Tirpitz Deck Color

Tracy:

Thanks for the reply. No I'm not relying on the accuracy of my computer monitor. I just noticed from the website that the Bismarck's decks were what I'd expect them to be which is some form of wood color while every depiction of the Tirpitz was grey in appearance. That's why I decided to put an image of both in Paint and compare them. Also please note I was not referring to the Model Warship Site which I've had no trouble with. The site I was referring to was one devoted exclusively to the Bismarck. I thought I'd ask the owner of the site who also did the illustrations about the deck color but I had to register 1st and it took several days for them to activate me. At this point I've kinda decided the Tirpitz's deck was wood but probably was somewhat weathered. I'll probably do my model's deck wood with a very light grey wash.

Sincerely

 

Michael Lacey 

 

1) Do not ever try and use computer generated images as accurate color sources if you are trying to aim for accuracy. There is too much variation between monitors as well as between monitors and printers. If you're just out to have fun, be my guest, but if you're aiming for accuracy your monitor and printer cannot be trusted for color accuracy.

2) If you're referring to posting problems on ModelWarship drop me a line here or there. The owner of ModelWarship implemented a rule to cut down on spam that essentially means your first three posts have to be manually approved, but after that you're good to go. Sometimes it might take a couple of hours for a mod to make it by and approve your post.

That makes sense.  It's also possible that the draftsman did the two drawings at different times, and had trouble making his deck color match.  At any rate, it looks to me like (rightly or wrongly) he intended to depict the Tirpitz with an unpainted deck.

jtilley:

I copied the deck view of the Bismarck and the Tirpitz. I then loaded both into Paint and placed a box next to each with their respective deck color. They both have grey in them but the Tirpitz's has more. I believe the author is depicting the Tirpitz with a heavily weathered deck whereas the Bismarck's is newer and less weathered. I have to say if this is the case then the author is very good! Waht do you think? I know unpainted wood will take on this light grey color after several years exposure to direct sun. I've enclosed a link to my picture below. Note: I take no credit for this author's work and am displaying it for comparison purposes only.

 

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq333/caramonraistlin/bismarckvstirpitz.jpg

Sincerely

Michael Lacey

I wonder if part of the problem here may be the way somebody's computer is set.  On my monitor, the deck planking in the Tirpitz  drawings on that website have a distinctly beige tint - with a little hint of pink (!).  The color is quite distinctly different from the various greys elsewhere in the drawing.  If I hadn't read the earlier posts in this thread I'd assume the artist was representing unpainted wood planking.

dd59:

I am not basing the color of one on the other only comparing the two ships. I simply want to know if the Tirpitz deck was some form of grey color or not. Every model I've seen of it shows the same colored deck (except for the mottled one) for both of them. The author of that web site seems very knowledgable about these ships yet he shows the Tirpitz with this light grey deck. I've registered on that site yet for some reason can't post there yet. Thank you.

Sincerely

 

Michael Lacey 

 

that is 2 different ships at 2 different times of the war so don't base tirpitz from what bismarck looked like.

warshipguy:

Thank you for your response. I did see the version with mottled brown and grey on her decks. I'm enclosing a link to one of the illustrations I'm referring to. It appears that the deck is light grey stained. In fact this appears in all the illustrations for her. However if you look at the ones for the Bismarck on that site the deck is clearly wood colored.

http://www.bismarck-class.dk/tirpitz/paint_schemes/paint_tirpitz_1942.html

Thank you

Michael Lacey

I'm not sure about the grayish color you mention, but Tirpitz had a mottled camouflage scheme the was brown based on her teak colored main deck late in her life in Norway.

Bill Morrison