Royal Navy China station colours.

[len]

Hello all.

I am scratch building a 1/200 scale model of the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall. When war broke out she was serving on the China station where she was then transferred to the East Indies Station. I know that she underwent her major refit in 1936/37, but would she have still been wearing the China station colours of white hull and buff upperworks shortly before transferring to the EIS? Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Len.

[linux]

The WW2 Cruisers site has some useful colour drawings and b/w photographs of HMS Cornwall:

http://www.world-war.co.uk/Kent/cornwall.php3

It doesn't look like she carried China Station livery after 1936.

[len]

Hello linux thanks for the link.

I have plans showing her in the 1942 fit. I was wondering about back dating the model in order to paint her in the China station colours. I cant find plans for this so I may as well go for the 1942 version.

Len

[linux]

Incidentally, the belief that China Station livery was composed of a white hull with buff upperworks seems not to be supported by any evidence.

The evidence I have seen instead points to a white hull with grey upperworks. For example consider this model of HMS Kent at the National Maritime Museum:

http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 67440.html

According to the description this model was made aboard HMS Kent during her second China commission from 1931�34. Consequently it should be considered a primary source for China Station livery on HMS Kent. Presumably HMS Cornwall was similar.

[len]

Thanks again linux, I think I`ll go with the 1942 scheme. I dont have enough info to backdate the ship without spending silly money on plans from the NMM.

Len