Rifle Green

[Jimmy S]

I've got several figures of various scales and makes(Wolf,Milart, Verlinden,Airfix) all of men and officers of the 95th Rifles. I'm loath to start until I get the Rifle green sorted out. Has anybody got any tips on getting it right? I know uniforms in this period faded, lost the dye etc but this is a model! I usually use Humbrols and oils but am open to suggestions. Thanks

 

[Robin]

Hi Sharpie

I ahve painted a number of riflemen and to be fair you can't go wrong, uniforms made by cottage industry different dyes used, I would defy anyone to say i had got it wrong.

In fact to see two rifles with same colour perhaps would look odd.


Robin

 

[Jason W.]

Originally posted by Robin@Mar 3 2004, 07:04 AM
uniforms made by cottage industry different dyes used, I would defy anyone to say i had got it wrong.

In fact to see two rifles with same colour perhaps would look odd.

EXCELLENT Point Robin This is a fact that alot of so-called "uniform experts" seem to forget.

 

[Larry R]

Right, that point is driven home when you go to large scale re-enactments like Gettysburg. You can tell the guys that are new to the hobby and those that have had the uniforms for a few years.

 

[Johan]

I agree that there's probably fifty ways to leave your lover, and, by the way, to paint "Rifle Green"

Here's just one way - maybe a good one to paint fe. a new uniform, as worn by I believe most companies at Waterloo (there were two cies. I believe who still had their old uniforms from the Pen. War).

Mix about equal parts of Talens Rembrandt Indigo extra and W&N Winsor blue; then gradually add healthy amounts of this mixture to cadmium yellow until you get a very dark green - something you could call "Rifle green" or "Chasseur green". (rifles = "chasseurs" in French).

As I said, it's just my way, nothing else, certainly NOT "the" rifle green.

I hope this helps,

Johan

 

[Luis R.]

I know uniforms in this period faded, lost the dye etc

You're right. I somewhere read that rifle uniforms of the period faded to a pinkish brown.

but this is a model!

Right again. What would you think of a rifle figure accurately painted pinkish brown??

 

[Robin]

Originally posted by sharpie95@Mar 3 2004, 01:01 PM
but this is a model!

I didn't reply to this bit depends wether you ar doing that parade ground soldier or a veteran in teh field all nice and scruffed up teh way soldiers should be.

Robin

 

[frank h]

Hi sharpie
Everybody is right, no specific colour for rifle green.
The trick is in the weathering fading at the points of inner tension
elbows, knees where equipment rubs etc. the green then becomes
a mass of shades.

Here are a couple of riflemen I painted many years ago inspired
by Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" novels.

Frank

 

[Jimmy S]

Thanks for all the replies and discussions. Frank H I have one of the Almond figures in your dio (the kneeling figure) I am looking for the other one, so if anyone has one for sale.........I understand all the points of view on campaign and parade uniforms and am looking for both, as the models I have depict both. The Almond figures (as seen in Franks photo) are very "campaign" with rips,soles coming off boots etc while the Milart officer figure looks like he just stepped out of Horse Guards or some tailor shop in Mayfair! In light of that I have all bases covered (as any good rifleman- yes I am a former Greenjacket) and am taking all suggestions on a starter colour for Rifle Green.

 

[Pete_H]

Johan,
Here's another idea: using cad.yellow will very likely yield a green that may be a bit on the "bright-looking" side (i.e it looks exactly like yellow was mixed with blue). How about using small amounts of the blue mix you suggested to yello ochre? Afterall, yellow ochre is sort of a "greenish" yellow.

 

[pkess]

For oils, I would start with a basic mix of Indigo and Mars Yellow. It can then be tinted with almost any color: Sepia, Lamp Black, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, etc. I start with the same mix for French Dragoons. During this period, to yield a green uniform it was first dyed blue (indigo) then yellow. A very interesting chapter in "Swords Around the Throne" by Col Elting.
The first time I saw a French Chasseur uniform, it was blue because the yellow was a fugitive dye and had completely faded from the tunic.
There is no right or wrong way to mix colors for miniatures. Just keep mixing until it looks right.

 

[Johan]

Pete, amigo, I do like bold colours indeed.... so yes, it is actually a rather "strong" green. Your suggestion of using yellow ochre is interesting and I'll experiment with it . Can it be that this mix with the yellow ochre will yield a slightly more "olive" green colour?

Phil, I think I'll have to try that mars yellow-indigo mix too, so I'm going out to buy a tube of that mars yellow! Was this how you painted the trousers of your poste mil dragoon trumpeter years ago?

Well, I've learned something again - thanks guys!

 

[Lou Masses]

Johann,

Not say Pete's mix won't work-I haven't tried it. I know Phil's does. Thanks to Phil I went out and bought every tube of W&N "Mars" anything and I love their properties now. I have heard that they are being discontinued so buy up!

Lou