Photo of Dutch Imperial Troops

[Col. Whipstick]

I posted this at the end of another thread because I thought it appropriate to the design of the green imperials but thought it worthwhile showing in a thread of it's own. Is it just me or is it really easy to find illustrations or British or French imperial forces yet we struggle with varying other nationalities. I know there's a million and one uniforms concerning the nations of Europe but given their relative obscurity they have little use for possible minifigs.

I finally found a photo showing Dutch colonial troops in a theme dress situation and it's exactly what I was looking for as a generic design to turn minifigs into truly Dutch looking characters. This also gives me some bankable evidence for the green uniform theory. Anyway, I really like the look of these guys and they'd make some pretty cool minifigs. As for the photo... I can't even remember where I found it *wacko*

Edited November 6, 2007 by Col. Whipstick

[Capn Frank]

The link's not public :'-(

You have a direct-link?

P

[Mister Phes]

Put images in the first post man! Your thread will get more attention that way.

[Col. Whipstick]

I tried no end to post the photo here! I don't know why that link isn't public, perhaps brickshelf needs to verify it's contents first.

The photo is about 47 k and I couldn't add it as a file attachment no matter what format I chose so how the hell you guys have been able to insert is beyond me so the only option I've had is to insert image via a url and when i tried inserting the image I get the error message of: Sorry, dynamic pages in the tags are not allowed. This happens all the time with any bitmap images I produce even when I change the format to gif etc.

I've just gone to brickshelf and not logged in and I'm able to find the image perfectly so it's a mystery why the link isn't active. It works perfectly for me... try again or someone give me some instruction on how to upload images to the post successfully because there's obviously something I'm missing.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=2809978

Edited November 6, 2007 by Col. Whipstick

[Mister Phes]

Brickshelf folders need to be moderated.

You're getting the "Sorry, dynamic pages in the tags are not allowed." message because you need to click on the image again.

In Brickshelf clicking on a thumbnail takes you to a preview image (not the actual image) so you need to click on that the preview image to access the actual image.

[Col. Whipstick]

Okay... fixed! Also fixed on my other thread concerning the Imperial Armada.

Just got to my initial post at the start of both threads respectively to view the image. Thanks for the troubleshooting tips. *y*

[Mister Phes]

I think there's a tutorial thread round here somewhere that explains how it's done in more detail and with pictures!

[Lord Of Pies]

Is this what you are looking for?

[Captain Green Hair]

Wow, me like Dutch troops *wub*

Those jackets are blue aren't they?

[Col. Whipstick]

Wow, me like Dutch troops *wub*

Those jackets are blue aren't they?

Looked like a deep, dark green to me but then maybe you're right and they look green because that's what my mind was seeking. Those could easily be manufactured though...

[Mister Phes]

Is this what you are looking for?

Oh Lord of Pies you're a wondermuffin! Yes, that's exactly the thread I had in mind.

[Captain Green Hair]

Looked like a deep, dark green to me but then maybe you're right and they look green because that's what my mind was seeking. Those could easily be manufactured though...

Sweet, i can just use my blue coats as dutchman with a little imagination :-D

Maybe green was a hard color to produce those days, because it is not a primary color......??

[Col. Whipstick]

Here's my version of the boys in the photo, I'm still maintaining it's a dark green until my next eye examination.

So simple Dutch troops should look something like this if we don't mess around with the original torso design much...

[Mister Phes]

I'd say that's more dark teal than it is dark green X-D

Is the face you're using supposed to represent that of the Admiral Woodhouse mini-figure?

[Col. Whipstick]

Nope... I have that face seperate, I didn't want to use that face for a more common soldier but thought the normal lego face looked a bit bland for the illustration. To make them look more Dutch I thought the brown bearded face of the Bomber Brigadeer would be more ideal. I would have used a Tricorn but I'm taking the hat from the photo.

In terms of your wanting to see more red on the torso to make the blue imperials truly French just put red where I put yellow on the soldier torso and there's your viable Frenchy.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Col. Whipstick

[Mister Phes]

Since you're customising the torsos couldn't you customise the faces as well?

Maybe not so far as to change the design but pick a different colour for the facial hair. What would work well for Dutch - Red... Orange?

