Feldgrau Dye?

[Wanderers87]

Hey, anybody out there know a source for, or is selling, the feldgray dye used to convert Swiss tunics? Apparently my definition of feldgrau, and this Finnish dealer's, is way off

Thanks for the help!
-Gavin

[CWP]

Gavin what the hell are you doing with a converted Swiss tunic???

Chris P.

[Wanderers87]

Lol, don't worry Chris, it's for a project/idea I'm working on. Not for use with the 3rd.

-Gavin

[CWP]

OK Gavin, in that case, maybe I can help you!

First of all- I have an original mint unissued M44 field blouse that I got from Bill Shea that is almost the exact same shade as the Swiss tunics- a very blue shade. This field blouse is fitted with shoulder straps that are even more blue than the tunic. I have seen an Army M43 tunic as well that was blue, like the Swiss wool. Depending on the project, it may not be necessary to dye the wool at all.

If you need Feldgrau it will be quite a challenge. I have tried it with a Swiss overcoat and could not match Feldgrau- eventually I dyed the thing black. Based on my experience, here is my advice: First, use yellow Rit dye and let the thing spend an hour or two in the dyebath. Don't leave it in there too long! When you are done, with any luck you will have an early war bluish green color (yellow dye = blue wool= green wool). If that doesn't work, give it another shot with the seafoam green dye used generally for Swede tunic conversions- you can get it from Jonathan Krieger at www.reenactorstuff.com. Good luck, let me know how it turns out!

Chris

[Wanderers87]

Asking for your advice, oh wise one...

"Depending on the project, it may not be necessary to dye the wool at all."

You call it-- it's a midwar SS tunic. Dye or no dye? It's a "souvenir" tunic for a Brit impression I do- I do alot of public displays with them and am setting up a "spoils of war" display. I know that there were some differences in the construction of the Army M43 vs. SS M43, and you know more about uniforms than I do- is this an acceptable color for an SS tunic? Did colors even vary between the two tunic types (Army vs. SS?) Thanks for the help, Chris

-Gavin