American Civil War

Dated: July 8, 2001.

Mr. Ted Schulz (USA) has very kindly supplied his painting guide to be shared with fellow enthusiasts. Many thanks for sharing this work with us which must have taken many hours to put together. Any comments can be addressed to Mr. Schulz at

"I've been painting 1/72 figures for over 30 years. Attached are the colors I use. I thought this might be useful for novices. These are the colors (mostly Testors) which I've found most closely match the pictures (boxes, Osprey books, etc.). For one shade colors, here are the Testors numbers; black (1149 or 1749), white (1168 or 1768), gold (1144 or 1744), silver (1146), steel (1180 or 1780), brass (1182 or 1782), flesh (flat-various available shades or mixtures). All "XF-" colors are Pactra."

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

ALL COLOR NUMBERS ARE TESTORS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
NOTE: colors based on "Military Uniforms In Colour", Preban Kannik, Blandford Press, London, 1968., and the box art.

UNION

UNION ENGINEERS
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--blue 2031
pants--sky blue 1162
shirt--camouflage gray 1733
belt,boots,holster--black
pouch & strap,suspenders,bucket rope--tan, ital.sand 2110
barrel straps,shovel,pick--steel
paper--white
buttons,buckle--gold
hair,fence--brown,ital.dark 2111
hands,face--flesh
shovel & pick handle,bucket,barrel,box,rope,boards--wood 1735
crow bar --gun metal 1795
rocks--gray 1163
base--green 2029
basket--tan 1167&dark tan 1742
basket dirt--earth,dark 2054

UNION ARTILLERY
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--blue 2031
pants--sky blue 1162
shirt--camouflage gray 1733
officer sash,coat trim,pant stripe--red 1150
belt,boots,holster,straps--black
pouch & strap--tan, ital.sand 2110
sword,scabbard--steel 1180
buttons,buckle--gold
hair--brown,ital.dark 2111
hands,face--flesh
ram rod--wood 1735 & black
base--green 2029
HORSE--brown 1166
blanket--blue 2031
straps,saddle--leather 1736
caisson,cannon base,wheel--wood 1735
cannon, base metal--gun metal 1795
wheel rims--steel 1180

UNION INFANTRY
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--blue 2031
pants--sky blue 1162
blanket roll--gray,dark 2036
left pouch & strap--drak tan 1742
pack,scabbard,holster,pack straps,straps,belt,shoes,pouch--black
barrel,flag pole--wood 1735
flag pole tip,buttons,buckle,sword handle--gold
bugle--brass
cup,canteen top,barrel straps--steel
hair,gun--brown,ital. dark 2111
gun barrel,binocculars,pistol--gun metal 1795
hands,face--flesh
base--green 2029

UNION CAVALRY
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--blue 2031
pants--sky blue 1162
collar,kerchief,pant stripe,coat trim--yellow 1169
straps--leather 1736 or black
belt,boots,scabbard,scabbard strap--black
flag pole--wood 1735
flag pole tip,buttons,buckles--gold
bugle--brass
hair,gun--brown,ital. dark 2111
gun barrel--gun metal 1795
sword&handle--steel
hands,face--flesh
HORSE--whatever
blanket--blue 2031
blanket trim--yellow 1169
straps,saddle--leather 1736
base--green 2029

CONFEDERATE

CONFEDERATE ENGINEERS
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--gray,ital.blue 2113
pants--sky blue 1162
shirt--red,brit. crimson 2009
belt,boots,holster--black
pouch & strap,suspenders,bucket rope--tan, ital.sand 2110
barrel straps,shovel,pick--steel
paper--white
buttons,buckle--gold
hair,fence--brown,ital.dark 2111
hands,face--flesh
shovel & pick handle,bucket,barrel,box,rope,boards--wood 1735
crow bar--gun metal 1795
rocks--gray 1163
base--green 2029
basket--tan 1167&dark tan 1742
basket dirt--earth,dark 2054

CONFEDERATE ZOUAVES,LOUISIANA TIGERS (HAT # 8004)
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
pants,leggings--white
coat,shoes,scabbard,small pouch--black
shirt,sash,hat,coat trim--red 1150
pant stripes,tassle--bright blue 2032
hair,gun--brown,ital.dark 2111
buckle,gun stock--gold
gun barrel--gun metal 1795
bayonette--steel
hands,face--flesh
base--green 2029

CONFEDERATE INFANTRY
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--gray,ital.blue 2113
pants--sky blue 1162
shirt--camouflage gray 1733
blanket roll--gray,dark 2036
left pouch & strap--drak tan 1742
pack,scabbard,holster,pack straps,straps,belt,shoes,pouch--black
barrel,flag pole--wood 1735
flag pole tip,buttons,buckle,sword handle--gold
bugle--brass
cup,canteen top,barrel straps--steel
hair,gun--brown,ital. dark 2111
gun barrel,binocculars,pistol--gun metal 1795
hands,face--flesh
base--green 2029

CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--gray,ital.blue 2113
pants--sky blue 1162
shirt--camouflage gray 1733
officer sash,coat trim,pant stripe--red 1150
belt,boots,holster,straps--black
pouch & strap--tan, ital.sand 2110
sword,scabbard--steel 1180
buttons,buckle--gold
hair--brown,ital.dark 2111
hands,face--flesh
ram rod--wood 1735 & black
base--green 2029
HORSE--brown 1166
blanket--gray,ital.blue 2113
straps,saddle--leather 1736
caisson,cannon base,wheel--wood 1735
cannon, base metal--gun metal 1795
wheel rims--steel 1180

CONFEDERATE CAVALRY
BODY PART(S)--COLOR
coat,hat--gray,ital.blue 2113
pants--sky blue 1162
collar,kerchief,pant stripe,coat trim--yellow 1169
straps--leather 1736 or black
belt,boots,scabbard,scabbard strap--black
flag pole--wood 1735
flag pole tip,buttons,buckles--gold
bugle--brass
hair,gun--brown,ital. dark 2111
gun barrel--gun metal 1795
sword&handle--steel
hands,face--flesh
HORSE--whatever
blanket--gray,ital.blue 2113
blanket trim--yellow 1169
straps,saddle--leather 1736
base--green 2029