"The kepi/forage cap terminology is, to be blunt, a real pain. Avidgamer is correct that what these figures sport id the forage cap but every other manufacturer I know of calls them "kepis." As I have mentioned elsewhere, I decided to follow accepted gamer usage as it is easier for my customers."
Mark,
Hey, you can be a pioneer and get the message out! :)
"As for Confederates, many did wear sack coats."
Well sure, early war but by 62 you wouldn't see that many and by 64 almost none.
"Infantry in undress (think shirts/rag-tag rebs)"
Don't do shirts. No self-respecting man during that time would go outside his house without a coat/jacket on (and a hat/cap too). It just wasn't done. The only time you could do it was if you were working in the fields but if a friend or stranger came up you'd put your coat on. It showed respect. Soldiers can go without as long as they were in their company street. Once you leave you must put your coat on AND wear at least the top button, buttoned. Yeah could be stinkin' hot with it on but that's the way they did it. Having models with just shirts is just not a great idea. You could have the models with all the buttons undone except the top most though.
"Infantry with blanket roll"
Make sure you put the roll over the model's left. The balnket roll was also called a 'horse collar'.
" full pack (infantry with backpack & full kit)"
Make some with no blanket on top of the knapsack. Many stuffed the blanket between the folds of the two bag knapsack or inside so you would see nothing on top.
"Oh yes….as for bayonets, I discussed the matter with numerous gamers, potential retailers and my club (which includes several ACW reenactors)."
Errrrr… reenactors too? Must be all farbs.
"However incorrect it may be, it's amazing how many pictures you see of troops firing with bayonets attached (and this is not peculiar to the ACW)."
Well you don't see many HISTORICALLY accurate pics of it. Posing for photos or Currier & Ives pics maybe. Bayonets look cool and are great for recruiting posters, bad for shooting.
