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Interior colors of USCG life boats during WW2

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Interior colors of USCG life boats during WW2
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:18 PM
Currently scratch building a WW2 cutter which will be finished in Measure 16. Can't determine from my photo references if the interior of the boats were left natural wood or painted deck blue. In the photos(B&W) I have it's hard to tell-perhaps painted but through heavy use are weathered back to wood? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:40 PM

During WWII the USCG generally conformed to USN painting practices.  

The description for Measure 16 from the shipcamouflage.com website states ...

Vertical Surfaces:

Vertical surfaces from boot-topping to top of superstructure masses including masts, A pattern consisting of Thayer Blue 5-B and White 5-U.

Special Characteristics.     The special feature of this system is its changeable character.  At low level of illumination a blue paint will appear relatively lighter and a red paint will appear relatively darker than these two paints appear in daylight.  This visual change, known as the Purkinje effect, is utilized in the Thayer System.  The pure light blue which is employed has been selected because it will appear practically like white paint at low levels of illumination.  The ship will therefore appear like a white ship on moonless nights or during twilight when white or very light ships are best for reduced visibility.  During daylight hours or under bright moonlight the pattern will appear and will produce some deception in the estimation of the target angle.  A darker blue would produce more deception but can not be used because it will not appear white at night.  The purity of the color is an important factor in the Purkinje effect, and even a slight admixture of black in the paint will reduce its effectiveness at night.

Horizontal Surfaces:     Horizontal surfaces, Deck Blue, 20-B.

Wood Decks.  Wood decks except on submarines and carriers shall be darkened to the color Deck Blue.  Deck Blue paint shall be used in lieu of stain for this purpose.

Canvas Covers.  Canvas covers visible from the outside vessel are to be dyed a color corresponding to Deck Blue.

Notes: The camouflage painting need not be exact or carried into corners.  Small gear, wires, rigging, and areas permanently in shadow, as under boats, etc., need not be painted with the camouflage colors.  There is no objection to exact or careful painting which may be desired for the sake of good appearance at close range.

All bright or shiny objects, no matter how insignificant, shall be painted, covered, or removed.

Glass windows shall be covered or removed, especially during the day in sunny weather, and at night when anticipating searchlight discovery.  Insofar as conditions permit, similar precautions shall be taken on airport lenses.

End Quote

Note the bit about horizontal surfaces ... that was supposed to include the inner surfaces of the ship's boats when viewed from above.   The spec also called for canvas covers on boats, etc. to be dyed to deck blue.

If the ship's paint is pristine and the boats are weathered and ratty - it would appear inconsistent.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2005
Posted by CG Bob on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:10 PM
Here's a link for USCG painting regs - http://www.uscg.mil/history/Cutter_Painting_Regs_Index.html .
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:12 AM

Which cutter are you building a model of? I've got Loose Cannon Productions USCG Eastwind in my stash, and plan to make a little display of her cranking out her Grumman Duck for launching. Someday ... maybe this decade ...

http://home.earthlink.net/~loosecannonproductions/Kit18.html - I know there's a way to insert links in here, and with the old forum I could do it. Not so with the new one ...

 

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Seattle, Colorado
Posted by onyxman on Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:36 PM

Reading through CG Bob's link: What is "spar color"?

Fred

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:43 PM
 onyxman wrote:

Reading through CG Bob's link: What is "spar color"?

Fred



Spar is a yellow/butterscotch color. I'm sure you have seen it on USCG cutters and craft.

The White Ensign Colourcoats USN Great White Fleet Stack Buff is a match for modern USCG Spar.

You might also check the model railroad side of the hobby shop. I think Polly Scale/Floquil MEC Harvest Gold Question [?] is a good match
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 23, 2007 11:00 AM
I'm building the NORTHLAND for an old crew member. Great little ship with an interesting history. Started out as a replacement for the BEAR and ended up as the first ship of the Israeli Navy!
Hope to (slowly) work my way thru all the CG ships of the Greenland Patrol.
The Loose Cannon EASTWIND is a great kit. Have fun with it.
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Friday, February 23, 2007 11:27 AM
Thanks for the head's up, beezus - I'm thinking that might be my next epic project, after I put the Liberty ship to bed. Did the included PE have struts for Duck, or any other details for it?
  • Member since
    October 2005
Posted by CG Bob on Friday, February 23, 2007 12:54 PM
I've found that Badger Model Flex, Deck Tan #16-405 is an almost perfect match for Spar.  When I was still in the USCG, I painted a piece of styrene sheet with some Spar from the unit paint locker.  I've kept that styrene in a dark place, and use it to match the color. 
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 23, 2007 1:12 PM
Don't have the EASTWIND kit-but the builds I've seen of it look good. Loose Cannon kits I've seen are
pretty comprehensive though so I would assume that there are some struts in there.
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Friday, February 23, 2007 3:26 PM

The biggest challenge for me is going to be painting the camouflage scheme. I got the Thayer Blue from the Model Master's marine line before they closed that production out, thank God, but masking off something that ... small ... is something I am still pondering. I'm tempted to just try it freehand but with my club-like opposable thumbs, disaster is almost guaranteed.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Seattle, Colorado
Posted by onyxman on Friday, February 23, 2007 5:44 PM
Thanks for the replies re 'spar'. That's kind of what I suspected. That color is used on a lot of merchant ships too. It's sort of close to the outline color of the lettering on the "Internet Hobbies" ad on this site.
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