Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Genre/Period Discussion => Firelocks to Maxims (1680 - 1900) => Topic started by: KTravlos on 21 November 2015, 06:05:07 PM

Title: Greek Greatcoat color 1897
Post by: KTravlos on 21 November 2015, 06:05:07 PM
Hey everyone

I do not believe I am asking this but I am stumped and my greek and turkish sources cannot help. I am trying to figure out the color of the great-coat worn by greek troops in 1897. I know the tunic was dark blue and the pants were light blue, but the greatcoat escapes me. Sometimes it looks gray, sometimes light gray, and sometimes potential dark blue.

here is the picture that tortures me. The two soldiers in the greatcoat are infantry. As you can note the great-coat is darker material than the trousers, but lighter than the blue tunic worn by the two engineers/artillerists in the picture next to them

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Navy_and_Army_Illustrated_-_Greek_Army_2.png)

Any help will be appreciated.
Title: Re: Greek Greatcoat color 1897
Post by: GrumpyOldMan on 22 November 2015, 09:50:23 PM
Hello KTravlos

All I could find was this 1902 print which shows a dark blue:-

(https://img1.etsystatic.com/068/0/7678913/il_570xN.777398463_idsk.jpg)

Still if you can't find any information and your other sources are coming up dry then you can paint what you like  :D.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan
Title: Re: Greek Greatcoat color 1897
Post by: fred. on 22 November 2015, 09:55:26 PM
I only found an early drawing, which showed a medium blue grey - which would fit more with the shade in the photo.

The photo shows the great coats much lighter than the kepis. And all the photos seem to be taken in the same studio, so there is probably some consistency of lighting and exposure between them. So they are probably much lighter than the dark blue of the 2 chaps in the top right photo.

There are also a lot of drawings of troops in a greenish khaki, alongside ones in the blue uniform, when did the khaki come into use?
Title: Re: Greek Greatcoat color 1897
Post by: Techno on 23 November 2015, 05:53:35 AM
Quote from: GrumpyOldMan on 22 November 2015, 09:50:23 PM
Hello KTravlos

All I could find was this 1902 print which shows a dark blue:-

(https://img1.etsystatic.com/068/0/7678913/il_570xN.777398463_idsk.jpg)

Oh dear.

My eyesight's playing silly b's again.

I see those as a very dark green.....(With a hint of blue, though.)

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Greek Greatcoat color 1897
Post by: Rob on 23 November 2015, 10:27:04 AM
Quote from: Techno on 23 November 2015, 05:53:35 AM
Oh dear.

My eyesight's playing silly b's again.

I see those as a very dark green.....(With a hint of blue, though.)

Cheers - Phil

Back to the bluestuff  :D
Title: Re: Greek Greatcoat color 1897
Post by: KTravlos on 23 November 2015, 11:20:31 AM
Khaki was introduced in 1902 I believe. I think medium blue grey makes the most sense. I have a feeling the french maker of that plate kinda assumed the Greeks will look like Danes due to being ruled by the same dyansty (and to be frank there is some similarity in colors). Still they do look nice.