Camouflage for WW2 ships.

[tom dockery]

As my Midway project winds down I am looking to taking on the USS Hoel DD 533. It served in th pacific and was eventually sunk at battle of Samar Island. It was using a camouflage. Are there patterns to go by? Should I stencil it? How does everyone go about doing this. Seems very complicated. Thank Tom

 

[mark2]

Couple of pics I found, shouldn't be to difficult to mask or freehand if your brush painting.

 

[tom dockery]

Thanks. Just new and nervous is all

 

[mark2]

Thanks. Just new and nervous is all

Dosnt matter if it ain't spot on as long as you enjoy giving it a go that's the main thing .

 

[tom dockery]

It does. I have to remember that. Once I get the lines on midway's flight deck I'll post some pics

 

[the Baron]

One thing to consider is the time frame you want to depict her in. The measure a ship wore likely changed throughout the war, if she survived long enough. If you have photo references, that's the best.
As Mark2 mentioned, masking isn't too difficult. I've even masked 1/1200 scale ships to spray a disruptive pattern.

If you're not familiar with Navsource.org, a site showing the photographic history of the US Navy. The page for the Hoel is here: http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/533.htm

The Navy's own History & Heritage Command's site is here: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html

I use that resource, along with others. I have a site describing the different measures the Navy has used, but I need to find the bookmark. I'll share it back here as soon as I can find it.

Also, regarding the Hoel, I think there are a couple of pictures in Peter Hornfischer's "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors", showing her as she appeared at the Battle off Samar, but I have to go back and check. One caution about the dazzle measures is that it could differ port and starboard, so if you can find photos from both sides, that's the best.

 

[tom dockery]

Thanks for the resources. I did find a picture of her from Aug 1944. But I imagine that's the one I'm looking for
Tom