ACW: Union blue paint recommendations
I am curious as to what paints people use for the dark blue of union coats. I use Foundry paints mainly and can't decide between "Deep Blue" (my default AWI/Nap French blue) and "Night Sky" (darker initially but greys somewhat on highlights). Happy to use Coat d'Arms, although not too keen on Vellejo. I'm loathe to have to mix my own colours each time I paint some union figures, although I appreciate that would probably be the most authentic way of going about it... Giles

I still use Humbrol, though I only have a small amount of their dark matt Dark Blue left. (I'm saving it for my Old Guard) Oxford Blue is the nearest available now, and works well for my French Napoleonic aswell. I undercoat in white then use thinners with the topcoat of dark blue so that it collects in the folds (Dixon Figures ACW / Elite Miniature Napoleonics ) then I dry brush very lightly with either Pale Grey or Dessert Sand/White mix. Pale grey wont dry brush over pale grey Confederates shell jackets, just over the black bits ! Nice and Scruffy !

I recently bought a box of the Perry plastics and am painting the first load up in Union Colours. I've used GW's Necron Abyss as a base, highlighted with GW's Mordian Blue. I didn't really fancy making the trousers too bright so did those with Vallejo Grey-Blue, highlighted with a Grey-Blue/Sky-Grey mix. The whole figure was then washed with a Klear Floor Polish/Winsor & Newton Peat Brown ink mix to add further shading and mute the highlights a bit.. I managed 4 in an hour last night, and was quite pleased with the results... Bob Mcleish

I've been doing mine with Vallejo Dark Blue and Prussian blue mixed up with white or black every time. I was short on cash so mixing was kinda cheaper.

Giles I've always felt that the lack of clarity surrouding authenticity/ variability in uniform colours/source of uniform, particularly for confederates allows me the licence to mix my own colours and vary the shade between units or even different figs in the same unit. Its a kind of paint it as if 'been on campaign for ages' attitude But then again I paint in 15mms where I think you can get away with a lot more

Giles, I've taken a look at some re-enactment sites for Union uniform colours, and that blue is extremely dark indeed: see, for example, the many pics at http://flickr.com/photos/79thnycompanyb/tags/145thgettysburgreenactment/ Looking at the Foundry paints, I would think you'll find the new Napoleonic range quite useful, in fact, because the Prussian blue range (66A, B and C) looks good for the jackets, and the French Hussar Blue (76A, B and C) look about right for the trousers, a quite greyish blue tone. It's clear from looking at the re-enactment shots, however, that different lighting can really change the colours, and an extra touch of grey in both wouldn't hurt.

I use Citadel Midnight blue. that is for my 28mm it looks ALOT like the almost black blue i've seen in gettysburg. the problem is that the black union straps almost are invisible on the figs. when I start with my 15mm ACW collection I'll just use a regular dark blue, it might not be 100% correct, but on 15mm the black starps would just be totaly invisible with the midnight blue. so even tho it may be non historic it will still look like union troops

gents, I have started painting some AB 18mm union as a bit of a side project. Have been fiddling with some different blues for the right effect. I am happy with the trousers (Vallejo Game Colour greyish blue with an Oxford Blue wash), but the jackets are tougher. Ideally I want something that is easy - a base coat with a wash over it. I dont need these figures to be painted with the same care/attention as the AB naps. I am even thinking about leaving the jackets as a single base coat without highlight. This is a pretty radical step for me as all my Naps are two shades for the jackets and trousers. John