"Medieval Highlanders?" Topic
11 Posts
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| barcah2001 | 20 Oct 2005 2:13 p.m. PST |
I've just purchased several packs of Feudal Castings Scots.
Pikemen, heavy axe and claymores, archers I have information for. However, the highlanders are different from what I expected and I'm not sure how to paint them—-
they seem to be wearing a sleveless one-pece garment that goes to mid-thigh—bare arms and legs, some with a cape or cloak. Any help on colors? |
IGWARG1   | 20 Oct 2005 2:21 p.m. PST |
Lots of browns and greys. You can paint very simple tartan patterns on capes or cloaks like in Braveheart for some variety. If I remember correctly Braveheart colors were dull green and red in the movie. |
| Phillius | 20 Oct 2005 2:27 p.m. PST |
Very poor very dirty is the simplest way to explain it. |
| Lowtardog | 20 Oct 2005 2:28 p.m. PST |
I take it you are painting them for 12th/13th century warfare? There was not really a tartan in scotland until the 17th Century. Plaid was worn but was subdued colours as IGWARG1 suggests, muted greens, browns and ochre/tans. The check would be very simple and large compared to true tartans. The Scots Highlanders also wore the Cuton or Akheton, which was quilted armour. Later medieval Highlanders wore the Liene which was a loose shirt with wide sleeves. Hope that helps a bit |
| Midway Monster | 21 Oct 2005 12:24 a.m. PST |
I understood that the highlanders and their Irish cousins used to dye their shirts with urine so a yellow colour may well be appropriate. |
| Mark Plant | 21 Oct 2005 1:37 a.m. PST |
Yes, yellow is appropriate — though I heard it described as "saffron". The highlanders in the medieval period wore mostly linen, and only after the supplies from Ireland were cut off by the English (later, as Lowtardog has correctly added) did they move to wool. The tartan patterns then slowly developed because it is a nice way to decorate a woollen garment. |
| Robert Burke | 21 Oct 2005 9:53 a.m. PST |
Can you give me the author's name of "British Mercenaries in the Baltic"? It sounds like an interesting book. |
| Khazarmac | 22 Oct 2005 3:40 a.m. PST |
Midway Monster; "I understood that the highlanders and their Irish cousins used to dye their shirts with urine so a yellow colour may well be appropriate." Saffron yes, urine no. Urine is used to treat cloth, not as a dye. The process, know as fulling I think, binds or felts the cloth and makes it more durable and less prone to unravelling when cut. |
| wyeayeman | 09 Nov 2005 11:59 a.m. PST |
As long as you remember that the leaders even the 'lord of the isles' ought to be depicted as a knight. Nobles are nobles wherever they occur and would wear the best they could get. as for the rabble, muted. As a guide to 'uniform' Braveheart is just so much haggis Rob |
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