I'm no artist and lazy so I tend to wash everything in Winsor and Newton nut brown ink. I think it works most of the time and you can always highlight a bit if the figure is too dark overall.

Simplified explanation would be something like this: for warm colours go into brown direction with washes, for cold colours into black one.

A word of advice: experiment with intensity of washes and their application... many times a controlled one ends with more satisfying results.

Hmm lots of food for thought there.
Thanks for all the advice guys. Very much appreciated.

I will buy a few more shades and have a play around.

Ive got some spare Hat limber/caisson horses I can test on plus some of the riders who will become guinea pigs!
I will give them a basic paint job rather than go whole hog of doing all the details. Have a try on that and then if im happy, have a go on a soldier or 2 of ones ive properly done.

With all the mud, smoke and powder burns during Waterloo, im not wanting figures looking too much like they just came out of a parade ground!

Many thanks again guys, stay safe in these troubled times.

Roger