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Gentlemen:
In following up on thestaining of the wing on the Fok.E.V/D.VIII, I came across another piece of information for the use of stains and varnish versus painted camouflage.
A document was issued by "INSPEKTION DES FLUGWESENS, B.-Nr.1111/918 Abt.A on 20 september 1918, which reads,
From: Inspector of Aircraft Factories.
To: All aircraft firms.
Camouflage of Front Line Aircraft.
Experience at the front has proved the dark colored printed fabric on the top surface of the wings and the lighter colored printed fabric on the bottom of the wings.
The bright yellow, or likewise bright color of those parts of the fuselage, which are made of plywood, has an adverse effect. One should therefore try to paint the back and sides of the fuselage in a color which blends with the dark fabric on the top and sides and the lighter fabric on the fuselage belly.
To obtain this without increasing the aircraft weight, and to save oil- paints, the Flugzeugmeisterei suggests staining the plywood before applying the the varnish or mixing the Lasur (stain) with the varnish.
Experiments by the Albatros Firm have proved that coloring the fuselage (plywood parts) is possible without an appreciable increase in the all up weight (about 50 grams). Therefore I ask that the plywood parts, as described above, are coloredwhen the aircraft is delivered.
Struts and under-carriage should also be painted in an appropriate dark camouflage color.
This document provides the reason for use of the "Lasur" stains, it saves weight and solves the bright yellow fuselage problem which destroys the camouflage of the wings and tails. also I would think it saves time which saves MONEY!
I wonder if this "Lasur Stain is still being made in Germany. The manufacturers, Fokker and Albatros developed a workable camouflage schemes and Idflieg followed,
A further order was issued by Idflieg, about 16 October 1918 which excludes the Class D fighter aircraft having to stain the fuselage. It states in part:
" This order does not apply to "D" Type aircraft fuselages. These plywood fuselages are weatherproofed to save weight and paint. The units at the front paint the fuselages themselves in a variety of colors."
Blue skies,
Dan-San
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