Off-White dope for the Pfalz E.I?

[melsharkskin]

I have been trying to get the proper color, or lack of, for the Pfalz E.I, and am now (this should surprise no one) thoroughly confused. Photos and profiles tend to show that these a/c were painted black on metal surfaces and wheel covers, as well as struts and parasol hardware.

As for the fabric, well, there's the rub. Some machines, like 205/15, are depicted in profiles as "regular" buff-colored CDL. What do the artists know that I'm missing? Because other machines in photos shot in bright sunlight would indicate the linen was quite gossamer and thin, allowing for a translucent effect. However, I have read, and the profiles I've seen in several places, including the Mr. Herris' fine Flying-Machines Press book, give the fabric color as overall off-white pigmented dope. I tend to guess that if I can see through the fabric -- which appears in most photos lighter than the CDL we're used to seeing, as though the linen were bleached white -- that the dope is clear but otherwise the linen is unpainted except for the ubiquitous black borders and numbering on many machines.

Can anyone add anything to this to unconfuse me? This new 1:48 Gavia kit is calling to me. It is a delight to behold and I'd like to get it right.
TOM

[Cigogne]

The Pfalz finish on the E-types was bleached linen as opposed to unbleached. Contemporary Pfalz advertising paintings of Pfalz E-types all show a white finish or nearly white w/ black edging. In comparison, paintings of Fokker E-types by artists at the time show the orangey-yellow buff color. Photographs confirm tonal differences between the two types.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Melsharkskin:
The Pfalz E. types were covered with unbleached linen which was white. After doping and the linseed varnish coat the color waspale yellowish white.
On the Fokker E types, Fokker Fluzeugwerke used unbleached linen which was a light beige color, a light greyish brown. After doping and the varnish it was slightly darker.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Cigogne]

There actually was quite a difference in appearance between the two finishes on the Pfalz E-types and the Fokker E-types, more than justs slight. Photographs bear this out as well as contemporary paintings and advertising materials.

Mel, send me your email address and I'll send some samples of what I have.

[SCMc]

Cigogne,

I believe the "slightly darker" in Dan-San's post refers to the effect of the dope and varnish. The finish was slightly darker than the "light greyish brown" of the unbleached linen.

Steve

[Cigogne]

The articles that I am referring to in addition to photos are period paintings done by artists who were there or had access to the aircraft... eyewitnesses. Since they were there, I would think that they would be more accurate than mere suppositions on our part.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Cigogne:
Beige is fairly dark, and that is what unbleached linen was. I have colored pictures of the original unbleached linen. It was used on the Pfalz D.XII fuselage to cover the molded verneer skin. The Fokker E series were covered with this fabric. The Fokker D.I, D.II and D.III were covered with bleached linen fabric.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Cigogne]

Thanks Dan-San,

There were also other types of fabric employed for aircraft covering. The Harburg-Wien Gummiwaren Fabrik produced fabric for a number of uses, including captive balloons, and aeroplane fabric. (They also produced tires for all types of vehicles.) Peter Grosz talked about this fabric being a pale orangey color and was rubberized. It was used on some aircraft, including some Taube machines. I would be interested to know what other aircraft types employed this fabric.

[SCMc]

Cigogne,
I am not going to pretend that I am on your level of knowledge, but it seems to me that a rubberized fabric would be hard to use. How would you shrink it tight? It seems that it would require a completely different method of applying the fabric.

Steve

[Cigogne]

More seeking for us to do to find out more... it never ends!