The Ship Model Forum

I am not aware of any source documentary evidence regarding the colours in this scheme. However my hunch is that the more likely palette would have been G10, B15, B30, G45 (ie B15 rather than G20). Such a palette was common on larger ships at this time. I quite understand given the tone seen in the photos why you have suggested G20 but blues do seem to have tended to photograph a bit lighter in that era and there are numerous photos of ships where we know B15 was present where the B15 looks very much like the second darkest tone in those photos of Dido. But, as I say, only a hunch.

Hello all, I was wondering if some sage could help me out with the colors on Dido's 1943 Disruptive scheme.

Looking at the attached photo (which i found earlier in the thread) I thought that Dido would be fun to model during this time. I looked though the ships logs and IWM photo archive, and I am positive that I have found the port side camoflauge as well.

[img]https://frm-wows-us.wgcdn.co/wows_forum_us/monthly_2021_11/297840930_UnknownDIDOclass.jpg.69f38862e655097f7fcbb934c07dbad5.jpg[/img]
[img]https://frm-wows-us.wgcdn.co/wows_forum_us/monthly_2022_01/763353952_1.png.e2810d8deb71370677fd60010fcd1ffb.png[/img][img]https://frm-wows-us.wgcdn.co/wows_forum_us/monthly_2022_01/image.jpeg.8f1fc5862fc3baeb467a3b193e7eab7a.jpeg[/img]
[img]https://frm-wows-us.wgcdn.co/wows_forum_us/monthly_2022_01/image.png.edc59cb5121ae474ceb69262e306ad61.png[/img]

While I may be able to derive the pattern from this, I'm not sure what the colors are. Based on the contrast between shades and the colors availible in late 1943 I think that there are 4 shades; G10,G20,B30, and G45. However, I can't be sure. Are there any resources on this, or is photo analysis the best anyone can do?

email sent.

[quote="DavidP"]Bayuro, I have drawings of the profile & topview for the Black Prince. the profile is 1.2mb at 4200x1200 & the topview is 1.16mb at 4300x1100. need email address if you want a copy.[/quote]

Nice, thank you DavidP!

bobbyayuro@gmail.com

Bayuro, I have drawings of the profile & topview for the Black Prince. the profile is 1.2mb at 4200x1200 & the topview is 1.16mb at 4300x1100. need email address if you want a copy.

Thanks maxim and tjstoneman, Yes I'm aware of the scale of challenge if I'm gonna undertake this project. The difference between the Dido and Bellona are way too obvious. Unfortunately for me I don't have detailed line drawings of Black Prince The internet can only provide less detailed line drawings. Shipbucket can only provide starboard side. I hope that somebody might help me get more detailed drawings of Black Prince.

Possible? Yes. Easy? No. As maxim said, there would be a lot of work involved:
[list]New forward superstructure from "B" gundeck upwards (ie remove upper section of Part R-1 and build a completely new structure).
Source a third quadruple 2pdr pompom and pompom director.
Omit Naiad's quadruple 0.5" mountings.
Add new 20mm Oerlikons in single and twin mountings.
Replace raked foremast and mainmast with vertical ones.
Replace raked funnels with vertical ones.
Add new superstructure block ahead of after funnel.
Replace masthead air warning radar aerials.
Add new gunnery radar aerials to all three DCTs and pompom directors.
Add surface warning radar on foremast.[/list]

It would require a lot of changes of the superstructure including even the funnels.

Just asking a question. I just wondering if it's possible to convert an existing kit like Flyhawk 1/700 HMS Naiad into a Bellona subgroup of Dido class like HMS Black Prince?

Okay lets try this image posting thing one more time based on the advice above, for which thanks.

This is the Airfix 1:600 Tiger hull and deck with the converted version. Length and beam reduced, most of deck replaced. Cruiser stern added aft, and eventually two extra shafts, armour belt and bilge keel added.
[img]https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/1416/3399/4969/forum_image_6164c8d7b3e86.png[/img]

This is the scratch built forward superstructure and turrets taking shape.
[img]https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/1716/3528/9369/forum_image_617889186147c.png[/img]

The WEM PE was used and this is the foremast created by adding an extra section on to the Tiger fore mast, as well as placing the Type 277 radar on it.
[img]https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/6216/3613/8755/forum_image_61857effc679c.png[/img]

Forward hull and superstructure complete:
[img]https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/9316/3660/9358/forum_image_618cad490c233.png[/img]

Overall waterline view using some MDF shelves as sea/sky:
[img]https://d63oxfkn1m8sf.cloudfront.net/1916/3660/9339/forum_image_618cad3979794.png[/img]

[quote="Kevin Dekker"]I don't seem to be able to post pictures on here successfully. Here's some pictures of my Dido build on the Airfix site. Previous pages on this thread also show the original Tiger hull alongside the Dido conversion hull. It's good fun converting, and I have a spare Suffolk in 1:600 that I'll probably convert to Exeter.

