HMS Hood 1893 Colours

[Ray S]

Hello, I have just recently got Kombrigs 1/700 HMS Hood 1893 and just wonder if anyone knows the types of colour schemes she may have worn. The box image shows a predominantly grey scheme (it appears to be a light grey but you can never tell with old film), and I have also seen on t'web what was probably an earlier finish which was a dark grey/black hull, light grey/white upper and an intermediate grey/(buff maybe) extra detailing. I would rather try the earlier finish if I could get some details, if not I will try a best-guess! None of my reference material gives any information on this, nor do the instruction guides. By the way, it looks a fabulous kit, very fine detailing, and it is really small so will test my digital dexterity and eyesight!
Any help would be greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance, Ray

[RickF]

Pre-1903 she would certainly have been painted in the "standard" livery of black hull with a narrow white waterline and red undersides. Upperworks would have been white (superstructure) and buff (funnels ventilators and masts), with possibly a narrow stripe (blue?) around the superstructure.

Have a look on here http://www.gwpda.org/naval/s0700000.htm or see Brian King's book Modelling Late Victorian Battleships

Rick

[Ray S]

RickF - Thankyou for the information, very much appreciated. I think I will have a go at the early scheme as it will be so different from grey, it will be a bit more tricky too. I am just waiting for some etch to arrive from WEM when they get it back in stock, railings and ratlines from Atlantic Models. I can get started though.
Thanks again, Ray

[RickF]

Glad to help. One of my ambitions - if and when I ever get the time! - is to build a large (1:72?) RC Royal Sovereign. I favour Hood, as she has turrets and not open barbettes, with all the gun breech detail, but she also suffers from low freeboard and there is less information available on her. She is, however, the only one of the class still in existence, albeit at the bottom of Portland Harbour!

Look forward to seeing a picture of your model when it's complete.

Rick