Calling all Italian Zara, Pola, Gorizia & Fiume fans

[Deckard]

I have the Pola and encountered the same problem with Tauro's site. I emailed and received a reply immediately - they are having troubles with their site (and how long that will continue is anybody's guess, they didn't say) but all the 1/400 photo etch is available. You will have to order by email.

[Seeadler290]

Thanks! Good to know the whole line is available.

[Deckard]

Hi, I have a couple of questions about the Pola for those of you who are knowledgeable with these ships and /or have some references. I have the Tauro kit and it comes with a green lower hull. The instructions say to paint it green. I have a review of the Tauro Fiume and it comments that the lower hull of that kit is moulded red.

I have checked out members builds in the gallery for Pola and most are red with only one green, I think. Which is the correct colour for BTW for Pola 1941 (this is a lot like Zvezda's Varyag!).

Also, the kit does not include the life rafts which are prominently displayed along the sides of the superstructure and funnel. I would like to add them and need a source in 1/400. I don't want to scratch build them. Any suggestions and comments will be appreciated.
Regards James.

[Gilbert]

Hi, I have a couple of questions about the Pola for those of you who are knowledgeable with these ships and /or have some references. I have the Tauro kit and it comes with a green lower hull. The instructions say to paint it green. I have a review of the Tauro Fiume and it comments that the lower hull of that kit is moulded red.

I have checked out members builds in the gallery for Pola and most are red with only one green, I think. Which is the correct colour for BTW for Pola 1941 (this is a lot like Zvezda's Varyag!).

Also, the kit does not include the life rafts which are prominently displayed along the sides of the superstructure and funnel. I would like to add them and need a source in 1/400. I don't want to scratch build them. Any suggestions and comments will be appreciated.
Regards James.

Hi,

In Regia Marina, according to "La Mimetizzazione delle navi italiane 1940-1945" by Erminio Bagnasco and Maurizio Brescia, published in 2006, "boot topping was always black and, for painting the submerged part of the hull, anti-fouling green, sometimes red, paint was used".
Therefore, i think IMHO both colours could be used. On the other hand, I don't know which one was used for Pola in 1941. However, in Steve Wiper's Warship Pictorial #23 covering the italian heavy cruisers of WW2, all ships profiles show red paint for the submerged part of the hull.
Finally, sorry but i don't have any source for 1/400 life rafts.

cheers

Gilbert

[RNfanDan]

I have some information that may help but in full disclosure, I am writing from memory here, and at this time cannot locate the necessary documentation to back my words. I did some research into this very issue of red vs. green RM ship antifouling paint, a couple years ago or more. I was heavy-duty into Regia Marina ships around that time, and especially interested in modeling those wearing the green antifoul.

The main thing I learned from it all, was that the green paint was produced primarily by a factory not far from Trieste and the CRDA/Stabilimento Tecnico (and possibly other) shipbuilding facilities there. The factory produced a new kind of antifouling paint, pigmented green, developed specifically for the Italian navy.

Because of its experimental nature, its use seems to have been limited--with exceptions--to ships built at Trieste-area shipyards. However, especially during the war, RM ships were almost certainly repaired, refitted, and maintained at any available yard. It is therefore quite possible that red-hulled ships would have the green applied while at a Trieste yard, if such was included in the work to be done.

It is known that the factory's formula was very successful, and that it was used on the reconstructed Giulio Cesare. When that battleship was transferred to the Soviets after the war, it had lain idle and unmaintained for several years after the Italian Armistice. It was in bad repair all round, but much to the surprise of the Soviets, the hull was remarkably clean and free of growth below the waterline.

I am certain that Vittorio Veneto and Roma, both built at Trieste, had this green formula applied to their lower hulls. As to RM cruisers, it is known that Fiume was in green by wartime, but I do not believe Pola was--I'd be tempted to use red for her, in the absence of further evidence to the contrary.

FWIW,
Dan

[Seeadler290]

Bless you Dan!
I am building the Fiume and had been struggling to confirm the lower hull color.
I have been rapidly expanding my Regia Nave library and would appreciate your source confirmation when you get the chance.
Thanks again

[Deckard]

Gilbert and Dan thanks very much for your replies and assistance in this matter. I will simply take the advice based on your research and and paint BTW red. It was my prefered colour in any case

As I mentioned earlier I ordered some PE from Tauro to dress my Pola. Because the site was down I did it through email and there were no problems. The etch is excellent, it is done by Eduard in the Czech Republic and they have a good reputation for quality stuff. I'm using a mix of L'Arsenal, White Ensign and Tauro for rails, hatches, doors and just about anything else I can shave off and replace with metal.

