When I worked on the Thames, late 50's early 60's, I would have said the police boats were painted with black topsides, but it could easily have been a very dark blue.

Nerys

Hi Haverlock.
I think I'll use a bit of 'modeller's license' and maybe a bit of 'the force' to choose a suitable deep blue. I need to finish this boat quite soon.
Thanks for your diligence.
Rob.

I did contact the curator to see if it was possible to get some data this was the reply

"Not without knowing the type of boat approximate year etc.....I am currently out of the country and returning in Feb....I suggest the model maker contacts me then with as much detail as possible and I will try and assist.


Regards


Rob Jeffries (Hon. Curator)


"

So try again in Feb with details and see how he can help

Cobalt blue seems right for that period👍 Wow Haverlock that's very deep but I suppose correct. Well done.👍

One would suspect that since police launches were not a high volume item the colours were " what do we have in stock" rather than a specified shade. A given listed colour may well vary from batch to batch. So its reasonable to presume the actual launches may well have had differing shades of the same colour. Since your building a model even were you to find some of the actual paint used it would look wrong on a model since you should be in effect viewing the model as though it were the full sized article looked at from far enough away to see it at the size you have chosen.

Rob I noticed in the Pathe news links you gave there were two different colour schemes particularly in the deck area, another decision to make!

Hi Haverlock.
That's not a bad idea, and they're only in Wapping so a visit isn't out of the question either (I'm in North West London).
I've just sprayed the hull with grey primer, so it's time to make a decision 🤔

Good suggestion👍

Thanks.
Rob.

Have you tried contacting the curator to see if he can help?

curator@thamespolicemuseum.org.uk

Hi Mike.
Yes I have seen the that site and also some interesting Pathe films on YouTube featuring the Thames Police in action, some in colour but you can't really identify the hull colour.
See:




I would like the hull to be an authentic colour for the period when these boats operated during the 50s' & 60's.
The modern boats seem to have a much lighter blue colour on the hull.

Thanks for your suggestion though.
Rob.

I assume you've looked at this site
http://www.thamespolicemuseum.org.uk/gallery.html