RN WW1 black for destroyers/TBDs

[GrahamB]

Hello,

I'm excited about getting my Combrig HMS Earnest B-Class TBD/Destroyer in the post soon and am already casting my mind forward to the painting stage. Based on the available paint composition for the black used on these vessels does anyone have a view as to the cast/hue for a "scale" appearance, i.e, was it a warm (reddish?) or cool (blueish?) black or simply neutral?

A rather esoteric question but black is not always simply black.

Cheers
GrahamB

[George Hargreaves]

Hi Graham,

Its been recorded that the Victorian pre-dreadnoughts looked dark blue to the eye after they had weathered. A Ship Painters Handbook said that black was made from Ordinary Stiff Black which we would call Carbon Black. Dependent on the carbon source, carbon black can have a blueish tinge (animal bones) to absolute black (methane).

That said; its modelling. So in 1/700 I use a base coat of Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. I then agree with David Griffith and apply a couple of very thin washes of cobalt blue followed by a thin wash of black.

Enjoy your build.

Cheers,
George

[GrahamB]

Hello George,

a perfect answer! Many thanks. I've not seen that David Griffith method (I have his shipmodelling book though).
It is great to see more early WW1 ships coming along - especially destroyers in 1/350.

Best wishes,
GrahamB

HMS Commonwealth (with late-war dazzle) still on the stocks.