U-boat colours article

Cool. This helps clear up the big question/debate on weather the lower hull was dark gray, or dark red.

Thanks.

Dougie47:

Thanks for your tremendous research undertaking! It has been of inestimable assistance in gathering into a single place (in 2 parts, of course) a wealth of info to help in painting and weathering the U-Boat.

"Should we prosper it shall be as is our custom...by Miracle!"

Dougie, you must be psychic! I bought that U-boat kit two days ago! Thank you very much; you just make my build a lot easier!

Dougie:

Since your work on U-Boat colors was so comprehensive I thought I'd ask about some incidental miscellaneous items available in the Revell kit and thru the White Ensign (WEM) photo-etched aftermarket kit.

1. What was the color of the extendable rod antenna (the rod in the portside C/T bulge)? Bronze?

2. What color was the muzzle cap for the 88mm?

3. What color for the radar antennas and their componenets--FuMo29, 30, etc. and the stem for the FuMo30? Also the radar detectors "Naxos" and the "Biscay Cross"?

4. Color for torpedo tube interior, tube rim, and "inner" doors? (as in the WEM PE kit)

Your work is so complete that the addition of this information shojld prove to be the final touch in covering all color issues.

Once again, thanks for your considerable assistance.

"Should we prosper it shall be as is our custom...by Miracle!"

Hi Azrog,

You've got some really difficult questions, and I don't have the answers for you, I'm afraid. For definitive answers rather than guesses you'd have to ask a U-boat expert who knows what materials the parts were made of, and at what stages of the war (sometimes different materials were used at different stages in the war). I tried asking some experts a few months ago about question 1 but nobody seemed to know. I think someone on the technical forum at uboat.net might be able to help you with some of them, especially number 4.

I think that the torpedo inner doors would be in the red anti-corrosion paint. This paint was a slightly brownish red similar to the “Schiffsbodenfarbe (alternate color)” colour in the S&S paint chip cards (slightly redder than FS30160). The Kriegsmarine sometimes used an unknown shade of grey for anti-corrosion undercoat, but the red was more common.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help,

Dougie

I wish I had seen those websites before I started my Type IXC U-boat. I'm almost done with my boat now so it is too late to apply the info. I thought the deck color was Graugrun (grey green), which I applied and which looks somewhat close to color photos I have of U-boat decks. My color photos show that the deck color was even darker than the Graugrun I applied and that makes sense if it was a black wood preservative.
I had to guess with the upper hull color. I used MM Light Sea Gray lightened with white and with some intermediate blue added to give the grey just a slight hint of blue.
I got the lower hull right in the sense that I painted it Dark Gray. I doubt I got the correct shade of dark grey but it looks good.
When I do a Revell 1/72 VIIC I now have a good color guide to go by.

Cheers,

Dave

Dougie:

I've taken your advice and posted my questions about the radar/radar-detector and interior hull casing/torpedo tube colors at uboat.net in the "model" and the "technical" forums.

If anyone responds you are certainly most welcome to incorporate any useful info into your study/report.

Thanks again for your assistance.

"Should we prosper it shall be as is our custom...by Miracle!"