[Brad]

Ok, I'll bite on this one.

2 pictures there stand out in my mind as giving good examples to get an approximate shade from...

One is the captured Eindecker being inspected by the French troops. Compare the relative shade of the fuselage to the relative shade of the French uniforms, and you will see that the fuselage is considerably lighter. Now compare that to the KNOWN French uniform colors, and it should give a pretty fair estimate. In my (admittedly inexperienced) eye, I would say it approximates the "varnished cdl finish" that is commonly accepted as the color of the Eindecker.

The second is the factory picture, and I am seeing the same thing that you are seeing on the fuselage and horizontal tail surfaces. The thing that I am ALSO considering, is the close resemblence between the KNOWN TO BE white rudders, and the shade of the fuselage... as well as the (probably white) shirt of the factory worker. Very similar. Unbleached, unfinished linen would be much like the tone relatively displayed by the fuselage when compared to the WHITE rudder. The darker horizontal tail surfaces would indeed be explained by them being already finished, giving them a bit more color and a glossier tone. Clear dope and varnish would explain that as well.

In short, I think this series of pictures (and a FINE set it is, thanks for posting them! Lots of good info there for my project!) reinforces the accepted description of the finish on the Eindecker series.

Also the aircraft waiting for delivery gives a pretty good example of the finish when new... and how it compares to white. Thanks again for the nice pics, very enjoyable!

Brad