Eastern front is nearly completed from a gaming perspective and my lead mountain does not seem to have diminished in the slightest.  So....
I have a French army to paint up.  Most of the figures are in the Later war uniform with the Adrian.  I do have some colonial troops though.  Question is therefore when did the colonial units start wearing Khaki, and which ones or was it only the officers.  1914 it would appear that officers were in Khaki but can't make out what the rank and file were wearing

Regards

Si

I was looking at Landships and it was saying spring 1915 but the reason isnt known

http://www.landships.info/landships/uniform_articles.html#

Other than replacing the white trousers.  Seems to indicate they came into the UK which had khaki but then doesn't explain the Khaki Mustard.  Thanks for the linke. Keep forgetting that Landships has more than tanks and guns on it

Undecided then on what to do with the Tirailleurs I have.  I could paint them up as Early war which might be interesting.  Officers stay in the colonial dress.

Dark Blue uniform with Red sash and Fez ?

It would depend on what type of troops you want to depict with the Tirailleurs (and what type of jackets the figures wear; short, open, Zouave style jackets I suppose?); paint them up in red (white could be done if you want to) trousers, dark blue Zouave jackets with red trim, blue sash around the waist and red fezzes (Chéchia) and you have Zouaves. If you want them to be Tirailleurs Algérien you would need white baggy trousers, sky blue zouave style jackets with yellow trim and red fezzes too (trousers can be sky blue too but this was seldom seen) waist sash would be crimson. All leatherwork and backpacks would be black.
Zouaves and Tirailleurs Algérien were equipped with the first khaki/mustard uniform items (breeches mainly) in the spring of 1915 with Bleu Horizon overcoats. These were exchanged for khaki/mustard ones later that year. The fezzes were also given Bleu Horizon covers in the spring of 1915 although these were hardly ever worn after the spring; either the helmet in khaki/mustard was worn or the fez in its original red (madder) colour.
Tirailleurs Sénégalais would wear a complete dark blue uniform with 3/4 jacket, red waist sash and red fezzes. In 1915 the uniform changed to a Bleu Horizon version of the forementioned and somewhere towards the end of 1915 or early 1916 they were changed to khaki/mustard.
Also from the moment on that the first khaki/mustard items were issued to the troops al leatherwork was changed from black to brown (natural) leather. Canteencovers would change from dark blue (early) to Bleu Horizon and khaki/mustard later on.

Hope this helps; if you want to know anything more detailed just let me know; I might be able to help...

Cheers,
Rob

Thanks for the info very useful.  Toying with the idea of an Early War French army