Who can tell me what this is?

Older Historex kits were often relatively stiff in pose but some were true multi-pose, with interchangeble arms and legs. Instructions are limited and you will find a plethora of tiny parts, such as buckles and bayonets both on the rifle and in the scabbard, as well as unit numbers and decorations. These kits are far removed from any 1/72 offering you'll ever find. They are rather advanced for their time and will do you well as a start into the dark art of serious figure building. Chasseur a pied translates roughly oas one who chases on foot, more or less infantry trained to attack. De la garde wotuld likely have been a more elite unit. Give it a shot. 

Okee, so I've opened it:

 

Looks like I've got what you described--a number of extra optional parts in addition to what appears to be a nicely detailed Napoleonic guard-ish type soldier.  A banner is included, as are some pie-in-the-sky plans for painting it, but no assembly instructions.  It's therefore very difficult to tell which of these little tiny pieces goes where.  I definitely wouldn't call this a good beginner's kit, but until my 120mm SAS guy shows up in a couple of weeks I think it'll make a nice practice.  

I'll try to post updates here.

Hello!

Some time ago I watched a napoleonic-era battle reenactment and the chasseur's are guys who acted more like modern day soldiers, hiding in the terrain, sniping and fighting without formation as opposed to line-by-line load and shoot tactic standard for that timeperiod. Watching them standard soldiers really shows you how senseless war really is. Anyhow, good luck with those figures

Pawel

BGuy wrote:

Okay...here are the parts breakdown as I can make them out in the picture.

Bottom right: bearskin and decorations for the most part.

Directly above the bearskin half is the eagle is the filial for the flag, the cord that goes directly below the filial and the bow is almost certainly a decoration for the flag staff.

To the right of that are epaulettes and possibly the turnbacks/cuffs for the sleeves.

Above and left of that appear to be the decorations for the coat skirt turnbacks which are to the immediate left of the figure. There might be unit numbers on that sprue as well.

The strappin material can be cut to length and the width can be determined tehn peeled back at the correct spot since in has a bunch of seams.

I can't tell what's directly above the flag.

It would appear that as a flag bearer, he has not been issued a musket since I don't see a cartridge box, bayonet or musket.

Next to the flag, obviously, is the sword both in and out of scabbard and the hand guard.

BTW, good luck on painting the flag...they were quite ornate.  

Well,those are grenadiers...  Wait till my dad calls, I can describe...  He's an expert in European napoleonic. Even a re-enactor himself ;)

This fellow doesn't appear to be a grenadier. The bearskin seems to lack the traditional grenadier shield at the front, the emblems on the coat tails don't appear to be grenades. It's hard to tell without a better picture of the sprues.

Grenadier's shako

Even the bearskin had a shield:

And here's a regular chasseur:

If this figure is to be done as a standard bearer, note the differences in his equipment:

 

Chasseurs a pied are light infantry. They were elite units and regiments that were used as skirmishers. The French version of Sharpe's men (British Light Infantry). They were considered some of the best marksmen and were usually made up of woodsmen and hunters and sharpshooters.
Technically it should be Chasseur a pied de la Garde Imperiale. These were Napoleon's cream of the crop troops and were part of the Old Guard. Veterans of 3-5 campaigns, and second only to the Grenadiers of the Guard. They had a height requirement and had to be able to read and write to be a member of the Guard. Though the white breeches and gaiters are correct. Campaign dress was usually blue trousers.

Ok guys, I started putting some parts together on my figure-stand and here's an IP photo:

 

Is it just me, or is rubbing a tiny man's crotch with sandpaper for 10 mins just a bit creepy? :P Anyway, as you can see the only suitable stance reasonable with the arms provided will have him holding the flag horizontally.  

I'm also wondering about those two coat-skirt pieces since they'd need to be attached before any outer painting is done but the underside of them would need painting *before* attachment, (confused yet?).  [correction: I just test fitted them and nothing from the skirt undersides will be visible, so they don't need special painting)

Some mention has been made about grenadier related markings and the kit has some *teeny-tiny* little grenadier-type pieces that I take to be badges.  There are also quite a few more coronet type markings.  I'll have to figure out what goes where.

Finally, I'm still rather worried about how to do the flag--I do NOT have the skill to do it by hand and I haven't found an online source for decals like this.  Added to this, my printer is busted and I can't just make my own decals.  Competence-wise I could just about make a simple tricolour flag  (assuming the contours of the banner don't give me too much trouble when trying to replicate the lines).  Regimental banners though are WAY beyond my skill-level, and I don't want to bork this one up.  Suggestions? Is there an online source for decals to accomodate these projects?