1/72 U-505 Painting advice. Help!!!

I have the same question for my next build.

Ok, after reading and researching other sites I decided that the Blaugrau 58/1 for the upper hull and the Blauschwartz 58/2 for the conning tower.   The Blaugrau 58/1 is available in the Kriegsmarine 2 set from Lifecolor.   Blauschwartz (Blue Black) is not available at all.    There are many opinions on what is closer.   I matched the color chip in the Kriegsmarine U-Boat colors  and markings PDF.   They suggested FS 35044.   I found that FS 35042 (Flat Sea Blue in Model Master)  seemed closer to the chip.   It looks good, is in keeping with the order issued prior to the last deployment, agrees with those on the U 803 that was painted the same  and is closer to the photos at time of capture.  

Texchap. I guess you saw my earlier photo of U-803. The only other color photo that might help is this of U-858. And this photo shows what the colors would look in B&W.

i2.photobucket.com/.../U-858_zps4e726575.jpg

Yes I did.  I also read on another forum how a crewman on the U-803 at the end of the war described the color.    He also said the U-505 was painted the same.

This site

http://amp.rokket.biz/docs/u-boat_colours_with_photos_5.pdf

lists Dunkelgrau 51 for the hull and Blauschwarz 58/2 for the conning tower. I would not trust musum stuff too much as it has often been repainted again and again. Often with no historical attention to actual colors used.

I know the site.  I tried it and it was lighter than the black and white and color photos show.   I looked and compared it to the haze gray on the side of the ship.   The upper hull was closer to the shading of the darker color in the GUADALCANAL's paint scheme.  In addition, the site you refer to states that in 1943 the Kerigsmarine directed subs be painted either Schlickgrau 58, Blaugrau 58/1 or Blauschwartz 58/2.   The Forum I referred to was not a museum site, you are correct I don't trust them.   It was models.rokket.biz/index.php   The accurate model parts forum.   I also found Blaugrau mentioned in a couple of other spots.   Ultimately  it's best guess.  

www.uboatarchive.net/U-505EnclG472.htm

Well look at the Dark Gull Gray on the FMs on the flight deck, It looks pretty dark there as well. Lighting can be tricky. The father away an object is from the camera, even though both may be in the same color, the more distant one may appear lighter. No worries about the conflicting information on the paint colors.

You are correct. The  aircraft do look dark.  That is the frustration and also the challenge.    He also states how the crews mixed paints.  Frustrating LOL.   In the article he is convinced that the Dunkelgrau 51 is the color on many of the boats.   What is interesting  is he doesn't list Blaugrau as being applied to any sub at all on on any part of them.   I laughed when he said they were educated guesses. That seems to be the case.     I recall the heated debates on the color of the USS ARIZONA at the time of its sinking.   It all came down to the word of a survivor that described painting it light blue which turned out to be 5s Navy Blue.   There is a real issue when it comes to photos of the day.   If you look at the color closeup posted by Leftie, the color on the 803 is an close match for Lifecolors  Blaugrau.  It's also a close match for the Model Master Dunkelgrau 51.   Arg LOL.  

Check out this site: uboat.net/.../read.php .  

Dougie Martindale is the recognized expert on all of the sites.   There really is not much difference in shade between the Modelmaster Dunkelgrau 51 and the Lifecolor Blaugrau.   Its all preference.   I will follow Dougies advice.    I painted the Dunkelgrau over the Blaugrau and it came out very realistic looking.   I will post pictures later.  

Good thing that I have MM Dunkelgraun51 in my paints for my 1/350 U-505 ;-) Whenever I do get around to it.

 Critical Past has a few reels in color of the capture of U-505 but the color is so off its probably not much help.

i2.photobucket.com/.../u-505a_zps8743674.jpg

No photo there.

www.youtube.com/watch    Color video of capture.    Too bad it's blury.  

Texchap. Yeah, not a whole lot to get excited about there. Didn't they know in 1944 how important clear color photos would be in 2014?:-) I think I'm going with the U-858 colors, heavily weathered of course.

 Hokey. I misfired on one photo but its the same photo as the one you can see.

What year was the photo with the helo and blimp?

 Okay Guys. I've seen a few close-ups of the Revell U-505 and I think I'm gonna wait on this one. I'm not saying its not a good kit, but it appears it needs a lot of work to have a correct U-505. And if I wait, some great PE and aftermarket stuff will be available, not to mention the kit will be on sale.

Jake. Should be May 14, 1945 off the coast of Lewes Delaware.

Here it is so far....

i269.photobucket.com/.../U505Models004.jpg

Lets try it again,,,,,,

i269.photobucket.com/.../U505Models004.jpg

Ok so whats the trick on photos here?

<a href="s269.photobucket.com/.../U505Models004.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="i269.photobucket.com/.../U505Models004.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo U505Models004.jpg"/></a>

well that didn't work either....

i269.photobucket.com/.../U505Models006.jpg

i269.photobucket.com/.../U505Models005.jpg

Boy, you didn't waste any time. You knocked that sucker out.

LOL.  I got it as soon as it came out.   Been working on it since it came from Freetime.   I was in the preorder shipout.   Without PE add ons it's really not that hard a kit to build.   the colors were the biggest debate.   I'm wondering what happened to the cables running from the back of the conning tower,   My guess is they were shot away since they don't show up in the photos.  It has been fun.   I still have fine tuning and more weathering.