Wrong Facings and Colours on New Release? (1 Viewer)

[Fraxinus]

This may be a simple problem with my discerning the colors on the photographs on the Britains web pages wrong, but the regimental colours and facings look decidely yellow to me. Anyone have or see this series in release yet? Released under the tab REDCOATS

http://www.wbritain.com/products_detail.cfm?productID=45837

In October, Britains is releasing several figures identified as being the 35th regiment, French Indian War. From what I can see on their web site, the facings and colours are distinctly yellow on Britains pieces, but it is my understanding that the actual regimental colour is very much an orange (after the Duke of Orange, from Northern Ireland). The 35th formed the backbone of the british regular troops at the Siege of Fort William Henry.

In the below link, the colours are shown at the bottom of the page.

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=35th_Foot


http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/BD_1R.htm

On the Fife and Drum page, both the French Indian War and American Revolution tabs for the 35th indicate Orange is the correct color.

As an aside, I think the yellow facing looks better on the figures than an orange facing would. So, maybe Britains decided to simply choose the more eye-catching color for the facings and regimental colours.

Edit: The more I think about this, the more likely it is simply a "photo" thing, favoring yellow over orange.

 

[37 Div Ohio]

Yeah, the 35th of Foot did have orange colours and lapels.

 

[Fraxinus]

I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Walker of Britains at the Toy Soldier Museum in November and I asked him about the 35th flag and facings. And he told me a wonderful story.

The "yellow" color that Britains is painting the 35th is the correct color for the flag and facings. Although described as being an orange (17th century usuage), in reality that "orange" was the standard yellow base with just a hint of an orange tint added. The color would be described by us as "yellow" in the 21st century, not orange, and no where near the color in any of the reference books.

Now the fun part. Initially, Britains painted these pieces the standard textbook "orange", but was then informed by the "history guys" in England proofing the sets that research in the last 10 years has only just identified the correct color for the flag and facings via material swatches. The reenactment groups in England have switched to this "yellow", but not in North America. Britains then made the decision to repaint the production run in the correct regimental color - the yellow. With the regimental color change, the 35th now moves up to "snazzy".

Great call by Britains.

 

[Fraxinus]

http://www.wbritain.com/products_detail.cfm?productID=45837

Link may or may not work, under Redcoats release

 

[theBaron]

Always a challenge, when trying to reproduce original colors.

That's like the Hessian Erbprinz regiment--the facings were "rose red". Now, is that red, like a rose, or pink, which is the English translation of the German rosa. And there's some evidence that the color did indeed change over time, too. I've seen illustrations to support both, and settled for Gunzye-Sangyo's "Rose pink" for it.

Similar issue with the yellow the US Navy used to paint the upper wing surfaces on its aircraft in the late 30s. Though it was called "yellow", it had an orangish tint to it, so it was a little darker than the lemon yellow that was used for unit markings (the tail feathers on the Lexington's airgroup, for example) or the yellow the Army used on its aircraft. Guys go nuts trying to duplicate it. Gunze-Sangyo to the rescue again, with their orange yellow, which reproduces it pretty faithfully.

Yes, always a challenge...

Prost!
Brad

 

[Martin Tabony]

That's why they now use BS, RAL and Pantone systems for colour matching.

Martin

 

[marco55]

That's why they now use BS, RAL and Pantone systems for colour matching.

Martin

Martin,
Could you explain that to us uninformed?Thanks.
Mark

 

[johnnybach]

Line up almost any group of soldiers - and you will be able to tell almost immediately, the old hands from the newer recruits. The effects of sun and wear, and washing and cleaning of clothes will gradually fade colours anyway.

Try telling an old hand that he needs a new shirt or tunic - and you will inevitably get resistance to change it.

So if your unit of toy soldiers looks a little different from an old illustration - then maybe just put it down to age, or the vagueries of the weather^&grin johnnybach

 

[Martin Tabony]

Line up almost any group of soldiers - and you will be able to tell almost immediately, the old hands from the newer recruits. The effects of sun and wear, and washing and cleaning of clothes will gradually fade colours anyway.

Try telling an old hand that he needs a new shirt or tunic - and you will inevitably get resistance to change it.

So if your unit of toy soldiers looks a little different from an old illustration - then maybe just put it down to age, or the vagueries of the weather^&grin johnnybach

"Old sweats" hanging on to every piece of worn kit^&grin

 

[Martin Tabony]

Martin,
Could you explain that to us uninformed?Thanks.
Mark

These are the internationaly accepted colour systems. It simply means that instead of asking for rose pink, for instance, you can ask for a RAL number. That way there is no need for a personal idea of what a colour is . E.G German Panzer Yellow is actually RAL 7028 and RAL 2000 is Yellow Orange Here is a link to part of the RAL colour chart http://www.ralcolor.com/

 

[theBaron]

These are the internationaly accepted colour systems. It simply means that instead of asking for rose pink, for instance, you can ask for a RAL number. That way there is no need for a personal idea of what a colour is . E.G German Panzer Yellow is actually RAL 7028 and RAL 2000 is Yellow Orange Here is a link to part of the RAL colour chart http://www.ralcolor.com/

That does help standardize colors across manufacturers, but the weak link is still that the research to match the modern maker's color to the original may be off, especially as we go farther back in time for our subjects. Hence the debates on the scale modeling sites, about RLM colors, for example, or the red color you Redcoats wore

Seriously, in my own case, I found that the old Green in Pactra's water-based enamel line was an exact match for the green of the tunics worn by German Jäger, both modern, and to contemporary illustrations from the 18th century. Then Testor went and bought out Pactra, and that part of the catalog was eliminated. Once my stash ran out, I had to make do with Tamiya's green, with is close, but not as close as Pactra's was.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Martin Tabony]

Yeh, that happens all the time. The old Humbrol "French Artillery Green" made a good "Gosling Green" for Northumberland Fusiliers but now it's gone. Even if a paint was made called "British red for 2pm on a December Tauesday" someone would find a regiment that wore a slightly darker shade but had faded due to use!

Martin