Polish lancers officer

[Barry]

I've just got myself a 120mm 'Polish light horse lancers officer' from Verlinden...

http://www.verlinden-productions.com/vp_ht..._1200/1104.html

I've not started it yet, but the thing that's puzzling me, going by the picture on the box (which I'd like to copy) is the colour of the trousers and tunic front. It appears to be a pinkish-red, but I haven't a clue what colours to use. My preferred choice of paint is Vallejo acrylics, so I would be very greatful if anyone could tell me what Vallejo colours I need. (ie. base colour, highlight, shade.)

Great site BTW!

 

[captnenglish]

It's called amaranth (sp?) and yes Vallejo has this one. As far as shading and highlighting, I will leave that to the Napoleanics experts.

 

[Automata]

Actually, for the Polish Lancers of the guard I think it would more likely be crimson. It is a bit magenta-ish, but not as light and bright as amaranth as the lancers of Berg wore. This is based on photos I've seen of actual uniform pieces, but I'm sure there could be a wide variation. I think the crimson Joe Hudson mixed with Vallejos on his Duthch grenadier looks pretty good. Take a look in his Vbench.

Barry

 

[Barry]

Thanks Captnenglish

Amarantha red #829 (if this is the colour you mean) does appear to be very orange going by the colour chips on the following site....

http://www6.mailordercentral.com/thewarsto...s.asp?dept=1082

...but obviously I know colours on a web page can't be exact and can sometimes be totally wrong, so I suppose my best bet would be to buy it to see it's real colour.(if it's wrong I could always sell it on ebay )
Maybe it's the shading and highlighting colours that give the figure it's pinkish appearance. Hopefully someone who has done this figure will share their technique with me.

Anway I'll certainly check out the colour, thanks again.

Barry.

 

[Barry]

Thanks Barry, I'll check it out.

BTW. that's a cool name you've got there :lol:

 

[Automata]

BTW. that's a cool name you've got there

Yes, now that you mention it, it is! :lol:

Amarantha red #829 is definitely a dullish orange. A nice color, but nothing like amaranth which, from what I have read and seen in illustrations is closer to magenta.

Barry

 

[Barry]

OOPS!

That was me above, forgot to log in after clearing my cookies.

 

[Pete Wenman]

Barry hi

Hope I can help here.

Amaranth was a colour worn by the German Light Horse.

the 1st Regt Guards Lancers (Polish) wore a dark blue kurtka with crimson lapels, pointed cuffs, turnbacks and piping. For troopers the lapels etc were edged with white lace, but for officers silver lace was used.

Care needs to be taken with the officers trousers as crimson ones (with silver stripes) were worn for parade dress, while dark blue (with crimson stripes) were worn in full dress.

So the picture is correct for parade dress, but not for full dress

all info from French Napoleonic Lancer Regiments by Michael Head

Pete

 

[pabelo40]

Hi Barry
Vallejo #829 is false very .I observed uniforms in museum and there is closest truth #945 plus very little #909.
Give me your e-mail I will send several images.
Regards
Pawel

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Check out the general's uniform under the following:

http://www.napoleon-online.de/html/original_polen.html

Colin

 

[Automata]

Barry,

Keep in mind that Amaranth probably isn't the best shade for Polish crimson, which is darker as I understand. Polish crimson is what you want for the uniform you linked to. The color of the collar and piping of the uniform Colin linked to looks very similar in shade to the photos I've seen of other items that are Polish crimson. I think this was a pretty consistent color.

Great link Colin!

Barry

 

[captnenglish]

I stand corrected, but then again I paint almost exclusively ACW thru WWII.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Using Vallejos, I would start with Carmine and lighten with white to get Polish Crimson (far pinker than Amaranthine Crimson [favoured by Murat while King of Naples] or British crimson). Carmine is a blue-ish red and should be OK to keep you away from any orangey shades.

Good luck.

Colin

 

[Barry]

Thanks for the input guys.

Pete - thanks for the info. Suppose I could always change it to "full dress" if I can't get the "Polish crimson" just right :lol:

Pawel - thanks for the colours suggestion, will test them out when I get some #945.

Colin - great link duly bookmarked. And will try out your colours suggestion also.

Barry - yeah the color of the collar and piping on the uniform in Colins' link does look to be the colour I'm after. But the only problem is, having pics of the right color is one thing, getting the right paint mix to match is another

Ahwell it may be that I'll have to do a lot of trial n error mixing and matching to get it right, modelling never was easy! It still amazes me the amount of research needed to be done before a model can even be started!

 

[jasonballamy]

I have done the Le Cimier 200mm PL trumpeter. I got my colours from VP's "Historical figure painting guide" where there is an article on painting the mounted Kraasinski figure.

Undercoat - humbrol 93 Desert Yellow
Base - Permanent Rose artists oil
Highlight - Titanium white artist oil
Deep shadow - Ivory black AO

The oil may give you a little more time to play with the colours on a 120mm figure, I used very little shadow. Go easy on the white it makes a lot of difference to the colour which looks too red before its addition.

Here's what mine turned out like

http://photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonba...olishLancer.jpg

Jason

 

[Barry]

Jason - thanks for the input.

I would prefer to stay with acrylics as my paint choice for now, but if this colour becomes too troublesome I may just consider trying oils, especially after seeing the great job you've done on your Lancer, I've never used them before, but I suppose there's a first time for everything! I'll keep those colours in mind, cheers!

Btw. Had a look at your other figures while I was viewing the Lancer, you've done some great work there I'll be a very happy man if my Lancer turns out anywhere as good as yours.

Barry.

 

[Barry]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the colours suggestion, will certainly try it out when I get around to doing some tests.

The base was a mix of Vallejo 930 Carmine...

I assume that's a typo and should be 908 Carmine.

The danger I feel might be ending up with a definite pinkish tone.

Yep I suppose that is my main fear with this pinkish colour, I don't want it to end up looking so pink it resembles a Barbie doll!
Seems I'm going to have to do a hell of a lot of practice with this colour before I go anywhere near the Lancer, but the help I've had so far from you guys, will certainly make things easier.

 

[amherbert]

Hi Geoff

Colorado Miniatures have Vallejo stuff. I believe several other dealers carry them too, but at Colorado he has the whole color range so you can see the 'swatches' too.

You can buy it on eBay pretty regularly too, from one bottle to one of each color!

Cheers
Andy

 

[Barry]

Geoff -

Sorry about the late reply - been having trouble accessing PF - think my isp is to blame!

Yeah like you I hate going into Manchester too.

As Andy has said, ebay is a good place to get paints, I've bought quite a few bottles from there myself just recently. One seller was selling Vallejo MC at 95p a bottle and had a large range to choose from.
Another seller who goes by the name "PANTHER_MODELS_LTD" has regular sales of Vallejo paints (among other modelling stuff in his 'ebay shop') and although he only lists a range of 94 colours in his "Model Colour" listing, he has said that he can supply other colours on request.

Here a link to his listing...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...item=5924010511

Barry.

 

[lancier]

Polish lancer crimson is not pink in any shade what so ever, nor do troopers have white lace it is in fact silver, refer to the reenactment group on yahoo.co.uk polishlancersphotos they have items of orginal uniforms on the site, the reenactment group got the cloth dyed to the orginal colour so its as close you will get to orginal the closeist from a tin would be a madder red slightly lightened