Calling all RM Littorio-class fans!

[rvuorenr]

I still need some references to where ladders in the masts are located. I'm sure they were there and I'll need to add them from my extra PE collection.

Here you go, you should look this set of pictures, link posted on this thread earlier.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Thanks guys. Any other major details missing from the kit that I should add?

[Frank O'Neill 2025]

Hi all-
I'm finally getting ready to start constrution of my Trumpeter Roma (it's only been sitting in the closet for a few years...)
I've been reading thru the posts and haven't been able to settle on color matches yet. Can anyone offer anything in the Vallejo range? All the mixes and suggestions I've tried out so far just don't "look" the part.
I'm looking into the splinter scheme but don't have my heart set on it yet.
Any advise would be much appreciated.

[Mike W]

I have the Trumpeter 1/700 Vittorio Veneto in my stash and Lifecolor paints to paint it with but I'm missing etch. I see Regia Marina do a really extensive (and expensive set) but Eduard do a much more affordable set for the Roma (1943). Would this set work ok with Vittorio Veneto, which is in 1940 fit.

thanks
Mike

[Secondo]

I have the Trumpeter 1/700 Vittorio Veneto in my stash and Lifecolor paints to paint it with but I'm missing etch. I see Regia Marina do a really extensive (and expensive set) but Eduard do a much more affordable set for the Roma (1943). Would this set work ok with Vittorio Veneto, which is in 1940 fit.

thanks
Mike

I think it would work fine. Roma in 1943 just had more equipment laying around if compared to the 1940 Vittorio Veneto, but what was already there (cranes, catapult etc...) was basically the same.

[rvuorenr]

I'm figuring out the camouflage that Rome wore on her last days. I haven't find any pictures revealing how the superstructure behind the turrets was painted. Some pictures indicate it was all light gray, but some other sources make me believe the camo extended also there. Since it is under the aa-platform its always in dark shadow as in the picture where I have marked the area concerned.

- Risto

[MartinJQuinn]

Discussion of the merits of the VV class vs. other Washington Treaty Battleships has been moved to here: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=154520

Please continue your discussion there.

[Chuck Bauer]

In rvuorenr's post dated Sun Sept 1, 2013 there is a photo showing circle and diamond shaped things hanging from a port spar. These appear in numerous other photos of the ship. Any idea what they are?

[Paul O'Reilly]

Chuck, I think they are called "shapes" to indicate the ship is unable to manoeuvre for some reason and other ships should give way. This signal would be given for a ship sailing alongside another (refuelling or provisioning), towing a vessel or possibly an engineering casualty.

Paul

[Chuck Bauer]

Thanks, unless I hear otherwise I'll go with this for now. The Japanese and the British had a round ball that they would raise and lower for that very purpose.

[Secondo]

Not really; this was a steering indicator, to let others know which way the ship was turning or going to turn. The hoists were linked to the steerage system and moved the signals up and down in opposite directions. The ball was painted red and the square was green.

[Chuck Bauer]

Thanks Secondo. This would explain why they hung two of these shapes instead of one, like the British and Japanese. Thanks for the color info as well.

[rvuorenr]

Not really; this was a steering indicator, to let others know which way the ship was turning or going to turn. The hoists were linked to the steerage system and moved the signals up and down in opposite directions. The ball was painted red and the square was green.

Thank you very much, I thought they are some kind of antennas. I'm just about to get my Roma finalized and can still apply paint, but were these painted green and red also during the war? And if not, which colour would be correct?

- Risto

[Secondo]

(You're welcome )

Yes, green and red during the war too (there was a big flag with the same colours nearby, so no need to worry about the camo), but as you can see in the photo above, the colours were quite dull and dark.

[Chuck Bauer]

My understanding is that the stern jackstaff was used in harbor to fly the Italian flag. What was flown from the bow?

[Secondo]

Only in harbor or at anchor, as per the other Navies, the Regia Marina's jack

[Chuck Bauer]

Thank you so much for your reply, and best regards.

[Atma]

Quick question, I notice that the Trumpeter's Littorio is lucking the second small antenna on the top of the fire control. Also the single AA guns at the bow was there during 1940-1941 ?
Thanks in advance.

[Secondo]

There was a small mast for signal lights behind the FC station, and this since the beginning; the 37 mm AA guns in single retractable mounts on the bow had always been there too - changes in AA suite only involved the 20 mm twin mounts.

[Atma]

Thanks for the replay