From: trochim@rintintin.Colorado.EDU (Ray Trochim)
Subject: Re: NAP: French Greatcoat color?
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 96 14:08:29 CDT

richard Orris (rorris@freenet.columbus.oh.us) wrote:
>I recently purchased some French Line infantry wearing greatcoats. The
>problem is when I got home and checked my sources none seem to mention
>what color the greatcoats should be. Instinct seems to say blue but I
>would like confirmation first. Thanks

The color of the greatcoats of the line infantry were various colors of
brown and grey. French line and light ballalions would have a varity of
these coats mixed. When painting, about 60% grey coats and 40% brown
coats would make a good mix. Use a med-brown color and light to medium
grey color for painting.

The guard infantry tended to have a blue with a hint of grey color
coats.

-Ray

From: mserafin@chinook.halcyon.com (Mark A. Serafin)
Subject: Re: NAP: French Greatcoat color?
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 96 15:17:00 CDT

"Official" French greatcoat color was a light brown/biege color 
(I use any shade close to this to get a hodgepodge effect).  Grey 
greatcoats, captured from the Austrians and others, were also common.  
Green were not unknown (the greatcoat 'a la Russe'), and seems to have 
been preferred by some legere units. Blue greatcoats were reserved for 
the Imperial Guard, although the naval artillery of 1813 (often 
erroneously referred to as marines) also wore blue greatcoats.
--
Mark Serafin               |  "Reality must take precedence over public