This has been touched on a few times.
I am trying to find the colours and identifying colours used on the 4 Milwaukee-class monitors, but from my own point of view USS Winnebago and USS Kickapoo.
I know they have "their own" selected colours for each ship ?
In the case of these particular ships I've scratch built them already and have a black Primer coat on them, awaiting some more information before I commit to a proper paint job.
If anyone can throw any light on these or other Monitors across all the classes please ?
Miles
(https://i.postimg.cc/LqrWvzCy/177232-AF-6869-4976-89-CF-EFE2-D0-A13841.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LqrWvzCy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hhKkY04w/1-C71-DF3-F-53-BE-4941-B0-C9-B5-C21-D6-D37-C4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hhKkY04w)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WtSBcJh4/78788924-83-E7-44-E9-BF96-FFB79-CC75777.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WtSBcJh4)
The darkness of monitors does add to their menace. A good thng.
If you use a lot of black it will be very hard to see the hard work you have put in Miles.
The models are very small after all as a point light source.
Maybe a thorough dry brushing with mid grey as if the light is catching the detail?
martin :)
The only reason I used black primer instead of the usual grey is some of these were painted Black. When I go to paint them properly I will mix in some steel/metal colour into the main paint, to give them a metallic feel and look.
Miles
They do look very impressive. Where did they serve in the war?
Below the waterline most ships had a copper oxide derived paint to prevent fouling which gave a reddish tinge. Red paint below the waterline on modern ships is an homage to that and an easy visual reference to the degree of lading.
Black upperworks were derived from the use of pitch and tar on wooden ships for their obvious waterproofing properties. With the advent of steel warships white or neutral grey were preferred for upperworks to blend in with the horizon. Some form of protective coating was usual and red lead and grey zinc primers were used on metal. Riverine craft that wanted to obscure their silhouettes would probably go for a grey over a black. Those with a greater wooden composition might tend towards using more black for convenience.
A black wash with grey highlighting should convey a sinister enough warlike image while maintaining historical accuracy I'd have thought.
They look very good Miles,
I'm sure what ever colour scheme you come will be fine, I don't think any former crew men will say you're wrong.
Stewart
It's what to put on the Turrets and Funnels I am looking for ? A lot of this had individual bands of colours reds and white etc to distinguish them from one another. I ve got some ideas but they are a bit basic, so I just wanted to know if someone has anymore information on particular ships ?
Here is an example of what I mean ? It's on a different class of monitor but it is a good example of what I am looking for ?
Miles
(https://i.postimg.cc/1VpqsnnM/F0-D1-B712-7861-496-F-89-A7-5-EBDB8834-DC4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1VpqsnnM)
A very interesting picture Miles.
Good find.
martin :)
Just one of a few I ve discovered on this inter web thing, looking for different colours on ACW monitors.
I will probably put. Few up on here shortly for others to look at. The difficulty is finding decent picture quality and information quality.
I will keep digging.
Miles
Even for students of WW1, interpretation of colours from b/w photography can be fraught with difficulty, yellow looking like black etc. let alone the 1860s which is the early era of photography when numerous processes were being used... unless there's an actual documentary source like a recognition book or signals book out there you may never know for sure. It is a similar conundrum to the use of field signs etc.
If you've found a 'system' being employed for one set of ships then I would have thought it perfectly acceptable to apply it to another... else adopt a simpler 1 funnel band, 2 bands, 3 bands etc. It is only really necessary if you have several similar types acting in concert and need to differentiate...
The problem is trying to find out which ships used which colours and various schemes, finding the correct scheme for the correct ship etc.
Unfortunately in UK, it seems the information isn't as easily accessible as it is across "the Pond" ? Every time I find a book on the subject, it has to be shipped from the USA, like at the moment I've been waiting 3-4 for one, it due later next week.
Miles