IJN DE 2-tone grey camouflage Q

[Anthony P]

I always had the impression that aside from late war carriers with their green camo all Japanese WWII warships were painted in one of three greys (Kure/Sasebo/Maizuru), depending on the naval base where they were last refitted. however, as I attempt to do some research on the Ukuru class Type b destroyer escorts (I am starting my build of the 1/350 PitRoad kit), I note a two-grey camo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IJN_e ... n_1944.jpg)!

I would very much appreciate the views of someone with more IJN knowledge than I have, and any suggestion about what colours to use. Moreover, is the superstructure painted in the lighter grey or do my eyes deceive me? I never find it easy to interpet B/W film...

And a final question: am I correct in believing that steel decks were painted in the hull camouflage colour, Kure grey for example?

[John Snyder]

Hi Anthony,

'Fraid I'm unable to take a guess at the two grays. However, there were four grays used (you forgot Yokosuka Gray).

And yes, you are correct that steel decks were painted the same color as the vertical surfaces (but don't forget the use of linoleum).

[Ed Roth]

Anthony,

My guess is that the darker area is actually shadow, not a different color. To speed up construction times later in the war, curved plating was eliminated and you are seeing a break in the sheer line. Some more info on IJN paints is located here:

http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_ ... 20S-59.pdf

Ed

[peppe]

in the model art 45 it is a very exaustive article on ijn escort ship ...but is in japonese so i can only see the foto of ships in b/w and of models also in color and they have sometimes two tones of grey but don't speaking the japanese and i don't know why, when etc.
ciao peppe

[Anthony P]

Having finished my Ukuru type-B model, I think i am in position to answer my own question. As you see from the photo of my model below, which is painted solid Kure gray, the two-tone effect is shadow... Ed Roth was right!

Many thanks to all of you!

[Tracy White]

I'm going to dissent and say it's not a shadow on the original photo. You can see the shadow line separately, trailing down towards the antifouling at the bow. I can't tell you what the true colors are, but I don't believe what that first photo shows is a perfectly parallel shadow line.

[Hen]

I'm going to dissent and say it's not a shadow on the original photo. You can see the shadow line separately, trailing down towards the antifouling at the bow. I can't tell you what the true colors are, but I don't believe what that first photo shows is a perfectly parallel shadow line.

I agree with Tracy, it's definitely not a shadow. Take a look at the 'Hiburi' class on wikipedia - perfect lines on all ships no matter where the light comes from. Also my old Maru Special books clearly show a two-tone colour on the late war escorts (not only Ukurus).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiburi-class_escort_ship

This is the definite picture to show that it's a two-tone camouflage (on a type C escort in 1945):