by Rob » Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:52 am
I have looked into WW1 camo myself - it's an interesting subject but info is not all that easy to come by.
The best book I can think of for WW1 is Naval Camouflage 1914-1945 by David Williams. It has some information about colours used and some excellent photographs, but you do'nt necessarily get both sides of the ship.
http://www.navybooks.com/asps/ShowDetails.asp?id=2044
I have built a couple of WW1 dazzle-scheme ships myself, the minelayer HMS London and the battleship HMS Commonwealth. As a bit of fun here's the two of them together.......
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Colours are partly guess-work based on black and white photographs and the narrative in the Williams book.
Both started life as Combrig resin kits and were converted. As resin kits go, Combrig's British pre-dreadnoughts are not really any more expensive than a plastic kit and do build quite nicely. If this does tempt you, I am happy to talk you through building one. I've built over 100 resin kits, a lot of them pre-1920 ships. There are also some HP kits suitable but they are more expensive and more difficult to build than the Combrigs. A good start from HP would be the RN T class destroyer. Again in resin, BFM have kitted a very nice Hog Islander Type A which woud look good in dazzle.
As regards plastic kits, a couple of liners would be suitable, but I can't think of much else. There is the Airfix Mauretania (as built by Jim Baumann) or any of the Titanic kits will convert to Olympic.
If you have access to the RA Burt books, you will also find some notes on camo schemes in there, albeit battleship orientated.
Hope this helps. Drop me a line on
rob_kernaghan@hotmail.com if you've any more questions.
All the best,
Rob
I have looked into WW1 camo myself - it's an interesting subject but info is not all that easy to come by.
The best book I can think of for WW1 is Naval Camouflage 1914-1945 by David Williams. It has some information about colours used and some excellent photographs, but you do'nt necessarily get both sides of the ship.
http://www.navybooks.com/asps/ShowDetails.asp?id=2044
I have built a couple of WW1 dazzle-scheme ships myself, the minelayer HMS London and the battleship HMS Commonwealth. As a bit of fun here's the two of them together.......
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/hms/london-700-rk/rk-index.html
Colours are partly guess-work based on black and white photographs and the narrative in the Williams book.
Both started life as Combrig resin kits and were converted. As resin kits go, Combrig's British pre-dreadnoughts are not really any more expensive than a plastic kit and do build quite nicely. If this does tempt you, I am happy to talk you through building one. I've built over 100 resin kits, a lot of them pre-1920 ships. There are also some HP kits suitable but they are more expensive and more difficult to build than the Combrigs. A good start from HP would be the RN T class destroyer. Again in resin, BFM have kitted a very nice Hog Islander Type A which woud look good in dazzle.
As regards plastic kits, a couple of liners would be suitable, but I can't think of much else. There is the Airfix Mauretania (as built by Jim Baumann) or any of the Titanic kits will convert to Olympic.
If you have access to the RA Burt books, you will also find some notes on camo schemes in there, albeit battleship orientated.
Hope this helps. Drop me a line on rob_kernaghan@hotmail.com if you've any more questions.
All the best,
Rob