WW2 French Navy colours

[Mike W]

Having just acquired Combrig's 1/700 Algerie, I was wondering about what colours to paint the model in and any potential future French Navy models I may get, as the kit has no painting guide. I'm guessing the Vertical surfaces were some sort of Light Grey, metal decks Dark Grey and wooden decks left unpainted. I've got Royal Navy, US Navy, Italian Navy and German Navy Light and Dark Greys, so is there any close matches in those Greys? Remember this is for ships prior to any US refits and being repainted in US colours (like Richelieu was).

thanks
Mike

[maxim]

According to Le croiser Alg�rie by Jean Moulin and Patrick Maurand she was painted gris clair n� 1 (a light grey), the deck before the breakwater and a part at stern as well as the first superstructure deck was not covered metal (what does this mean regarding the colour?), the remaining upper deck is not painted wood. The cap of the funnel and the anchors (after 1937) were black, the boats light grey with white interior (the roofs of the motorboats also painted white).

[Mike W]

Thanks for the info but I think you might have mis-understood my question. I would like to know if any of the existing colours I have, are close to the French Navy's colours, as I don't want to have to try and find new paints.

thanks
Mike

[maxim]

Which colours do you use? Acrylics? Enamel? Specific brands?

Anyway: I do not guess that specific colours are available, only colours, which are close. E.g. I had used Vallejo Model Colour 153 (907) Pale Greyblue for French ships.

In addition, it would be necessary to identify the colour of the steel decks. "Not covered metal" is not a clear definition of a colour.

[Mike W]

I use Lifecolor mainly but I'm not asking about brands either. I'm asking if the French colours were close to any other navy's colours. So is the French Light Grey similar to the Royal Navy's APC507C? for example. Does that make sense? Could the French Light Grey be close to USN 5L Light Grey? Or maybe close to a Kriegsmarine Light Grey. That way, if I know if the French Colours are close to something, I can then see what I have and see if there's anything suitable.

thanks
Mike

[Dan Banks]

Hey Mike, there is a linc to camo colors on this website that shows a listing for French Navy early war colors. It is Vallejo paint line. The mix shows one of their light greys with one or two drops of white. Can't remember exactly, but they use the same mix for 507C, only with three drops of white. So yes, you can use whatever brand paint you like 507C and darken it a little. I make no claim for the accuracy of this, but it is out there.

[Mike W]

Hey Mike, there is a linc to camo colors on this website that shows a listing for French Navy early war colors. It is Vallejo paint line. The mix shows one of their light greys with one or two drops of white. Can't remember exactly, but they use the same mix for 507C, only with three drops of white. So yes, you can use whatever brand paint you like 507C and darken it a little. I make no claim for the accuracy of this, but it is out there.

Thanks Dan!

Has anyone out there got the Hobby Boss 1/350 Dunkerque or Strasbourg kits? If so could they please scan the painting guide so I can see what colours are used and on what parts of the ship? That should help me with the colours. Is the ultimate Paint conversion chart thing not working? I can't view it on explorer or chrome.

thanks
Mike

[Dan Banks]

Mike, i have both kits but even though the box art shows the light grey, the instructions call out a darker grey. Humbrol 123. These sisters were painted in Atlantic grey during the period when they operated with the Royal Navy, and were still in the darker color at Mers el Kiber. You might check museum models from that period. I have been looking for the same thing for years now, and have not gotten a clear answer. Good luck

[Mike W]

I've got the paint conversion chart thing working now, so if anyone has any other early WW2 French ships, please let me know the colour call outs for the Horizontal surfaces and the metal decks, in Humbrol or Vallejo (Vallejo would be better). Then I might be able to figure something out!

thanks
Mike

[Tracy White]

Has anyone out there got the Hobby Boss 1/350 Dunkerque or Strasbourg kits?

If you are asking the question about colors then you care enough that you should never, ever consider Trumpeter or Hobby Boss color guides as a reference. They absolutely do not care about color accuracy.

Just to make sure you get my point, colours too!

[Mike W]

Someone somewhere must have kits other than the Hobby Boss Dunkerque or Strasbourg that have painting guides. I'm sure Samek for example used to do a 1/700 Dunkerque or Strasbourg for example. I'm sure they also did Volta/Mogador as well, maybe even Algerie itself!

thanks
Mike

[maxim]

Why these instructions would be helpful?

Samek anyway very often does not include instructions for painting and has no Alg�rie or Mogador/Volta kit. Combrig (who offer also an Alg�rie kit) has only very vague ones. But these are anyway only interpretations. Why do not choose you own colours based on photos and the provided informations?

Do you have seen real ships? Especially warships? Their colours look always different depending on the light. In addition, you anyway have to scale the colour to 1/700.

[Mike W]

Don't worry about it, all I was asking for is colour call outs from other kits seeing as the Combrig Algerie has none. I guess if no one knows I can just make it up.

thanks
Mike

[MartinJQuinn]

I made a notation - based on comment I saw online - that says that Humbrol 147 is a good match for the lighter grey the French used during WW2.

[Mike W]

Thanks Martin. That converts to Model Air Pale Grey Blue, which is what Vallejo say to use for RLM 76 (late war Luftwaffe fighter underside colour), which being an aircraft modeller as well, I actually have already.

Just need something on the steel deck colour, I bet there must be a similar Grey out there somewhere.

thanks
Mike

[Jacques Druel]

Mike,
Please do not worry about the accuracy or not of French WWII colors. They will remain a mystery for quite a long time, as all archives have been destroyed during WWII, and the color photos still in existence are of poor value because the photo pigments have deteriorated.
I would only say that Gris clair N�1 is a mix of black and white, no other pigment of different color (yellow, blue, etc...) added. At the end, the paint is a bit glossy when applied, but has a tendancy to matte when at sea.
Sections forward the breakwater are most of the time referred as steel grey or bare metal, but in fact were painted in anti skid dark grey paint.
So, nobody will blame you for a possible mistake in the colors, as nobody has the proof of their actual shades !
Best regards from Normandie,
Jacques Druel

[Timmy C]

And with that, I've moved this to the Camo section for long-term safekeeping.

[Tracy White]

Please do not worry about the accuracy or not of French WWII colors.

Jacques - what would you say about pre-war colors? I have the relatively recent Hobbyboss Danton that I would like to start some day....