Author Topic: Aviattic German Printed Camouflage Fabric Decals in 1/32  (Read 3026 times)

Offline Jamo

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Aviattic German Printed Camouflage Fabric Decals in 1/32
« on: August 11, 2013, 08:20:27 PM »
WWI German Printed Camouflage Fabric
‘Lozenge’ 1/32 decals from Aviattic


First Look Review by James Fahey



German printed camouflage fabric has been a topic of much research and debate over the years and modellers have been offered a huge variety of interpretations. Extant fabric samples are only broadly similar, with factors such as the level of exposure to the sun, how the fabric was doped over, and how it has been stored all modifying the original colours. Even after undertaking research on original fabric samples, a decal producer has to contend with the printing process which may not easily replicate the desired colours.

It is pleasing to see a new company rise to the challenge of developing German printed camouflage fabric decals, popularly called ‘lozenge’ decals. Aviattic’s proprietors, Richard Andrews and Harry Green, are based in the UK, and it is clear from the pamphlet provided with the decals these two are enthusiastic modellers and passionate about the subject.





Harry has been studying the topic for forty years and spent ‘a small fortune’ acquiring original fabric samples. They have been working together for the last 7 years on this project including visits to Brussels, Paris and Quebec to see original fabric segments first hand. Their website has 63 photos of fabric samples, many of printed camouflage fabric. This is something that sets Aviattic apart from other ‘lozenge’ decal manufacturers; they show images of the fabric samples they have used in their research. It helps modellers decide for themselves what looks ‘right’. There have been last minute delays with the launch of this range as Aviattic refused to compromise their product with slightly unsatisfactory print runs.

http://www.aviattic.co.uk/aviattic.co.uk/ALBUMS/Pages/German_camouflage_research.html

http://www.aviattic.co.uk/aviattic.co.uk/ALBUMS/Pages/Original_Fabric_Samples.html

Based on their public comments, Aviattic’s research into lozenge fabric appears to have been at least as rigorous as  Wingnut Wings’. The results are reasonably similar for the 5 colour fabric, less so for the 4 colour fabric.



Who is to say which is more accurate? Both may be correct. One area where the approaches do differ is the use of a subtle fabric texture by Aviattic which is not found on the Wingnut Wings decals. This effect is a matter of personal taste, as strictly speaking fabric weave would not be visible even in 1/32 scale. In this reviewer’s opinion however it transforms the lozenge into something more fabric-like and less toy-like, an effect many modellers want when replicating various materials (wood, metal, fabric etc.) even though the effect is overscale.

Some other lozenge decals in the market have a more obvious fabric texture, which will appeal to some. Greater choice has got to be a good thing – that is what after-market products are all about. Fabric texture can also be replicated in other ways such as use of transparent decals with a fabric pattern printed on, or careful use of hand painted ‘filters’.

Aviattic Lozenge Decals

At the present time there are 13 different decal products available, all in 1/32 scale. I understand there will be 14 more 1/32 sets when all have been printed and released. The decal printer is not noted.

Fokker DVII flying surfaces. Four options for the different rib tapes: pink, blue, lilac/violet and lozenge.  4 colour pattern only at this time, upper & lower colours, cut to fit wings and tail surfaces.









Note this release covers only fabric with a central panel – the other option is for a central seam and will be released at a later time. Check your references to ensure you get the correct pattern.  Also note flying surfaces only are included in these ‘cookie cut’ sets, fuselage sections should be cut from the full width bolts (below). Some extras are included - additional wing tip decal sections in case of difficulty with the compound curves and a couple of ‘greasy’ hand print decals for adding a realistic touch somewhere. Nice!

Full Width 54” Bolts (unjoined, untrimmed). This option is for application on fuselage sides eg Fokker DVII where full use was made of the untrimmed fabric laid horizontally. Kit decals can be used as a template for cutting the decals to fit the fuselage. If used in other applications the width will need to be trimmed slightly on each side, as the originals were.
32/4U 4 Colour Upper
32/4L 4 Colour Lower
32/5U 5 Colour Upper
32/5L 5 Colour Lower

Joined and Trimmed 52.25” for use on wing and tail surfaces. These have been printed with the patterns reversing between strips, which is historically correct for most manufacturers. These will be certainly easier to apply than individual fabric sections. Modellers will need to check instructions and references as some manufacturers started with a join in the middle of the wing and others started at one end of the wing so no join in the middle.

32/4U 4 Colour Upper


32/4L 4 Colour Lower


32/5U 5 Colour Upper


32/5L 5 Colour Lower


32/4-5 Upper & Lower interior reversed pattern 54”. Aviattic have captured the overlapping colour effect and also the way some dyes penetrated the fabric more than others.





