WNW Fokker E.IV

[GrahamB]

Hi,
 
after a long time of little modeling progress I've finished my WNW Fokker E.IV. As usual, a delightful model to build - especially the interior. It is "upgraded" with a Taurus engine, some HGW fabric seatbelts, and Gaspatch (1/48) turnbuckles. It was painted with a combination of Tamiya/Gunze acrylic lacquers, Drooling Bulldog lacquers and Schminke inks. It is supposed to represent E.IV 161/16 (Lt. Muller) of Kest 6 in April 1917 - WNW option D; i.e. it is a late survivor and I have interpreted the paint scheme liberally - using the photograph - to show the accretion of the various camouflage practices from 1915-16/early 1917. For example I've interpreted the pale tone on the starboard wing as lilac:
1. Basic factory unbleached linen for fuselage (except dorsal), ochre varnished/dyed flying surfaces and upper fuselage.
2. Light streaky field application of light olive and light brown on the fuselage sides.
3. Overpainting of upper wing crosses (and tailplane) with light brown, light olive and lilac, leaving inner part of wings in factory finish.
4. Camouflaging of the aluminium cowl and fuselage decking with dark green and red-brown.
 
Refer to my accompanying Ian Huntley-based article (or 'flight of fancy' if you like) for the background/inspiration for this [Markings & Camouflage sub-forum]. I've also tried to represent the various oil staining seen in various photos on both lower fuselage and wings. It is rigged with de-stranded Easyline for main wires, UVR for control lines, the turnbuckles attached flexibly to small copper-wire loops.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
GrahamB

[Juan]

Very nice, love the scheme you chose and your touches.

[lcarroll]

Graham,
     Very nice! I enjoyed your thread on the paint scheme(s) and seeing this example brings it together very logically. You've done a magnificent job on this one; I'm particularly drawn to the prop (wood or paint?) and also the weathering, particularly the oil staining which is superb. My compliments, a great model!
Cheers,
Lance

[rhwinter]

Love your E.IV, Graham! If I'll ever get mine kitted, I plan to do it as the KEST 6 machine (I live nearby KEST 6's "home") in a camouflaged way, too! Where do I find your article, you're referring to?
Cheers, Richard
PS: Just found your article!

[GrahamB]

      I'm particularly drawn to the prop (wood or paint?) and also the weathering, particularly the oil staining which is superb. My compliments, a great model!
Cheers,
Lance

Many thanks guys.
As for the prop, I found that Radu Brinzan (?) produced a laminated-prop paint mask a few years ago. As his instructions say, it is damned difficult to get right, but my first attempt was acceptable: the tight boss area was fine but the wide laminations distal on the blades were faint. However, I used these as a guide to mask with kabuki tape, re-spray and got better definition.

Don't forget the other photographed dark green/red-brown E.IV in the Eindecker Compendium 2 (photo 23).
Cheers
GrahamB

[Manni]

Hi, Graham,
a very good build Fokker.
The paintjob is really outstanding and your interpretation is eyecatching.
Manni

[Borsos]

Very nice Fokker in an unusual, very attractive sheme. I personally wouldn't bet on the purple but nevertheless it suits her well!
Borsos

[Bughunter]

A very nicely done Fokker, the painting and weathering is really outstanding!
Frank

[GrahamB]

I personally wouldn't bet on the purple but nevertheless it suits her well!
Borsos

Not purple but lilac - a paler colour than the later purples/mauves. This was just an interpretation of the pale segment of upper colour on the starboard wing - a best fit of the known colours [see article]? I used the Drooling Bulldog Mauve tinted with white but it is not a very good match for the quoted Methuen - this needs to be be more 'red' or violet. Pretty though?
Cheers
GrahamB

[dr 1 ace]

Nicely done along with an interesting color scheme !!!

Ed

[gedmundson]

I have to echo some of the compliments above - nicely done Graham. That prop is inspirational!
Cheers,
Gary

[coyotemagic]

Don't know how I missed this one, Graham.  What a beauty!
Cheers,
Bud

[Syd Solo]

Graham
Excelent job. The oil staining is well done. I'm super impressed.

Cheers

Syd

[Borsos]

I personally wouldn't bet on the purple but nevertheless it suits her well!
Borsos

Not purple but lilac - a paler colour than the later purples/mauves. This was just an interpretation of the pale segment of upper colour on the starboard wing - a best fit of the known colours [see article]? I used the Drooling Bulldog Mauve tinted with white but it is not a very good match for the quoted Methuen - this needs to be be more 'red' or violet. Pretty though?
Cheers
GrahamB

Oh, I really love the shade. I also tend to lighten up the Drooling bulldog paints with white color, they are quite dark straight from the bottle. For 1916 I would definitely only go with brown and green, but for April 1917 I am really not sure. Anyway the more I look at your pics the more I love camouflaged Eindeckers.
Borsos
Borsos

[GrahamB]

Ho Borsos,

I think you are missing the point about the lilac. It was a colour recorded by the French on some German aircraft during the 1915-16 period - not the later mauves/purples introduced to replace the red-brown.
Cheers
GrahamB