I searched high and low through the sponsors on this board looking for 1/400 life rafts but I couldn't find anything. So as a last resort I emailed Tauro again and asked if they had any and as it happens...they have! They are sending me some out which is a great relief because they're needed on the model and pro-made ones 'll look far better than my scratch effort any day. I wonder why they weren't included in the kit to start with? Is it just my example or does the same apply to all including the other three ships?

Actually if you were looking for life raft as after market extras in 1/350 or 1/700 you would have a hard time also because I can't recall coming across any in any scale. I think that's very strange because they're such an obvious add-on accessory to scale model warships!

Once again thanks guys for your help and Dan, you know I always thought your 'RN' was for Royal Navy, the Regia Nave NEVER crossed my mind

[Gilbert]

Actually if you were looking for life raft as after market extras in 1/350 or 1/700 you would have a hard time also because I can't recall coming across any in any scale. I think that's very strange because they're such an obvious add-on accessory to scale model warships!

:

Hi,

you are most welcome, it has been a pleasure to help you and don't hesitate to ask if additional details are needed.

on the other hand, if you are looking for some 1/350 rafts, we, at L'Arsenal make the US rectangular ones with PE and the US ovals will be available soon. 1/700 will be considered in a short time. http://www.larsenal.com/GB/index.php

I am looking forward to see some pictures of your RN Pola

cheers

Gilbert

[Seeadler290]

The new Time/Life images that have recently been made available are wonderful!
They include some of the classic COLOR shots from the 1938 Naples review!
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f? ... d3750f5270

[RNfanDan]

The new Time/Life images that have recently been made available are wonderful!

Those images, or at least most of them, have been available in a softbound book, Warships Pictorial #23 by Steve Wiper, for years. Great book, and it offers a lot more background and other information/photos on Italian cruiser subjects.

One is available on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Warship-Pictorial-2 ... dZViewItem), and the book is also carried by a number of internet sellers.

FYI,

Dan

[Seeadler290]

the book is also carried by a number of internet sellers.

Hi Dan,
I have the outstanding Warship Pictorial book. I had originally planned to post more of the photos, but out of respect for the sellers on this board I chose not to show too many of these great photos. The value in the electronic versions is the ability to zoom in or view full-screen. I hope builders of the Zara class will investigate the images further and perhaps produce the flood of discoveries that are revealing themselves on the armor newsgroups.

all the best,

[Deckard]

Could you provide me a link to those Time/Life RN images please Seeadler, I'm building Pola and I have no ref's except the box art and what's on this site. I only want one example of an Italian WWII cruiser and there will be no more after this so I can't justify $50 for a book. A few clear photo's will assist greatly. Regards.

[peppe]

some reference from the book Warship Pictorial 23 - Italian Heavy Cruisers of WW2 this book have more references
http://www.classicwarships.com/warship_ ... orial.html
also a polish book on italian ca has some foto of pola, but is in polish ... you can find at:
_ttp://sklep.magnum-x.pl/product_info.php?cPath=3_12&products_id=439

[Charles Landrum]

Here are some links to Life Pics of ZARA:

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 5270_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 716a_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... b1cf_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 1373_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 437e_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... fd8e_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... f45c_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 6c58_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 2acb_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... cec2_large

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c? ... 7ce1_large

[Deckard]

Peppe and Charles, great, thanks very much .

Boy, those Time/Life images were taken on a beautiful summer's day weren't they, have a look at the colour of that water!

[Seeadler290]

Likewise, thanks Pepe and Charles.
I was out of town over the weekend. It looks like you have things well-covered.
Fiume is in the foreground on the docked shots, then Zara and Pola at the back.

[Gernot]

Does anyone make photo-etch sets for the Pola and/or Zara in 1/700 scale? Regia Marina has several sets for Italian warships, even those manufactured by Pitroad (Conte di Cavour and Guilio Cesare), and several generic weapons, railing and reel/other accessory sets, but none for this class....

I also did a Google search, no luck.

If anyone notices this: I posted incorrectly to SMMLonline that the cruisers were P&I, whereas they are in fact Classic Warships.

Regards, Gernot

[Gilbert]

Hi Gernot,

You are right, as no specific PE set exists so far. I have asked today Giampiero (Regia Marina) if he would consider making one.

Cheers

Gilbert

[Gilbert]

I have just received confirmation from Giampiero. He will definitely make a specific PE set for Zara class cruisers after this summer.

Gilbert

[Seeadler290]

Outstanding Gilbert!
Do you think there is any hope of getting these produced in 1:400 (or 1:350) scale as well?