The Ship Model Forum

I have come back to model building after a 30 year hiatus. My current interests is Royal Navy ships in the period from the launch of HMS Dreadnought to the end of WW1.

I am trying to find some accurate information on the painting of Royal Navy torpedo boat destroyers in around 1907.

I have found the following information regarding RN WW1 paint colours repeated on various sites:

“Torpedo Boats and Destroyers were usually black for earlier classes, but dark grey for newer vessels. War built units usually completed in 'Mid Grey.' By 1917 nearly all Destroyers and smaller were grey. Only a few torpedo boats continued in black until the war's end”.

What colours were torpedo boat destroyers painted in 1907? Was the hull, deck and upper works all black, or was the deck painted a different colour? Were wood masts painted or left as natural wood. Was corticene used, and if so where?

Thanks in advance for any information members can provide.

Cheers

Hi,

Here are some photos of the builder's model of HM Torpedo Boat 17 from 1907 as once shown in the Science Museum in London. This scheme is for waters around England was black all over. Mediterranean and China station boats where white hull, yellow superstructure and red bottom.

Cheers,
George

Thank you George, very much appreciated. I have been scouring the internet for definitive information. Colour photos of a builder's model is just what I need.

I am building the new Trumpeter HMS Dreadnought in 1/700 and scratch building a Yarrow design TBD to go with her.

Cheers