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Post by Mike B on Jul 29, 2008 21:55:08 GMT 1
After seeing Markus's excellent paint job on his hull, I was wondering, does anyone know the theory behind the particular camouflage pattern used on the Bismarck?
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Post by eric on Jul 29, 2008 22:04:03 GMT 1
It was called "Baltic Camouflage" and most large German warships had a version of it.
Each ship seemed to have a slightly different design, but I am not sure if this was just creative painting, or maybe a way to ID different ships visually.
It does seem to me that, as a camouflage, it wasn't very good....the "splinter" camouflage as seen on Tirpitz and other German Heavy ships in Norway was much better.
I wonder if it was more to do with Aircraft recognition for the Luftwaffe when in home waters.
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Post by markus on Jul 30, 2008 8:48:44 GMT 1
presume the dark grey paint at both ends should make the ship look smaller from a distance, with bow/stern waves illustrated by the white paint next to it...
but really don't know what the black/white stripes were for...
markus
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Post by Baz on Jul 30, 2008 11:41:50 GMT 1
At the risk of being shot down in flames again......... The camouflage system on ships in WWII has probably morphed from "dazzle" camouflage used liberally in WWI. ref gotouring.com/razzledazzle/articles/dazzle.html"During World War I, the British and Americans faced a serious threat from German U-boats, which were sinking allied shipping at a dangerous rate. All attempts to camouflage ships at sea had failed, as the appearance of the sea and sky are always changing. Any color scheme that was concealing in one situation was conspicuous in others. A British artist and naval officer, Norman Wilkinson, promoted a new camouflage scheme that was derived from the artistic fashions of the time, particularly cubism. Instead of trying to conceal the ship, it simply broke up its lines and made it more difficult for the U-boat captain to determine the ship's course. The British called this camouflage scheme "Dazzle Painting." The Americans called it "Razzle Dazzle." I agree with Markus's comment about disguising the size of the Bissie at a distance. And the black and white lines could also serve to make it difficult to visually establish a silouette for identification purposes............that is until it was too late...............boom Baz
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Post by eric on Jul 30, 2008 13:43:03 GMT 1
presume the dark grey paint at both ends should make the ship look smaller from a distance, with bow/stern waves illustrated by the white paint next to it... but really don't know what the black/white stripes were for... markus Yes, the grey ends made the ship seem furter away, so if a sub skipper was trying to stick a torpedo in her he would be more likely to miss, also the false bow wave would indicate a higher speed, so make the overshoot even worse. Baz is spot on about the 'Dazzle' scheme being WWI, merchent ships, disguised 'Q' ships and eventually warships proper (often destroyers) sported it.
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Post by rushzombie on Oct 19, 2008 10:56:44 GMT 1
on our model is their a set size these strips have to be ?
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Post by markus on Oct 19, 2008 17:31:54 GMT 1
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Post by Mike B on Oct 19, 2008 19:53:20 GMT 1
Great, thanks Markus.
For info:- The link has to be copied and pasted into the navigation bar as the site will not accept hot-linking.
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Post by stroker on Nov 7, 2008 6:47:29 GMT 1
There was somewhere on here where you guys were talking about laser levels for doing the cammo but be buggered if I can find where it was... I was wondering how it was going to work cause would the laser not get blocked by the first protrusion or whatever you want to call it? Someone mentioned black and decker so I might go to the hardware and have a bopeep and see what comes of that... steve
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Post by Achtung!! on Nov 7, 2008 8:34:23 GMT 1
I mentioned laser levels. I have a balck and decker one - got off Ebay - its wicked the laser projects a line that hugs every contour. Easier to show than describe!
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Post by nm on Nov 7, 2008 13:07:08 GMT 1
Laser level "projects a line": like a scanner in a supermarket checkout.
NM
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Post by Achtung!! on Nov 7, 2008 13:07:52 GMT 1
Well done that man! Thats what I was trying to say have a karma!
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Post by stroker on Nov 8, 2008 2:16:16 GMT 1
Ahhhhh I see said the blind man..... okey dokey, off to ebay or the hardware store for me it is, thanks heaps fellas....
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