"Painting Early Franks" Topic

I am beginning a new project and am building a 28mm 5th century Early Frank army. I am wondering how others have (or would) painted them up. The common depiction is that they (almost) universally wore stripped tunics (The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome.) Interestingly, in Osprey Warrior 17 the few pictures of the Franks do not show them in stripped tunics. What would your advice be in the mix? Thanks.

I mixed the two styles for my Franks; some with stripes and other with a simple trim (hem) or none.

I did use a lot of earth and muted tones and therefore, avoided the bright hard colour that you see depicted on most models.

I've seen a primary source that notes a chieftain's/king's/Big Man's guard wore striped tunics, and always wondered if the notion came form that instance alone. If so, that's a serious overgeneralization.

ANYWAY, maybe a third of my unarmored Franks have such tunics, which look neat if nothing else.

My core unit is Perry Bros. Foundry. I love the figs, so spent a lot of time on them. If you haven't seen it, some possibly useful info and visual inspiration here:

link

Thanks for such quick responses. I appreciate it. I am using the Foundry figures Rampant and love them too. They are certainly great painting guides.

Striped tunics are mentioned here link as being talked of by Apollinaris. But another translation just says they are of varied colour – which might mean each is a single colour but not uniform from man to man – unlike the cloaks.
This is a translation of Apollinaris: link
"You take such pleasure in the sight of arms and those who wear them, that I can imagine your delight if you could have seen the young prince Sigismer 1 on his way to the palace of his father-in-law in the guise of a bridegroom or suitor in all the pomp and bravery of the tribal fashion. His own steed with its caparisons, other steeds laden with flashing gems, paced before and after; but the conspicuous interest in the procession centred in the prince himself, as with a charming modesty he went afoot amid his bodyguard and footmen, in flame-red mantle, with much glint of ruddy gold, and gleam of snowy silken tunic, his fair hair, red cheeks and white skin according with the three hues of his equipment. [2] But the chiefs and allies who bore him company were dread of aspect, even thus on peace intent. Their feet were laced in boots of bristly hide reaching to the heels; ankles and legs were exposed. They wore high tight tunics of varied colour hardly descending to their bare knees, the sleeves covering only the upper arm. Green mantles they had with crimson borders; baldrics supported swords hung from their shoulders, and pressed on sides covered with cloaks of skin secured by brooches. [3] No small part of their adornment consisted of their arms; in their hands they grasped barbed spears and missile axes; their left sides were guarded by shields, which flashed with tawny |36 golden bosses and snowy silver borders, betraying at once their wealth and their good taste."

These are some of my Franks. I mixed stripes with solids.

Will there be an army of "Early Beans" to go along with the "Early Franks"?