Appearance of early 16th C gendarmes?

[Khurasan Miniatures]

Hi can you rank the following in terms of what you think are most important for early 16th century gendarme cavalry, roughly Ravenna to Rome?

1) stripped down (no plumes, no bases)
2) plumes but no bases
3) plumes, skirt-only bases
4) plumes, fuller bases (also covering at least the chest)
5) no plumes, skirt-only bases
6) no plumes, fuller bases

Just to illustrate what I mean the gendarme in the center foreground here has both plumes and skirt-only bases. The man in front of him has fuller bases but no plume.


So you might rank your preferences 3, 5, 1, 6, 2, 4.

[RichBliss]

My opinion only with no in-depth research done:

3
2
4
1
5
6

I think plumes are important to give the wealthy, intimidating image.

[AdamPHayes]

Bases?

[Khurasan Miniatures]

Yep, bases.

[Phillius]

1
6
5
4
3
2

[whiskey priest]

Bases are the skirts that you see early 16thC Gendarmes wearing. They like it ruffled!

[olicana]

I think the Foundry mix is about right for the Gendarmes themselves. I think a general mix of everything is best for the overall look of units and to make them 'universal' for the period.

It's only the limited choice of barded horses in that range that lets it down.

[Metternich]

And remember these are the wealthiest of gentlemen, and as such they despise uniformity in their dress.  As they provided their own weapons, equipment, horses and armor, no two should be alike.

[TheBlackCrane]

And remember these are the wealthiest of gentlemen, and as such they despise uniformity in their dress.  As they provided their own weapons, equipment, horses and armor, no two should be alike.

Clearly a conspiracy between them and the landsknechts to frustrate the heck out of people in later centuries painting units of small toy soldiers based their appearance!