The Ship Model Forum

Hi all
Just joined as looking for some help. I am currently building a 1/96th scale Exocet Leander frigate HMS Penelope. But it seems that whatever grey I use including BS381c 676 seems too dark. There are some good pictures on here of other leanders and the grey seems much lighter.
I want to use acrylic and an air brush ideally so any help or advise would be most welcome

It is BS381C-676 Light Weatherwork Grey. That's all that's been used since 1968.

It's your model though and you can paint it with whatever you please.

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James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk

Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151

Since these paints are not available in USA, and cannot be shipped from UK to USA, can anybody describe a fairly good match in Humbrol, Modelmaster or Tamiya?

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On the workbench:
1/700 HMS Swiftsure - Combrig
1/700 CGC Chelan - White Ensign
1/700 HMCS Forrest Hill - HP
1/700 Ulsan - Kobo Hiryu
--and dozens more

BS381C-676 Light Weatherwork Grey is available here in the U.S from H&B Hobbies or Warship Hobbies (ebay store).

Ed

How about the Deck colors? I have a HMS Kent about 75% completed that was largely stopped due to paint....

HB Hobbies is out of the light weatherwork grey and hasn't ordered any of the Colourcoat NARN range - I'm hoping to order some of their other paints to hopefully get them closer to a refresh.

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Hi Tracy,

The aircraft people should have you covered - it's BS381C-640 Extra Dark Sea Grey. In theory... It doesn't last long but does seem to retain a purple-blue caste as it fades.

_________________
James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk

Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151

Thanks James.

I went to HB Hobbies to check stock and while updating my notes / list of tins to buy I came across "M02 - RN Dark Deck Gr3y" which I don't know how I missed before, seeing that's it'd listed right next to "M01 - RN Light Weatherwork Grey (BS 381C 676)." What would be the difference between the two? I like starting with the appropriate colors, but at the same time if I should stumble across the tin five years from now "deck grey" is going to be more intuitively apparent as to its purpose over the "Extra Dark Sea Grey."

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Hi Tracy, you should be good to go with M02. I think originally it was Munsell matched on an open day by John Snyder prior to the actual spec being published online. It's definitely good enough as a starting point given that you'll be wanting to do some of that Modellers' Magic to a deck anyway

_________________
James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk

Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151

Thanks again!

_________________
Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Hi Tracy, Which HMS Kent and at what time? From the 1950s to now, the RN has used 4 deck greys and a geen deck colour.

1950s to 1978 > BS4800 14 C39 which has no name for decks, flight decks could be either BS381C 632 Dark Admiralty Grey or BS 381C 628 Dark Sea Grey.

From 1978 either 632 or 638 were used.

From 1992, the RN has been using BS381C 640 Extra Dark Sea Grey.

Now the fun part, the RN trialled 2 FS colours in the 1990s, FS36008 and FS36076. Also some ships acquired USN deck paint when in the Gulf. This info came from the RN's paint consultant. Apparently Chatham in this shot is wearing an FS deck paint.

The rest of the info comes from DefStan which is the UK Defence Standards group. Defence Standards are available on line. I found a friendly person there who sent me a dvd of them.

In this case it's the Trumpeter 1/350th Type 23 HMS Kent F78. 2000-2010-ish as it has the early turret.

_________________
Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman