Calling all Skate-class (SSN-578) fans

[Peter O]

I'm building MikroMir's 1/350 Skate class kit, and I've found some photos of Sargo on Navsource that show sections of the deck plating in a light color. Does anyone know what the lighter color might be? This only shows on photos of Sargo, not the other three Skates, and seems to be at or right after her commissioning.

http://navsource.org/archives/08/574/0858351.jpg

http://navsource.org/archives/08/574/0858302.jpg

Thanks!

Peter

[Vepr157]

I think it's Haze Grey, or a similar light grey. Some of the Skipjacks, Permits and Sturgeons had a similar paint scheme, but I think it was only in use in the 1950s and 60s on certain boats. To my knowledge, the other Skates were painted black topside and red below the centerline in service, like most SSNs of the period. Then in the 1970s, some of them went all black (something to do with California's restrictions on toxic paints).

Edit: Yeas, Fritz is right. I thought you meant the light-colored vertical surfaces of the Skates.

[Fritz]

The light areas on deck in those photos, are because the Skate class had wood planking for certain sections of her deck, just like Nautilus. The entire deck would be black, however due to the type of film used, and the difference in surface reflectance between wood and metal, the wood areas appear lighter. Some old pics of Nautilus, during her acceptance trials, and taken with the same kind of film, have a similar effect.

[Harald H]

As I am new to this forum,I hope this is the right section for this question. I am currently building the Micro Mir Skate. The PE Deck Section shows two hatches (Emergency Buoys ???) on the RH side. 1 at the front and 1 at the aft hull. After attaching the Deck, these 2 Items have an "overhang" at the hull side which looks strange. Cannot find any pictures on the net regarding the original installation of these hatches. So how should it look like? Maybe to bent to get it conform with the hull? Any hints are highly apprechiated.

[Vepr157]

As I am new to this forum,I hope this is the right section for this question. I am currently building the Micro Mir Skate. The PE Deck Section shows two hatches (Emergency Buoys ???) on the RH side. 1 at the front and 1 at the aft hull. After attaching the Deck, these 2 Items have an "overhang" at the hull side which looks strange. Cannot find any pictures on the net regarding the original installation of these hatches. So how should it look like? Maybe to bent to get it conform with the hull? Any hints are highly apprechiated.

The official term is "messenger buoy," but you're right, they're emergency buoys. Here is a photo of the Swordfish's bow:



I just folded the brass deck down to meet the side of the superstructure. On the real boat the aft buoy sticks out of the side of superstructure slightly, but it's so minor I wouldn't worry about it.

Jacob

[Harald H]

Hello Jacob. Thank you for this information. Will go for the �bending�
Brgds

[TZoli]

Does anybody have top view drawings for this class of submarines?
I only have side / inner view but for a drawing I could use better a top view one.

[Tom Dougherty]

Here you go.

Also, as per above, two former Skate class sailors who saw one of the class in dry dock said that they were black below the waterline in 1965 and also one of the divers said black in the 1970-80's era.

[TZoli]

Thank you!
I usually seen a 3 colour scheme:
Red from the half of the hull and below, the upper half black or dark grey while the upper part and tge sail are lighter grey:
http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/ind ... e-ssn-578/

[Tom Dougherty]

Paint scheme is up to you. Build and finish it the way you want it to look.

I am just reporting what individuals who served on the Skate class submarines, as well as a Navy diver who did pre-deployment hull inspections are telling me. What you are showing in the link is how some other modeler in the UK thinks the submarines were painted.