I dug the following reply to the same question out of my old saved MMHQ files. the response was authored by Augie Rodriguez and I'm sure Augie wuld not mind me reposting it with proper credit given. I've used his advice to paint oils to good effect myself.
"I'm sure the Napoleonic and/or cavalry mavens will soon be on-line with this one, but some observations "from the field" as it were. I cannot stress enough that the coloration on a live tiger is considerably brighter than on a pelt (this applies to most animal skins devoid of a "life-support system". In addition the wear and tear to the use of the pelt in the field must be taken into account (though it is interesting to note that many of the pelts in use in 18th and even e. 19th c. Europe were the spoils of victory over the Turks in the campaigns of the l. 17th and e. 18th c.--e'g. von Ziethen's Hussars).
So, I usually start with a basic tawny orange mix comprised of Cad. Orange Lt., Burnt Sienna, and Raw Sienna (mixed to taste) lightened to taste with Naples Yellow. Shading is done with Burnt Sienna + R. Sienna, with Raw Umber for the deeper shadows. Highlights are taken cared of with Raw Sienna + Tit. Wht. A note on the stripes: I avoid using pure black for the stripes--I either mix my own black from Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue, yielding a very warm black; or I use permalba Black with a touch of B. Umber + R. Umber. "
