Below you will find a guide on how to paint the army of the Second French Empire. It should be treated as the basic information that will allow you to paint your units. The French army, which was a vanguard of the development of the armed forces in the world, more and more unified its uniforms (compared to, for example, Napoleonic wars), but some formations, e.g. light cavalry, or units from North Africa, had different uniform colors depending on the regiment they belonged to. The Grenadiers of the French Guard, however, looked almost identical to the days of Napoleon I. Infantry, already had uniformed uniform designs and each infantry regiment wore a kepi, blue jacket and red pants.
We encourage you to conduct your own search on the Internet: In this regard, we recommend the following sites:
https://www.laguerrede1870enimages.fr/page64.html
Pictures from war of 1870, there was no great differences comparing to 1859, especially for 6 mm scale miniatures.
http://antan.unblog.fr/planches-sur-les-uniformes-du-xixe-siecle/
Uniforms of the French army from the mid-nineteenth century, including old uniformed plates.
http://www.uniformology.com/WORLD-12A-FR-AFRICA.html
North African formations uniforms, especially spahi.
http://www.uniformology.com/WORLD-08-NAP3.html
Generals and guard units.
https://1815-1918.blogspot.com/search/label/French%20Army
Different pictures and informations about French Army.
As new sets will be released, we will also add them to this guide.
Paintes by Nutka Maluje, and Bonapartist Paint Studio.
Main colours:
Red – Scarlett Blood 72.106 Vallejo
Black – Black nr 70.950 Vallejo
Blue – Blue nr 70.925 Vallejo.
Generalas:
The set includes 8 generals, 2 marshals and 6 hussars holding the flagpole. Generals and hussars have kepi on their heads, marshals have bicorns.
Kepi: red with a blue peak, black bicorns with golden trim.
Jacket: blue, golden cords and stripes. Black or gold belt.
Pants: Red (remember, “red pants are France!). Marshals may have white pants.
Shoes: Black.
If someone likes to have fun, it is worth giving them some beards – that was the fashion then.
The hussar has red stripes and a white belt. The hussar on the front has a so-called braiding – if you like it, you can do such horizontal, narrow lines (white or silver).
Horse saddle pads at generals red, saddles at hussars brown
Infantry
Kepi: red with a blue peak.
Jacket: blue, belt for bag and belt on the stomach black , belt for the bag white. White bag, turquoise or black canteen.
Backpack: brown, light brown blanket (lighter than the backpack).
Pants: Red (remember again, “red pants are France!).
Shoes: Black.
Drummer: Uniform like infantry, golden drum (sides) with light blue borders, white membrane.
Officer: He holds a saber in his hand. Bag and belts brown, red material under the belt on the belly (you can paint wider red and brown on it). The rest like privates.
Zouaves
Fez or turban: Fez red, white turban.
Jacket and shirt: blue, red jacket borders, black belt with golden buckle. Black bag.
Pants: Red (remember again, “red pants are France!).
Shoes: Black.
Drummer: Uniform like privates, golden drum (sides) with light blue borders, white membrane.
Officer: He holds a saber in his hand. Borders of jacket golden. The rest are like privates.
Dragoons:
Helmet: gold, black tassel and bristles.
Jacket: green, red epoulettes, white belt and bag. navy blue, belt for school bag and black on the belly, white belt for the bag (nicely cut off). White bag, turquoise or black canteen.
Pants: You know what color, because red pants are …? 😉
Shoes: Black.
Trumpeter: Uniform like the others, gold trumpet.
Officer: He holds a saber in his hand. Bag and belts brown, red material under the belt on the belly (you can paint wider red and brown on it). The rest like a private.
Horses: brown saddles, white saddle bag. The horses are rather brown.
Dragoni i kirasjerzy / Dragoon and cuirassiers 
Dragoni i kirasjerzy / Dragoon and cuirassiers 
Cuirassiers:
Helmet: silver, gold upper part, red tassel, black bristles.
Jacket: blue, red epoulettes.
Cuirass: silver, gold mounts (on shoulders)
Pants: Le pantalon rouge, c’est la France!
Shoes: Black.
Trumpeter: Uniform like the others (no cuirass), gold trumpet.
Officer: He’s holding a sword.
Horses: blue saddles, white saddle bag, blue blanket.
Our Cuirassiers figurines are very well described on the blog of Bonapartist Paint Studio (also in English).
La Hitte Gun
Carriage: Green, metallic circle border.
Barrel: Bronze / Gold.
Gunners: Blue jackets, brown blankets, white belt, kepi only blue and WARNING – pants also blue. Rifles on the back. Black shoes. The NCO has red epaulettes and the same color stripes on the pants.
