The Ship Model Forum

Greetings from Canada, I'm a lifelong aircraft modeller who wants to build a 1/144 Flower Class Corvette. My subject will be the fictitious HMS Compass Rose. The novel describes her as being grey in colour in 1939. There's a reference to a refit where her focsle is extended and her mainmast relocated, but no reference to paint. My question is: Should she be painted in Western Approaches cammo, or grey? Apparently some RN Corvettes were left in grey. If grey, which grey. I realize that the ship is fictional, but I want to be as true to the story as I can. All input to any aspect of the build will be welcomed.

what time period in the war did her physical appearance change?

I believe early 1942.

Hi Hamilton,

While HMS Compass Rose was fictitious, the shooting of the film was made on an actual ship: HMS Coreopsis, launched in 1941 and handed over to the Greek navy in November 1943, where she served at RHNS Kriezis. It took part in the Normandy landings in that guise. The shooting of the film occurred after the Greek navy returned the ship to the Royal Navy, in 1952.
Here is a reference on the above: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Coreopsis_(K32)

So you could be guided in your quest by looking for photos of either vessel, depending on the period you want to depict her.

My dad served on her post WW II, circa 1950. I did a 1/350 rendition of her http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/misc/hn/Kriezis-350-gg/index.htm and gave it to him as a gift when he was 88 year old.

Happy modeling!
George

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George A. Georgopoulos