Please forgive me if this has been posted somewhere else. I did see one question in this forum and one reply but no other discussion. I have been combing the web for a factual response about the U505 at time of capture. I have seen it in the museum and I know that background of the painting of the U505 in the museum, how he aquired paint chips etc. I also know from reading that the Kreigsmarine directed U-Boats be painted darker colors over the original gray thinking it would help reduce their visibility. The instructions on the kit call for a matt gray on the upper hull, and a blue gray on the conning tower. One site calls for Dunkelgrau 51 in the upper hull and Blauschwartz 59/2 on the conning tower. Someone else said it was Blaugrau 58/1 on the upper hull and Blauschwartz 59/2 on the conning tower. I see in another article that in 1943 Schlickgrau 58, Blaugru 58 and Blauschwarz were directed for upper colors. The photos of the U505 at capture seem to show a darker gray on the hull and an even darker color on the conning tower. What is interesting is every model of the U505 I’ve seen has it Dunkelgrau 51 over all the upper including the conning tower (like the museum. Opinions?
I have the same question for my next build.
Ok, after reading and researching other sites I decided that the Blaugrau 58/1 for the upper hull and the Blauschwartz 58/2 for the conning tower. The Blaugrau 58/1 is available in the Kriegsmarine 2 set from Lifecolor. Blauschwartz (Blue Black) is not available at all. There are many opinions on what is closer. I matched the color chip in the Kriegsmarine U-Boat colors and markings PDF. They suggested FS 35044. I found that FS 35042 (Flat Sea Blue in Model Master) seemed closer to the chip. It looks good, is in keeping with the order issued prior to the last deployment, agrees with those on the U 803 that was painted the same and is closer to the photos at time of capture.
Texchap. I guess you saw my earlier photo of U-803. The only other color photo that might help is this of U-858. And this photo shows what the colors would look in B&W.
Yes I did. I also read on another forum how a crewman on the U-803 at the end of the war described the color. He also said the U-505 was painted the same.
This site
http://amp.rokket.biz/docs/u-boat_colours_with_photos_5.pdf
lists Dunkelgrau 51 for the hull and Blauschwarz 58/2 for the conning tower. I would not trust musum stuff too much as it has often been repainted again and again. Often with no historical attention to actual colors used.
I know the site. I tried it and it was lighter than the black and white and color photos show. I looked and compared it to the haze gray on the side of the ship. The upper hull was closer to the shading of the darker color in the GUADALCANAL’s paint scheme. In addition, the site you refer to states that in 1943 the Kerigsmarine directed subs be painted either Schlickgrau 58, Blaugrau 58/1 or Blauschwartz 58/2. The Forum I referred to was not a museum site, you are correct I don’t trust them. It was models.rokket.biz/index.php The accurate model parts forum. I also found Blaugrau mentioned in a couple of other spots. Ultimately it’s best guess.
Well look at the Dark Gull Gray on the FMs on the flight deck, It looks pretty dark there as well. Lighting can be tricky. The father away an object is from the camera, even though both may be in the same color, the more distant one may appear lighter. No worries about the conflicting information on the paint colors.
You are correct. The aircraft do look dark. That is the frustration and also the challenge. He also states how the crews mixed paints. Frustrating LOL. In the article he is convinced that the Dunkelgrau 51 is the color on many of the boats. What is interesting is he doesn’t list Blaugrau as being applied to any sub at all on on any part of them. I laughed when he said they were educated guesses. That seems to be the case. I recall the heated debates on the color of the USS ARIZONA at the time of its sinking. It all came down to the word of a survivor that described painting it light blue which turned out to be 5s Navy Blue. There is a real issue when it comes to photos of the day. If you look at the color closeup posted by Leftie, the color on the 803 is an close match for Lifecolors Blaugrau. It’s also a close match for the Model Master Dunkelgrau 51. Arg LOL.
Check out this site: uboat.net/…/read.php .
Dougie Martindale is the recognized expert on all of the sites. There really is not much difference in shade between the Modelmaster Dunkelgrau 51 and the Lifecolor Blaugrau. Its all preference. I will follow Dougies advice. I painted the Dunkelgrau over the Blaugrau and it came out very realistic looking. I will post pictures later.
Good thing that I have MM Dunkelgraun51 in my paints for my 1/350 U-505 
Whenever I do get around to it.
Critical Past has a few reels in color of the capture of U-505 but the color is so off its probably not much help.
No photo there.
www.youtube.com/watch Color video of capture. Too bad it’s blury.
Texchap. Yeah, not a whole lot to get excited about there. Didn’t they know in 1944 how important clear color photos would be in 2014?
I think I’m going with the U-858 colors, heavily weathered of course.
Hokey. I misfired on one photo but its the same photo as the one you can see.
What year was the photo with the helo and blimp?
Okay Guys. I’ve seen a few close-ups of the Revell U-505 and I think I’m gonna wait on this one. I’m not saying its not a good kit, but it appears it needs a lot of work to have a correct U-505. And if I wait, some great PE and aftermarket stuff will be available, not to mention the kit will be on sale.