Messerchmitt Bf 109

[gamary]

Here's an update, with colours this time (yes, I'm expecting trouble here as well ).

It doesn't look like much for the moment because it lacks weathering, and most of the mottling. I'm trying to find a way to represent the mottling correctly.

I'm using colour chips supplied by John about 5 centuries ago, so you can throw stones at him if you don't agree with the colours. More seriously, what do you think of the colours (keep in mind the weathering will change them some). The 76 seems a bit light to me (either that or the 74/75 are too dark...).



This will be Heinrich Bartel's G-6 of 11./JG 27 in Greece in November 1943.

[Clint Mitchell]

I did have sweet PS brush for mottling but like an idiot I forgot to save it when I upgraded my mac. Have a play around with the brush settings. From what I can remember scattering with jitter for opacity, size, and count are your friends.

The Gs looking nice.

[Clint Mitchell]

I'm not too familiar with late colours but the red of the fuselage code is a little dull IMO that's if it's supposed to be RLM23 'Rot'? It really was a very bright red.

[Clint Mitchell]

Here are some approximate FS swatches of the factory applied RLM74, 75, 76 colour scheme of the recovered Fw190A-5 WNr.1227. The gentleman was able to get up very close and personal with this aircraft before restoration began. Included is the lighter of two very different shades of RLM76 that were found on the undersides of the wings where the factory codes had been over painted at unit level. Incidentally the Norwegian Ju88 U4+TK also had two very different shades of RLM65 on it's undersurfaces, also where the factory codes were over painted.

Colorserver.net

[Wlad-FR]

Hi Gamary,
Bravo, Bravo, I like your style !! May be little weathering will come later ?
Wlad

[Wlad-FR]

Just a comment...For me the yellow is too "lemon" ? May be a little more "orange" ? Up's to you
Wlad

[gamary]

@Clint and Thierry: thanks for your comments. I've modified the colours, which are now closer to the samples you suggested, Clint.

As for the weathering, there was none on the previous example, which is why the profile looked pretty blank IMO. This is already better, although the weathering is complete yet:



I'm fairly satisfied with the mottling. There are still quite a few things to do on this profile but it's now beginning to look like something.

As for the red and yellow, I'll look into it some more. I deliberately chose a red that was not as bright as what is commonly seen because I thought it looked too bright, but maybe that's how it should look.

[Clint Mitchell]

This is what the same guy said was on the trim taps and maintenance markings. Which should be RLM23 'rot'.

RLM23

I agree that it does look too bright to our eyes but this colour was supposed to be very visible. It was used on important maintenance markings that meant danger or do not touch this because you will damage the aircraft. Staffel colours were very visible to allow for easy identification during formation flying and quick recognition. I have every set of paint chips available from several different books/companies that have supposedly accessed surviving airframes and or archives of the paint companies that produced these paints during WW2. On each one the RLM23 is the same kind of hue. It's bright. I also have an access panel from under the wing of a Ju88. It's still covered in RLM65 with RLM02 primer underneath with the RLM23 red maintenance marking on top. Although it is 70+ years old the red is still nice and bright.

From the same source:

RLM04 Eastern theatre markings. BOB yellow.
RLM27 Fuel triangle
RLM24 Oxygen filler cover marking.

Hope this helps.

[Wlad-FR]

Look really nice, I prefer this blue/green light color (commun at the end of the war), for yellow, well... Clint is the expert !
Well done Gamary.
Wlad

[Clint Mitchell]

I'm no expert. I have just studied this Luftwaffe Colour conundrum for a few years now and have come to some conclusions based on what I have learnt. They are that black & white photos are obviously totally useless. Period colour photos are, except in some very rare cases also totally useless. The only thing we have got that can possibly be used as any kind if reliable reference for these colours are the surviving airframes and parts that are left around the world. Which unfortunately are 70+ years old now so the oxidation of the paint needs too be taken into account which is difficult. The various paint chips released in books throughout the years are good but only prove the difference in shade between the different factories contracted by the RLM to produce them. I believe Jerry Crandall's Eagle Editions chip set to be one of the most reliable. Closely followed by Merrick's.

If your colour is in the ball park range then there's not a human being on the planet who can tell you it's right or wrong. But when someone studies a really well preserved survivor for months and finds areas of paint that have been protected for example underneath panels. I think we should trust what they have discovered because there's not a lot else left to rely on.

Even today if you buy some paint from a hardware store. The exact same colour but from a different batch is always very slightly different. Imagine what that was like 70+ years ago also add the fact that totally different factories were also trying to produce the same colours. Take into account how much each paint was thinned when applied...... The possibilities are endless!