"1st Attempt, painted Perry's, Yankees" Topic

OK..having finished the confederates (thanks for all the input) I have started the Yankees.

My prototypes are the first two pics here:

bigjoeduke.com/ACW

I think the dark blue is not dark enough, but everything else was painted according to the box (I had the box this time.)

They are dipped (brushed on) using Polyshades Tudor, the paints are a mix of Apple Barrel, Valejo, and Citadel inks.

I painted these as if they had just gotten back from the Quarter Master with a complete re-issue of uniforms and equipment (factory fresh as it were)

Any input is appreciated!!

Thanks!
Big Joe Duke

They are outstanding. Your dip method worked very well.

Very nice. A first-rate job. As for the shade of blue? I think it's just fine.

"I think the dark blue is not dark enough, but everything else was painted according to the box"

Big Joe Duke,

Very nice. Great photos too! Nice and sharp.

Yes, the trousers are too light gray/bluish. They need to be more like a sky blue/navy blue color. The Sack coats are too blue; they should be more Navy blue.

The Haversacks and canteens look good. Oh and you can add slouch hats with Forage caps. For eastern units more like 80% Forage caps with 20% hats and for western more like the reverse.

Canteen straps were issued with white canvass but they may have been replaced by the soldiers in the field with leather straps and a roller buckle.

Canteen covers were mostly grays and browns. These were cheaper wool and whatever was left over. You can add sky blue as well.

The majority of Haversacks were issued with black-tarred canvass but many also were issued with white, non-tarred.

"(I had the box this time.)"

Hahahaha… throw that away! :)

"They are dipped (brushed on) using Polyshades Tudor"

This worked out well.

"Any input is appreciated!!"

I would suggest ditch the Perry plastic command in the future and use some metal ones from the various vendors. This has two good benefits:

1. From gaming experience the swords and flags poles break too easily. It is frustrating because they are too thin.

2. The figures aren't that good. The metal ones (like 2nd generation OG, Sash and Saber and the Perry stuff) are far superior.

3. Also the plastic drum is waaaaay too big and hangs out of the bounds and laws of physics. Use those models as regular infantrymen with rifles, apart from the officer with the Frock coat.

Okay that was three. :)

Thanks for the suggestions…the next 6 I'll paint to match these, then darken down the blue for the sack coats, and blue up the trousers.

thanks!
Big Joe Duke

Big Joe Duke,

Overall the effect of the mix of lighter colored trouser and the darker ones is okay. During the war the US War Department set the standard for what the colors should be. Contractors were supposed to meet these colors exactly. The Sack coats were easy to do. The problem was the color for the trousers. They complained to the Goverenment that they had problems matching the exact color within the SAME dye-lot! The color also faded and changed when subjected to the elements and field use.

So… if you want your troops to look more uniform and dead-on color wise paint them a bit darker. The lighter colored ones can be mixed in. These could be badly dyed or just worn and faded.

Remember, soldiers could request replacement items at any time (assuming they could be provided at that moment). They allotted certain amounts of each items within a year. When you mustered out if you never used your alotment the Government paid you, if you went over they deducted it from your muster-out pay.

For example… in year 3, during the course of that year the Government worked out the perceived need. Every soldier could use 3 trousers and 2 Sack coats. They listed every item similar to the above.

One soldier from the 96th Pa (he fought the whole war Oct 61-July 65) noted after the war what he used:

trousers – 12
Sack coats – 7
Frock coats – 2

The rest of the list covers all the other items.

Oh… his name was Henry J. Keiser. Sorry, I forgot that.

Great work and excellent army! The dark blues became lighter as they faded not darker. The light blues bacame lighter. Really don't know what these chaps are talking about. Maybe they want you to dress the army as if they were just tailored at Macy's. Lol…

I really like your skill and work with the wash you are using. It can be tricky without lots of experience but I am assuming you have little when you may have much of it.

Regardsand Merry Christmas!

I think they look excellent. Your shades of blue are just fine for toy soldiers. One thing; I might cut down on the amount of rock scatter in your basing material… it seems a bit heavy:)

Otherwise they look great. I love the Perrys!

How did you prep them before painting them? Did you use a plastic primer and if so what brand? Thanks, 7th Cav

Your figures are outstanding. I like your choice for federal trouser color. I tend to go from a little darker than yours to about your color. The varation in color for trousers due to may factors discussed previously makes almost any light blue useable.

The only thing I'd add is that the eyes don't have any detail to them, which I think you could add just by adding a little extra dark wash/ink. Sometimes I'll just use a fine brush to paint a watered-down dark line for each eye. the effect seems to work for me.