WW I ALLIES

2005-12-10

WORLD WAR I ALLIES


These are the colors (Testors) which I've found most closely match the pictures (boxes, Osprey books, etc.).

For one shade colors, here are the Testors numbers;
ALL COLOR NUMBERS ARE TESTORS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
Testors is sold in Europe under the name "Model Master".

NOTE: colors based on "Military Uniforms In Colour", Preban Kannik, Blandford Press, London, 1968, the Osprey books-Men At Arms series #123, #164, #286, #356, #379, #386, and the box art.

U.S. INFANTRY (Overseas)
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
uniform--forest green 1714 OR olive drab 1711 OR olive drab faded 2051
puttees--same as uniform OR brown 1166 OR brown afrika 2102
helmet--forest green 1714 OR armor sand 1704 OR olive drab faded 2051
gas mask satchel,belt,pouches,satchel straps,sidelaced canvas leggings,pack,canteen,ammo bandoleer --sand 1706 ORarmor sand 1704
shoes,boots,officer belt--leather 1736
knife handle--brown ital.dark 2111 and gun metal 1795
scabbard,pistol handle--black
scabbard tip,canteen top--steel
holster,map case,binoculars case--leather 1736
buttons--brass with black wash OR aircraft int. black 2040
gun,hair--brown ital.dark 2111
gun barrel,bayonet,rifle grenade,binoculars--gunmetal 1795
hands,face--flesh
buckles,MG belt--brass
helmet chin strap--leather 1736
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029



U.S. INFANTRY (Stateside Training)
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
uniform--olive drab faded 2051
puttees--same as uniform OR brown 1166 OR brown afrika 2102
hat--field drab 1702
helmet--forest green 1714 OR armor sand 1704
gas mask satchel,belt,pouches,satchel straps,sidelaced canvas leggings,pack,canteen,ammo bandoleer --armor sand 1704
shoes,boots--leather 1736
knife handle--brown ital.dark 2111 and gun metal 1795
scabbard,pistol handle--black
scabbard tip--steel
holster,map case--leather 1736
buttons--brass with black wash OR aircraft int. black 2040
gun,hair--brown ital.dark 2111
gun barrel,bayonet--gunmetal 1795
hands,face--flesh
helmet chin strap--leather 1736
hat cord--officer (gold), infantry (sky blue 1162), cavalry (yellow 1169), artillery and engineers (insignia red 1705), signals (orange), quartermasters (tan 1167)
Officers peaked cap--crown (field drab 1702), cap band (armor sand 1704), brim (leather 1736), badge (aircraft int. black 2040)
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029



FRENCH INFANTRY (1914-1918)
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
uniform,helmet--blue,RAF azure 2048
stripes--blue 2031
haversack and strap, helmet cover (if present)--sand 1706
belt,straps,holster,pouches,pack,rifle strap--leather 1736
gas mask and strap (if present)--light gray 2038 with black eye holes
canteen,belt buckle--steel
long pack roll--sand 1706
short pack roll-black aircraft int. 2040
pack straps--leather 1736
hair,wooden parts of weapons--brown,ital.dark 2111
scabbard,binoculars,metal parts of weapons--gunmetal 1795
regimental numbers and chevrons--blue,RAF azure 2048
hands,face--flesh
chin strap--leather 1736
moustache--brown,ital.dark 2111
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029

RUSSIAN INFANTRY (1914-1918)
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
uniform,cap -- SAC bomber tan 1792
cap badge -- flat tan 1167
haversack -- sand 1706 or gull gray 1730
blanket roll -- sand 1706 , green 2029, or field drab 1702
base of blanket roll -- gull gray 1730
canteen -- field drab 1702
belts,straps,ammunition pouches,shovel top,holster -- leather 1736
soldier's belt buckle, rifle slings -- green 2029
officer's belt buckle, epaulettes (trimmed red 1150) and sword hilt details -- gold
shovel handle, officer's sword hilt -- wood 1735
boots,cap peak -- black
hair,wooden parts of rifle,grenade handles -- brown,ital.dark 2111
rifle barrels,pistol,grenade top -- gunmetal 1795
officer's sword -- black with gull gray 1730 details
mortar,machine gun,ammo box--pale green 1716
MG belt--brass
hands,face -- flesh
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029



RED ARMY 1st CAVALRY (1918-1922)
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
hat,coat,pants--sand,armor 1704
belt,holster,straps,pouch--leather 1736
boots,scabbard--black
collar and coat patches,hat star--cobalt blue 2012
hat star inside--red 1150
hat star hammer and sickle,sword tassles--gold
hands,face--flesh
hair,rifle--brown,ital. dark 2111
bugle,buttons,belt buckle--brass
rifle barrel,sword handle,holster trim,canteen,stirrups--steel
sword--silver
horses--whatever
blanket roll--field drab 1702
saddle blanket--gray afrika dark 2103
saddle,straps--leather 1736
saddle blanket edge--wood 1735
bit,buckles--steel
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029



