Braid on French uniforms

[jknaus]

Does anyone know how the braid etc is made on uniforms? Is it cotton or is there metal thread running through it. I'm trying to think how to paint the braid and facings on my Lancer but am having difficulty imagining what the real thing would be like. Actually I am having difficulties figuring what paint to use. Thanks in advance.
James

 

[gordy]

Any close up photos would help

 

[IIICorps]

Osprey has several titles covering French lancers (line, Guard, Polish, Dutch) etc. Uniforms are discusssed at length, but I cannot recall seeing composition of the lace discussed.

 

[Einion]

James, the construction details aren't important here I don't think, all you need to know is what the surface is and that's fabric. This help any?

Lace can a little different and if there's any metallic thread or if it's made from silk it would be a good idea to work from some close-up photos if you can find them.

Einion

 

[jknaus]

Thanks all. I bought some fantasy colours. Burnished gold and a lighter gold. Am painting the braid in the burnished gold and then will make hash marks in lighter gold for contrast. Not sure if I like it yet but wanted to see what it looked like as I finished the pants last night. Will do the tunic this week and then post some more pics. I couldnt find a close up pic and the osprey book on dragoons and lancers does not really show or tell much.

Thanks for the help and suggestions

James

 

[clubcat]

Only officers had any real metallic lace the higher the rank the better quality, everybody else made do with woolen lace, it really looked quite ratty.


This is an other ranks dolman probably Prussian


This is supposedly Ponatowskis Shabraque

Both Photos from the Leipzig Museum

Hope this helps

Melanie

 

[jknaus]

Thank you. I think I'll have to rethink my paint for the braid. Gold is not going to cut it. Those pictures make the gold look earthier. I appreciate the help as its been 30 odd years since I painted a Napoleonic figure.
James

 

[Einion]

If it's intended to be gold braid then some form of metallic paint is appropriate, just need to tone it down a bit. The common way of doing this is to mix the metallic colour with normal paints, for example Burnt Umber into gold, Raw Umber into a brass colour, Payne's Grey into silver.

Einion