1/350 scale NUMA oceanographic research/exploration ship "Neptune's Trident"

[seadude]

The upper hull portion of the ship is finally painted white. Just don't ask me how many coats I had to apply. You don't want to know. 
So next thing I'll probably work on tomorrow will be painting the lower hull turquoise. That will probably need 2 coats.
After that is done, then I'll probably start to work on painting the regular decks that the crew walk on during either Sunday or Monday. But I'm undecided on what color to paint the decks. I've selected it down to 2 choices.  Anybody have any thoughts and opinions?

[Charlie_c67]

"No. No, no, no. That's the new Military Grey bit there, and that's the dowdy, old, nasty Ocean Grey bit there. Or is it the other way around?"

[kerick]

I'm not much help on colors other than use what looks good to you. 

[NARSES2]

I'm not much help on colors other than use what looks good to you. 

I stick by my "we all see colours differently" so therefore go along with your comment 

[Weaver]

The Gunship Grey's too dark. I'd go for the Light Ghost Grey since it's slightly blueish tone will go better with the turquoise hull.

I want somebody to make a Heavy Ghost Grey BTW...

[seadude]

Actually, I made a mistake. 
The first color on the far left is Ocean Grey which I do not plan to use.
The next color is USAF Medium Gray which I'm contemplating on using.
Then the next 2 colors I do not plan to use. One is too light and the other is too bluish.
Then the color on the far right is Light Ghost Gray which I am contemplating on using.
The horizontal color on the bottom is Medium Gunship Grey which gets used for the aft flight deck.

I've been taking a look at real oceanographic ships as well as oceanographic ship models and every one seems to have different colors for the decks. I can tell you right now I am NOT going to paint the decks a "bold" green color which is sometimes used for research, arctic, or other commercial or industry ships.
Here's a few sample pictures below.

[Weaver]

How about a pale brown colour, remeniscent of wood, but without the maintenance headaches of actual wood?

[kerick]

In the last picture I'm not liking the field green deck color. White would work but could be a pain to get proper coverage. Just mix a little black into some white to get the very light grey on the first picture. Use the other grey you showed us for the flight deck. Just my $0.02.

[seadude]

Ship model is 99.999999999% done being painted. Just a few touchups left in some areas.
Only thing I can't quite figure out is the very last picture with all the intake/exhaust vents.
Keep using the Light Gray panel line accent color, Leave all the vents white? Or something else?

[Rick Lowe]

Is there a particular reason the real world USN ones are a different colour?
If so, it'd make sense to make them the same.
If not, then it's your choice.

[seadude]

Is there a particular reason the real world USN ones are a different colour?
If so, it'd make sense to make them the same.
If not, then it's your choice.

If you go to this link here, there's tons of photos showing the different ships of the LPD-17 San Antonio class.
https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/lpd/Amphibious-Landing-Ships.htm
If the ship is brand new and just launched/commissioned, the vents are probably the same Haze Gray as the rest of the hull.
Otherwise, the vents might take on a dark gray, black, or even rust color after days, weeks, and months at sea.
There's at least 5-6 different TAMIYA panel line accent colors available:
Black
Brown
Dark Brown
Gray
Light Gray

I didn't want to use black or the 2 browns. And Light Gray is all I had to use at home. I just want the vents to stand out a little bit, you know?

[Weaver]

Off topic, but this should be right up your street, Seadude:

[kerick]

I think your color combo looks great. And the idea of coloring the vents is a good idea. Just enough to give them a little pop.

[kerick]

Why is it that ships of this type always have the flight deck on the rear of the ship where the pilots have to deal with all the turbulence created by the superstructure? Just a general question, not a criticism.

[Weaver]

Why is it that ships of this type always have the flight deck on the rear of the ship where the pilots have to deal with all the turbulence created by the superstructure? Just a general question, not a criticism.

1. Helos generally have poor visibility aft so it's harder to avoid hitting any superstructure that's behind it

2. Forward-facing hangar doors have to take the full force of heavy seas which may force water through the edges or even stove them in

3. Ships usually have a Landing Signals Officer and/or a light system which the pilot needs to keep a continuous watch on, which is rough on them if they have to stand on the bow

4. Pilots use the superstructure for a height, speed and ship motion reference: again difficult to do if it's not in their line of sight


It's not that a forward landing deck is out of the question, some ships have had them (look at the SPECFOR ship in the video I just posted on here), it's just that it's generally sub-optimal unless there's some other compelling ship layout reason for it.