A page of decal application hints and tips is provided. Always a good idea to read this stuff, not only useful but also educational. Note that the transparency of the decals means if they are overlapped they will appear darker, so some care will be needed where upper and lower patterns meet (although these were taped on wing leading edges). It also means modellers won’t be able to cut rib tapes from the lozenge decals (for those aircraft that used camouflaged fabric for their rib tapes). Aviattic note they hope to produce some lozenge rib tapes in the future.

Aviattic decals do not need to be sealed before use. A gloss white, off white or similar undercoat colour is needed as the decals are printed on transparent film (Wingnut Wings also advise an undercoat with their decals for best adhesion). Being on a transparent base allows modellers scope to replicate oil spills underneath the decals as on the real thing, like underneath TVAL's Fokker DVIII:



Historical Background
The official name for the printed fabric was Flugzeugstoff, but it is more commonly referred to as ‘lozenge’ fabric (a term first coined by British inspectors in 1918 examining a captured Fokker DVII aircraft). There were two main pattern variants, 4 colour and 5 colour, with separate colour palettes for the upper and lower surfaces. The colours were printed on the fabric in a repeating pattern and supplied to the aircraft manufacturers in rolls. The fabric was then cut to length and sewn together along the side edges after trimming. Typically there would be six panels needed to cover a wing with the patterns joined in opposing ‘directions’, not all in the same direction. There were three methods of applying the fabric: the most common was chord-wise with the panels laid parallel with the wing ribs, or diagonally typically at 45o to the leading edge (used by two seaters), or span-wise (relatively uncommon). For aircraft fuselages covered in lozenge fabric, the pattern was generally aligned with the top longeron.

This diagram from Eagle Strike is a useful illustration of the styles of application:


When manufactured, the wing rib caps had cotton strips nailed and tacked in place. Then the camouflage fabric was applied, nailed and hand stitched into place over each rib. An overall coat of dope was applied and then thin fabric strips were doped over each rib to seal and protect the stitching. Four types of rib tape fabric are known to have been used in conjunction with the 4 and 5 colour fabric, varying between manufacturers as follows:
1. Clear doped linen, used by LFG Roland among others
2. Light blue fabric, used only by OAW (Schneidemühl)
3. Salmon pink and possibly violet fabric, used by Albatros (Johannistahl)
4. Lozenge fabric cut into strips. Fokker only used lozenge rib tapes but Albatros and OAW also used lozenge when producing the Fokker D.VII.

To complicate matters further there were cases where 4 and 5 colour fabric was found on the same machine, possibly the result of mixing and matching of parts as a result of field repairs. Wingnut Wings have documented some examples in their instruction booklets.

References
The online references below are very interesting and educational for modellers wishing to know more about printed camouflage fabric:
Alan Toelle: http://www.wwi-models.org/misc/Colors/German/loz2/Allan_T.html
Mark Miller: http://www.wwi-models.org/misc/Colors/German/loz2/index.html
Steven Lawson: http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=87962&page=1
Fokker D.VII Covering Practices by Dan-San Abbott, WWI Aero #102, Pp.22-33. 1984.
Fokker D.VII Detail Marking and Finish of Fokker-built D.VII Aircraft by Dan San Abbott, WWI Aero #107, 1985

Here is a comparison of the various references which Mark Miller gathered, put side by side with the decals from Wingnut Wings:





Check out the link above for more details about how Mark interpreted the sources in his analysis.

Price and Ordering
Aviattic decals are currently available on ebay only. The US distributor is ebay seller doghousedownira. Sheets are USD $14.95 each.  Aviattic sell on UK ebay under the seller name aviattic. Sheets are GBP £9.75 each. Postage costs are additional.

Payment is by Paypal.

Aviattic’s website aviattic.co.uk will go live with selling and cart options soon

Planned Releases
The same sets are intended for release in 1/48, 1/28/ 1/24, and 1/72 scales. Richard has stated in an online forum “we are planning Gotha Loz and hex as well as Naval hex...odd scales such as 1/28 and 1/24 as "bespoke " orders... I've got to get the paint range to market this summer and the r/c and scale Loz silk coverings (1/16th scale etc!) finalised and printed and the masters for....!”

Contact email: [email protected]

Conclusion
Aviattic’s research appears to have been very thorough and the colours are consistent with the interpretations of other researchers. The fabric effect is subtle but distinctly different to the more solid colours of the Wingnut Wings lozenge decals and will help provide an attractive textured finish.

I am sure many modellers will appreciate the greater choice these decals provide for finishing their models more individually. The decals look great and I would definitely recommend them. I particularly liked the interior, reversed lozenge set. Even more exciting is the planned investment into all the major scales, which I hope will be supported by the growing band of WWI modellers

Thanks to Aviattic for providing the samples for this review
« Last Edit: August 12, 2013, 05:32:25 AM by Jamo »
Happy Modelling
James Fahey

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