[Col. Whipstick]

I can happily put Orange facial hair and it would illuminate the orange of the epaulettes and the feathers, only when it comes to MS paint the orange could look a bit naff on the yellow face but I'll give it a try sometime, generally I'm trying to do as little as possible to the original designs because I feel it's something of a sacriledge.

The other aspect is usually there are two colours of epaulettes to depict rank... should Dutch imperial minifigs be like the blues or should we use orange epaulettes, which colour should be for officers and which for grunts?

[Captain Green Hair]

Here's my version of the boys in the photo, I'm still maintaining it's a dark green until my next eye examination.

So simple Dutch troops should look something like this if we don't mess around with the original torso design much...

Since you're customising the torsos couldn't you customise the faces as well?

Maybe not so far as to change the design but pick a different colour for the facial hair. What would work well for Dutch - Red... Orange?

I can happily put Orange facial hair and it would illuminate the orange of the epaulettes and the feathers, only when it comes to MS paint the orange could look a bit naff on the yellow face but I'll give it a try sometime, generally I'm trying to do as little as possible to the original designs because I feel it's something of a sacriledge.

The other aspect is usually there are two colours of epaulettes to depict rank... should Dutch imperial minifigs be like the blues or should we use orange epaulettes, which colour should be for officers and which for grunts?

Wow, those torso's look great!

Brown or tan hair would be best i think.

And then yellow, orange and redapaulettes and plumes!

Orange for the high ranks, yellow for the NCO's and red for troops.

[Col. Whipstick]

Wow, those torso's look great!

Brown or tan hair would be best i think.

And then yellow, orange and redapaulettes and plumes!

Orange for the high ranks, yellow for the NCO's and red for troops.

Now that sounds like a plan, what about the use of yellow on the torso folds, or keep that all a solid dark green? What kind of hats for who in the ranks? Will have to work on some Dutch insignia though the Prince of Orange flag does nicely enough.

Now I've been challenged to make Spanish and Portuguese destinctive, let alone the Dutchies, talk about a workload. Don't anyone dare bring up the subject of Germans and Belgians etc...

Edited November 7, 2007 by Col. Whipstick

[Mister Phes]

I can happily put Orange facial hair and it would illuminate the orange of the epaulettes and the feathers, only when it comes to MS paint the orange could look a bit naff on the yellow face but I'll give it a try sometime,

Why do you torture yourself with MS Paint? A program that supports vector based editing like Illustrator or Fireworks would be much faster and give you many options.

The other aspect is usually there are two colours of epaulettes to depict rank... should Dutch imperial minifigs be like the blues or should we use orange epaulettes, which colour should be for officers and which for grunts?

I'd use the orange epaulettes for sure, but whether they be placed on officers or grunts I am unsure. Does history have an answer for us?

[Col. Whipstick]

Why do you torture yourself with MS Paint? A program that supports vector based editing like Illustrator or Fireworks would be much faster and give you many options.

I'd use the orange epaulettes for sure, but whether they be placed on officers or grunts I am unsure. Does history have an answer for us?

I don't have those programs, MS Paint ma be hard work but it's what I've got. Unfortunately all I have is that photo and some vague refferences in Wilbur Smith novels to the Dutch soldiers at the Cape wearing green uniforms. I've looked on the net but as I've said before Dutch uniforms are hardly as proliferant as British and French. If anyone has ideas about the epaulettes drop the suggestion so I can make the design work.

[Mister Phes]

They're easily downloaded and they give you a 30 day trial - or longer if you ask them nicely.

[Col. Whipstick]

Okay, this could take forever...

I need feedback on our options...

We need to chose 1/2 governors, 1/2 types of officers and the trooper is self explanatory though he could have orange or yellow epaulettes instead of the red.

[Mister Phes]

I definitely don't like the yellow epaulettes.

I'd say orange for the grunts and red for the officers - though I base that opinion merely because the red stands out more in that image X-D

[Lord Of Pies]

Oh Lord of Pies you're a wondermuffin! Yes, that's exactly the thread I had in mind.

Your Welcome! Ya know, I have never been called a wondermuffin before! X-D X-D

Also, Col. Whipstick, your Dutch Imperials look great!! :-) They look very neat, however, I prefer red epaulettes to the yellow ones for some odd reason, but ,I say keep the faces as they are, they look perfectly fine to me. *y*