"French Line & Leger uniform colour..." Topic
9 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please don't call someone a Nazi unless they really are a Nazi.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Napoleonic Painting Guides Message Board
Areas of InterestNapoleonic
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Featured Ruleset
Featured Showcase Article
Featured Workbench Article
Featured Profile ArticleThe Editor is invited to tour the factory of Simtac, a U.S. manufacturer of figures in nearly all periods, scales, and genres.
|
The Tyn Man | 13 Mar 2021 7:15 a.m. PST |
I've been painting Nap 15mm figures since the mid 80's and have always painted the blue of their tunics the same colour. I guess I've notice this in the past, but in the Osprey Men at Arms series 141 and 146 the Light Inf seem to have a lighter blue uniform than the Line Inf. Was there a real colour difference or is it just a printing issue. What have you done in the past….. just asking. Cheers Dean |
Artilleryman | 13 Mar 2021 7:27 a.m. PST |
Just a printing issue. I think the colour used for both ligne and légère was bleu foncé. Either way, when you see the real items and most other illustrations they are the same colour. |
The Tyn Man | 13 Mar 2021 7:43 a.m. PST |
Thanks Gordon for the quick reply. I was kind of hoping they were different shades for a more "diverse" look on the battle field. So I guess I just K B O for now…. ;) Cheers Dean |
Dave Jackson | 13 Mar 2021 8:23 a.m. PST |
Well…nothing stopping you from using a different blue…similar but lighter etc. Dye lots were many times different…faded uniforms etc. |
Artilleryman | 13 Mar 2021 9:29 a.m. PST |
Dave is right. In the days before colour-fast dyes there would be a lot of variation in production, let alone the fading that would take place on campaign. A difference in shade would be very likely between a newly deployed unit and a veteran battalion with months in the field. |
SHaT1984 | 13 Mar 2021 4:10 p.m. PST |
Well despite the intent being true, there really does appear to be some slight difference to some legere uniforms. Whether they kept them longer, wore them harder or there really was one less bucket of dye in the cauldron, many, many, many contemporary illustrators, and significant 'experts' and indeed extant habits do exhibit a shade lighter of blue. Hence while my base is the same colour, I have of design done a heavier 'highlighting' of the colour on my legere than on line. EDIT Only because this is the only photo I have in close-up anyway, an old WIP pic of my Chasseur/Tirailleur Corse command mock up before being finalised in 2019.
IMG_3345_sm_example Fr Legere blue by DaveW, on Flickr. This is probably the most extreme 'lightening' I've done in 25mm, and only do it to a few select pieces to make the stand out among the crowd. Many ADCs get the treatment, despite their sky blue facings anyway. Trust that helps too, d |
SHaT1984 | 15 Mar 2021 2:59 p.m. PST |
>>Just a printing issue. Just goes to show how much 'faith' or trust to put in publications of any time. Editorial decisions and artistic 'interpretations' made without actual knowledge or authors input. Seems to have/ is occuring since the cat has been let out of the bag… Like the too 'light' French Dragoon green (who was first- publisher or Humbrol!) and equally distracting (if more difficult to confirm) Russian jaeger that should only have been 'lighter' than dark green cloth… |
The Tyn Man | 17 Mar 2021 6:28 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all the comments. I have a few light units to still paint, so I think I will do a lighter blue on one or two of them down the road, so to speak. Cheers Dean |
SHaT1984 | 17 Mar 2021 2:22 p.m. PST |
You're welcome. Trust it goes well, d |
|