The Ship Model Forum

I was asking for WW1 WW2 period. Especially large caliber guns. I can find B/W pictures of Queen Elizabeth/Valiant and so on (15inch) whith both types of muzzle paint.

here are guns of Queen Elizabeth during WW2 (painted) :

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205187052

and here Hood in 1932 (unpainted and open mouth so those unpainted areas are definitely not a plug or tampion)

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_15-42_mk1.htm

Is it a time period problem ? unpainted/polished during peacetime and painted during wartime ?

What time period/gun/ship? I too have seen both, mostly painted these days (the Mk-8 4.5") but I've also seen what appears to be polished metal almost akin to chrome. Granted those were black and white photos and quite possibly were barrel plugs but I can't be sure. I believe they were the twin 4.5" turrets of the Cold War era.

Hi

what is the common rule concerning RN gun muzzles painted/unpainted ?

sometimes gun barrels near muzzle are bare metal. sometimes they are painted.