"Beau Geste Era FFL Uniform colors?" Topic

Can anyone tell me what colors the details on FFL uniforms are? Straps, boots, bags, and so forth? I'm using them for VSF, so strict historical accuracy isn't esential, but I'd like to have the broad strokes right.

Thanks,
R

My 70s Britians FFL came with black straps and boots -- But this could hardly be regarded as the most reliable historical source!

Blue coat, white trousers (red if not in tropical kit), black boots, I've seen black and white gaiters but I think black is more common, black leather equipment.

This might help – link

Leather work black and an off-white "bread bag" knapsack.

hussarbob1746.webs.com

The kepi is covered with a very light,almost white khaki cover & havelock. The overcoat is not dark blue but a medium blue-gray-more blue than grey. Officers & sgt-majors would wear a very dark blue-almost black tunic or a khaki tunic. Trousers would be white for all. The water bottle is blue gray & the pack red brown.

The above is spot-on. I want to add that buttons are brass but I could be mis-remembering. The bayonet for the Lebel rifle has an all-brass hilt, there's another little detail. Regulation trousers would be madder red (garance) but colonial white was normally worn in the field.

Kepi's without covers would be madder red on top with dark blue band; officers and NCOs would be adorned with gold embellishments. You might see uncovered kepis on some figures.

I've found that a good bleu-gris overcoat color can be achieved by painting the coat light blue-grey and then washing with very dark blue; the result is a great match for the Legion's long coats. Highlight with medium- light blue if necessary. Another method can be to paint the coat a dark indigo blue and then dry-brush a medium-light blue over this.

Dress epaulets are scarlet fringe with green straps, if I recall correctly. Again, sometimes you see these on odd figures, musicians etc.

Oh, and don't overlook the royal blue sash worn around the waist -- quite a distinctive Legion item.