Same for the deck. No source (of about 3) mentioned gray, but those sources are also not as authoritative as I would want to claim any level of certainty. As far as the term "mid-war," both the Soviets and the US got in later. Their mid-war would thus be a different point. But, I also don't know what the author of the term was thinking. Again, I would not have a meltdown if you painted yours gray. I put forth what I found. What you then do with the info is up to you, and fine with me. Enjoy it! That's the important part.
Thanks to both of you.
Lars. I'm afraid that the colour in your photo has come to me as a very light grey with little or no blue tinge. I'm sure it would not have received its nickname with such a pale colour. From the History, it also seems to be that the Azzuro colour only applied to the ship on delivery, or at least for its initial armament, and that with the twin turrets it would be in grey. Disappointing.
Ralph. Very interesting links, but less so than I'd hoped. A light/medium grey with a bluish tint seems fairly likely, but perhaps with a darker hull? Like a less extreme version of the RN's common Mediterranean scheme for their destroyers. Or is this perhaps one step too far?
As for the decks, 1942 seems midwar to me for the use of the grey, but I'm not sure whether the person using that term would agree.
My final post.
You know what they say about determining colors from black and white images. You can't!
However, given how little definitive info there is, and that any model is likely to be an interpretation, one may as well see the black and white images for whatever they may add to the interpretation. This article has the entire range, from delivery to sunk, all in black and white. Gather what you will of her colors:
https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/destroyer-tashkent.php?amp=1
This topic has come up here before, and you're right...it is not totally clear, from available online sources at least, what the details of her colors were. What does seem clear is that she ran trials, and was likely delivered in, the Italian Azzuro color. And if nothing else, that is then the origin of her nickname.
She was repainted shortly before or just after delivery into a Soviet gray color. Some sources state the paint was thin, and a bluish tint still shown through, thus continuing the moniker. Most sources describe it as "flint gray," and with the brownish linoleum for the decks which you mention. While the Soviets did have manuals with recommended standardized colors, wartime shortages and other hardships seem to have made a situation where local units did a lot of improvising, so the standard was not strictly adhered to.
Here's an interesting discussion I found which Al Ross had concerning a project he was doing (not Tashkent related, but regarding Soviet colors) :
https://modelshipworld.com/topic/27890-wwii-soviet-naval-colors/
What is clear is that she was Azzuro while in Italian hands, and in a Soviet gray at the time of her loss. How much--if any--of a bluish tint showed through, and exactly what color gray, are the unknowns. Given the general lack of details and the loose painting standards, I would think any "interpretation" the modeler chooses would be just fine.
Other sources I found interesting (but not definitive) :
http://shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10678
https://worldofwarships.com/fr/news/history/camo-history-2/
HTH
When I built Tashkent, it was not clear to me, if she was still painted blue and what kind of blue.
I decided for the Italian colour "Azzuro", for which I found as matches Federal Standard 35352 and Vallejo Model Color 64 (906). This is a light blue.
For decks, I chose a brownish linoleum.
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