| Pattus Magnus | 04 Dec 2016 1:25 p.m. PST |
I just picked up the Osprey colonial rules and a couple of boxes of 1/72 plastics to try them out. I'm no expert on the period, but noted the shift by the British from red jackets to khakis, so now I'm curious which paint job to apply to give myself the greatest number of conflicts to game with what will be a small collection. In other words, in which conflicts are red jackets suitable, and which should have khakis? Also, which other colonial powers used khakis (and the Brits could proxy as)? Any advice would be welcome! |
| steamingdave47 | 04 Dec 2016 1:56 p.m. PST |
link Suggests that only from late 1880s/early 1890s was khaki universally adopted by British army, although used in India and Afghanistan before then.
Other armies with colonial forces seemed to have moved to khaki only in the first decade or so of the 19th century. link |
| Rich Bliss | 04 Dec 2016 2:52 p.m. PST |
Following on from Dave, I'd say that, if campaigning in India do Khaki, otherwise Scarlet. Personally, I've got figures in both as I do both early (pre-Mutiny) and late India. |
| Hafen von Schlockenberg | 04 Dec 2016 3:20 p.m. PST |
What plastics do you have? Red for Zulu War,of course. And you could use them for some early 2nd Afghan War battles: TMP link There are several links on that thread. Also,I believe red was worn by at least a couple of units in Eastern Sudan 1883-4. And during the Arabi Revolt. That one's nice for the Egyptians in white uniform and red fez. British equipment changed over time,but it sounds like you're not overly concerned with the fine details at this point. For that,the Osprey British Army on Campaign series is good. |
| Col Durnford | 04 Dec 2016 3:47 p.m. PST |
Red. It says British colonial and is a good starting point. For the same reason my local force VC have quite a few of the large round straw hats and black PJs – everyone can tell who they are. BTW I have Brits in red, kahki, and gray (for early Sudan). |
Frederick  | 04 Dec 2016 4:28 p.m. PST |
Red – can be used in a lot of places, including India Although – like many other gamers – I also have Brits in both khaki and red |
| Henry Martini | 04 Dec 2016 4:31 p.m. PST |
If you buy the Esci/Italeri figures in gaiters, i.e. the Zulu War uniform, you should use red. Other brands in puttees should be painted in khaki. The particular combination of 1878 pattern pith helmet and red coat were only worn for a few years into the early 1880s, and mostly confined to southern Africa, whereas khaki coat, pith helmet and puttees were worn from 1878 right up to just after the end of the 19th century in numerous campaigns in both Africa and Asia. |
| Pattus Magnus | 04 Dec 2016 5:33 p.m. PST |
I have the Esci/Italeri figs, so it sounds like red is the way to go. Red is also appealing because Canadian army units also used red serge during the Riel Rebellion, the only recorded war fought in the area where I live. That said, I'm not going to get too wound up about uniform details – these figs will be standing in for a number of forces! Thanks all for the advice, it is appreciated. |
| Arteis02 | 04 Dec 2016 9:54 p.m. PST |
Ha ha, my British colonial are all in blue, which limits them even more than red or khaki! link
|
| Green Tiger | 05 Dec 2016 2:35 a.m. PST |
If your figures are wearing helmets I would suggest that you are better painting them khaki… |
| wehrmacht | 05 Dec 2016 8:50 a.m. PST |
|
| Lion in the Stars | 05 Dec 2016 2:10 p.m. PST |
Since I'm gaming the Northwest Frontier, I'm all Khaki. Zulu war should be Redcoats, though Second Boer War should be khaki. |
 Herkybird | 10 Dec 2016 2:55 p.m. PST |
I started with red coats, as I have Zulus and Boers, Perry's lovely new Indian pattern uniformed figures I will do Khaki to fight in the Sudan. |
