My first post on this site. Someone guided me here and having just gone through some of the forums, it is great to see so many like-minded modellers with same interest.
I should perhaps post this under the armoured cars section but as it is a model that I am building (Resicast), I will try here first.
I am doing some research on the three colours used by the British on some WWI Rolls Royce armoured cars - a jagged edged three-colour sheme with a dark ouline seperating the colours. My references all say "dark red-brown, darkish green and sand" but no information anywhere on the precise colours. Would anyone happen to have any references or information that provides a more accurate spec on these three colours ? The photo I am using as my reference shows a Rolls Royce bogged down in mud (somewhere in Arras perhaps ?)
I have looked but info is limited and typically very vague.... any help would be really appreciated.
I'm working on the same model... The most exciting kit I've bought from years...
About the camo, my idea was to refer to the Dick Taylor's booklet "warpaint" and use light grey/green/brown splinter pattern. Light gray could maybe make sens comparing with the original admiralty grey paint. Just my 2cents! Regards Gilles(Lostiznaos)
The grey option combined with green and brown ochre was one that I had pondered. It is possible that the grey was left on as the base and the green and ochre were added thereafter. Or, alternatively, green was the base and ochre and brown were added.
I will need to research this further although I seem to have exhausted my investigation.
Although B/W images are not the best to try and sort out the colours , it seems to me that there is no shade in the attached photo that would match the shade of navy grey. The ochre is clear, the brown is most likely the deepest shade pictured and the medium shade is either green or possibly grey.
One of life's mysteries ;) I think the scale model depicted in philthyaninal's link is a good rendition of what I would expect the splinter scheme to look like.
just a tip that might help, as to the grey colour, I find that if you use Helfords grey undercoat and after some weathering it turns out like weathered Admiralty grey. Hope this is of some help!
Your analysis makes sens to me : If a car is painted using ellaborate scheme, it is logical to suppose the whole body was, not only the contrasting colors. On all the pics I've seen about those cars, the paint looks brand new. Following D Taylor who refers the 1916/1917 navy grey as a very light color, slightly lighter than the early one, the lighter tone could be light grey or light sand.
For my model, I'm afraid I'm in same trouble or worse : I would paint it with a multicolor dots scheme seen on the P83... No idea at all about the colours!
To add some questions, I'm asking me about mechanical parts. On the pic on "War Cars" P19, the spokes wheels seems to be in dark tone (I suppose black), as does the engine. I've read anywhere R§R civilian engines was dark green painted but maybe later. I would be very happy if anybody have advice about this engine and radiator.
Hi Gilles, In anticipation of the Resicast release I did some searching and found the attached picture which should be of some help. I recieved the kit for a Christmas present and am amazed at the quality. Paul
I think that the chassis in the Musee National de l'Automobile that is seen in your photo is a 1920 Pattern rather than a 1914 Pattern. As such its colours may not be typical of the WWI-era cars.
I suspect that the chassis would have been painted to match the basic colour of the armoured body, as much of the chassis was visible in the assembled vehicle.
I was more concerned with the finer details of the engine, such as the wiring,colour of the block etc than the obvious difference with the chassis. But many Thanks for pointing this out Paul
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