Imperial Soldier/Guard

[Capt. Kirk]

Please read this before giving comments:

1) I have nothing against Lego puritans.

2) Everybody is free to think and act with his Lego how he/she wants (to paint, to glue, to cut, ect).

3) If you can't handle this, then just leave before you post some foolish comment.

4) Otherwise,... give comment and help me.

So what I want to do is this:

For fun I want to create a new "army" (let say a minifig or 5).

To create "dad's army" I gone use some old Red Coats and give them a new colour... with an airbrush pistol.

I want to use the airbrush because I don't like stickers. Not that I will never use stickers but not in this case.

But I don't know what would be the best color because my historical knowledge on this area is zero.

So... what would be a nice colour and what should be the colour of the epaulettes ?

Please keep in mind that the epaulettes only come in Blue - Brown - Red - White - Yellow (and Pearl Gold)

I personally thought of dark green with white epaulettes - but I don't know of such uniform exist ?!

What do you think historics !

If about this and on this forum already a page exists, forgive it me...

Edited January 23, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[Mister Phes]

Well we do have a poll which is similiar - Who do you like best? Soldiers (blue coats) or Imperial guards (red coats)

But I think that's different to what you're asking.

[Captain Blackmoor]

I've found some old Swedish uniforms around the period of 1700-1800. They look pretty nice I think.

You should use the same colour epaulettes as the bands on the uniforms.

Some prussian soldiers in the Napoleontic Wars. Not too bad.

White, blue or red epaulettes would be nice on these.

The torso you wanted to make, dark green with white epaulettes, could represent a Prussian officer. Some cavalry officers from the British army also had dark green torso's.

Hope this might be useful for you and happy airbushing!!

Edited January 23, 2009 by Cap'n Blackmoor

[Captain Zuloo]

Although I'm all for historical accuracy, I'm a big fan of the official LEGO® pirate line soldiers. So now that we have red coat soldiers in the new line, I would be happy if they made some red officers and blue soldiers and officers.

[Capt. Kirk]

Although I'm all for historical accuracy, I'm a big fan of the official LEGO® pirate line soldiers. So now that we have red coat soldiers in the new line, I would be happy if they made some red officers and blue soldiers and officers.

I also want some historical accuracy... but I don't know nothing about uniforms.

But I want to avoid that I use a black torso with blue epaulettes if that isn't used in that time.

The only thing I use is the design of the official LEGO® soldiers torso and shako and epaulettes.

I also want to use a white backpack.

This I find a nice uniform... but because the bands on the torso are already in white on the official LEGO® torso, I think it's gone be tooooo white... no longer a contrast / difference.

Hope this might be useful for you and happy airbushing!!

Thanks (hartelijk bedankt... )

Edited January 24, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[Specever]

I also want some historical accuracy... but I don't know nothing about uniforms.

But I want to avoid that I use a black torso with blue epaulettes if that isn't used in that time.

The only thing I use is the design of the official LEGO® soldiers torso and shako and epaulettes.

I also want to use a white backpack.

This I find a nice uniform... but because the bands on the torso are already in white on the official LEGO® torso, I think it's gone be tooooo white... no longer a contrast / difference.

Thanks (hartelijk bedankt... )

Navy Blue and grey straps. Ooo, that would be nice...

[UsernameMDM]

I'd love to see a dark green imperial soldier.

[Capt. Kirk]

I gone try one in dark green...with white or yellow epaulettes.

I show it when I have done the job and I have the time to do it...

[Admiral Blockbeard]

If you want to see what it looks like with out any paint used download MLCad and use the mini fig generator option, also of note is that the back pack is available in white from the star wars line and others!

Hope this saves you some time? If you do not want the download PM me and I will generate the character for you!

Regards, Cpt. PB

[Legoking]

I'd love to see a dark green imperial soldier.

I agree, a dark grey would be nice to see. I think it might be a little hard using an air brush on a Lego minifig, but I am sure the end result will be awsome! Are you going to put decals over the minifig and than air brush it? I am just very interested on how you are going to do this and I will be watching over on how you do this.

I wish you the best day of luck!

LegoKing

[Ratshot]

I would love to see a dark green torso.

[Capt. Kirk]

If you want to see what it looks like with out any paint used download MLCad and use the mini fig generator option, also of note is that the back pack is available in white from the star wars line and others! Hope this saves you some time? If you do not want the download PM me and I will generate the character for you!

Regards, Cpt. PB

Thanks for the advice about MLCad... respect !!! But I don't gone download MLCad... not that it can't be handy... but I have some many graphic & 3D programma's on my computer yet.

Regarding the white backpack... I know about the white backpack... saw it on BL... thx !!!

I think I gone use the white backpacks instead of the brown or redish brown ones.

The white ones together with yellow epaullets will give a nice look... I think...

I agree, a dark grey would be nice to see. I think it might be a little hard using an air brush on a Lego minifig, but I am sure the end result will be awsome! Are you going to put decals over the minifig and than air brush it? I am just very interested on how you are going to do this and I will be watching over on how you do this.

Maybe it was a type-error LegoKing... dark gray instead of dark green... but dark gray sounds nice too.

Maybe I gone try this also... but first I gone try the dark green. I think it will look nice with the gold.

The plan to airbrush the torso is very simple and easy... I just gone use some fine mask-tape for cars (Fine Line Masking Tape 1/8''). This tape I gone sticks over the white/gold and black on the torso in fine strips. So that only 4 red colour areas remain. Would not be hard to do because you can bend the tape and spray a fine layer of paint with an airbrush.

Example of Fine Line Masking Tape 1/8''

I wish you the best day of luck!

Thanks... I hope I can show you some pictures within the next 2 weeks.

