I’ve got a 1/72 Revell Sopwith Camel (ugh) on the bench and the time to paint is fast approaching and I still can’t figure out the color of the fuselage - all I know is that it was a brownish/greenish/grayish drab color (the instructions call for olive grey or matt earth) I’d like to get as close as I can, or even nail it. Anybody know if this color is available, it’s name and brand or anything close that might need to be mixed? Thanks!
Check this site http://www.theaerodrome.com , go to aircraft, aircraft by nationality, Great Britain, and there is a color picture of what appears to be a restored Camel. I think I may also have the Profile Publication for the Camel. Will let you know if I can find more info.
The Camel has always been my favorite.
Stinger
Most British airplanes were painted a color called, “PC10” that gradually changed during the war. Go to the site mentioned above and do a search in the FORUM, in the MODELS section, for “PC10.” You’ll find some good information on what paints people are using for their models.
Two recommendations that I was able to find pretty quickly are: “Going through the colour chips in the Federal Standards 595a, there are 2 possibilities - F.S. 30117 and F.S. 30118. Testor makes both of them in their MM range. F.S. 30117 is Military Brown and F.S. 30118 is Field Drab, just a little bit darker than 30117.”
That is quoted from this thread:
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/YaBB.cgi?board=models&action=display&num=1059969273&start=30
Regards,
-Drew
Great site stinger, thanks! The Camel pictured looks on the greenish side - my research shows that the color should be more brown than green, but I’m wondering if Humbrol or Polly S or some other manufacturer makes a shade that is correct or close to correct? This little kit has been a monster to assemble - I’m sure there are better kits in 1/72, but I’m so far along that there’s no turning back now, you know? Well, thanks again for the help.
Thanks, Drew! I will!
By the way, I edited my message with two specific color recommendations. I hope that helps.
Regards,
-Drew
Credit for the Aerodrome site should go to Lufbery. I got it from him.
Welcome to the forum and good luck.[;)]
Thanks everyone, you guys have been extremely helpful.
The brownish drab was a Dope used during the war called PC 12 the PC 10 is a greenish olive drab. Model master paints French Drab gives a nice PC10 ish color right out of the jar. MasterKit Piants from italy produced a whole line of WWI colors including Pc10 & PC12. Unfortunetly they’ve been dropped by their retailers stateside because of supply/import problems with thier italian manufactuer. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/pddf27a8e5cce07ad199c7bed27508dee/fab619c8.jpg The camels my personal fav too. Their are some conflicting sources on the color of the underside of the fuselage. Personally I belive if you compare it to some other sopwith aircraft which proceeded such as the Pup, you’ll see the underside is not clear doped like the underside of the tail fins and wings. THe underside of the fuselage was the same color as the top and sides with an aluminum plate which runs under the cockpit part way back by the landing gear struts. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/pa645d3b6698b5d86e28c11963adf481c/fab619cc.jpg Windsock data files puts out some special issues on color schemes and squdron colors of the Camel in addition to their regular detail publication
Did I say French Drab , I apologise Iam not at home and not near my paints.
I meant Model Master French Khaki makes a good PC-10 right out of the jar.
Hey, mgtaylor, thanks for the information about the underside of the fuselage. So you’re saying that I’d be OK just painting the entire fuselage, upper and lower , with a PC-10 or PC-12 equivalent and NOT painting the underside to resemble clear dope? It was my original intention to do the two-color scheme (green-drab on top with clear dope on the bottom) but I happen to be having some difficulty getting a decent clear dope color match, so painting the entire fuselage one color is actually a pretty attractive alternative. Your pics are great - is that a one color scheme(other than the brown and metal), I can’t tell for sure?
The sides of the fuselage behind the cowling and top of the fuselage behind the pilot where the gas caps are located. ( A pressure tank directly behind the cockpit and a larger storage tank feeding it) are plywood. so I used a dark gloss brown to simulate a varnished veneer. THis wood was either left undoped ie the color of the wood or for instance painted black with the cowl for the RNAS. (Royal Navy Air Service) THe undersides of the wing and elevator are ‘clear doped’ color. Which if I said so before should be a sort of cream light colored canvas color that has been darkened by the dope used to seal the fabric. Yes there are several different types of schemes other than solid. Some painted the engine cowl alone anything from white to red to blue and white (Black & white or Red&white) stripes going all the way back to the end of that plywood along the sides. Others left the aluminum cowl and engine compartments polished other squadrons painted them red all the way back over the plywood. I beleive its WIndSock Data Profiles BOoks that puts out a book just on on Camel Squadron Colors. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/p3b7020194e5030064ab02fa96b4c2bf4/fab619c6.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid87/p1318b3996dbe8433aad32e45d0b8052d/fa9bec0d.jpg
