Fabric colour

[Milorg]

Hello Guys

Doing a wrecked part of the wing on my crash landed Roland CII diorama, I would ask for some help on which colour to use on the fabric on the inside of the wing.

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers

Per Olav

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by Milorg

Hello Guys, Doing a wrecked part of the wing on my crash landed Roland CII diorama, I would ask for some help on which colour to use on the fabric on the inside of the wing. Any help would be appreciated
Cheers Per Olav

First let me repeat that your piece is one of the nicest builds I have ever had the privilege to view. Very nice indeed and I want to thank you sincerely for the chance to see it progress. Your figures are great.

Next: the colour of fabric. Though others here may be able to say more, it helps to understand how this area was treated. The standard hue for German calendered fabric in 1914-16 was unbleached linen. Polly S acrylics has some interesting variations French beige (has a reddish tint), doped fabric (has a greenish tint), dirty white and antique white are all a very light cream or butter colour that may do well. I have been known to use several especially when rib tapes are involved. The enamel colour of Testors Radome tan are very convincing with adding a bit of white. The clear doped areas would be slightly darker than any ripped or torn areas that are exposed.

If you have seen my Tropical Albatros D.Va you will note the shredded area of the upper wing left (port) tip and aileron. I used clear decal film and first painted it clear doped linen. Then the camouflage colours. Once dried in place over the open scratchbuilt frame work i was able to rip and tear it as needed. Various attitudes of a diorama titled ‘Nice landing Herr Leutnant...’ depicts Albatros D.Va 5360/17 after it had been crash landed by Ltn. Victor Haefner of FA 300/304. The machine had just completed some extensive repairs locally and Ltn. Haefner still in his pajamas had taken the machine up for a test flight. At about 3,000 ft. he heard a loud bang and witnessed the left tip of his top wing outboard of the aileron shatter under stress. It is interesting to note that the Johannistahl built Tropical Albatros D.Va did not have the outboard stay wire that is seen on similar Schneidemühl Tropical Albatros D.III (OAW) types. The lack of this stay wire may have contributed to at least 3 fatal crashes of the Tropical Albatros fighters in Palestine during 1918. Note that the alterations to the National markings has not taken place even at this late stage of the war.

[Milorg]

Hello Stepehen

Thank you very much for a very interesting and informative answer. The story of Haefners incident (in a pajamas ) was very interesting and your Albatros about this happening looks great.

I'm impressed by the knowledge to some of you guys, and thats what makes this site so great.

Appreciate your help.

Cheers

Per Olav

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Milorg:
The gGerman aircraft industry used unbleached linen and bleached linen. The unbleached linen was beige, bleached linen was essentially white. I believe LFG Rolaned used bleached linen on the Rol.C.II. The French and British linen was unbleach and was not callendered and had a high yarn count.
Blue skies,
Dan-San