Edited January 29, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[Admiral Blockbeard]

Here is a sample of the soldiers in green (Lego green) and a darker green!

If you want to have yellow instead of white let me know.

All the best with the project, glad to be of help.

Regards, Cpt. PB

[Capt. Kirk]

Hi Cpt. Pegleg Blockbeard,

Thanks so far for your help... SUPER!!!... but is it possible to show with yellow and in front, side and back view... doesn't matter what figure you use (with shako or tricorn). Thanks in advance for your help... respect !!!

Edited January 30, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[Admiral Blockbeard]

Easy done, once it is a model it is a simple tweak and picture edit.

Hope these are to your liking (note this is the dark green)

Links to larger pics.

Regards, Cpt. PB

[Capt. Kirk]

Easy done, once it is a model it is a simple tweak and picture edit.

Hope these are to your liking (note this is the dark green)

Regards, Cpt. PB

PERFECT !!!... THANKS Cpt. Pegleg Blockbeard...

great help... and that's the way I gone make them...

Edited January 30, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[CPT. Jr]

just a thought but you could use dark green with a black trim, black pack and black tall hat, mimicking the brittish sharp shooters in spain during the nap[oleonic wars. good source for pics would be Sharpes Army, and an army of five would fit them perfectally! (i do not know if you have ever seen it)

[Huntleyfx]

Also, the dark green would make excellent Loyalists for the Revolutionary War, or possibly Rangers during the French and Indian War.

[Blackheart Brit]

The green ones in LDD look sharp. Dark green would look cool too.

What about Purple? It is a regal color.

Also in Pirates of the Carribean At Worlds End the East India Company army has black Jackets and it looks pretty tough. With Black you can use any epilette color and it would look good. With Purple some epilette color combos might look off.

[Capt. Kirk]

.., or possibly Rangers during the French and Indian War.

Some time ago I have seen this in an old movie (Northwest Passage)…

I thought that this was some kind of romantic show element…

and I did't know how correct the movie was...

but that appears really to have exist, if I may believe you Huntleyfx ???

But the costumes look as indianen costumes but complete in dark green (coat and trousers)...

I thought making a small MOC with some soldiers and "green rangers"...

but wasn't sure this had existed and therefore had put the idea aside...

+ there aren't Lego torsos that look like the costume...

Examples of the costumes in Northwest Passage:

- Rangers 1

- Rangers 2

Edited February 4, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[Capt. Kirk]

What about Purple? It is a regal color.

I don't have the historical knowledge to answer that question... sorry.

Also in Pirates of the Carribean At Worlds End the East India Company army has black Jackets and it looks pretty tough. With Black you can use any epilette color and it would look good.

I agree with that and that was instead of dark green also another colour where I thought of. With red epaulettes and a white back pack. But the red epaulettes aren't cheap at BL (0,49 --> 4,50$).

With Purple some epilette color combos might look off.

I think white is the best option and a brown back pack.

[Huntleyfx]

The Rangers were one of the first British units to adopt the Native American style of fighting, with skirmishing and raiding, instead of the typical manner of European tactics, which focused on pitched battles in formation. In this situation, where being spotted was a very bad thing, the typical scarlet coat of regular infantry would be easily seen, they began to adopt earth tones, which are harder to distinguish in the forests of North America. This was later standardized during the French and Indian War (1757-1763) with the formation of Roger's Rangers, who wore green uniforms. The movie you mentioned Northwest Passage, is based off of one of the actions of the unit.

[Capt. Kirk]

just a thought but you could use dark green with a black trim, black pack and black tall hat, mimicking the brittish sharp shooters in Spain during the napoleonic wars.

I don't agree with that combo but do you know what black back packs cost on BL ?

They cost 2,50$ for 1... that's 1.90€... you can't call this cheap !!!

And you only can buy these in one shop with a min. order of 100$ (76.80€).

good source for pics would be Sharpes Army, and an army of five would fit them perfectally! (i do not know if you have ever seen it)

No I never seen it... but googled and it's a book... correct ?

The Rangers were one of the first British units to adopt the Native American style of fighting, with skirmishing and raiding, instead of the typical manner of European tactics, which focused on pitched battles in formation. In this situation, where being spotted was a very bad thing, the typical scarlet coat of regular infantry would be easily seen, they began to adopt earth tones, which are harder to distinguish in the forests of North America. This was later standardized during the French and Indian War (1757-1763) with the formation of Roger's Rangers, who wore green uniforms. The movie you mentioned Northwest Passage, is based off of one of the actions of the unit.

We have again learned something... thx.

These Ranger uniforms I saw in the movie were only green...

But the used also earth tones you said... so a torso like this would go...

Or this is not correctly... too Indian ?

Thx for your help so far.

Edited February 4, 2009 by Capt. Kirk

[Huntleyfx]

Actually, I think that all of the torsos except for the third would work well; the last one actually reminds me of a bone necklace usually worn among Iroquois warriors, who fought during the 7 Years War. The breeches would also work well, but I personally would change parts over, possibly mix in some darker leg colors (old brown, reddish brown, dark green, etc.) so they appear less Western in origin.

[Capt. Kirk]

Actually, I think that all of the torsos except for the third would work well; the last one actually reminds me of a bone necklace usually worn among Iroquois warriors, who fought during the 7 Years War. The breeches would also work well, but I personally would change parts over, possibly mix in some darker leg colors (old brown, reddish brown, dark green, etc.) so they appear less Western in origin.

But like you said it's best that I mix it with some darker leg colors and only use the torso.

My personal favorite is # 4... but I think I will look not good to use the same torso over and over.

Thx for your help... RESPECT !!!

By the way I googled under "Iroquois warriors" and the look very cool.

Edited February 4, 2009 by Capt. Kirk