British Army enthusiasts, I need your expertise please on British Uniforms during Crimean War.

I think I read somewhere that the red color of the officers coat was a deeper
color than the average soldier?

Can anyone provide some confirmation, insight here please?

Appreciate it,

Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

I believe officers jackets were scarlet while the troops wore red. I have read of various shades described as brick red and sun bleached pink. I think due to the poor quality of the dyes used there was a huge variation in colours.
Good luck with your project.
Scotty.

I'll check some references later, but I agree with Scotty the quality of officers uniforms would be much better and they would be dyed nearer to Scarlet than the duller red of other ranks (Chances are that they would also be better looked after, so the contrast in the field would be more apparent in the field I suspect than simply comparing two pieces of fabric)
Is there a particular uniform that you're interested in?

Paul

Hi Terry.
During the Crimean war period, Officers wore a Scarlet Coatee, and rank & File wore Red. The colours would differ due to wear and quality of the cloth and dyes, officers being a better quality. In 1872 Other Ranks adopted the Scarlet tunic, inline with the officers. Note this only applies to Regiments who wore Red/ Scarlet coats, Not Artillery & Hussars etc as an example. Also dependent on the Regiment dictates the type of coatee worn. As tunics did not come into being until the end of the war.
although some Regiments ( Scots Fusilier Guards) did travel home in the new issue tunic.
Hope this helps ( AS not in a position to add any more detail as I do not have my Ref Books to hand
.

Mick

I'm no expert (far from it) but my understanding when I was doing my own research was that Officer and SNCO coats were made from good quality cloth and were scarlet in colour. Other ranks' coats used a cheaper cloth which was dyed with Red Madder dye so was a more red-brown shade.

Go with Scotty and Terry on this one, as they say the Infantryman jacket was red of various shades of brick red to pink and the officers coatee was scarlet

Scotty, Thanks for your note on Crimean uniforms.

I appreciate it!

All the Best, Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

Daddy O, I am attempting to paint the jacket on an officer of the 42nd Highlanders, Black Watch, in the Crimea. I am painting an awesome bust
done by Stormtroopers Miniatures and Stuart Hale. The face and bust have a lot of character!

I appreciate your tip on doing the jacket in a darker red. Any suggestions for a mix using artist oils?

Thanks for your time and assistance.

All the Best, Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

Mick, Thank you for even more details on Crimea Uniforms. I greatly appreciate it!

Do you have an references on an officers coat for the 42nd Highlanders in Crimea?

All the Best, Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

Eludia, I appreciate your comments. I am a big fan of the American Civil War and read somewhere that the dyes used in the British Uniforms were similar.
Always great to hear from another history buff. Thanks for your time and confirmation.

All the Best, Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

Viking Bob, Appreciate your note and thoughts. Always good to hear what others think on a subject.

All the Best, Terry Martin-member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

Hi Terry.
Sorry I dont have anymore info to hand as I am away from home until the middle of March. Thought you might like to look at the link attaced.

http://www.planetfigure.com/attachments/img_0186-jpg.204497/
Mick

Officers coats were made with a cloth called Melton - almost like brushed denim - very smooth! Rank & File coats made of a coarser wool. [As a reenactor I have worn both!] Wikipedia states :- Melton cloth is traditionally made of wool and is woven in a twill form. It is thick, due to having been well fulled, which gives it a felt-like smooth surface. It is napped and very closely sheared. Meltons are similar to Mackinaw cloth. It is a very solid cloth in which the twill weave pattern is completely concealed due to the finishing processes. Because of its dense, quasi-felted texture it frays minimally or not at all.[1] It is hard wearing and wind and weather resistant. Its main use is for heavy outer garments and coats and forblankets. In lighter weights melton cloth is traditionally used for lining the underside of jacket collars.[2] It was developed in the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray, from which it derives its name.[3] This town is the traditional centre of English fox-hunting, and black and scarlet hunting coats are traditionally made from melton cloth, due to its weatherproof qualities. In England not only is melton used for the scarlet hunting coat, an iconic symbol of the upper-class elite, but it is also used in black for the donkey jacket,[4] an iconic symbol of the working class labouring man. Both uses rely on its weatherproof qualities.
BR
Ian

Always a pleasure to learn something from a person who really knows his "thing".Great stuff there Ian.

Oda

Napoleon Peart, Thanks the post on the reference book and Highlander. Much appreciate it!

All the Best, Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society

Ian, Wow, thanks for the detailed info on melton cloth. I was not aware of that. Really appreciate your sharing the description. You definitely know your stuff!
Thanks for sharing.

All the Best, Terry Martin-Member of the Atlanta Miniature Figure Society