"Union Greatcoats - What Paint Shade" Topic

Primarily a question for Vallejo users but feel free to chip in.

Having just acquired some of the new Raven Banner Union Infantry in said clothing I'm looking for the correct blue or some ideas of what people think is the correct blue – paint wise, as I've never done anything but field dress before.

The Raven Banner figures are really nice BTW.

Just about any old dark blue will do assuming you are at least shading/highlighting the figure or perhaps washing it as well or instead.

In the real world coloured cloth varies according to its batch of die, how long it has been exposed to the elements, is the sun shining on it and many other variables.

They should be the same color as the trousers. I use Delta Ceramcoat's "Cape Cod Blue" as my starting point.

I make would mine a slightly darker than the trousers, just for a nice contrast. But technically I think Scott is 100% correct.

And you are right – the Raven Banner figures are excellent!

I thought the greatcoats were bluegrey. The sack coats etc were dark blue I agree but I thought the original question was about greatcoats.

I use Tamiya Light Blue that I wash with a blue ink

As others have said, they should be the same color as the sky blue trousers. They were made from same kersey fabric.

Yeah, I'm pretty good with what the actual color should be and had intended going with Vallejo Deep Sky Blue, which I use as the base for trousers. Or maybe their Sky Blue and working it back – I find it a bit pale.

I was just wondering if there was anything somebody had used that might not need too much alteration. I've seen some units in this garb looking really loud and I'm keen to avoid that!

They are the same color kersey blue as the trousers.

BTW, it was the greatcoat that was supposed to be rolled up and carried on top of the knapsack. The straps that secured the greatcoat to the knapsack were issued with the greatcoat.

You don't see many ACW miniatures painted this way.

The blanket was supposed to be folded and carried between the two bags of the knapsack in order to keep it dry.

Salutations, gentlefolk !

These are all dyed with _natural_ indigo dye. An indigo dyebath is a translucent yellow liquid, cloth dunked in it will turn blue only as it dries and oxidizes – "if it ain't blue enough, dip it in again".

If you 'overboil' the dyebath to extract more color, the resulting 'blue' will have a 'green' shade.

Given Union Army demand, every woolen mill and dyehouse from Milwaukee to Milan was probably making blue cloth. In those days 'twas no Defense Personnel Support Center to inspect and standardize things.

And after wear, tear, and 'field maintainance'…

I'd say, unless you're painting unit of new recruits or reenlisted Veteran Volunteers, with all new uniforms, almost any combination of blues could work.

My $0.02 USD worth, hope you find useful.

Dark Blue? No. Kersey blue for the great coat and trousers.

Dark blue.

Great Coats were a light or sky blue matching the britches worn throughout the war by Union troops. However, officers wore a darker blue closer in color to the sack coat.

Bill Moreno
crackerlineminis.com

Apologies, I missed 'greatcoats' in the title.

My answer is much the same except substitute the dark blue for a lighter shade of blue.

I was presuming jackets and coats.

Trajanus: I use a base coat of Field Blue, then highlight with either Grey Blue 943 or Pastel Blue (my preferred colour)

Trousers and greatcoats WERE made of the same kersey wool material and color. And no these indigo blues didn't fade, there are however variance shades of dark blues that were reflected I. The batch dyeing process. The smith Sonia never has ca superb collection of these garments. I will try and find the link

Jeeeez spell check. The Smithsonian has a superb, Etc