Occasionally I like to create monochromatic images of the models created, models without colour indicate its dimensional and overall realism and accuracy much better. Colour can really distract in this respect.
My goal is not to create something that looks like a model, but to create a small version of a ship that could pass for a real vessel to the observer, at least at first glance. Photography can make that difficult because of the depth of field, or lack thereof, color can make it even more complicated.
Monochromatic image of Ontario shown below. This image is also being used in a publication on the 'Age of Revolution'. Photography did not exist before 1850, and artwork such as paintings can not simply be rotated to achieve a different angle or view, here's where either a computer- or live model may come in to illustrate the different aspects of a classic Age of Sail vessel.
Not seeing all those underwater 'bits' also removes a distraction when comparing a
Model to depictions of similar vessels. Contemporary etchings, engravings and paintings most often show a vessel at sea, a fairly substantial part of the hull being submerged.
