I have done some research in other forums and realized that there are two, or is three groups that supporting different opinions about this issue.
I’m currently building, as mentioned before, a 1/48 Albatros D.V.
I decided on Bruno Loerezer’s aircraft with lozenge wings. Now albatroses had a fully wooden body, and as oppose to other aircrafts these did’nt “wear” lining.
So, my questions are, will most WWI aircraft’s will wear a gloss, semi gloss or flat finish?
Did the albatros aircraft were waxed with some agent like maybe parafine oil, so the aircraft fuselage would be smoother, thus making them look glossy?
what will happen with time? will a glossy finish detiriorate or just loos it’s glossiness?
am I asking too many dumb questions, and just do what ever I want[:D]
I’ve always gone for a satin finish on WWI machines, my idea being that it would have come out of the factory in a gloss coat and then lost some of it’s sheen in the field.
The San Diego Air and Space Museum has a few real working/flying WWI original aircraft, as well as some replicas. The paint schemes on all of them have a satin or flat finish. The only glossy areas were logos and other art schemes were painted on but I’m guessing, like TANGO mentioned, that most of that wore off with time in the field.
