I need input from my fellow Luftwaffe aficianados! I am building the well known and well documented FW190D-13, which is presently a museum piece here in the U.S. It was the airplane of Franz Gotz, final commander of JG 26. Im sure anyone who is a Luftwaffe fan knows all the details about this planes history. I am finally at the painting stage of my 1/48th scale Pro-modeler Fw-190D-11 conversion, and all my references are driving me insane! Alfonse Berlana did a piece in Finescale about this plane (using the same kit), where he used RLM 82 and 83 for the “field applied” colors sprayed over RLM75 gray-violet. Flight Journal Magazine, which has actual photos of the real aircraft, looks as if the plane was painted with RLM 81 brown-violet and RLM 83 light green after its restoration ( the color photos are quite sharp, and all my local modeller buddies agree about the colors). Squadron Signal num. 10 "Fw-190D Walk around" claims that the upper wing colors are 83/77 primer with 81/82 field applied overspray! They also show the undersurfaces to be solid RLM76 blue with only the landing gear well covers in bare metal (other sources say the under side wing surfaces are bare metal except for painted ailerons and forward of the spar to be in RLM75 ( other sources say RLM 81!). Normally I am not such a stickler for accuracy, but it seems every reference says something different about this planes coloration, so what`s a mother to do? Since the real plane is so well documented, I would like to “get it right”, not to mention the fact that a general consensus may serve to cut off some of the “know-it-alls” at the next local meet! All comments are anticipated with baited breath! Please help abate the fever.
prophead, I have plans on doing a 1/48 scale yellow 10 in the future as well, so I have done some research. The person who know the most about this aircraft is Jerry Crandall. This is the guy who found “yellow 10” an took an interest in it. He has a book writen just about this D-13. I have the decal sheet he put out (yellow 10 and friends) that has some good documenation as to paint and other details of yellow 10. I have also talked with him about yellow 10. IMO jerry’s info is t he best source for info on this and most late build fw190’s. The amount of research and time he has vested in this make him the authority on it. With that being said I will just tell you what jerry has said about yellow 10.
all antennas intact
all stencilling except fuel indcators painted over
colors
under surface leading half/ gear doors 75, trailing bear metal, control surfeces 76 as is fueslage. gear doors have slight 83 on them. very upper parts 76
upper fuselage 75/82 heavily mottled over with 83.
upper wings 75/82 in heavy mottled with 83 mottled over in a stripe /blotch pattern. tabs still retain red color with stencile.
spinner is bright green 25 with white spiral rear of spinner heavily stained with oil/dirt
prop blades typical 70
26 defence bands upper parts mottled over with 82. the restored example in this case does look alot like yellow 10 did in 1945.
I see on 81 on the original AC, jerry also does not mention 81 on this AC. it seem to be 75/76 with a very heavy molt of greens, (82/83). the 83 (dark green) seems to be more in a stripe pattern on both the fuselage and wings. the 82 (light green) more of a blotch pattern.
hope this helps out, and let’s see some pics.
I can’t help you with the specifics, but sometimes a specific well documented aircraft is harder to build. Many times aircraft in service were re-painted numerous times with whatever was on hand (there was a war on after all!) when repairing battle damage and corrosion. Unit commander’s birds were probably given extra attention. Then when an aircraft is restored many years later, the restoration colors may not be exact, either due to difficulty finding photographs, “guesswork”, bad memories, and the actual paint on the aircraft fading.
You really just need to pick one of your sources as the primary reference and run with it. Otherwise, you’ll drive yourself insane with contradictory info like you have.
Hey, Phoenix7187!, You are indeed a gentleman and a scholar! Your info is the clincher for me, and so I will commence painting post haste! By the way, you mention that Mr. Crandall has a book documenting the history of this aircraft!?! Can you guess my next Question?(title and publisher,pretty please with sugar on it!!!) Your assistance is really appreciated! Propellorhead-minus fever
And that’s not yet mentioning:
Scanned in Color errors from the Hardware and the person doing it.
Most everbody’s computer Monitor is “uncalibrated” and the wrong color temperature, so what you see on your screen is…wrong 
soooo… (lots of help, huh?)
I wasn’t sure what referances you already had so I just cliff noted what I had. Crandell writes some of the the best books on the D series out. Yellow 10 whole story from is services in the luftwaffe to restoration can be found in this book.
it’s only really about yellow 10, but it doews have some other stuff in it. pretty interesting read if you really like late D’s.
The funny thing is I onw this book and have yet to read it. probably get read when I build by yellow 10.