Conference vmszoo::rc

    RE:.16
    
    I recall seeing pictures of a Fokker D-VIII with the sort of camo
    scheme that you describe, also some other WWI types, a Rumpler &
    Taube, I think. Have never read of the origins or theory behind
    this type of camo.
    
    Terry
    

    Re: .16,
    
    What .16 & .17 refer to was called "Lozenge" camouflage.  Like Terry, I
    know nothing of the logic behind it but it was widely used on German
    aircraft of WW-I...I expect it was developed by Germany.  Jeff
    Friedrichs, our resident WW-I afficianado may be able to elaborate...
    how 'bout it, Jeff...?    

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    I remember reading an article on an Albatros which was finished
    in this scheme -- I think it was an issue of Radio Control Scale
    Aircraft Quarterly ( which I used to send to Al ).
    
    I also recall that a plan is available for the camo scheme which
    gives not only the pattern but the colours as well.
    
    If anyone is interested then let me know and I will look it out.
    
    Brian
    

    Re: .19, Jeff,
    
    I think you'll find this camo pattern was called "Lozenge" owing to the
    shape of the individual color patches, not "Longines" which is, or used
    to be, a wristwatch.  I'm sure the purpose was to break up the ouline
    of the airplane as effectively as possible but how effective it was I
    couldn't say.
    
    As memory serves, linen covering fabric with this pattern of strange
    colors (pinks, purples, greens, mauves, etc., pre-printed/painted
    was applied to all flying surfaces (wings/horiz. stab) of an aircraft  
    and clear-doped at time of manufacture; it was _not_ painted on _after_
    covering. (I've seen pix of some aircraft done 100% in the Lozenge-camo). 
    The camo was frequently overpainted with unit/squadron colors/markings but,
    usually, the lozenge-camo was retainedd _somewhere_ on the plane.  Those 
    who have an opportunity to look at Tom Kozewski's magnificent, museum-
    quality Fokker D-VII, look on the undersides of both wings and you'll see 
    the lozenge-camo.
    
    I think, in the movie, "The Blue Max," all the planes in Bruno
    Stachel's (George Peppard) squadron were done in 100% Lozenge-camo 
    schemes.
    
    If you can provide more history/detail on this unique style of camo,
    Jeff, by all means post it here...I'm sure it'll make fascinating
    reading.    

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    Anker,
    
    Unless they've moved it (as I guess they're prone to do sometimes), the
    Spit at the NASM/Smithsonian is displayed sitting on the floor in front
    of the enormous B-17 mural by Keith Ferris.  Howsomever, unless they've
    changed the aircraft displayed, the one they had when I was there in
    ~ '76 was a high-altitude mark with stretched, pointy wingtips...not
    one I'd care to model.  But, many other common details might be of help
    to you.  I have a framed pic of the C.A.F.'s Mk-IX signed by and given
    to me by my C.A.F. buddy, Gerald Martin, who used to fly the Spit for
    C.A.F. Airsho's (sic)...bet you'd kill for it, eh?  :B^)  The Spit is
    in legless ace Douglas Bader's colors.
    
    BTW, I meant to tell you not to be daunted by the camo paint scheme;
    it's, without question, the easiest type paint scheme I've ever
    applied!  Think about it, NO MASKING!  Some schemes did have a hard
    (masked) line between the light under-surface color and the camo's
    upper-surfaces but, from there it's a breeze!  Oh, I should mention
    that it's a breeze _provided_ you have a good airbrush.  Simply spray
    on the lighter of the two camo colors and "draw" on the camo with the
    other color using yer' color documentation as a guide...what could be 
    simpler?!    

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

        Re:         <<< Note 1159.14 
         
        Anker,
    
        >        I would kill for your picture.  Just hope I don't come to
        >Phoenix! How the heck did you get it?
        
        ** As I said, my close friend of more than 20-years, Gerald Martin,
        an early (if not founding) member of the C.A.F. used to fly the
        Spit for the C.A.F.'s Airsho's and, as a thank you for something or
        other, Gerald gave me a framed, full color picture of the Spitfire
        (with him at the controls, of course) which now hangs on my workshop
        wall.  Gerald's also an excellent R/C pilot (totally rapt with
        oldtimers the past 5-6 years)...that's how I met him many moons ago.
    
        >       Interesting    what  you  had  to  say  about  camouflage
        >painting.   I  WAS  under  the  impression  it would be tough and
        >require all kinds  of  curved masking.  What do scale judges have
        >to say if the  shapes  and sizes of the patches aren't exactly as
        >on the original?
    
        ** Nope, no masking!  Camouflage was/is applied with spray guns
        feathering one color into the other.  A hard (masked) line would be
        contrary to the purpose.  Thus, we apply camouflage the same way
        except we use a smaller spray gun, namely an airbrush to feather
        one color into another, providing a "soft" transition from one to
        the other.  Most camouflage schemes follow a prescribed pattern;
        the Brits used several basic types and any plane finished to [say]
        type-A camo looked like all others done in type-A.  You see,  camo
        is NOT just a random thing as most folks may suppose.  Thus, you
        must do yer' best to duplicate the camo-pattern but my experience
        has been that judges are not terribly critical of minor deviations,
        realizing, I suppose, the difficulty in exactly replicating
        something that "appears" to be totally random...Orrrrrr (and I
        believe this is closer to the truth) they too fail to realize there
        is more exactness to camouflage than meets the eye.

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

I have some info on how to do the lozenge scheme from, I think,
Bill Boss's control line scale column in MA.  Send me mail
offline, etc...

    
    Just a quick addition, if anyone's still interested in the lozenge WWI
    German camouflage. There's a company in the UK producing heat shrink
    film, pre-coloured in the lozenge pattern. This is aimed specifically
    at the new Flair Fokker D.VII, but would of course work equally well
    for other aircraft at a similar scale. The material is Solarfilm. If
    anyone's interested I'll look out an address/phone number tonight.
    
    Incidentally, there's a plane wearing this scheme still flying at Old
    Warden. One of the curators there told me that the scheme is incredibly
    effective against trees.
    
    Nigel
    

    
    I've now seen the new "lozenge" covering, and it's not all it was
    cracked up to be (is anything ever?).
    
    It's a fabric covering (Solartex, not film), printed with the pattern
    of the lozenges, but not coloured. It's also cut to shape and size for
    the Flair D.VII.
    
    It's also *expensive* (just under 7 pounds!). It was a nice idea, but I
    think if (when!) I get a D.VII to shoot down my Puppeteer, I'll just
    draw the pattern myself.......
    
    Cheers
    
    Nigel (who's sorry for the bum steer!).