Originally posted by Jason W.@Jan 16 2005, 08:46 AM
Johan, thanks for the kind words! 
Yes, I'm using the Osprey and other illustrations, as reference. The one thing I'm concerned with is the color of his uniform. Is it a VERY dark blue or is it black? According to the Osprey book it's black...I don't trust that. The paintings I've seen depicts a dark blue uniform with dark grey great-coat. Does anyone have an opinion on this? What color should his uniform be? I feel I've exhausted my research on this subject. Any help will be most appreciated.
.... Wow. Tough question, I know something about French uniforms, but Prussian uniforms still are very much unexplored territory for me...
Anyway, what I'm sure of is that many if not all
FRENCH officers, generals etc. , did wear tunics or coats that were
supposed to be dark blue acc. to regulations, but were in reality black or blue-black - seems that they had some liberty in choosing the cloth for their uniforms, and black was fashion in Paris ? .... perhaps a Vallejo mix of black + violet would come close to reality there.
One over the top example of fashionable 2nd Empire French uniform, supposed to be dark blue, but black in reality, was the Imperial Guard Horse Artillery officers all black hussar style uniform, very much appreciated by the ladies of the City of Lights.
In De Neuville's paintings you can clearly see that French Chasseur a Pied had a very dark blue-black uniform, near black, but still with a reflection of blue. The new 1868 cavalry tunic as worn by some line dragoons, lancers and cuirassiers was probably of the same shade - a very dark near black blue, clearly much darker than fe. a Prussian Uhlans tunic. Note: the line infantry greatcoat was not dark blue, but "Gris de Fer Bleute" - Blueish Iron Grey, in reality a dark blue wool with about 10% white woven in.
Of course this is just how I see it personally and I stand to be corrected.
But as for the Prussians, my friend ... I leave that question to the experts here... I am interested myself what answer they will provide. Anyway, the painting by De Neuville "Le Bourget" shows Elite's Prussian Guards Hauptmann in a blue uniform. My guess is that Prussian uniforms were more on the blue side than French.
Best regards,
Johan
