Hi all! I purchased a big ol' pile of Pendraken's ACW stuff earlier this year (both Union and Confederates, Lord help me), and I've been testing out paint schemes. Honestly, though, I really would love to be able to match the product images, with the painting done by Rob Berends. I shot Leon an email, asking if he might have any notes on the paint jobs, or even the paints / washes etc. listed out. He said he did not, but that Rob was often active on the forum, and that it might be worth a shot asking here. Sooo, here I am! Thanks for any input.

THere are good guides on the Baccus site which should help.

Here is a basic Guide, from a member of Tring wargames who unfortunately is no longer with us.

It is basic, but covers main troop types

https://thomoshole.wordpress.com/wargames/general-wargames/fire-and-fury-idiots-guide-to-painting-american-civil-war-figures/

Hi Praeshock,

Rob Berends here! I did indeed get an email from Leon so I'll try to help you out if I somehow can.
It is important to know that when I painted these I still worked a lot with enamels (Humbrol, Revell etc.) so maybe it's easier to establish first what paints you use?
Since a number of years I work with acrylics (Vallejo mainly) and have painted some small ACW figures with those too.
Another important thing; what theatre or period are you looking for? There were some distinct differences in uniform colours throughout the war and partly also between theatres.
Just drop me a line here and I'll keep an eye out for your response!

Cheers,
Rob

Hi Rob! Thanks for reaching out; I really appreciate it!

In answer to your questions:

1) I will humbly admit to not knowing enough about the ACW yet to say what specific period I'm looking at, but as for theatre, eastern. Glancing at a list of battles, I'd say Gettysburg (although what a monumental task...), Antietam, Shiloh, and Battle of Bull Run would be of interest to me. But really, I'm hoping to land an eastern theatre "generic" look.

2) As for paints, I use a lot of Army Painter (Warpaint fanatics), and have that whole line. I've got all of the Vallejo Xpress color paints, as well as all of the Monument Hobbies stuff. Also lots of Citadel paints. I don't have much in the way of regular Vallejo acrylics, but am not opposed to picking up some if it would help me land your color scheme

Thank you again!

Best regards,
Josh

Hi Josh,

For eastern theatre a rough guideline would be the earlier the more greyish the colours are, then from 1862 on more and more butternut when the early uniforms were worn out and then after that, say from 1864 on you see a dark blue/grey becoming more apparent as these were the contract uniforms imported from GB and Ireland (which technically was also GB in those days of course...)
The Union stayed the same; dark blue jackets and sky blue trousers although some states supplied their own troops with dark blue trousers, others with dark grey trousers. Also; colours (dies) were not very consistent or would show the same amount of wear and discolorization after a while in the field so that gives you quite a good scope and excuses I'd say! 

I'll have to look up the colours a used last time I painted ACW armies but in general what I do is paint the figures completely and then give them a wash (usually Citadel Agrax Earthshade because it gives the figures a brown/dirty hue). Afterwards I go over the highlights again with the same colours I used in the first round and that would usually do it. Finish it all off with a good matt varnish! (I like the AK Interactive one.)

I'll get back to you on the colours!