The Ship Model Forum

In the late 19th century, the USN painted its ships with white hulls and buff superstructures.

Just what color is buff and which paint comes closest?

A dark tan, yellow-brown. Colorcoats will have it soon: https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/coll ... 1330621932

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De quoi s'agit-il?

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-u ... 54364.html
Here's a good example (albeit, a restoration) of US Navy Buff in full daylight. But note that the upper buff section appears to be slighter lighter than the lower section. The word buff comes from the French "boeuf" which means beef, or most any bovine. Coats made of tanned cow, bull, and elk hides were the fashion in 17th Cen European armies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buff_coat ... 98.3_F.jpg
In English, "boeuf" became "buff", hence the name "buff coats", and the name of the color.

While we're on the topic of "The Great White Fleet", what color was exposed areas of steel deck on ships of that era?