I’m starting to build Tamiya’s 1/350 New Jersey, and their instructions call for a “light gray” hull. I’ve sprayed it on (FS 36495, I did not have the Tamiya colors – 3 parts XF-66 to 1 part XF-2) and it looks siily to me. I remember something called “Battleship Grey” from my (very) early modeling days in the late '50s (Yes, that’s the previous millenium!). I’ve tried a little dark ghost grey that seems OK, but I’d appreciate any input into an appropriate shade.
BTW, I was actually aboard the New Jersey as a Cub Scout, circa 1957, when she was berthed for a while in Annapolis. She sure didn’t look then like a light grey. I know this kit is based on a 1983 appearance, and when I was aboard she was probably still in close to a Korean appearance, so any help is appreciated.
White Ensign sells Haze Gray. Worth looking into, they have the best IMHO line of accurate ship colors, so while you are at it save shipping and stock up on deck gray, dark sea blue, and all the other colors you ever wanted. Enamels only. Haze gray is pretty blue- neutral gray is (at least the aircraft one) rather brown.
Since the Tamiya New Jersey is the moderenized version, the color you want is modern haze gray. This is not to be confused with WWII haze gray. WWII colors are in the purple/blue hue range.
The Mil-Std specification for haze is 26270. ModelMaster Neutral Gray is 36270, flat vs semi-gloss finish. Some of the other manufacturer’s neutral gray do not seem to match the color spec.
MM Gunship Gray is a good match for the exterior steel decks for a modern USN warship.
To further confuse or de-confuse things, early-to-mid WWII USN colors were purple blue, but a late 1944 re-formulation that went live in February of 1945 saw neutral colors. Thus, there were technically two Haze grays in WWII. Up to the builder, of course, how much they care.
Thanks for the advice; I actually have a haze grey here, and I’ll check the FS #. I may experiment with flat/semi-gloss and work from there. I think mounting it on a dark base will help – all the photos and illustrations I’ve seen are against a deep ocean color and that seems to darken things nicely.
Again, thanks to all who repsonded. I’ll post some pictures when I make some progress.
Well she was rebuilt in Long Beach Naval Shipyard, just south of L.A. during 1982. Lots of smog there too… BTW, I got to go aboard her at that time when they towed her in for rebuild. She was open to the public for touring for a weekend.
Don’t forget the original WWII formulations would lighten up over time.
I have been researching the Buchannan and found many variances in the tone from fresh and pronounced to beat to hell been at sea for 6 months in the Pacific sun barely tell the difference between colors.
Hello peeps…I had the honor of going aboard the USS New Jersey while she made a visit to Portland, Or. back in the summer of 1990…OUTSTANDING!! I’ve used the Polly Scale Haze Gray 5-H on my current project. It was a little fusy going on (three thin coats via airbrush) but seems fine…Very fragile though…Wasted no time sealing it with a varnish.