'Sworl camo'
IN MY OPINION THIS INTRUIGING CAMOUFLAGE SYSTEM WAS INSPIRED BY THE AGE-OLD WATER-OIL-AND-INK-REPELLING TECHNIQUE OF PRINTING USED FOR CENTURIES IN THE BOOK-BINDING INDUSTRY.
ADAPTED, LIKE THE GERMAN 'LOZENGE' DESIGNS, TO ECHO THE COLOURS SEEN IN NATURE TO BEST DISGUISE AN AIRCRAFT'S SHAPE WHEN VIEWED FROM ABOVE.
SADLY NO KNOWN SURVIVING REMNANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDY.
ADDED TO THE AVIATTIC RANGE FOR NO GOOD REASON OTHER THAN IT NEEDED DOING (!) I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT MY TAKE ON THIS REMARKABLE WW1 CAMO SYSTEM.
LET'S HOPE SOME MANUFACTURER'S PRODUCE SOME KITS FOR THEM TO GRACE!
THE RODEN ALBATROS SERIES IN 1/32 LEND THEMSELVES TO CONVERSION AND, OF COURSE, IN 1/48 and 1/72 WE HAVE SOME FINE OEFFAG SERIES ALBATRI FROM EDUARD AND RODEN AT LEAST..
DESIGNED WITH ARTIST DAVE DOUGLAS, REFERENCING THE RECORDED COLOUR NOTES IN PERIOD CAPTURE REPORTS, THEY ARE MATCHED TONALLY TO PERIOD PHOTOS TO BEST REPRESENT THE LIKELY COLOURS IN SCALE (BEARING IN MIND THE FILM STOCK OF THE PERIOD AND ITS SOMETIMES SKEWED REPRESENTATION OF COLOUR HUES). MY SINCERE THANKS TO HIM FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY CONSTANT CHANGES AND DEMANDS!
THIS PROJECT CAUSED MANY HEADACHES AND LIVELY DEBATES AND, THOUGH I CANNOT SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT THEY ARE "CORRECT", WE HAVE ARRIVED AT A "BEST EDUCATED GUESS" RESULT THAT I AM DELIGHTED WITH..
ATT72031 (Clear decal) WW1 Austro-Hungarian printed linen "sworl" camouflage "factory fresh & aged varnish"
As WW1 varnishes were exposed to the elements the linseed content in their content discoloured and altered the overall appearance of the underlying colours.
This is my imagined effect of several months of exposure and issuitable for machines of the "1919" Polish conflict.
1/72 sheet is supplied in "half and half" - both "fresh" and "aged".
'Autumn leaf' camo
ATT72032 WW1 Austro-Hungarian 'Autumn leaf' painted camouflage
Hand-mottled paint effect seen on some Austro-Hungarian fighters and two-seaters from 1917 through to 1918.
This emulates an 'Autumnal' palette of colours.