SCW: Republican Painting Guide
See the overall Painting Guide for general colour suggestions.
Republican Militia
Any old civilian kit (usually brown), or service items from the Pre-war peninsular army (that is greenish-tinged khaki like the Nationalist service uniform) or from the Paramilitary forces (Dark Blue Assault Guards, or Grey-green for Civil Guard and Carabineros). The most common Militia items were a forage cap and overalls.
Fore-and-aft forage cap (if worn)
Default: Greenish-tinged khaki with red piping. Optional red star pinned to front.
Anarchist: Black over red with colours divided diagonally from bottom left to top right (on both sides).
Worker’s overall (“mono”) (if worn)
The “mono” was usually dark blue, but could be grey, brown, light blue or white.
Republican Popular Army and International Brigades
These combined pre-war equipment (the greenish-tinged khaki of the Nationalist Service Uniform) with the official popular army kit (brownish-tinged khaki) with civilian clothes (brown) with French army-surplus uniforms. In other words, anything goes but usually brownish. Coat D'arms 501 British Khaki seems close to the official colour, however, a mixing in 524 Tan Earth, 528 Russian Brown, 537 Faded Khaki 225 Khaki, and 502 Field Drab will work well.
The best way to paint them is to browse Bradley (1994) and Bueno (1971) and then paint randomly.
Rank devices
Early: Prior to Sep 1936 the Republicans used the per-war insignia (see Bradley, 1994, figure I1 to I8).
Late: With the formation of the Popular Army all that changed (see Bradley, 1994, figure J1 to J10).
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Spanish Rank |
English Rank |
Rank Device |
Illustration |
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Soldado |
Private |
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Soldado de 1a clase |
Private 1st Class |
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Cabo |
Corporal |
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Sargento |
Sergeant |
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Brigada |
Sergeant Major |
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Alférez |
Second Lieutenant |
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Teniente |
Lieutenant |
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Capitan |
Captain |
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Commandante |
Major |
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Teniente Coronel |
Lt. Colonel |
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Coronel |
Colonel |
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General de Brigada |
Brigadier |
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General de División |
General |
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* Officer ranks were shown in a number ways. Typically it was shown on the tunic, shirt, and cap/hat:
· On the tunic and shirt:
o On the cuff (Captains and below had it just above the cuff; higher officers had it actually on the cuff), or
o On a biscuit (galleta) on the left breast. This was a coloured piece of rectangular material on immediately above the breast pocket. See branch-of-service section for the colour.
· On the shirt on a biscuit (galleta) on the left breast.
· On the cap/hat depending on the style worn:
o Front of the fore-and-aft forage cap (except the Legion)
o Band of a peaked cap
Branch-of-service indicators
Same as pre-war before Sept 1936.
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Branch-of-service |
Piping |
Badge |
Officer Galetta |
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Infantry |
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Light Infantry |
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Artillery |
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Cavalry |
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Engineers |
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Armoured troops |
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Medical troops |
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Unit commanders (Majors through Colonels) |
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Provisional officers |
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Brigadiers through Generals |
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Spanish Helmet (if worn)
Painted a nondescript dark greenish grey.
French Adrian Helmet (if worn)
Painted brown (see Bradley, 1994, C1, E2)
Berets (if worn)
Black or brown or greenish-tinged khaki or brownish-tinged khaki.
Forage Cap (if worn)
Greenish-tinged khaki piped red
Ski Cap (if worn)
brownish-tinged khaki or Greenish-tinged khaki.
Tunics / Jackets
Greenish-tinged khaki, brownish-tinged khaki, brown or black leather.
Trousers
Greenish-tinged khaki, brownish-tinged khaki or brown civilian.
Gaiters / Puttees
Brown leather or Greenish-tinged khaki
Leather boots, belts, etc
Mostly Brown, some black