BRITISH ARTILLERY

British artillery pieces started the war painted "Bronze Green", which is Testor's Medium Green (1713). A rope was wrapped tightly around the recuperator (top) tube. (Might have been doused with water for cooling?) Another rope, for positioning the gun, is hung on the right front of the shield. Rope....I'd go Sand (1706).Some parts of the breech mechanism were left bare bright metal. Later in the war (1915???) the guns were painted "Khaki" which I would call Faded Olive Drab (2051). I have seen photos of the guns with and without the rope wound around the recuperator. In the Middle East, I'd go for SAC Bomber Tan (1792). The effect of fading.



BRITISH INFANTRY (1914-1916)

The Brits changed their soft caps for helmets in 1916. The helmets were usually covered with a sandbag cover. (Sand 1706).

PART/ITEM -- COLOR
Uniform, cap, puttees,greatcoat -- Field Drab (1702)
helmet -- SAC bomber tan (1792)
Cap Badge -- Silver or Gold, by Regiment
Buttons -- Gold (Guards -- Bronze, Rifles -- Black)
Straps, belt, pouches, packs, haversack,MG belt -- Armor Sand (1704)
scabbard -- black
Boots -- Leather (1736) (Rifle Regiments -- Black)
Canteen -- Dark tan (1742)
artillery shells,MG bullets -- brass
Officer's shirt and tie -- SAC Bomber Tan (1792)
Officer's straps, holster -- Leather (1736)
Hair, wooden parts of rifles, grenade handles,shovel handle -- Brown, Italian dark (2111)
shovel ,bayonet,canteen top -- steel
Rifle barrels, pistol, grenade top -- Gunmetal (1795)
Hands, face -- Flesh
binocculars,chin strap -- black
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029



NOTES: A Flat Gull Grey (1730) collarless undershirt was worn on work details. A single-breasted Field Drab (1702) overcoat was worn in winter, with a wool knit cap of the same color. During the winter of 1914-15, shaggy goatskin coats or vests [Flat Gull Grey (1730) or a Flat Gull Grey (1730)/Sand (1706) mix] were issued, but not thereafter, making them a mark of distinction during the rest of the war. A Dark Tan (1742) sleeveless jerkin was issued throughout the war. (NOTE: Common for Artillerymen)
The Vicker MG had its own extensive website with photos in colors of real guns from different periods. The site is down now, for expansion and will also cover the WW II BREN gun.

CANADIAN INFANTRY
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
uniform,coth cap,putees,canteen--
belt,pouches,straps,haversack,pack,canteen straps,steel helmet--sand 1706
hair,wooden parts of weapons--brown,ital.dark 2111
shoes--leather 1736
metal parts of weapons--gunmetal 1795
buttons--brass (1914-17) OR gunmetal 1795 (1918)
hands,face--flesh
collar maple leaves--steel
chin strap--
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029

SERBIAN INFANTRY
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
coat,pants,hat,blanket roll (if present)--faded olive drab 2051
officer great coat lining (lapels)--red russ.marker 2127
officer boots,hat peak (if present)--black
straps,pouches,shoes--leather 1736
haversack and strap--sand 1706
sword handle,sword,officer scabbard,belt buckle--steel
scabbard--black
officer inner collar--black, aircraft int. 2040
collar patch--insignia red 1705
officer shoulder board--gold
wodden parts of weapons,hair--brown ital.dark 2111
socks (if present)--black, aircraft int. 2040 with red 1150, white and green ZnCr 1734 design
metal parts of weapons--gunmetal 1795
rifle strap--leather 1736
hands,face--flesh
moustache--brown ital.dark 2111
base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029

ANZAC INFANTRY
PART/ITEM -- COLOR
coat,pants,hat,canteen,puttees--field drab 1702
shirt--gray, ital.blue 2113
steel helmet--faded olive drab 2051
scabbard,bandolier,holster,shoes,gaiters (if present),officer straps,officer belt--leather 1736
bandolier tabs--brown 1166
straps,haversack,pack--sand 1706
scabbard trim,officer braids,cap emblem--steel
cap peak--black
hair,wooden parts of weapons--brown, ital.dark 2111
metal parts of weapons,canteen top,grenade--gunmetal 1795
shovel handle,grenade handle--wood 1735
buckles--brass shoulder patch--sea blue 1172 under blue,RAF azure 2048 (4th light horse) OR military brown 1701 over red 1150 (7th Bn) OR military brown 1701 over cobalt blue 2012 (27th Bn) OR red 1150 over cobalt blue 2012 (artillery) OR yellow 1169 inside black (1st MG Bn)
hands,face--flesh
chin strap--leather 1736
rifle strap,hat band--sand 1706 base--brown Fr. Earth 2108 OR green 2029