I am looking into acquiring one of the Trumpeter 1/350 North Carolina models, which I intend to build as BB Washington, and would like to paint the ship in the colors appropriate at the time of her battle with the Japanese battleship ‘Kirishima’ in the Solomons campaign. Seems like these ships changed paint schemes more often than their socks, and I am confused as to whether Washington would have been in Ms 22, or Ms 12. Anyone have any clues?
Go to usswashington.com and review their photos by dates and actions. That should be a big help.
Have a look here:
http://www.shipcamouflage.com/camouflage_database.htm
Cheers,
John Snyder, White Ensign Models, http://WhiteEnsignModels.com
USNHC Photo
Photo from the US Naval Historical Center, caption date indicates 21-August-1942
Other photos on the web show the Washington in Measure 12(R) in June, 1942 while she was attached to the RN’s Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
The information which John ar WEM references doesn’t really give date breakdowns inside of calendar years. You really need to consult secondary references, photos, logs, or yard availability.
It looks like the Washington returned from England and underwent a yard period, emerging in Ms22 before deploying to the Pacific
Looks like either MS 22, or a MS 12 (mod), but which? I have a photo of North Caroline in the MS 12 (Mod), so perhaps MS 22 is best?
I just spent an hour on the phone with my Dad who is 91 and spent most of WWII on BB56. He told me and looked through many many photos of the ship and said it never had the fancy camo paint scheme like the sister BB55. Just two part gray. He told me “rust” was their camoflage. As he laughed telling me the ship was nicknamed the “Big Rusty W” !
We’re working on fixing that, but it’s a tall order. I’ve modified the CV pages for ships I have confirmable dates on.
Tracy, what is the status of the shipcamouflage message board. Is it permenantly dead?
Sounds like MS 22, with a heavy dose of rust then!
No, I just need the time at the home computer to redo it. This weekend is a good possibility as my wife’s out of town…
Yep, i’d would be doing MS22, although i’d be going a little light on the rust. [;)]
I’m in the process of doing the same conversion. At the time of the battle with Kirishima, Washinton wore measure 22 (http://www.shipcamouflage.com/measure_22.htm) which she wore during her entire time in the Pacific.
You might look at this thread http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=7215 for a discussion of some of the issues with the kit. If you are going to do the conversion, you will have a number of modifications to make. First and foremost, at that time Washington carried no 40mm. She had six 1.1 quad mounts. In her original fit she had four, but two stern tubs were added at her refit in NY after returning from here Atlantic duty. I highly recommend the 1.1’s from Paper Labs (can be obtained through Pacific Front Hobbies), they have to be seen to be believed. There are a host of other changes as well as dealing with flaws in the kit. Right now I’m in the process of working up a master to replace the horribly oversized Mk 37, early mod. Directors. There is also a prominent anchor washout cut in the port bow.
Here are a couple of photos of where I’m at:
Paul
Looks more like a scratch-build!
That’s because the kit is “crap-build” I’m sorry, the kit has problems.