"WWI French" Topic

What are good Vallejo colors for WWII French uniforms, overcoats and helmets?

Thanks!

Horizon Blue or Khaki?

Khaki. I wasn't aware they were still using Horizon Blue in 1940.

Oh, crud. Just saw that I screwed up the title of the post. Yes, should be for WWII now WWI – so what Vallejo colors are good from French in 1940?

I used Mick Farnworth's guide when I did my early war French.

PDF link

Oh, *******

I have been painting mine various shades of brown.

Those don't look too bad, but the actual uniforms I've seen have more of a brownish tinge to them. Hope Mick stops by and can comment.

This topic is a bit confused! Note he want WWII (Not WWI as in the title).

By 1940 all the horizon blue was gone. Basic Infantry are in a Khaki-Brown. My approach has been to prime with a red-brown and overcoat with a khaki. All the notes I can find say the color was very inconsistent and prone to fading.

Hello Sundance,

Green or brown is a point of controversey with French uniforms. Many modeling guides suggest brown shades. After some research, I am convinced that the green shade is "more" correct.

When I did the French WW2 Guide, I contacted some reenactors from the French Group 92nd Regiment d'Infanterie. They kindly sent me a lot of photographs. I also visited the Panzermuseem in Munster, Germany and photographed the real helmet colour.

Regards
Mick (Farnworth)

Thanks, Mick! I appreciate the additional information.

Actually there were still branches of the army using horizon blue. Supply Train automobile squadrons and motorcyclists. Chasseurs Alpins still had horizon blue great coats. Some Fortress infantry. Still some in Full dress uniforms, too.

As for shades, it seems to me the Metroplitan troops wore a dark olive colour; the Colonial troops a more brown colour, but close! Officer's uniforms seem to be lighter, and some garments seem to be darker than others. Probably due to the differences in fabrics.