hull colour

[bluenos2]

Could anyone tell me what colour I would use to replicate the "brown stuff" payed to British ships hulls before they used white.

 

[AllanKP69]

Hi BN2
What ship/year is this for?

I am joking but I wonder if you could actually make your own. tar, pitch, and brimstone. I highly doubt any two batches of the mixture ever matched in color exactly. And then once in the water, the color probably changed as well. Probably any dark brown would be appropriate.

Brain Lavery describes this coating in The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War on page 58.

Allan

 

[bluenos2]

Hi BN2
What ship/year is this for?

I am joking but I wonder if you could actually make your own. tar, pitch, and brimstone. I highly doubt any two batches of the mixture ever matched in color exactly. And then once in the water, the color probably changed as well. Probably any dark brown would be appropriate.

Brain Lavery describes this coating in The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War on page 58.

Allan

This would for the HMB Endeavour. The colour is what I would have thought. Just wanted to see if anyone had a witches brew that they had come up with. Thnx.

 

[AllanKP69]

Brown stuff (the tar, pitch and brimstone formula) was common at the time of Endeavour so a smart choice. An interesting thing ------ About 1777 the navy only used it to about 3 feet below the load waterline to save money and used tallow and lime above the brown stuff. Never saw this on a model, but would surely raise some conversation.

Allan

 

[bluenos2]

Brown stuff (the tar, pitch and brimstone formula) was common at the time of Endeavour so a smart choice. An interesting thing ------ About 1777 the navy only used it to about 3 feet below the load waterline to save money and used tallow and lime above the brown stuff. Never saw this on a model, but would surely raise some conversation.

Allan

 

[bluenos2]

Interesting. It appears after some research that the colour could be anything from a light brown to almost black depending on where the ship was built and repayed. I have built armour and the same applies as to factory and field repairs with what ever paint was available. Best not to tilt at that windmill as the correct answer is all of the above.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Start with burnt umber (aka Van dyke Brown). Play with different colors; white, light brown, grey until you’re happy with it.

Roger