Metal Agent

[Sreiko]

I have a problem to find details about the percentage of the metal powder add into the French WW1 camouflage paint. Regards to the published material from project "Butterfly" as well research of the Ian Huntley, there was amount of the metalic pigment add to the paint used for the cover of the fabric surfaces. Unfortunately there is no precise value of this ingrediants. If look at the photos of the different French planes in the multi color camouflage pattern, there could be noted difference in the appearance and it maybe indicate that various manufacturers add their own proportion of this metal ingredients.

And finnaly- did any know what was the correct color name for the French in the WW1?

Attached images are Serbia Nieuport and two SPAD in post WW1 service. All planes have new camouflage colors.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

sreiko:
There is 42% by weight aluminum powder added to dark green, light green, chocolate brown, beige and light yellow. None was added to the black. There are specific formulas for each color used in the manufacture of the Acellos Colored Dopes. This is covered in "Project Butterfly, Part 2, Cross and Cockade, Vol.13 No.2, pages 150-183.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Sreiko]

Thank you very much for your time and precise answer Mr. Abot

I will try to find this issue somewhere in my bulk of material

[Sreiko]

Dear Dan,

first at all to apologize for the error in the typing of your name.

To my regret I can not find that I have at all the second part of this magazine. So if you don't mind I would like to ask you few more questions....

In the first part is mentioned some silver gery color for the underside. Is this basic grey color with the metal pigment for the fabric surfaces or this is pure metalic color? I note in your post that you have mentioned only top side colors.

Some before I have ask about the Ripolin, based on the info from the "Over the front" magazine. Is this base color in which was add metal pigment? Where to find correct description of this colors with possible Methuen value? My personal oppinion is as well this is the industrial product that maybe that kind of colors could be still available in the modern French industrial charts but as urethane colros and for some other application [furniture industry or so...].

By the end of war was appeared new color Kaki. This color was in wide use until the WW2. As well in the first issue of the "Project Butterfly" is mentioned that the French camouflage colors are expencive and that this color was carefuly removed during overhauls, is there posible that Kaki was mixture of the two greens, brown and ochre on the topside?

Too much of question and I hope that I did not boring... Thank you for your time

P.S. Sorry for my poor English