French FPW Packs

[john svensson]

Though it might be apparent from some figures in the photos section I thought I'd ask just to show my ignorance in the matter and to conserve eyesight.
Many of the French figs are cast with that very manly sized backback on them....any precise information on whether those were a black colored material <canvas?> or leather, and hence a version of brown for painting purposes.  I believe that is the blanket roll wrapped on sides and top also, what do folks use for color for that?  I've adopted a "blueish gray", but have not painted enough figs yet so that could be changed.   
I have a uniform painting guide for the French army but the accoutrements are overlooked.   Thanks.
John   

[cameronian]

T'aint the blanket mon ami but half the 'Tent D'abris'

.....

blimey, rhyming responses, sometimes I even surprise myself.
The tent was canvas so off white would be good.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I use buff for mine...

[Chad]

Same as Lemmey, with a little shading.

[john svensson]

Ah, half a tent......so is everyone into the buff for the whole shebang, or just the tent?...or just the backpack?     I have used the gray (tent) and medium brown (backpack) considering that to have been leather. 
Maybe there is no definitive answers, veterans of the conflict are few and far between.......  John

[john svensson]

I notice the 1866 Camp de Chalons photos show the tents as being very light colored, through the lens of a B&W photo and albumen emulsions.......so a "buff" canvas is most likely.
Lastly <for today>, the Guard figs only come with "bonnet du police".....which I take it is what we referred to in the USN as garrison caps, or the infamous "piss cutter".  What other headgear did the Guard wear?? kepis also plus the big, bushy, busby?  I'd think the busby would be an attractive figure to add to the line for Pendraken, if it was ever actually worn for combat.   

[Shecky]

I paint the tent half a light grey and the back pack brown.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

The pack is natural any hide, so can be black, grey, white, brown or mottled.
The bonnet de police replaced the bear skin on the 1870 campaign, it was young in Italy in 1859, they are available in that range. Kepis were also worn by individuals on campaign too.

[cameronian]

I notice the 1866 Camp de Chalons photos show the tents as being very light colored, through the lens of a B&W photo and albumen emulsions.......so a "buff" canvas is most likely.
Lastly <for today>, the Guard figs only come with "bonnet du police".....which I take it is what we referred to in the USN as garrison caps, or the infamous "piss cutter".  What other headgear did the Guard wear?? kepis also plus the big, bushy, busby?  I'd think the busby would be an attractive figure to add to the line for Pendraken, if it was ever actually worn for combat.  

Yes bit of a dilemma, you can buy guard in busbys from the 1859 range (I have) but the guards in BDP from the 1870 range are beautifully sculpted and cast, better than the 1859 ones IMHO. Think off white/buff better for tents than grey, canvas after all.

[cameronian]

Not busbys sorry, bearskins.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Busbys are the short fur hat worn by hussars, chasseurs a chevel and guard artillery crews, bear skins are tall like modern British guards/wooden tops! 

[Shedman]

The Funcken book, L'uniform et les armes des soldats di XIX siecle, refers to the bearskin as l'ourson and says that a lot of them were "lost" durng the campaign and never worn after Solferino

Googling l'ourson returns a link to Winnie l'ourson

[cameronian]

Do your Grenadiers in bearskins and your Voltigeurs in BDP, look smashing.