Tea stained or white pith helmets. What should I go with?

[mjkerner]

What, none of you sods have ever seen "ZULU"?  They must be bright white, or you're not a true Colonial wargamer! 

[Fjodin]

Good morning folks!

I've only just recently started painting some Wargames Factory plastic Anglo Zulu war Brits. I know that the pith helmets were White when issued, and were often tea stained by units on active service. Which looks better in your opinion?

I'm tempted to just paint them white... What do you think?

Thanks in advance guys! I'm being indecisive....

Cheers

Ace 

WOW! I had same problem. The helmet and belts on original uniform should be white, bur reoops painted it with tea. Because of movie "Zulu" I likew wgite helmets more than "tea" ones. But now I also like tead helmets. So I did this thing:

My redcoated line infantry have white helmets
My greencoated rifles have tea-colour helmets

[gloriousbattle]

Khaki.  Why?  Easier.  Also, the khaki uniform is better than the red coat and blue trousers.  Why?  Cuz if you need them to be FFL, or Belgians, Germans, whatever, they'll do in a pinch; just switch out the flags.  Redcoats are pretty, but they can only be British.

Incidentally, the largest collection of Colonial minis I have are blue and white jacketed naval infantry.  These uniforms are almost universal.  You can even use them as Americans, or as shore parties from merchant ships that run aground off the shores of mysterious islands filled with dinosaurs, undead, or mad scientists building armies of beastmen or clockwork soldiers.

All hail versatility!

[answer_is_42]

I think that the picture shows a "second invasion" unit that included troops with Indian style covered helmets. That could be why they look so dark, rather than being stained.

The photo is from Ian Knight's The Zulu War (2003). The caption reads; “Men of the 2/24th build a memorial at Rorke’s Drift, some months after the battle.”
So, unlikely to be 'Indian' style covered helmets, but darkly stained white ones.

[Ace From Outer Space]

Thanks for all the responses guys. A mix it is!
Cheers

Ace