Skipjack Model

[The Third Man]

I have a question which I think can only be answered by concensous.

Does this pic of Skipjack show the verticle surface of the sail to be grey, as I think it does, or the overall black as the instructions and current submarine practice suggests?

I have already moved the sail 1/4 inch forward on the model to better refect the outline of Skipjack, puttied over the model reactor space (sorry it wasn't that far aft) and I'm getting close to paint.


What do you all think? Here is the picture.

http://www.historynet.com/wp-content/uploads/image/2009/MHQ/Winter%202010/scorpion-submarine-surface-crew-1968(1).jpg

[ajrimmer42]

Hmmm, that's a tricky one, I'm inclined to say it's black but doesn't look it as the rest of the hull is wet, although looking at the fins/planes on the sail, they look a completely different colour. However the hull looks a similar colour to the sail where it's beginning to dry. So yeah I'd say it's probably the same colour as the hull but I'm nowhere near sure lol

[ETR3(SS)]

It's black. As the paint fades it takes on a grayish looking color. If you go to www.navsource.org you can get some nice color pics of a Skipjack.

[The Third Man]

Actually on closer inspection this is a pic of Scorpion (SSN-589), not Skipjack but same class.

I understand that a certain greying can, and does, occur over time. The thing which is confusing is the obvious contrasts evident in the photo.

The top of the sail appears dark (black), the verticle appears light (grey), the sail planes appear dark (black), the casing from the start of the sail and aft appears dark (black), the casing forward of the sail appears light (grey), where the sail meets the casing there appears to be a dark (black) boot topping, the spine housing the induction/exhaust piping appears dark (black) until it meets the sail, wher it suddenly ends and reverts to the light (grey) of the verticle of the sail.

Perhaps when the pic was taken the boat was in the middle of an unfinished painting.

Thanks guys for your feed back.