Stropp Albatros DV

iart7 · 4 February 2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

The "original" version and the "restored " version side by side. Art for art sake as it were.

Not only that, it's art for art's sake by Art, if you're smart.

I could see ZZ's interpretation being possible and it makes sense to me, but for purposes of authenticity, you'd have to document every change made to a plane for weeks, months and years in service in order to be completely accurate.

I can also see a museum wanting to get the aircraft into display as quickly as possible in order to present them to the paying public. It would be interesting to be able to hear their explanation.

I'm interested in seeing the quote in Cross and Cockade, Steven. Is that possible to put here? I know page and volume was listed, but I don't have access to it.

Art

iart7 · 5 February 2009, 12:10 PM

I'm assuming the top wing had a different cross than the bottom wing?

Larger size picture ... here.

Bottom View with lozenge wing ... here.

Top View with mauve-green wing, yellow spinner ... here.

To view any of these in a larger size, take off the "SM" next to .jpg.

Art

StephenLawson · 5 February 2009, 09:04 PM

The original wings were left in France. We don't know anything other than they "might" have been altered to the Balken Kreuz. The wings sent with the aircraft for the bond tour were chosen because of their multi - colour aspect and they were intact. They has the flanged Iron Crosses.

Biber · 6 February 2009, 05:40 AM

Has any photographic record of Stropp in service ever been found? Surely there must be a glimpse of it in a jasta photo somewhere.

B

iart7 · 6 February 2009, 10:20 PM

Here's another composition.

Larger size: here

Just innocent conjecture, of course, but is it possible Udet may have flown with this plane?

Art

Mode One · 7 February 2009, 04:59 AM

Art, I enjoy drawing, also. Have done some work in MS paint which is very limited. What software do you use, and what might be available for real cheap (Free). I was laid off last Tuesday; so, the cheap part is maybe more important than good. I love your work!

iart7 · 7 February 2009, 03:25 PM

Mode One,

Sorry to hear about your job. I hope something comes up real soon.

I use PhotoShop, and I'm sure PhotoShopLE is not too expensive. But other folks use GIMP. And there's PhotoFiltre on the internet which is FREE! Basically, you need to be able to paint with colors, texture brushes, etc. The most useful tool in the program I use is that I can draw things in LAYERS. One layer will have the "decal", one layer will have the weathering or shine. Another layer will be for the gun barrel soot, one layer for panel lines and rivets. Get the picture? If the rivets are too dark, you can lighten them up and it's a lot easier than trying to do that after the rivets are stuck on the wing or fuse. Or if you made a balkenkreuse and it should have been a eiserneskreuse ... ouch, that hurts. You can still paint skins for a game without layers, but it's a lot easier and more convenient with layers.

Warbirds requires the files to be saved as Targa graphics, not JPEG or BMP. I can help you get started with a P51 or Spitfire template but you have to have the game too of course. There are lots of places on the web dedicated to skinning games and one of the best ones is Simmers Paintshop Forum.

Good luck,

Art

Mode One · 10 February 2009, 05:48 AM

iArt7, You pretty much lost me after you started talking about the layers part. I gather that you are making your "Models" for a War Game?
I'd be afraid to ask you to elaborate on this, so I won't.

However, I appreciate your taking the time to attempt to describe for me, Thanks!

Mark

iart7 · 10 February 2009, 06:59 AM

Mark, basically, you have a drawing file template (or sometimes more than one). For example, the fuse would have a profile of the fuse, rudder, cockpit, wheels, etc. There'd be another template for the wing parts. These are "wrapped" around the 3D model that flys in the game.

With the game I use, almost anyone can "paint" their own aircraft provided they know how to paint with a program that saves in Targa format. Targa is like JPEG, or BMP, only it allows an Alpha Channel (for transparent parts). PhotoShop lets you load and save TGA files. If you can paint a balkenkreuse with Microsoft Paint, you can make a skin. What game do you use and what graphic program(s) do you have? I use Warbirds. Do a search for Warbirds and Skins or IL2 and SKins and you'll get more information than you can shake a joystick at. Try Skinner's Paintshop Forum

Art
go here to see some of my early "fantasy" BF109 skins. I did a Udet version and a red swastika version. Also, try the links at the top of the page.

Mode One · 11 February 2009, 04:06 AM

Thanks Iart7! You've gone above and beyond!