Soviet N1 Rocket Color Scheme
 

I'm building my Really Koo Stuff N1 model, and I'm planning on how best to paint it.
As part of that, I'm trying to figure out what color the lower stages really were on the real thing. The best color photo I've come across looks green - almost an olive drab. But another shows the entire rocket a semi-gloss white, and yet another shows it white with greenish interstages.

I know they built at least four, so the paint schemes could certainly have been different. I think I'd pass on trying to duplicate the white with green interstages (it would be nightmare to properly recreate), but since this N1 is going to be a display model (at least initially - if I really like it, I'll probably build another - whichever one come out better will be the display model and the other become a flyer).

Anyone know more about how the real things were painted?

The Soviet rockets that look green and white are actually gray and white. The Vostok is another example besides the N1. A lot of tthe color pictures seem to have an odd color balance that makes the gray have a greenish tint.

I am planning to paint mine Panzer Gray, a Model Masters color, but it is no longer available. Another pretty good match is Krylon Chalky Finish Anvil Gray. I have models painted with both, and they look very similar.
Tamiya has a number of gray paints, and I am huge fan of their paints, but I have not sampled any of the grays.

Comrades,

I use the Model Master Euro Grey spray for my R-7s. It's a little too dark but in the ball park. In the right light, it has a greenish hue.

For what its worth, the actual color is supposed to be a blue-green-grey naval color but, as noted above, on film, the shade can vary greatly. In candor, I lack the enthusiasm to scour the warship modeler forums for more info. If you have a dark grey with blueish or greenish tint, you got it. For this reason, I've debated using Model Master Gunship Grey (like the back of F-16s) also.

But alas, Model Master paints are no more; get them if you can find them.

I used Krylon Deep Gray Matte on my R-7.
It was a good match to the dozens of photos I had printed out for reference during construction.
I got this one at Hobby Lobby for $6.99.

Really STOOPYD that Rust-Oleum discontinued Testors and Model Master paints.
Some fool needs a Backhanding over that idiotic decision.

I am wondering if it’s just Model Masters that was discontinued. I see pretty good stock of Testors at Hobby Lobby and HobbyTown stores, but Model Masters is limited to a few odd colors in stores where I have seen MM racks still present.

N-1 Photos . . . Will be posted

Dave F.

Photo's . . .

Dave F.

Also . . .

Dave F.

As I've been working on my N1 model (pretty happy with the Koo Stuff kit BTW), I keep thinking back on something from many years ago.
I remember watching a program about the 1960's Space Race many, many years ago where they talked about the N1 program. I'm thinking this may have been long enough ago that it was pre-breakup of the Soviet Union (or at least soon enough after the breakup that not much information had come out).
Anyway - if I recall correctly - they talked about two N1 rockets. The first blew up shortly after launch - which is consistent with what we currently know. But it's the second N1 that has me intrigued. According to what I remember from the program, the second N1 blew up on the pad during launch prep - with dozens of people working on it at the time, many who were killed including some of the top Soviet rocket scientists. None of the current information on the N1 program makes reference to this alleged accident, which leaves me wondering:
Did anything like that really happen - perhaps to another Soviet rocket? Did the CIA completely botch the intelligence and nothing like that ever happened? Is my memory of the TV program completely wrong?

Does anyone out there know enough to shed some light on this mystery?