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The WW1 modelers' reference library => Markings and Camouflage => Topic started by: Redcoat78 on October 12, 2015, 04:35:22 PM

Title: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: Redcoat78 on October 12, 2015, 04:35:22 PM

Hi guys,
any advice for the correct Red & Blue colors of French rudder?
I am working on a Nieuport 17 and I would avoid to use decals on the tail.
Thank you
Simone

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: Tomasz on October 14, 2015, 07:59:07 PM

Simone,
on Nieuports red was typical for French aircraft of the era. Not a very vivid color, slightly shifting toward a color of a brick.
Blue however was different than that on Spads or Breguets, and was rather dark, somewhat similar to WW2 RAF blue.
Tomasz

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: WarrenD on October 22, 2015, 09:57:23 PM

Redcoat, Tomasz is right. There is a great series of articles across two issues of Windsock dealing with this, and other Nieuport colors. I'll try and get the volume and issue numbers for you this weekend.

HTH!

Warren

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: davecww1 on November 20, 2015, 08:45:16 AM

Best way to show a color is to look at a color photo!  I have a couple of French autochrome photos which were taken in WW1 and are supposedly accurate color photos.  the first shows the Nieuport 11 in the 3 or 4 color camouflage, the rudder colors show the correct dark blue.  the other shows an aluminum doped Nieuport 17.

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: davecww1 on November 20, 2015, 08:46:03 AM

Nieuport 17

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: WarrenD on November 24, 2015, 09:43:43 AM

Thanks for posting those Dave, if you didn't, I was going to.

My apologies Redcoat78/Simone, I have been remiss on what I promised, but I was only able to clear my way into the mess that passes for my man cave (closet) and retrieve the Windsock issues I spoke of earlier.

They are:
- Vol. 23, No. 5, September/October 2007
- Vol. 23, No. 6, November/December 2007

Both of these issues are well worth looking up and obtaining for any Nieuport fan. Excellent two part article on Nieuport colors and the colors used on the rudder/roundels.

HTH!

Warren

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: davecww1 on November 24, 2015, 11:40:04 AM

Warren is correct, those articles have the most accurate color informations for early Nieuports.  Based on the information in the article I mixed up my own colors using craft store acrylics, basically a bright red and a little black, and also for the blue a royal blue with a little red to give it a slightly purple shade.  Here is how my interpretation of the color mix looks.  My red is a little too dark but the blue looks spot on.
Dave C
(http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k489/davecww1/n4_2.jpg)

Title: Re: Colors for French Rudder (Blue & Red)
Post by: xan on February 24, 2016, 06:19:46 AM

Quote from: xan on February 24, 2016, 06:19:06 AM

(http://nsm08.casimages.com/img/2016/02/21//16022110363118634313994331.jpg)

Xan