Bright Sides

[DH-Drover]

I am building a 15c ship with bare timber upper sides and black/white below the waterline.
What I need are some ideas as to how I paint the "Bright Sides"? My thoughts...brownish yellow with an overcoat of clear orange.

My book on 15c ships has art work showing black ie tar under sides while a model in a Spanish museum is white in this area.

Any ideas most welcome

Dai.

[Clashcityrocker]

You could treat the wooden sides to a light undercoat then a streaky oil colour dragged across the top, dark or light depending on what colour wood you're trying to replicate, finished off with a clear orange. Check out some of the WW1 biplane builds for a look at the technique.

Nigel

[Chuck E]

I believe that wax was used on some ships to seal them. Maybe to ward off the worms that attacked the timbers and keeping the hull smooth at the same time. This may account for a white finish.

I'm not sure if large ships would have this.