Portuguese uniform blue

[Heedless Horseman]

Ok...another uniform blue question!    Have been looking up Napoleonic Portuguese Line infantry uniform images to try to get an approximate paint colour. I have heard that Portuguese blue was visibly different to 'French' blue...whatever THAT is!    However, pics seen show all sorts of blues. Navy, ACW union, purple-ish (yuck!), to a chalky looking medium blue. I rather like the last as an Iberian summer/faded look but wonder what others would go for? Basically, should Portuguese troops be lighter or darker than French? (My Peninsular French are Howard Hues...probably a bit too 'blue'...should be greyer but too lazy to mix and it is in a big pot!)      

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Lighter, almost cornflower but not Bavarian blue...

Where's a Dulux colour chart when you need one?

[Heedless Horseman]

Lighter, almost cornflower but not Bavarian blue.

Like that Lemmey. But , Oh Gods, now I have to find BAVARIAN blue!    

[Leman]

Impossible to get massed produced vegetable dyes to match from batch to batch, or to stay colourfast for long, in the early C19th, so you are best going for the faded look.

[FierceKitty]

Impossible to get massed produced vegetable dyes to match from batch to batch, or to stay colourfast for long, in the early C19th, so you are best going for the faded look.

This strikes at the very roots of horse-and-musket gaming!

[fsn]

I thought Portuguese blue was quite dark? Akin to ACW Union blue?

Whereas the French blue is much lighter - a mid blue at best, and Bavarian "cornflower blue" is a shade lighter than French blue, but with a grey tinge.

Actually, men discussing colours is iust a waste of time. Could we not get the womenfolk in to sort the matter?

[Leman]

Paul Stevenson has mentioned before, in articles he has written about painting Union troops, that he uses five different shades of dark blue and three different shades of light blue to capture the differences in batches from different factories, the uniforms of recruits, and the faded uniforms of those who had been in the field for a couple of months.

[fsn]

Think more John Wayne.

[Heedless Horseman]

I thought Portuguese blue was quite dark? Akin to ACW Union blue?

Whereas the French blue is much lighter - a mid blue at best, and Bavarian "cornflower blue" is a shade lighter than French blue, but with a grey tinge.

Actually, men discussing colours is iust a waste of time. Could we not get the womenfolk in to sort the matter?

From photos, French uniform starts very dark, only slightly lighter and bluer than Dark Prussian. I would go for this for Waterloo in 25mm, with some variation. For 10mm...and faded Peninsula uniform, a mid blue...but not TOO bright! (A black inkwash will darken it, anyway).
If I was to have lots of Portuguese, I might have some 'fresh' units dark...but I rather like the lighter faded look. I am thinking about lighter for earlier Barrentina troops and darker maybe for newly issued stovepipe shako uniform, later in the period.

[Heedless Horseman]

Paul Stevenson has mentioned before, in articles he has written about painting Union troops, that he uses five different shades of dark blue and three different shades of light blue to capture the differences in batches from different factories, the uniforms of recruits, and the faded uniforms of those who had been in the field for a couple of months.

In 10mm Napoleonics, I prefer to keep tunics pretty similar...but with a couple of variations in shade in the trouser. ACW in larger scales gives loads of scope for shades in both coat and pants but I tend to keep 10mm Union fairly uniform...going to town with 2 or 3 shades/colours on the Confederates. (Guess which side I prefer!) .   

[Obsidian23]

Hll,

I use a mix of Prussian and ACW Union blue to add some character to the unit.  Portuguese Blue is darker than French Blue.

[Leman]

I see FK's answer and just want to say F*** Off!!!!!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Leman,
Please calm down old chap.

[Leman]

No, he's really starting to get on my bosomoids.

[mollinary]

No, he's really starting to get on my bosomoids.

Starting?  His post was three and a half months ago!   You sure are a slow burner 

Mollinary