Hi, Scott, it's a medium buff shade, a little more yellowy than the buff breeches of other cavalry units, like the Prussian cuirassiers and hussars, and some infantry regiments. But certainly not a true yellow, like a lemon yellow.
Your painting guide is almost the same image that is printed in "Military Uniforms of the World in Color", by Preben Kannik. It's image 115, and in the book, the breeches, waistcoat and gauntlets have a yellowish cast. By comparison with some other uniforms on the same pages, whose color is yellow, I can say it's much paler.
A Schaumburg Karabinier is also depicted in Osprey's MMA 460, "Frederick the Great's Allies", on plate C. The illustrations are by Gerry and Sam Embleton, and they've chosen to render the color as a darker yellowish buff, almost the mustard yellow modelers use for German armor in WWII. It's noted in the text that their illustration is "tentatively based on Richard Knötel's interpretation of a painting dating from about 1765, when the unit was no longer in existence".
It's interesting to note that the unit was counted as light cavalry, whereas carabiniers in other armies, like they Austrian or the Brunswick armies, were counted as heavy or line cavalry. But this unit was really little more than a bodyguard for the Count of Schaumburg-Lippe, and apart from an action in August 1758, they were used for outpost and scouting duties.
What's the kit you're building? I didn't know anyone kitted this subject, unless it were New Hope Designs. I look forward to seeing the piece.
Hope that all helps, prosit!
Brad
