Question about painting WW1 US battleships

battlewagon · Post by **battlewagon** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:31 pm

I am currently working on the USS Delaware kit and I am trying to figure out if the "O-1" level (the deck at the level of the #2 turret) is painted light gray or dark gray .It is a metal deck. I am painting the ship an overall (pre-war) light gray with no camouflage. The pictures of the kits in the GHQ online catalog suggest light gray and I have found one poor quality overhead photo that suggests a darker gray. Can anyone shed some light on this one? Thanks.

Matt

Donald M. Scheef · Post by **Donald M. Scheef** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:48 am

I don't have a direct answer, but suggest you look at http://www.navsource.org/

Don Scheef

battlewagon · Post by **battlewagon** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:20 am

Thanks Don,

I think I have solved the riddle. The kit has AA gun tubs atop the boat derricks amidships and that was a late war modification as near as I can tell. In a photo in one of my books it is clear that the gun tubs have a dark deck and the deck below also looks darker than the overall color of the hull and superstructure. I will use Gunship Gray for the gun tub decking and deck behing #2 turret. I will stay with the overall light gray as I really don't feel like painting a saw tooth pattern around the deck edge. I will have to post a picture when I finish the kit.

Matt

battlewagon · Post by **battlewagon** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:56 am

I found a great reference for the standard navy paint scheme for WW1 era US battleships buried deep in my reference library. Classic Warships Publishing: Warship Pictorial #4 USS Texas BB-35 has descriptions and color plates including a 1/350 scale full color overhead view of the Texas circa 1914 (pgs 32-33) Also included are full color profiles of standard navy gray (early 1941), Measure 12, Measure 21, Measure 22 and Measure 31. Color chips are represented on page 36. It is still in print and less than $20.

Standard Navy Gray paint scheme for US WW1 battleships:
The paint scheme for 1914 is a very light gray, lighter than haze gray on the hull and superstructure, unpainted teak decks and dark gray decking. fittings that are flush to the deck are dark gray, raised fittings (ventilators, etc) are light gray. Ships boats are the same light gray as the hull with natural wood interiors.

I hope this helps any other "big gun" enthusiasts. Thank you GHQ, keep the dreadnoughts coming...and could you possibly slip in a US armored cruiser like the San Diego (ex-California) they are beautiful ships that would look great in 1/2400th scale!

Matt

cbovill · Post by **cbovill** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:01 am

Matt,

Great information on the USN in WWI. Did it say anything about decks having materials other than wood or metal (e.g., cortizene) being in use at this time (WWI era)? ...and was there any reference to how turret tops were painted?

Thanks,
Chris

battlewagon · Post by **battlewagon** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:33 am

Chris,

For the paint scheme (1914) I referenced, the turret tops are the same light gray as the hull and superstructure. I think there may be some dark gray turret tops in 1918 - 1920 timeframe...I will do a little homework on this one. There was no mention of corticine decking in any of my documentation (so far) on US battleships of the period, so if it is metal, horizontal and people stand on it, I'm painting it Gunship Gray

It's good to know I'm not the only one wrestling with these minute details...my wife is starting to look at me a little funny when I break out the books.

I hope this helps.

Matt

Mikee · Post by **Mikee** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:46 pm

Matt:

There is another shade that might fit the WWI U.S. BBs. White Ensign Models puts out a line of military colors for ships, tanks, etc. WEMCC US01 is "#5 Standard Navy Grey", approved in 1937. It's later than the WWI period, but might be in the right range. It's darker than Light Grey and lighter than Haze Grey. BBs usually, I understand, had natural wood decks, but painted other horizontal surfaces a dark grey or dark blue grey.

Mikee