Painting police uniforms (Dark Blue)?

[axabrax]

I am trying to find a good paint combination for doing dark blue police BDUs. Mine always come out looking too blue. Does anyone have a good combo for this color? I thought about trying the Foundry Deep Blue set, but even that looks a little too blue and I hate to have to pay so much for something I should be able to mix myself. I use primarily GW and Vallejo paints.

[anevilgiraffe]

US or British police...

for British police I'd just do them black... they don't actually look blue...

for US, depending on the uniform, I did Ken with black, working up with thin coats of foundry deep blue shade... an occassional lighter blue and very thin black washes as necessary...

[Dags]

Start off with black and add in a tiny amount of GW/VGC Midnight Blue, keep layering up by adding more tiny bits of MB until there is the barest hint of blue.

Keep the mix really thinned - more a case of adding washes than layers.

Then start adding GW/VGC Shadow Grey to the mix - again tiny, tiny amounts to build up the highlights.

[Aaron]

I start with black and add in VMC Dark Prussian Blue and maybe a hint of VMC Prussian Blue for the top highlights.

[Orctrader]

Black base coat.
Dark Prussian blue & Black 50/50 mix for mid-tone
Dark Prussian Blue for the highlight.

I'm doing some now and that looks pretty good IMO.   

[Trooper]

I start with black and add in VMC Dark Prussian Blue and maybe a hint of VMC Prussian Blue for the top highlights.

Seconded. That Vallejo dark Prussian Blue is tops. Just remember that with really dark blues, less is more when it comes to highlights.  The British Police uniform can look black at first, but I assure you it does have a Navy Blue tinge to it.

[Johnno]

Throw a red stripe down the leg and you are golden (for Ontario police)

[Gluteus Maximus]

US or British police...

for British police I'd just do them black... they don't actually look blue...

for US, depending on the uniform, I did Ken with black, working up with thin coats of foundry deep blue shade... an occassional lighter blue and very thin black washes as necessary...

Yep, British police are mainly in black these days. The only exception might be those that still wear the navy blue "NATO" wooly-pully. Lovely treatment of the blue, by the way. For some reason I always struggle with dark blues.

Nice to see your "EG" logo has regenerated 

[anevilgiraffe]

Nice to see your "EG" logo has regenerated 

the A is in there as well 

[Gluteus Maximus]

the A is in there as well 

Never spotted that first time

My apologies   

It's very well done, anyway.

[axabrax]

Thanks for all of your advice. Unfortunately I don't have the Prussian Blue, but I am going to try a similar ratio with Midnight blue. I agree that maybe some grey in there would work as well as when I look at the Dark Blues on TV shows in sunlight scenes they have a grey sheen. (I am painting LAPD Swat.)

Thanks!

Steve

[Aaron]

Maybe try a bit of VMX Oxford Blue for that touch of grey if you have it.