The Ship Model Forum

Thanks for the clarification on the Baltic colors, the funnel paint I was refering to was not for the funnel caps, but a paint for the exterior of the funnels themselves. It is mentioned in a few of the photo's in the ADTK book. The most evidence of it seems to be between the wars, Emden, K-class, Leipzig, and some auxilaries. This may just be another case of mis-enturpreting black and white photo's, but the funnels look lighter in many pictures from this time. If you have not heard of this "Emulsion 95" in any other primary scources, however, I will assume it may have been another misleading statement from ADTK. Thanks Dan

Hi Dan ~ The paint used on the funnel cap was either your Emulsion 95, which is stated in the 1941 paint regulation as *Wasserfarbe Hellgrau* (light grey, based on water, aqua colour, whatever) or the RAL 9006 Aluminiumbronze (similar name in English) which had a bit of a shiny appearance like aluminum/aluminium. However, a few ships had the funnel cap painted black or even incorporated into a camouflage scheme. The heat resistance applies only to the insides of the funnels and funnel caps (as far as I understand the paint regulation).

There is no reference whatsoever about special grey tones used for the Baltic camouflage. As far as I know, this camouflage was directly applied on the so-called piecetime livery (some call it the [color=#FF0000]50[/color]/[color=#FF0000]51[/color] scheme), which is the standard livery of RAL 7001 (Hellgrau [color=#FF0000]50[/color]) on the superstructure and RAL 7000 (Dunkelgrau [color=#FF0000]51[/color]) on the hull. However, there are two camouflage greys (light and dark) noted in the 1941 paint regulation (the 1944 edition has much more). According to that 1941 paper, these two grey tones were used during the construction period. Whatever that means. The light tone is lighter than RAL 7001, the darker is darker than 7000. There are no RAL-numbers available for them. But I don't think they used these for the Baltic camouflage.

On the S&S sets the information seems to be misleading. I only can assume that during the research the 1944 grey tones for camouflage purposes accidently were considered, not known by the researchers that these paints were not available in 1941. The same seems to have happened to the authors of the ADTK book. I have to look it up but they even don't mention the 1941 (and earlier) paint regulations.

There was a light grey used in the Baltic during the last month of the war. I have no idea if this was RAL 7038 or even RAL 7035. Many ships were painted light grey, of course with exceptions such as Prinz Eugen. The only (secondary source) reference I know is Hans-Georg Prager's book on Deutschland/L�tzow in which there is an illustration of the ship with the Baltic stripes applied. I have to look it up but most if not all RAL numbers mentioned there are wrong (when we assume that the paint regulations are the only truth!).

The 50/51 scheme we know from WWII ships was no different to the scheme of WWI ships. They had no RAL numbers of course, but the appearance of the ships was more or less the same. Maybe they were adding this or that to the paints, but the basic scheme was the same from I think 1896 on.

Hope this helps a bit.

Happy painting ~ Olaf!

Many things have been clarified about KM colors and where and when they were used. One thing that deals with a special paint that was used on funnels that is mentioned in the ADTK book, they call emulsion 95, has not been covered before in any other books articles or forums, that I can find. Obviously, it was ment to stand the heat and soot from funnel gases. I have never seen mention of it in any color charts for German naval vessels in either war. It gave the funnels a very light, almost white look and appeared to be more glossy. Anyone have any more info on this, was it only used on coal fired ships, etc. The second question is about the first KM color chip chart from SnS. They show three chips under Baltic Scheme colors, that I have never seen referenced to any vessels except the one T-35 class torpedo boat that calls out the use of these colors. Most of the recent information on the Baltic Stripe Camo, of 1941-42 notes a base coat of standard RAL7000, hull with RAL7001 above main deck. Some have said the RAL7038 could have been an alternate to 7001, on some ships that appear to have a lighter upper works. Is it possible that the Baltic Scheme colors in SnS were used as standard greys of WWI warships. That is close to what White Ensign has used in its latest suggested hull and superstructure colors for WWI German ships? Just trying to tie up some loose ends.