vladimir yakubov wrote:
Looks like all of the color profiles of the Condorcet are wrong, as far as the underwater hull color. Here's Condorcet before launch on the original autochrome photographs:


As you can see the color is bright green with a pretty wide red stripe at the waterline.
Vladimir
First of all, wonderful bit of history here!
The launch colors are often temporary, arent they? Waterline is also - i mean no armor on her, so waterline is low. Does the red line go UP with the ship going down on armor fitted? Does the green extends up and over the red? How do we know this? This photo only shows how she is at launch...
French were green bottomed, yes we knew that, and there was or wasnt red stripe (builders model implies as much) but the width of it etc? I dont think youre seeing a final version is what Im saying, because the ship doesnt have armor on it, and many ships before launch would have different paint on hull. Passenger liners were painted white for example for launch, then black for service. Take even something as well photographed as your average Kriegsmarine capital ship - all had either very wide boot topping that sat low, or whatever else.
Im not saying your photos are wrong or useless, but by posting them I wonder if you think the ship had half green half red lower hull or not.
I do think red on french ship is off, green bottom is right with that copper green color. Red line is also right. The thickness of it is the trick, and Im pretty sure it was thinner than on that picture - and way higher. What was after though - black or white line - I have no idea, but assume black.