The lack of postings here might suggest that nothing is happening but in fact I've been trawling through everything I can find on French infantry uniforms of the SYW to try to make sure I get them right. It seems that nothing is quite certain and the distinguishing features of the various regiments, especially the pocket flaps and their button patterns, the cuff buttons and whether or not they had collars, are, to say the least, very confusing to establish. It doesn't help that the regiments that served in Canada often had different uniforms there from those they wore in Europe! But putting what I've found together gives me something with perhaps a 70% chance of accuracy, which, in this complex mess of a subject, will have to do, I think. Anyone who disagrees can at least edit the templates to make them into something they think is correct!
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
French uniforms of the SYW - what a nightmare!
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Hello there David,
ReplyDeleteFrustrating, perhaps, but this is one of the things that makes uniform research so interesting. Your first French template has me itching to purchase some of the appropriately uniformed RSM95 figures and paint up a fictitious regiment of French mercenaries!
Best Regards,
Stokes
Hi Stokes,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I wonder sometimes - perhaps it's the scientist in me but I do like to be fairly certain about these uniforms and get very frustrated on occasion when I can't really pin them down! These French uniforms have been the worst so far. But if the template has been good enough to inspire you to employ some French troops, then clearly it is worthwhile and will encourage me to flog on, frustration or no. :-)
All the best,
David.
Flog on, David, flog on (sounds of cracking whips)!!!
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Hi Stokes,
ReplyDeleteThe flogging [on] continues! :-) 2 more French infantry templates to come tomorrow (they're done but I haven't time to post them now - it's 1.40am!) and then I'm into drawing the French German and Swiss troops (and possibly Irish too), with a very different style, some with turnbacks folded back and some with lapels and turnbacks folded back. So lots more on the stocks. By the end of this phase there should be close to 20 new French SYW infantry templates. Then it will be the Reichsarmee's turn...
I'm not even going to think about cavalry of any country at this stage! Much more work than infantry.
All the best,
David.
If you read French, I would recommend this site:
ReplyDeletehttp://vial.jean.free.fr/new_npi/archives/archiv.htm
Useful just for the plates as well
Hi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment and the suggestion; yes, I do use that site but like so many it often simply adds to the conflicting information/evidence!
David.