MTB colour schemes

[spangle82]

Hi all - as you might remember Im bringing an old model MTB to completion after many years. It's scratchbuilt from Vic Smeeds plans which call it a Thornycroft 73'9", and the only number is on the lifebelt on the plans which is HMT 49. I just need to add some deck details and complete the paint scheme.

Assuming Thornycroft and Vosper were the same and HMT 49 was probably MTB 49, I bought 'Coastal Craft History Vol 1 Vosper Torpedo Boats'. Fantastically detailed but neither HMT 49 nor MTB 49 are in it! The Vosper batches jump from 44-48 to 57-66.

If you have the book MTB 49 is almost identical to mine except mine has built-out bulges for the torpedos not scallops, the wheelhouse is more vertical at the back and the rudders are transom mounted. I hoped to use the book to nail down the colour scheme, but now Im not certain. MTB 48 is white! Currently my boat is medium matt grey on the sides with a darker gloss grey below the waterline. I was going to do the top the same as the sides, maybe picking out the non-slip areas in a darker shade for a bit of interest. The gloss paint underneath looks OK but is many years old now and is the only thing making the boat waterproof so I was going to repaint it, maybe brick red for antifoul. But all the MTBs in the book have black undersides.

Heres the only photo I can find of an example of my version;


It has about the same amount of detail I aim to do, though Im adding depth charges.

If anyone has some guidance on colours Id be very grateful as not finding my boat in the book has thrown me a googly.

[951TSE]

This forum has some black and white photos of your MTB and also some colour ones, unfortunately all the colour ones are of models.

http://www.bmpt.co.uk/thorneycroft-mtb_topic187_pa...

Here's a later MTB that's in preservation that might give you a few pointers (and it's a nice film).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7ePPdehTc4

ETA: This page has some general info about the type, but no pictures.

https://uboat.net/allies/warships/class/644.html the specs say it's a 75 not a 73. In other places I've seen mentioned that some quoted lengths include the rudders and some don't. Oh and no mention of depth charges.

Edited by 951TSE on Saturday 16th March 21:27

[spangle82]

Thanks! Id found the forum link and it confirms that basically every one was different... after consideration to me it seems most 'right' in mid grey, and today I found some satin black paint for the underside. Very hard finding paint thats not water based now, damn EU.

Now that I have the internet for research its clear to me that I want to avoid the 'Airfix kit look' with loads of stuck-on detail - not least because in combat ie river use it will get knocked off! Have just fixed the depth charges - wooden cylinders with ply ends and strip at the back. And the bridge! Quite an event really to put new bits on after so long.

As for MTB102, lovely boat. Not convinced about the race, but shes woefully underpowered now compared to how she was. 'Spitfires of the Sea'! If I had bags of money Id buy one or get one made.

Funny thing is that whist Vosper and Thornycroft didnt merge until 1966, they are so similar...