Color scheme for WPG75 Algonquin

[phic]

Hey,

im about to order the BFM WPG-75 Algonquin and building it as seen in March 1943. This is my first 1/700 ship project and i could need some
help. I found a few pictures of the ship after the transfer to the navy and there seems to be a camouflage pattern
on the ship.

Anyone knows what were the typical colors and camo for a cutter during WW2, i cant make out the colors due to my color blindness, so any help is appreciated.
Any recommendations on the paints, im using Vallejo paints mostly, but im open for new ideas.

Thanks in advance.

[Cliffy B]

The scheme she's wearing is USN Ms. 16 - The Thayer Blue Scheme. It consisted of White (5-U) and Thayer Blue (5-B) on the vertical surfaces and Deck Blue (20-B) on the horizontal surfaces with or without patches of Ocean Gray (5-O). I've seen sheets and photos of the decks sporting just 20-B and others with both; depends on the ship. It was designed for use in Arctic environments close to the poles due to the unique lighting conditions and subs would attack mostly on the surface. A lot of USCG cutters operating around Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Canada wore this scheme as well as a select few USN destroyers and even a light cruiser at times.

The number-letter combos in parenthesis are the color designations. You'll see these on the paint chips and other documents more often than the names if you go looking for info on them.

WEM makes all the colors in their colourcoats line of enamel paints. If you want to use acrylics you'll have to do some mixing of colors. I've found that Model Master USN Blue-Gray M85 works for Thayer Blue IF you add a lot of white to it and lighten it up. Thayer Blue was a pale blue-gray to begin with so I'd assume that would work with anyone's blue gray bottles but I can only attest to Model Master.

I know you mentioned you were colorblind but here are some links to standard USN paint chips for your records. If you can get someone to help you mix the paint these will ensure its accuracy.

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/bo ... usn-1.html
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/bo ... usn-2.html

Hope that helps. Good luck with the kit. I've seen some examples of her in the gallery and she builds up nicely.

-Mike

[phic]

Wow, thats a lot of information and help, thanks a lot! I will definitely try the WEM enamel paints. I had a first look around in shops and found all the colors except White (5-U). Pure White RAL 9010 (C 03) and Matt White (C 03) were the only WEM whites i could find. I assume one of these is the 5-U?
Thanks also for the links to the paint chips, already had a look at it and could even notice a difference between the colors.

[Cliffy B]

I'm not 100% sure but I believe normal Flat White works just fine for 5-U. All of the other camo paints were flat so its safe to assume the white was as well (right?). I've used MM Flat White in the past and it looks just fine.

If you've never used WEM paints before then you should read this review. Pay attention when he describes how to thin them for hand brushing or airbrushing as they have been known to cause issues for some people simply because they aren't thinning them properly. Also, I'm not sure if its been resolved yet or not (John?) but WEM was having issues with their pigments/suppliers so some of their paint was becoming scarce in the shops. So if you have trouble finding them, that's why.

Glad the chips helped. I'm partially color blind as well so I feel your pain. My eye doc calls its "deficient" so I can still see colors but I'll have heaps of trouble IDing them sometimes when they're close together.

Good luck with your Cutter and post photos as you go if you can.

-Mike

[phic]

Thanks again! I ordered all the paints today and the kit (plus some photoetched parts), both Whites just to be sure. I have been using the Humbrol thinner for enamel sofar, this should be compatible with WEM paints?

[Cliffy B]

No problem man.

I mentioned a review and I guess I should actually post it this time

http://www.steelnavy.com/wem_colourcoats.htm

That should answer your questions about thinning.

-Mike

[Davethe dude]

Where can I find a model kit of this ship. My dad was on it in 1940

[Timmy C]

BFM = Battlefleet Models

Here's their product page for the kit: http://battlefleetmodels.com/id5.html

[Tracy White]

Slight quibble; Measure 16 wasn't for arctic service (although it could probably be used there quite well) as much as areas that had more light backgrounds - higher latitudes and foggy locations. It was well suited against cloud banks and light skies.