I swear on using TAMIYA flat black and graphite powder afterwards.
János
Brian,
Here is the general reply from my brother, branching out from barrels to carriages as well but no paint recommendation:
COLOR -- In general no standards existed for ships, hulls, moasts, etc. Guilding was used but sparingly since it reflected monarchial and aristocratic tastes. Some of this was due to the orgins of the officrs (see West and South above)... Most of them were Whig. the Military was Tory. Whig Blue, Military Red (and aristocratic in its officers.)
GUNS and CARRIAGES -- Captain's choice or admiral's or commodores dictates. Much depended on what was available. Gun decks at first were red, but switched to while (for better light and cleanup). The best gudes are the colors in HMS TRincomalee and HMS VIctory videos, but this reflects restorer's tastes. Barrels, generally black. Carriages, generally not painted. BUT, browns, grays, and even yellow and red for carriages were not unknown. It had more to do with preservation (rust and rot) than spit and polish. However, some captains an dadmirals who were spit and polish who seldom if efer fired their guns more than regualtions for power allowed (skimpy) liked to paint their guns and tampions, and cover them with pained sail cloth to preserve their looks. Can't go wrong with flat black & flat
HMS Victory gun carriage colors, though.
ABove beased on the reading I've done, and no more.. .
This is a copy and paste from his email reply. PT-2