michaele

All: My understanding is that the photos of the starboard side of HMS Norfolk posted by Vlad does indeed depict the scheme that she wore at the Battle of the North Cape. On the other hand, the camo design for the port side of HMS Norfolk as shown in Aoshima's instructions and Alan Raven’s Warship Perspectives RN Camouflage Volume Three (which is presumably where they got it from) is incorrect, though the color call-out (B15, B30, and B55) seems plausible. It is not clear where that pattern for the port side came from, as to my knowledge, there are no known photos showing Norfolk wearing that scheme. On X (formerly Twitter) @Nerigoma did a very nice build of Aoshima's HMS Norfolk in 1/700 for the October 2019 Model Art Magazine (Japan) using newsreel photos that he came across while researching this topic, which shows a completely new scheme for the port side of Norfolk during North Cape: Here is a link to the Pathe newsreel showing the port side camo of HMS Norfolk, viewable at 2:42 into the film: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/82306/ And here is a yet another simply spectacular film of the port side of Norfolk from another Pathe newsfilm viewable at the 42 second mark: And for a thread discussing this from X (use your translate function to read), see here: And here are photos of his very nice build: 42 se I hope this helps. Enjoy! Mike E.

...after a long illness. He made a major contribution to our field, and many of those who continue to contribute to our field stand on his shoulders. I remember as a kid staring wide-eyed at the various Ensign series publications on display at Sky Books in New York City (long since out of business), with their glorious color centerfolds showing the amazing camouflage schemes worn by various Royal Navy ships during WW2. And I recall reading his build series on the USS McCalla (DD-488) that was run by Model Ship Builder in the early 1980s. I was thrilled and inspired. Little was I to know that I would get to know Alan several decades later, and to be fortunate enough to call him a friend. In addition to being a prolific author on maritime topics, Alan was a professional ship modeler, building many models over the years for private collectors and museums. One of his biggest customers was Der Scutt, who designed Trump Towers and many other Manhattan skyscrapers. I will miss him, and our field will miss his contributions. May he rest in peace - and may his memory be a blessing. Mike E.

Just to complicate matters, HMCS Midland wore a scheme very much like that worn by HMS/FNFL Mimosa as depicted in the above photos. See here: Fortunately, we have a color picture of her. To the best of my knowledge, this is NOT a colorized print, but an actual color photo: So the dark panels look to be an intense dark blue color. And then we have this picture of HMCS Weyburn in a similar scheme, using what looks to be local variants of Western Approaches color: So the plot thickens.... It very much seems that the darker panels on Mimosa were a single color, so maybe a dark gray, or maybe some kind of dark blue like on HMCS Weyburn!? Best, Mike E.

Thanks all. Does indeed look very much like a repackaged version of the Revell kit, with difference decal options.... though I am open to being proven wrong.

Not true. Academy just released a 1/72 scale Challenger I mk. 3: https://www.modelrectifier.com/product-p/13426.htm Mike E.

All: Anyone know if the recently released Academy Challenger I mk. 3 MBT in 1/72 scale (kit no. 13426) is a new kit or a repop of an older kit (perhaps the Revell kit)? And if it's a new kit, does anyone know where I can find a review or a photo of the kit, sprues, and instructions? Please advise... thx! And here is the box art:

Just spectacular! See here: Hat-tip to David Stratton on Facebook. Enjoy! Mike E.

Well, some of the large rescue tugs were camouflaged - but I don't know if they would generally be used to manhandle large warships in port: http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/40/0940b0903.jpg http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/38/093813002.jpg For some reasons I couldn't insert the photos here... just go to the links. HTH Mike E.

Jon: Didn't mean to rain on your parade. It's your model, so as long as you're happy with it, that's all that counts. You're doing a great job so keep up the great work. I just wanted to post the info and photo in case anyone else is inspired by your build and is thinking about building HMS Badsworth, they now know that they have various options. Dick, I'm just repeating what Alan told me. I am not familiar with the relationships between the various RN entities that provided guidance regarding camouflage during WWII, so I'll leave it at that. Alan will have to respond if he wants to further elaborate on his claim. And yes, the painting of HMS Lamerton does raise some interesting questions. Carry on. Best, Mike E.

Jon et al: Any reason you are not taking at face value Alan Raven's contention that the third color is MS3? (See his RN camouflage V. 1 and his Man O' War 4 - though I agree that black is a more likely candidate for the dark panels than the MS1 that Alan argues for.) Alan claims that his color call-outs were based on a semi-official correspondence between the Camouflage Directorate in the Admiralty and the dockyards, that he has in his files - a claim which I realize that many will not find satisfying, as he is relying on his memory at this point. And while it may be too late at this point, if you wanted to, you can do a two-tone Badsworth, because at a certain time, the black panels were overpainted with the medium tone, as in the photo below. HTH, Mike E.

No problem... keep up the great work! We're all very much enjoying this... Best, Mike E.

Per Michal's earlier post, at least two of the Round Table class trawlers were painted in a Western Approaches scheme: Sir Kay (white and WA Blue and perhaps WA Green it seems) and Sir Lamorak (I assume that in the latter, the WA Blue and perhaps WA Green has simply been rendered imperceptible by the bright sunlight): They appear to be wearing a variant of the scheme depicted in Plates 26 and 27 in C.A.F.O. 679/42, which can be obtained here: https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/products/printed-royal-navy-camouflage-c-a-f-o-679-42-sea-going-camouflage-designs-for-destroyers-and-small-ships Basically two trapezoidal and one triangular panels in WA Blue and Green (or maybe just WA Blue) on the hull, and rectangular or triangular panels of WA Blue and Green (or just WA Blue) on parts of the superstructure. HTH! Mike E.

And then there's this: https://hobbycom.jp/my/0739138195/photo/products/145384 -- though there seems to be a major error, as he failed to make the shelter for the 4" HA gun crews -- the large structure that goes between the 4" HA guns.

Sam: Then you'll need to see how Maarten Schonfeld and Phil Reeder converted their Trumpeter HMS Cornwall kits in 1/350 to HMS Suffolk... http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=202855&hilit=hms+suffolk+conversion http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=214556&p=811132&hilit=HMS+Suffolk#p811132 Enjoy! Mike E.

Your Suffolk is beautiful... please post pictures when done with the refit! And here are some additional photos of the bridge which may help from the IWM site. The site claims this is Suffolk in 1941: And it says this is Suffolk in 1944: And here is the bridge cover on HMS Norfolk in 1945, which was somewhat different it appears, but might provide some thoughts about how the bridge on a similar County class cruiser was enclosed: Hope this helps in some small way. Best, Mike E.