Need first time sub help

brutus1175

So I wandered here from the dark side(armor), and I will be building a 1/350 SSBN Daniel Webster for a good friend as a bday present. I have never built a sub, and I will be building one by Yankee Model Works. Any ideas, anything to know before I start, and most importantly, exterior colors would be huge. Thanks.

I thought I had one of these in the stash -- no its the Polk but I just finished a YMW Flight II LA boat. 

You may want to drill the white metal planes for brass pins to reinforce the attachment.   Cement with epoxy for better strength & flexibility over CA

See the page on the Webster on NAVSOURCE http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08626.htm

Operationally - no hull numbers & name.    As launched they were black over red.   Other photos of Lafayette class boats show gray underhulls later to decommissioning and dismantling.

A good color for modern USN sub topside colors is Floquil Grimey Black from the model railroad side of the hobby shop.     

The gray that Ed is referring to may be dead seagrowth that looks like a tannish kind of gray after the boat has been in dry dock for a while. The Daniel Webster was decommed before the big change from painting the hulls of US submarines from the red bottom paint to the present overall black. If you want to do it in the actual gnarly way the hulls look after a long time in between drydockings; the upper hull (above the waterline) should be a scuffed up darkish gray, a greenish tan waterline and blotchy red and dark gray with a light dusting of a tannish gray patina to the rest of the hull below the waterline. These boats stink a few days after being drydocked as the seagrowth dies.

If you want to paint it in a pristine condition, (which, in actuality, only lasts a week or two) paint it as Ed said above in the black over red. Leave out the hull numbers and name. These were rarely applied and then only on special occasions, they are painted out before the sub leaves port. The main way to tell what submarine you are boarding is by the banner on the gangway that depicts the ship's name, hull number, squadron number , the ship's motto and seal. Occasionally you will spot the sub hanging the ship's name placard on both sides of the top of the sail. They are narrow, varnished planks of wood with the ship's name attached with polished brass letters. This is a lot more common than the number being painted on the sail.

Thanks to both of ya. Yes, I want it to look like it has been sitting in drydock, I'm even thinking of making wood shoring for it to sit on. What color would the undercoat be ?? Primer color ??I have weathered alot of armor, mostly w/salt and hairspray, can I use the same techniques on a 1/350 sub ?? I'm not sure it would look right. And what is a good color for the lower hull red ?? As always, thx. Once I start, I'll post pics so everyone can point and laugh...

I suggest you look here for some excellent drydock shots of a Polaris sub.

http://www.usscasimirpulaski.com/part2refit.htm