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[Rottweiler]

Can anyone advise me of the colours of the hull of the old Cunarders "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth 2"
OK Black and white,but gloss,matt or semi matt please? Would the white upper part of the hull be  gloss or matt or semi matt?
Again what make of paint have other modellers used?


MODS, please leave this here? Last week I posted a question on operating Turrets,and I started getting some help,but then a MOD moved it to Warships,since when I have not had a single reply.THANKS

[oldiron]

Initial paint colours on vessels, and indeed most machinery, is gloss. Gloss cleans and stands up to weathering much better than a matte finish. Matte paint tends to be soft and will fade and discolour easily.
In time gloss will take on a matte appearance due to dirt and weathering, but will stay in much better condition than painting matte initially.
 I've attached a picture of the Queen Mary at Southampton in1961. My father took the picture. We were on the Saxonia next to it and leaving for Canada. As I remember the Saxonia she too was gloss paint.
 That said, a model can look much better in a satin finish rather than either matte of gloss.  Your choice.
 Note, too, the tug in the fore ground is gloss finish.

John

[Colin Bishop]

The funnels look darker in the photo than they actually are, Cunard red was more of a red/orange. The pic below was taken in bright LA sunshine and is probably a rather lighter shade than they would actually appear to the eye. The photo of the QE2 is probably a more accurate rendition. As always, the perceived colour will vary with the ambient lighting conditions.

Colin

[Colin Bishop]

Going back to the original question, I think that models of relatively large vessels look 'toylike' if painted gloss.  It is logical really. Just as we scale down the size of the original vessel, we also need to scale down the reflective intensity or glossiness of the finish to get the best effect.

My view is that models of larger prototypes look best if given a finish somewhere between matt and satin - in other words a slight sheen. There are always some exceptions of course. With a large model of a lifeboat you might find that somewhere above satin and below gloss is best as lifeboats are well maintained and the finish does not fade to the extent it does on a commercial vessel. Moreover, lifeboats tend to be built to larger scales which are nearer the size of the prototype than tugs or cargo ships for example so you don't need to 'cale down' the degree of glossiness quite so much.

For me, the rule is that if in doubt make it more matt!

Colin

[Liverbudgie2]

Cunard funnel colour was/is the same as "red lead" they probably used it as well; I know the Isle of Man Steam pact did.
The hull colour on the "real" Queens was black with 6 inch white band at the water line, blow was dark red/reddish brown.
The present day Queens have the hull painted in a shade of very deep blue, but not black, the white band and boot topping of red, and below that is dark brown.

I agree with Colin in that a high gloss finish looks awful on most models and should only be used on vessels such a large models of lifeboats and luxury yachts.

[Rottweiler]

THANKS GUYS!
Looks like it will be a satin finish then!
I will see how my models clean up and go from there.
Thanks again,
Mick