) a picture of Lucien Rousselot is printed about the Chasseurs à Cheval. This picture is a part of plate nr. 3 of the book: "Napoleon's Elite cavalry" (Ryan) . In the same book, plate 6 and 14 are very clear about the colourdifference.
I only can conclude that Andy finds this slight colourdifference not important enough for his toysoldiers but I'm gonna repaint my trumpeter in the correct colours! I believe the real Napoleonlovers are not satisfied with this lack of detail as the beauty of all the trumpeters of the guard cavalry was made by such colourcombination: skyblue and pink/crimson.
By the way: same remark for the dragoon trumpeter: the blue of NA043 and CF007 is not the correct skyblue for those trumpeters!
Nevertheless the figures are beautifull.
Eddy
Eddy