The Ship Model Forum

Hi all,

My father and I are working together on a Commander Series 1/350 scale USS Cohoes AN-78 WW2 Steel Hulled Net Tender, and we just discovered an exciting new picture of the Cohoes recently posted at Navsource:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/18/091807806.jpg

Our model will represent her at Eniwetok in August 1945, presumably in the same camouflage scheme as seen here in March 1945. Our question is, not being ship camouflage experts by ANY means, what three camouflage colors would this be? And also, what color are the decks?

Thanks in advance and MUCH appreciate any help!

Best Regards,

Ben (and father George) Schmidt

Hi Ben,

Let me see if I can find that pattern in any of my archives. There's a good chance she's in greens: I can see 5 colors there. I'll get back to you.

_________________
Cheers,
John Snyder
Shady Grove Farm
Shady Grove Farm on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShadyGroveDuckEggs

That looks an awful lot like Measure 31/20L. I might have the design sheet for that photographed and will look in a bit; until then try:
http://www.shipcamouflage.com/5_7.htm
http://www.shipcamouflage.com/5_3.htm

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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

One thing you can rely on is that on a question like this, John and Tracy are the go-to guys.

Here's the pattern they're thinking of on a YAG



Not related to camo, but detail, you may be interested in this:



Russ

PS: Don't forget pictures when you're done.

I've got the design sheet, port & starboard; I'll post it tonight. It matches pretty closely what you've found on Navsource.

_________________
Tracy White -Researcher@Large

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

Wow....thanks everyone for the help! i'm speechless - just KNEW this would be the best place to ask

Can't wait to see the design sheet, and yes, of course, there will be pictures soon!

And so, would the correct colors in the White Ensign range be: "U.S. Navy Green #1" , "Green #2", "Green #3", and "20-G Deck Green"?

Thanks much, Ben

Add black to the selection and you can't go wrong!

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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

...and black. Yes, now that you mention it, I can see where black intersects with the darkest of the hull greens in a few spots on the hull....pretty hard to see in a B&W photo at first glance. Too bad there wasn't more color photography in WW2!

Here you go!

Enjoy the build, and be sure and submit the finished model to Tim & Sean!

_________________
Tracy White -Researcher@Large

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

Thanks Tracy--I KNEW I was seeing Dull Black in that pattern!

_________________
Cheers,
John Snyder
Shady Grove Farm
Shady Grove Farm on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShadyGroveDuckEggs

That's one Randy & I found in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard camo records at San Bruno a couple of years ago. I *think* it's even the one in the picture on this blog post, which contains a snippet of the 20L Master Pattern for those interested.

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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

Awesome...we can't thank you all enough!

For sure this build will be submitted to the Modelwarships site - but it will be a little while. The Iron Shipwright is a good basis, but needs some detailing (the stern needs extensive corrections, and missing chocks, etc. need to be added to the deck) as well as some parts replacing for extra detail - we're using L'Arsenal replacement parts : 26ft whaleboat, rafts, 3"/50 gun, 20mm guns, etc. ; Paper Lab searchlights ; and L'Arsenal resin 3D crew figures.

Thanks again! Cheers, Ben and George

Thanks all for your help! We're making progress on the Cohoes, it turns out that the Iron Shipwrights kit is well cast and what detail IS there is very nice, but unfortunately there are many missing details - most noticeably, the 26' whaleboat and two 17' stacked boats amidships, along with their corresponding davits, as well as missing chocks, bitts, etc...on the main deck, and the most glaring error of all, the complete lack of the sidewalls that run along the main deck and have drainage ports/etc....here's our progress on the main hull and superstructure so far - using plastic sheet and rod, as well as L'Arsenal resin chocks and bitts, 26' whaleboat, peloruses, 12" signal lights, etc...Paper Lab 24" white metal searchlight cast by Neptun...and Admiralty Modelworks Royal Navy crash boats modified into USN 17' type...so far so good...pics soon

Looking forward to it!

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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

Thanks - and again thanks for your help - here are some pics of the progress so far

One more...

And one more...almost finished....but still a ways to go! Want to get it done for Noreastcon 40 next month here in NY if possible.....thanks again both for your help, and will submit some photos for a gallery on ModelWarships when it's finished

Hrmm... is that pattern extended down below the waterline? Hard to tell for sure but I think I see a green bilge keel?
It should end at the waterline.. if not, you may have "Stretched" it vertically. I doubt more than .000000001% of the population would notice that, though, if you just painted the hull red over what you've done.

Otherwise it looks great!

_________________
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,

That photo was a few days old, and indeed, the hull has been painted "hull red", and the borderline dividing strip has been added. Thanks for your advice

Ok, we're almost finished - adding a bunch of L'Arsenal 3D resin crewmen to it - and that's a giant (and mostly to scale, according to real photos from WW2!) steel anti-torpedo net with attached buoys sitting on the bow - here's some pics