[url]https://uk.airfix.com/community/forum/1600-ww2-british-aa-cruiser?ccm_paging_p=2#end-of-replies[/url][/quote]

Your previous photos linked to ones that were on (what I guess was) your personal Google Drive, where the photos are locked from public viewing. The links also seemed to lead to the page where the photos are, rather than the photos themselves, so the [img] tags wouldn't work regardless.

If you copy the link to the photos you posted on the Airfix forum (right click, copy link to image) and use the [img] tags with those, they should show up here without issues, albeit without the benefit of the auto-resizing that the newer Airfix forum software has.

I'm using 2 Ajax hulls to build HMS York & Exeter as easier to lengthen & widen that way then the reverse using Suffolk hull as I originally looked into using Suffolk hull. did you read the article by Ian Fleming about him using the Ajax hull to do HMS Argonaut, a Dido class cruiser?
Suffolk https://www.world-war.co.uk/Kent/kent_class.php
Exeter https://www.world-war.co.uk/York/york_class.php

I don't seem to be able to post pictures on here successfully. Here's some pictures of my Dido build on the Airfix site. Previous pages on this thread also show the original Tiger hull alongside the Dido conversion hull. It's good fun converting, and I have a spare Suffolk in 1:600 that I'll probably convert to Exeter.

[url]https://uk.airfix.com/community/forum/1600-ww2-british-aa-cruiser?ccm_paging_p=2#end-of-replies[/url]

have a look at these.
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=165105
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=165137

[quote="DavidP"]you would have been better off using a Leander class hull like Ajax to do HMS Royalist as the shape & size of hull is closer to a Dido class then using a Tiger class hull that is also missing 2 props & shafts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Royalist_(89)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Tiger_(C20)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ajax_(22)[/quote]

Agreed but one works with what one has at hand. I had a spare Tiger available. I do have an Ajax but that is earmarked for other things. Tiger needed two shafts added (strangely enough there were two extra screws in the kit so that helped). The transom stern also needed a cruiser stern added. Beam was reduced, which is always tricky, and length also. The WEM photo etch for the Tiger was pretty close in terms of lattice mast so that worked out OK. Also needed to fit a bilge keel, something that Airfix seem to flip a coin over deciding whether to include or not. A thin armour belt was also added that covered most of the joint where the hull section was cut out.

All worked quite well in the end, although you have to check the deck lines carefully for any deformity when changing the beam, as squeezing the hull plates in will raise the deck edge alignment in places that needed filing back down to the correct line.

After reducing HMS Victorious by 80feet length and 20feet beam to create a Majestic class light fleet carrier, this conversion was fairly straight forward by comparison.

you would have been better off using a Leander class hull like Ajax to do HMS Royalist as the shape & size of hull is closer to a Dido class then using a Tiger class hull that is also missing 2 props & shafts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Royalist_(89)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Tiger_(C20)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ajax_(22)

This is Dido class cruiser HMS Royalist after modification. The kit is an Airfix 1:600 Tiger kit converted and with WEM photo etch.

Royalist was the ultimate Dido upgrade with full fighter direction suite, two Flyplane 5 fire control systems and STAAG 40mm Bofors, but she was the only ship of the class so upgraded. The ships were probably too small to accommodate all the bulky 1950's electronics plus operators and maintainers. The Tiger class were the next attempt at creating an AA cruiser, much bigger, and they omitted the STAAGs to save space. This explains why these ships appear to be so lightly armed, as you couldn't fit the electronics, weapons, AND crew at a WW2 level. Royalist tried and was always over crowded, with hammocks appearing almost everywhere in the ship there was spare space.

Not sure if the image link here will work, but here's trying:

[img]https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C2OEXVKi1SyUVqMfWV8ZxnVTWDdNN9xc/view?usp=drive_web[/img]

Thank you for the links to photos made in Copenhagen!

According to Ensign 2 by Raven and Lenton, she had four 20 mm twins and five 20 mm singles - which all can be found on the photos made in Copenhagen.

Those pictures, and the rest on the site are amazing dick (um. phrasing...)
Thank you :woo_hoo:

There are a number of images of Dido at Copenhagen in May 1945 on this Danish site which should help you. Here are a few of them:

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/154089

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/153734

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/248871

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/154090