"Proper colours for FPW French" Topic

Hello
I was hoping that someone can recommend an appropriate Vallejo paint colour for French infantry. I am using 15mm figures and usually go a shade lighter than the true colours. Ditto for the whitish blue artillery great coats, as I have no idea what whitish blue is.
Thank you

A good colour is 70965 Prussian Blue

Hi Andy,

I think the colour you are describing is actually the colour for all French infantry and line artillery greatcoats. The Osprey on the French Army of the FPW (1), describes it as 90% blue wool and 10% white wool. Having seen some examples in the Army Museum in Paris and the new Gravelotte Museum the result is a darkish medium blue that is notably lighter than both Prussian uniforms and French tunics.

Mollinary

I use 70963 Medium Blue for my 6mm French.

I used Prussian Blue for my Prussians, I did my French more of a mid blue – looking at the pot it is GW Ultramarine blue, so really all my French are space marines:)

6mm, lighten it up a lot. In this scale, Prussian blue looks too black. Colour theory 101 – as scale reduces, lighter colours. Look for a 'French Blue' – if you choose to highlight, then almost a Bavarian blue. in this scale any subtlety is lost.

I have also painted my French a lighter shade of medium blue, while my Prussians are a darker blue. If for no other reason, it visually looks better on the table to have 2 contrasting shades of blue

I used "Uniform Blue" from Americana craft paints as a highlight color over a black base on my 15mm French. The effect is perfect for the greatcoats, and at .99 cents U.S.D. a bottle you can't go wrong. Chasseurs a pied need a darker blue for the jacket.

In the end, it is "What looks right to you". Anyone that complains can provide the troops

Most museum pieces turn darker, nearly black with time.

I paint to scale. What I mean by that is the smaller the figure, the darker it should look. If we pay attention outside and find someone the size of mini we want to paint, the smaller (farther away) they are the darker they are. Details cannot be picked out until you are up close, so why worry painting things you cannot see at the size you are painting? (Yeah, guilty….because "I" know the detail is there….and taking more time for no more benefit than the figs I omitted the details on…grrrr)

Aussie Andy- I suggest the darker shade. Perris' suggestion should work well. I use that shade on a lot of my 15mm Napoleonic French and it looks "right" to me.

We spend a lot of time in getting the scenery and historical details right, but then and go blow it by forcing the "looks" in an un-natural way.

Despite all of this, one should ALWAYS enjoy painting their figs that matches their own mind's eye image.

Thank you.

I am now choosing thinking Ultramarine Blue for the great coats and Royal Blue for the tunics.

Regards