Problems with my HMS. Nelson colours.

jhl1908 · Problems with my HMS. Nelson colours.

I’m looking at my HMS Nelson kit at the moment; and find the Humbrol 74 Matt Linen paint by far too yellow to look right on the deck.
But since I don’t know if the real surface was wood or another material, I don’t really have a choice.
If it was wood wouldn’t 71 Satin Oak with a flat finish be more life like?

Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated.

- Jesper.

Richard M

British Navy wooden decks were "holystoned" daily during peacetime, this was done with sandstone blocks which in effect sanded the deck to new bare wood. From various descriptions I've read this gave a very pale almost white appearance to the deck.
Best
Rich

T16S

Nelson and Rodney were built using 'D' steel for economy of displacement- to get under 35000 tons. In fact they came out between 33 and 34000 tons each. Part of the weight saving was to omit the wooden decks. From this an early date model of the ships should have steel decks. By WWII they had been fitted with wooden decks. Yet therein lies a problem because there does seem to be some evidence that the decks were camouflage-painted during the war. It's one of those thorny problems! Especially as Rodnol and Nelsol do not seem to have had quite the same camouflage etc.
Sorry if this muddies the water!
cheers Stuart

jhl1908

Thank’s guys.

It is a great help.

The Airfix scheme doesn’t have any camouflage at all.
The painting guide is as follows:

Deck: 74 Matt Linen.
Upper decks: 88 Matt Deck Green.
Life boats: 73 Matt white.
Upper hull and structure: 87 Matt Steel Gray.
Lower hull: 73 Matt Wine.
Waterline: 33 Matt Black.

Somehow I think it looks wrong, and I have never seen one build with this scheme.

But can it be right? In if it is the case, when was the ship sailing in this scheme?
If you look at Tamiya’s Rodney and Nelson they look quite different, and with lots of details not in the Airfix kit.
So I think airfix’s version must be a rather early representation.

- Jesper.

T16S

Hi Jesper.
you need to see the book by Alan Raven and John Roberts- Man O' War 3 Battleships Rodney and Nelson.
It gives full camouflage etc and lots of photos from which you can distinguish the two ships from each other and also the various alterations. The text also gives good coverage of the ship's career and specifications.
cheers Stuart

Repulse1941

You might find some useful information in the pages of this thread

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=6855

Beaufighter

This guy airbrushes his decks in 10 different shades of wood colour. Looks terrific.

jhl1908

Thanks, Repulse1941.
Great link and forum.

- Jesper.