"Question on Prussian Bread bags and Canteen covers" Topic

I was reading Osprey #152 by Peter Hofschroer and Bryan Fosten.

They describe the Prussian Line bread bags as being made of grey linen.
A lot pictures have this as an off white.
Or do the grey bags just fade to off white over time?

Also the canteen canvas cover was white for parade and grey for the field. Guessing I would paint them grey?

Thanks in advance.

Bread bag linen
Bottle gray
From syw to ww2

I think it is a question of language barrier here. What is referred to as off-white is called Hellgrau (light grey) in German. I painted mine off white.

"graues Leinen" – (literally: gray linen) means unbleached linen.

"graues Leinen" – (literally: gray linen) means unbleached linen.

Which has a wide variety of shades.

link

Jim

ColCampbell:
I did the same thing and found many different shades of raw linen.

My guess, a very pale grey.

Isn't the internet great for this sort of thing? I've looked at red velvet, leopard skin and aurore for example and been inspired by the images freely available.

Timing of this Q has been brilliant for me as I am struggling through a diorama of "The Road to Plancenoit" and knew little about Prussian infantry/Artillery rig. Those canteens on the back of the Calpe packs…..now I know!

Deadhead:
In addition the bread bag strap is made of brown leather as is the sword scabbard. The sword hilt and scabbard fittings are brass. According to the same Osprey.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH. Now he tells me……..seriously though, thanks. Sword and scabbard I have not yet done, but two white (the one underneath slightly more yellowish white) straps over the right shoulder for 30+ figures to correct…………..OK.

Appreciate that. Better now than once all mounted on the base of the "Road to Plancenoit". At least I now have a new supply of real Waterloo mud from Saturday's trip, for that base.

Grauleinen = unbleached linen, sort of kahki looking like, the bread bag straps are not of leather but of unbleached linen as well.

I would not use grey as in grey the same for the mess tin cover, I would go for white instead of for faded unbleached linen ;-)).

von Winterfeldt:
Thanks for your input. The Osprey says brown leather straps for the bread bag? Is this incorrect?

Bag itself I'll paint pale grey with highlight of linen white.

Thanks gentlemen for all your input!

The bread bags were carried on leather straps according to a Royal order of 29 April 1809.

link

I stand corrected for the bread bag and leather strap – as per the source supplied by Oliver Schmidt.

I wonder however if poor Prussia invested the money into leather instead of linen – for the strap, but that is speculation.

A rare surviving bread bag was discussed in Circulair Heft2 / 1996 – it was however a bread bag of Lippe and of 1815 – it had a strap of linen.

Is it possible the surviving example is one carried by Landwehr? I would surmise that they would not necessarily have issue bread bags, but ones made locally, which could be made of linen?

We are sad people to wonder about such things, I know. But I must say it is great to be able to call on such expert knowledge, for the most mundane things. I recently asked about Prussian Artillery train collars and was reluctant to bother folk about trivia…..great response. Same here and very useful. Thanks all.

I find it more amusing, that we have to get the details right, when we all know by the time these figures get to war game table no one will look or really care, except a very few.

It's just that if someone sculpts figures like Calpe, you feel it's necessary to get it right.

I agree about feeling the need for getting details right – but only to satisfy my own mind.

If anyone else has their figures painted whatever – that is their own choice and one which I have no issue with at all.