"American Drab Uniform Color?" Topic

Any paint suggestions for American Drab uniforms for 1812/early 1813? Specifically for the 17th USIR at Frenchtown.

Vallejo MC Khaki too green and US Field Drab too dark for me. Dark Yellow seems light and Golden brown too golden?

Any other suggestions? Maybe lighten US Field Drab with an off white, or just forget Drab and paint them in blue coats?

"Drab" is a catch-all description for anything from a muddy brown to unbleached cloth.
So, pick your favorite color and have fun.

Take those colours you mentioned and mix them, whatever comes out will most likely be drab!

I started with the Vallejo US Field Drab and slowly added Yellow Ochre to lighten it until I found a shade I liked. Basecoat US Field Drab, wet brush the drab mixture. Actually close to Vallejo Golden Brown after drying! I guess "drab" and "butternut" are similar, variable colors?

Decided to paint officer, ensign, and drummer in blue coats and white breeches instead of drab.

Thanks, folks!

Jeff

Lots of examples here

Source

link

Why confine yourself to Vallejo?
Try craft paints. They're just as good, if not better. Much cheaper and last forever.

I have seen a reference that the 17th U.S. Infantry was still wearing their white linen summer uniforms at the Battle of Frenchtown, due to supply problems.

From A Most Warlike Appearance: Uniforems, Flags, and Equipment of the United States Forces in the War of 1812 by Rene Chartrand, 19:

'Color descriptions in 1812 period documents were often misleading. 'Blue' usually meant a dark blue that was produced with indigo dyes. 'Red' or 'scarlet' seem to have been used interchangeably and one can often mean the other. For example, the 'red' facings abolished in 1813 were the 'scarlet' facings described in 1812. 'Drab' was generally taken to be a dull, light brown color but a precise definition is impossible. The same can be said for the term 'bright green' used in some period descriptions. On the other hand, 'bottle green' is understood to be a dark green.'

Geoffrey Walden has done a detailed study of surviving Confederate military uniforms which might bring some light to bear about the "drab" color of the American 1812 uniforms.

Here's the link to his initial article: link

In it and other articles he described the different ways to make "drab" coloring, including having the warp and weft of the thread being different colors or different types of thread or different dye batches.

I would surmise that something similar was happening in 1812 during the US uniform manufacturing process.

Jim

jhancock;
I've used canvas brown and other similar paints to represent "drab".

I think Winston has it right when you say you can have a little freedom here on this colour.

I'd go with something less dark brown and more khaki like in colour.

My two shillings worth.

And I'm still looking for my Frenchtown stuff for you. I didn't forget.

Eric

One way to think of "drab" is to look at an old/historic wooden building that was never painted.