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Many good images contantly coming in from the Navy sites. One interesting change I have noticed since about around April 2003 has been a change in the appearance of the mast fairings and periscopes of USN SSN's and SSBN's. The leopard spot pattern seems to be slowly being phased out on SSN's especially, and on SSBN's but not as fast (some images show a mix of both patterns perhaps in a transition period? The purpose of this leopard spot pattern first issued originally way back during WWII was to break up the masts vertical lines visually.
If you R/C and static modelers are going to depict your model SSN's perhaps as they appeared during the 2003 Iraq conflict, then you should pay attention to these subtle changes. The light gray and black leopard spot scheme is now an overall dark gray with dark black tops. Floquil grimy black overall. The Polly S fantasy color series 'Ghoul Flesh' still applies here to the fiberglass housings of the ECM masts. The periscope masts themselves also appear to use a dark gray black shade now. Looks like a new fleet paint scheme has been issued to the submarine fleet this spring 2003. Bye Bye leopard spots? See images below taken this April-August. Examples below.
Steve Reichmuth
If you R/C and static modelers are going to depict your model SSN's perhaps as they appeared during the 2003 Iraq conflict, then you should pay attention to these subtle changes. The light gray and black leopard spot scheme is now an overall dark gray with dark black tops. Floquil grimy black overall. The Polly S fantasy color series 'Ghoul Flesh' still applies here to the fiberglass housings of the ECM masts. The periscope masts themselves also appear to use a dark gray black shade now. Looks like a new fleet paint scheme has been issued to the submarine fleet this spring 2003. Bye Bye leopard spots? See images below taken this April-August. Examples below.
Steve Reichmuth
(maybe it is a server problem - anyway I'll try it on other server later).
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