Color of paint for the canon carriages on HMS Victory

[jimscars]

Hey everyone. The carriages on my HMS Victory are plywood so they have to be painted. I need feed back on what color to use on them. I've seen them in several different colors. Is red ok? Any opinions?

 

[Y.T.]

I had seen them only of ochre color. Same color as stripes on the hull outside. Red is not good IMHO.

 

[jimscars]

point taken. thank you.

 

[Bob Ellis]

Hey everyone. The carriages on my HMS Victory are plywood so they have to be painted. I need feed back on what color to use on them. I've seen them in several different colors. Is red ok? Any opinions?

They were the same ochre as the hull before Andrew Baines vandalised her. If they matched the hul the correct colour is a pale yellow, mix 50% yellow 50% white. According to the carpenters manifest.

 

[jimscars]

So what you are advising is that I use that mix for the ship as well? I will test that today. To be honest I wish they were walnut. Then I could just use a clear finish on them. Thanks Bob.

 

[David Webber]

So what you are advising is that I use that mix for the ship as well? I will test that today. To be honest I wish they were walnut. Then I could just use a clear finish on them. Thanks Bob.

Check the internet. There are thousands of photos of the actual ship as well as all the fittings snd guns.

 

[AllanKP69]

I looked at contracts regarding paint. None of them state a color, but, cost was always a factor and red and yellow ochre were cheap by comparison, thus the most commonly seen. I am not a fan of painting carriages or other items inboard, but go to Swiss pear or bloodwood for some items that may have been painted red. From the contract for HMS Elephant (74) 1786:

To treble paint the Ship without Board with good Oil Colours, and in like Manner the Great Cabin, Steerage, and all the Cabins, Rails, Stantions, Ladders, Gratings, Gangways, Bulkheads, Capstands, Upper deck beams, and Knees, and all the Work both within and without board for finishing and compleating the Hull of said Ship, shall be done in a Workmanlike Manner, equal in all respects to those of His Majesty’s Ships of the like Quality in the King’s Yards.

Looking at contemporary models, they were either unpainted or red, but this does not mean other colors were not used as well.
Allan