Great tip for cutting the tube! As for the painting, I always paint the bottom first regardless of colour. This way I can cover it up and protect the bottom while I continue with the build. Especially the way this ship is set up with the superstructure attached to the sides of the hull I make most of the fittings before the final paint of the topsides. So to paint the tops first then the bottom, could cause damage to fittings. Even with a red bottom and black boot topping ill still do this. The top of the hull is then given a light sanding, two coats of primer with a light rub down in between before the top coat. What ill paint next is the decks their final colour after I've given the whole ship a final primer coat. The decks are pewter grey so darker than the hull sides now, mask the decks off then give the topsides and hull the hull grey. The topcoat will have atleast two light coats maybe three so any overspray won't be a problem. Being an australian ship from the 1950's until basically now our ships are storm grey - a greenish hue to the grey - but all ships will be repainted from this year onwards in bridge grey - this is the same as the USN. Personally I'm still on the fence as to whether I go storm grey or bridge grey (haze) for you yanks. I've always liked that our ships are such a different colour, though I know since Navy has made it official, when Brisbane is commissioned she will be bridge grey. HMAS Arunta and Warramunga are currently undergoing ASMD upgrades here in Perth will be the first Navy ship to receive the new colour, Perth will come back in to be repainted and all Anzac class ships as they have the ASMD upgrades will be repainted at that time.
Both colours are actually quite dark anyway and work better with a darker undercoat rather than lighter. I guess painting lighter colours first when building RN ships as the bluish grey the RN uses is very very light in comparison, though the guys here who have build RN ships with the modern colour paint them in the same way.
still a lot to do with all the smaller details as well as the harpoon launchers to make, the RHIBS and derricks to finish off and detail plus a whole host of radars and comm gear I haven't even looked at. The obvious bits are the stanchions - she has four different types as is typical on a DDG but will make them up in due course.
