Pfalz Interior color?

[David_Layton]

I have not yet seen a good photo of a Pfalz DIII interior. Where these shellaced or painted to protect from the elements.

I saw the D12 in the Champlin and it's interior is neutral gray.

Dan-San and I once talked about the Roland CII and it's interior may have been green-gray, sort of the feldgrau everything in the army seemed to be painted.

Are there capture reports or articles or even a sample of the fueslage panelling that would define the interior color?

[Colin A Owers]

The Pfalz D.XII 2600/18 in the Australian War Memorial was painted a light bluish-grey internally. The metal fairings, etc were all overpapinted and it looked like it had not been touched since it came into Australian hands.

Colin A Owers

[Dan_San_Abbott]

David _Layton:
I have a photograph of a piece of fuselage skin off a Pfalz D.XII from the area of the fuselage cross, on the inside the surface is greyish blue. The Pfalz D.III/D.IIIa was probably painted the same.
The inside surfaces would have to be protected from the wet elements of northern France. I ask a friend in Belgium," How often does it rain here?" He replied, "366 days a year!"
Blue skies
Dan-San

[Hans]

Judging from photographs of crashed D.III, I also would opt for the same paint as used on the outher shell of the Wickelrumpf. As far as I understood the method of construction, the inner side was covered with strips of lines as the outside and treated in the same manner as the outside.

So, I would say that silbergrau Pfalz D.III were silbergrau on the inner sides, only the later lozenge covered / grey fuselage D.III were grey inside.

Hans

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by Hans

Judging from photographs of crashed D.III, I also would opt for the same paint as used on the outher shell of the Wickelrumpf. As far as I understood the method of construction, the inner side was covered with strips of lines as the outside and treated in the same manner as the outside.

So, I would say that silbergrau Pfalz D.III were silbergrau on the inner sides, only the later lozenge covered / grey fuselage D.III were grey inside.

Hans

I tend to disagree. The British captured aircraft report on their Pfalz D.III examples say nothing about interior areas being silbergraü. We do know that Pfalz D.XII 2600/18 down under underwent a restoration (so did their Alb. D.Va 5390/17) see the link and text that follows.

WWI Modlers page on the existing Pfalz D.XII types

'...Now the really good stuff. Six prints are of the Pfalz D-XII, 2600/18. This is the serial of this airframe and it is displayed in the scheme in which it was captured. The airframe was restored to current conditions in the 1970's and the other color pictures of it are found in an issue of Windsock. At the time of restoration, new fabric representing 5-color lozenge was applied...'

I believe that the overpainted interior colours of the Pfalz D.III & D.XII types under discussion were not factory original. It was when they were restored a solid colour variously interpreted was applied to increase the life span of the aircraft materials. Perhaps Mr. Colin Owers could help us here?

See also; Cross & Cockade Intl. 30 #4 1999 “Pfalz D.XII a Workhorse in Foreign Fields” for the extensive resorations of both American held Pfalz D.XII types.

[Colin A Owers]

I was part of the team that restored the Pfalz D.XII 2600/18. I have a piece of fuselage ply that was removed and replaced (by normal ply, unfortunately) and this is the grey colour. It is original. There is no documented or anecdotal story of any work being done on the Albatros or Pfalz in Australia. The story that they were flown in Australia has been discounted. They were on display in the Melbourne exhibition and then the AWM until restored. I will see if I can talk my wife into taking a digital photo of the piece I have and get it attached to this thread.

The D.XII restoration as to external colours was not done to any colour chip from the original paint. This was all sanded off without anyone thinking to take samples - No, I was not there when this was carried out. We only have Bob Waugh's notes to go on for its original colours. The colour scheme it is now painted in was based on the Profile publication. The serial was copied onto a template and matches the original.

The ply strips of the laminated fuselage were covered by an outer and inner skin of fabric and this was painted for protection from the elements. At least we know the colour of the D.XII.

Colin A Owers

[Hans]

Are we speaking here about D.III or D.XII? Can we judge from D.XII paints on D.III and early D.IIIa ?

Hans

[NeilE]

Hi All;

In relation to the question of the interior colour of the AWM Pfalz D XII, Interestingly this came up on the Model Forum a few weeks ago. The link below relates to that thread. Please note in particular, the reply from Shane Weier.

Special Hobby 1/48 Pfalz D.XII the build

FYI

All the Best

Neil E

[StephenLawson]

The strip down Pfalz D.III that was recorded, displayed and photographed by the British appears to have a varnished wood interior.

[Colin A Owers]

Here are the photos of the Pfalz D.12 interior. Note the strips of fabric over the joins in the ply strips. The photographs were taken with and without flash.