I’ve been wondering how you guy’s are doing it.
right on the spot, as close to reality as possible or just throwing free hand cause “Who’s gonna check this anyway?”
The reason I’m asking is right now I’m building FW 190 D9 from JV44, red 1.
First I’ll apply all three colours (76,82,83) and only then I’ll mottle. I’m not sure exactly how I’m gonna mottle it cause I’m still missing some info. So here is a small request cause I couldnt find (exactly what I need) it on the net.
Is there anyone out there with profiles of both sides? thanks [8D]
Maybe I’ve been at this too long (over 50 years), but I quit “super detailing” models some time ago. When it’s on the shelf it doesn’t really look any better than one which is strictly “kit built”.
Accuracy of moltting on german aircraft can be a real problem.
The conflict is if you follow the black and white pictures on the
instruction sheet ,the moltting looks hard edged and there isn’t
any good guideline how to blur or blend the colors.
What is the solution? A color photograph would be best though
this is almost impossible to find.
Next best would be a detail color profile used together with a black and white photo.
Final option (this is what I normaly end up using) follow the box art carefully
and duplicate it on the side of the aircraft not shown.
Of course the best guide is a photo of the actual aircraft you are building…short of that try to find photos of other aircraft in the squadron during the same time period. German mottle differed as each unit often did their own work and each had their own interpretations and ideas about the manner of it. Some was very heavy and defined while others appear to be a very fine pattern with no clear beginning or edge to the colors. This I acheive with a very thinned paint solution…about 50/50. the smaller the scale the tougher it gets. Being a 1/72 modeler, I know mottle can be a challenge. Check out the post I put up of my Fiat BR.20 by italeri. This was a large mottle pattern over the whole fuselage and painting it took about two hours!
Check your references and take your time…the results are worth the effort!
Just imagine all the problems that find the mechanics and personel in WWII to find the correct Cammo or Aplication, Its incredible the perfection that we(Modelers) can do at these days! Its imposible because the extreme conditions and abailibity of materials and parts at War conditions to one piece(Aircraft) that was part of the many, I don’t know the numbers in the exact version that you are trying, so let our imagination travel to that moment and conditions in History…can you imagine using old clothes impregnated with paint to rapidly convert a Daylight aircraft to Nocturne or Summer like to Winter at the Eastern Front…Hungry, Thirsty with your weapons and fingers frosted!..So lets find the Instuctions and some old Photograps and let fly the Imagination to feel History in Our Models. Good Luck!
Mottle on Luftwaffe AC was field applied and there were no two aircraft exactly alike. Box art and other profiles are not always accurate. If it’s important to you to match the mottle on a specific AC, then working from photographs is about your only option. Of course finding the photos can be a big challenge, especially when you really need profile shots of both sides.
[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto]
I’ll also add that, if you or someone else is going to argue the accuracy of the placement of tiny spots of paint, a nice rest and relaxation may be in order.
This is an area where I feel it is more important to be realistic, rather than accurate (these are not the same thing).[2c]
Rodger that, Pixilater . The great thing about mottle camouflage is that it looks attractive, so my first priority is that it should be so, and next that it should be reaistic. so However,when the mottle is squiggles, not blotches, realism is more important. Accuracy does not feature at all in my priorities, for the reasons outlined by others above.
I also find that a light overspray of RLM76 from below helps to blend everything in.