Scharnhorst Colours

[Starfighter]

Hi Guys,

I have the Tamiya 1/700 Scharnhorst kit to build, and I'm after some info on camouflage / colour schemes for the  kit. The model has an enclosed bridge, which I understand was fitted after the channel dash, and I've seen photos of her with dark superstructure and hull, but with light bow and stern. I've also seen pictures of a rather elaborate  camouflage  pattern, so my question is what would be correct for this model ? I do have the Snyder and Short Kriegsmarine colour chips, so I would be able to refer to them if needs be. 

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

From our site, written by John Snyder:

 

 

SCHARNHORST 

as-lost

  

 

Image courtesy

http://www.scharnhorst-class.dk/index.html

 

The precise colours of Scharnhorst at the time of her sinking by HMS Duke of York remain unknown. She may have been in standard Kriegsmarine greys, or she may have been wearing the Norwegian Theatre blue-greys described by Dechend. We will therefore provide references for both potential schemes:

 

 

Standard Kriegsmarine Greys

Darkest Grey in pattern—Dunkelgrau 2 (KM 06)

Middle Grey in pattern—Dunkelgrau 51 (KM 02)

Lightest Grey in pattern—Hellgrau 50 (KM 01)

White panels at bow & stern, & false bow wave—Schnellbootweiss (KM 10)

Steel decks—probably Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05)

Wood decks—natural teak (C 01)

Boot-topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05)

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04)

Funnel cap—Black (C 02).

 

 

Norwegian Theatre Blue-Greys

Darkest Grey in pattern—Blaugrau Dunkel (KM 07)

Middle Grey in pattern—Blaugrau Mittel (KM 08)

Lightest Grey in pattern—Blaugrau Hell (KM 09)

White panels at bow & stern, & false bow wave—Schnellbootweiss (KM 10)

Steel decks—possibly Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05) or Blaugrau Dunkel (KM 07)

Wood decks—natural teak (C 01)

Boot-topping—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau 1 (KM 05)

Underwater hull—Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5 (KM 04)

Funnel cap—Black (C 02).

 

 

Arado Ar-196        

Upper surfaces—RLM 72 Grün (ACLW 04), RLM 73 Grün (ACLW 05);
Lower surfaces—RLM 65 Hellblau (ACLW 03) 

[Starfighter]

Many thanks, Jamie, you've been most helpful. I'm reading " The Death Of The Scharnhorst " by John Winton at the moment, and that inspired me to get the Tamiya  model, plus the fact that my Father served in HMS Belfast, although that was during the Korean War.  🙂

 

[Starfighter]

I have another colour query regarding Scharnhorst. I also have the 1/700 Gneisenau kit and it occcured to me that with a bit of cross kitting I could build Scharnhorst as she appeared ( open type bridge, etc. ) as she appeared during the " Channel Dash "as I quite like the interesting colour scheme with the mottled superstructure.

My question is : What was the colour of the turret tops ? I've seen depictions showing a blue colour, and also dark grey, so which is more likely to be correct ?