Belgian Blue Uniforms

[Bravo Six]

What color would be suitable for the Belgians in Darkest Africa? I was looking at the painted Foundry ones but it doesn't look like any blue I have in my kit.

Any suggestions?

-Todd

[Buzgob]

How about Vallejo Prussian blue? There's a dark and a lighter variant and they work fine for me. Unfortunately I don't have a camera, so I can't show any pics.

[warrenpeace]

Pictures of actual uniforms in a museum on a Belgian uniform website show a very dark blue uniform, a Prussian or Navy blue.  In order to show a bit of wear and contrast in the folds I'm going to use a Prussian blue craft paint, thinned just a little so that the outer creases come out slightly lighter (over a white or light grey primer).  If that doesn't come out right then I'll try again with less thinning or try a darker blue.  The Foundry pictures are probably a bit too light a shade of blue.

[Geudens]

Have a look at my site:

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/html/oorlogsmuseum_colonial01.htm

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/html/deepest_darkest_africa_01.htm

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/html/titelblad_force_publique.htm

This said, Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue is spot on.  I (on the other hand) use a fastpaint method based mainly on ink:

- basecoat dark brown, black or dark khaki
- heavily drybrush with a cream colour

- ink the figure:
- skin: dark brown ink
- fez & sash: red ink
- uniform: dark blue ink
- rifle stock: red brown ink
- metal: has to be painted...

This takes me under 10 minutes per figure (in series of eight).  If you get the hang of it, the end result can only be topped by using several layers of shading & highlighting or oils.  The ink is also a very good medium to avoid "painting outside the lines" since it flows so well and settles in the details of the sculpt.  If an ink does not cover very well, I add the tiniest drop of corresponding paint (e.g. in this case: DPBlue) to the ink, which enriches the colour whilst the ink remains fluid.

Rudi

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/
http://www.tsoa.be/

[Bravo Six]

Thanks Rudi that's great info!!

-Todd