1:35 '40 - French Gendarme No. 2

The second variant of the French gendarme of 1940 in 1:35

A figure for a diorama scene from France in 1940. The number two in the name shows that the figure belongs to a group that can be put together to create a livelier tableau. The scale given in the name is 1:35 and the publisher is the Dynamo-Models brand.

The role of the gendarmerie during the campaign of 1940

The gendarmerie had a long tradition in France and differed from the army both in its duties and in its appearance. In May and June 1940 men in dark uniforms were to be seen at roadsides, on bridges and at railway stations, where they directed traffic and helped keep order among people on the move. A modeler can get a great deal out of that: the combination of civilians, a gendarme and military hardware tells a whole story in a small area and offers interesting color contrasts.

Recommendations on shades and details

With a dark uniform work from a blue-gray base with lighter transitions on the raised areas; pure black takes the shape away from a figure. Apply the small metal fittings and buttons with the tip of a brush once the cloth is finished. A base or a patch of terrain does a figure good, because it anchors it in the scene and makes it easier to handle while painting.

Use in a scene

• As the second figure of a pair at a checkpoint
• Into a tableau with civilian vehicles and refugees
• Into a street corner of a French town
• Into a display case with a collection of painted figures