The Ship Model Forum

I was reading a little more on these tonight in �Q Ships, Commerce Raiders and Convoys� by Patrick Stearns. With over 180 decoy ships used in WWI you�re probably safe with a little artistic license.

In the early part of the war, British merchant shipping was still in civilian colors and Q-ships would alter their appearance by changing funnel colors and markings. Around 1916 all merchant ship painting was standardized [grey, dazzle,?] and house colors no longer used.

Interesting to see all the different ways these ships could alter their appearance; folding and telescoping masts and derricks, telescoping funnels, canvas deck houses, relocatable ventilators and lifeboats. Really leaves a lot to the imagination. I found one photo with a clothesline up, looking very un-navy like.

Sounds like a fun project.

Just a general paint scheme. I have read where the hulls were painted black and the upper areas, bridge, etc were painted a gray. I'm building a 1950's Lindberg kit in 1/390 of a Q-ship, Decoy Raider. I found the plans of the same Q-ship in a April 1942 "Mechanix Illustrated" publication. The name of that Q-ship which they illustrate is called the "Crown Castle". I understand that there was never a Q-ship under that name.

Are you looking for any one ship in particular?

Many were trying to look like neutrals, which were more likely to be boarded and searched rather than summarily sunk, so standard merchant colors of the day are probably in order.

Some has the white ensign painted on the insides of the doors covering the guns, so they would be displayed when the guns were deployed as a time saving measure over raising the ensign in the standard fashion.

Well, if you want the ship to look like a standard civilian ship.....

Does anyone know what paint scheme they would have used on the Q-ships? All gray? I have found several pictures, but all are in black & white. It appears that in some photos, the ships were painted in regular standard black and cream colors with stacks having a company band.