What colour for 1920s-30s British police force uniforms?

[Pattus Magnus]

I suspect this topic has been covered before but my googling is broken today and I can’t find much…

So, we’re the uniforms of the classic “bobbies” black, or were they very dark blue? I have some in the painting queue but I am unsure which colour to go with. Any advice would be great!

[carlos marighela]

Black-blue... to the point of being almost black. At this point it becomes something akin to that internet puzzle about the dress being gold or blue, all in the eye of the beholder. There does appear to be a definite blueish tinge to the colour as opposed to the modern one which is essentially black, at least to my eye.

Some interpretations by the dress-up brigade (re-enactors)

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/1940s-policeman.html?sortBy=relevant

[Pattus Magnus]

Thanks for the advice and the link to the photos, that is very helpful.

[fred]

I would have said dark blue/black.

But looking at the photos the ambient lighting clearly moves the look from dark blue to black. For minis I’d probably go for a bit more blue in the black, as pure black can often look a bit too dark.

[Pattus Magnus]

I’m thinking along the lines of a black base with highlights of very dark blue. The helmets, belts, straps and shoes can be black with grey highlights. I’m hoping that will differentiate the cloth and the other bits to add a little visual interest.

[Captain Darling]

“black base with highlights of very dark blue…” I think you’ve nailed it, I painted mine (who double for NSW Police) with a base coat of Matt Black then Prussian Blue, interestingly as mentioned lighting makes a big difference in some pictures mine look black and others the blue in noticeable…

[aircav]

I basecoated mine with Vallejo game colour black (as it’s not a pure matt black & has to my wonky eyes a hint of blue) then highlighted with heavy charcoal up to a blue grey

[Pattus Magnus]

Captain Darling, aircav, thanks for the pictures! Both of your collections of bobbies look excellent, I’m hoping mine turn out similarly. I’ll post some photos when I get mine painted!

[aircav]

Captain Darling, aircav, thanks for the pictures! Both of your collections of bobbies look excellent, I’m hoping mine turn out similarly. I’ll post some photos when I get mine painted!

You’re very welcome, looking forward to seeing them 

[leadboy]

I second (with a caveat) Dark Prussian Blue over a black undercoat. I used this method because I had a lot of police (and equipment) to paint, but if I were to do it again with fewer figures, I would use a black undercoat with a Dark Prussian Blue/Black mix, working up until I was happy and always bearing in mind "not too blue". My police also very in the colour of their uniform with the light/photography, and sometimes appear 'too blue'. Attached a photo (I think!) plus more photos on blog: https://hereford1938avbcwtng.blogspot.com/search?q=police

[FramFramson]

Is that a S.H.O.D.D.Y. offering I see accompanying your coppers there leadboy? 

[leadboy]

It is indeed FF. A very large SPG based on the "Shoddy Chassis".

A rather conservative conversion in comparison to some others -

https://hereford1938avbcwtng.blogspot.com/2022/03/hereford-1938-cult-of-shoddy.html

[bluewillow]

I used Prussian dark blue

https://stormandconquest.blogspot.com/2011/05/vbcw-bobbies.html

Cheers
Matt

[Captain Darling]

Wow I picked Prussian Blue off my own bat I had no idea so many others selected it independently too, must be a good choice!

Looking forward to seeing your Bobbies…

[FramFramson]

It is indeed FF. A very large SPG based on the "Shoddy Chassis".

A rather conservative conversion

Well, it certainly looks like it's up to the usual SHODDY standards in consideration of recoil. 

in comparison to some others -

https://hereford1938avbcwtng.blogspot.com/2022/03/hereford-1938-cult-of-shoddy.html