1/32 "lozenge", linen and "stipple" sets for the Wingnut Wings kit!
The complex issue of WW1 aviation camouflage and covering practices raises some challenges for the modeller who wants accuracy and our output is based on the latest thinking and research- and my own conclusions!
The varied finishes of the Halberstadt CL.II have long been puzzled over and debated and Aviattic now offers these variations which are the result of much deliberation and study.
Wingnut Wing's profile colour callouts can be taken "as read" and are as valid as any other arguments out there but in reality we cannot ascertain any particular 'stipple" camo scheme on a given machine from period photos.
A pale looking lozenge covering viewed in one image may simply be glare off the varnish captured by a certain type of photographic film of the period and the viewpoint of the much missed but often, erm...over confident Dan san Abbott on such matters has passed into WW1 aviation study folklore and is still being accepted as "fact"..
Undersurface lozenge printed linen applied to the upper surface certainly makes for a colourful model!
One museum exhibits an original WW1 relic of a section of AEG JII fuselage fabric in just such a colour way ("undersurface" four colour), so do we take this as a viable possibility?
Sadly, the wartime and postwar destruction of so many records and research material means we may never have all the answers...
Similarly with the choice of "stipple" camouflage fuselage decals now released, they simply cannot be proven to be applicable to one aircraft or another and are based on the likely combination of colours relating to detailed capture reports and the approximation of the lozenge colours and shapes they were surely meant to compliment.
My sincere thanks to Steve Cox for tirelessly interpreting my endless changes and requests as we designed these beautiful sheets.
Also to artist Dave Douglass who brought my ideas for the various fuselage stipple combinations to fruition, supplying "master" artworks that we developed the tailored sets from. Colour choices are mine.
"STIPPLE" EFFECT TAILORED FUSELAGE DECALS
Wingnut Wings Halberstadt CL.II built by Guy Goodwin with Aviattic "lozenge" wing decals!..
ATT32196 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II 5 colour “lozenge” upper surfaces with lozenge rib tapes
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Late - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Duellists boxing
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32197 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II 5 colour “lozenge” upper surfaces with no rib tapes
Check available photos for likelihood of the practice of no covering tapes on the stitched rib stations on your chosen aircraft.
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Late - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Duellists boxing
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32198 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II 5 colour “lozenge” lower surfaces with lozenge rib tapes
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes A,E
Late - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Duellists boxing
ATT32199 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II 5 colour alternative palette “lozenge” lower surfaces with lozenge rib tapes
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes A,E
Late - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Duellists boxing
ATT32200 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II (early) 5 colour lower pattern “lozenge” on upper surfaces with lozenge rib tapes
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes, A,B,C,D
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32201 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II (early) 5 colour alternative palette lower pattern “lozenge” on upper surfaces with lozenge rib tapes
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes, A,B,C,D
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32202 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II German light linen lower surfaces (upper tail surfaces included)
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes B,C,D
ATT32203 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II bleached CDL lower surfaces (upper tail surfaces included)
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes B,C,D
ATT32204 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II tail surfaces 5 colour “lozenge” with lozenge rib tapes
All "lozenge" covered Halberstadt's would have had their tail surfaces covered in printed linen.
Some were then overpainted, therefore these sheets are optional.
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes B,C,D
Late - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Duellists boxing
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32205 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II tail surfaces 5 colour “lozenge” with lozenge rib tapes
All "lozenge" covered Halberstadt's would have had their tail surfaces covered in printed linen, some were then overpainted, therefore these sheets are optional.
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes B,C,D
Late - schemes A,B,C,D,E
Duellists boxing
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32206 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II tail surfaces 5 colour “lozenge” with lozenge rib tapes, German light linen lower
All "lozenge" covered Halberstadt's would have had their tail surfaces covered in printed linen.
Some were then overpainted, therefore these sheets are optional.
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes B,C,D
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
ATT32207 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II tail surfaces 5 colour “lozenge” with lozenge rib tapes, bleached CDL lower
All "lozenge" covered Halberstadt's would have had their tail surfaces covered in printed linen.
Some were then overpainted, therefore these sheets are optional.
Wingnut Wings kit recommendation :
Early - schemes B,C,D
Wide edging tapes are intended to be wrapped around wing to undersurfaces
Applied to wall surfaces and furniture to simulate plaster, marble and woodgrain with a variety of purpose-made brushes, rag rollers and scrunched up rags or paper it seems that, with labour available, the German Air Service made good use of the craftsmen and their trade secrets.
These are examples of colours applied to German aircraft by rag, held in the Imperial War Museum's archives.
As usual the colours of the pigments are pure and vibrant.
Sometimes the stipple painting continued over the grey/green enamel painted metal parts also.
PLEASE NOTE : Applying decals over compound curves is never easy and these are no exception!
You may wish to cut the forward cowling decals separate from the fuselage turtledeck for ease of application. Hot water or mild decal softeners and fixers are recommended for these elements.
Alternatively remove the "stipple over painted metal" sections from the decals and stick with grey/green enamel as was evident on some machines..
ATT32208 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II "stipple" camouflage 5 colour upper surface palette on clear varnished plywood and grey enamel
Stipple effect continues from plywood surfaces onto grey painted metal fuselage parts, changing the effect
ATT32209 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II "stipple" camouflage 5 colour upper surface palette on red varnished plywood and grey enamel
Stipple effect continues from plywood surfaces onto grey painted metal fuselage parts, changing the effect
ATT32210 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II "stipple" camouflage 5 colour lower surface palette on clear varnished plywood and grey enamel
Stipple effect continues from plywood surfaces onto grey painted metal fuselage parts, changing the effect
ATT32211 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II "stipple" camouflage 5 colour lower surface palette on red varnished plywood and grey enamel
Stipple effect continues from plywood surfaces onto grey painted metal fuselage parts, changing the effect
ATT32212 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II "stipple" camouflage 4 colour lower surface palette on clear varnished plywood and grey enamel
Stipple effect continues from plywood surfaces onto grey painted metal fuselage parts, changing the effect
ATT32213 (Clear decal paper) Halberstadt CL.II "stipple" camouflage green on red varnished plywood and grey enamel
Stipple effect continues from plywood surfaces onto grey painted metal fuselage parts, changing the effect