Comment/Info/Suggestion Vzfw Kohlern Alb.D.II Profile

[mgtaylor]

I am building a Alb D.II kit. Ive chosen what is an interesting Profile for it. I think perhaps the inspriation for the Personal Markings used on (ALL) the Fokker Triplanes in "Flyboys" ?

But I have finally found myself in a postion where I find it may be helpfull to throw this one out here and solict comment, information, person views on this profile ?

It is a Bob Person Profile from his Wonderfuly resourceful CD of WWI markings avaialble directly from him.

Vzfw Kohler Alb.D.II Jasta 9 in Leffincourt Airfeild Febuary of 1917.

FIrst off what is a "Vzfw" ? Where was Leffincourt and what signifigance if any did it have or play in any particular battles during Feb of 1917 ?

Lastly who was Kohler ?

Ive seen the profile used in a 48th Ed kit using Black Perison Crossed Swords. I personly Like the Red better ? But if anyone might have an opinon as to what they really might have been It would be apprecited.

As its a 2D profile I do not have a Wing Camo Pattern for it. SO I chose one from the WIndsock Data file using the two earth tone pattern.


Yours MIke

[Chock]

Vzfw is the abbreviation for Vizefeldwebel. If you are not familiar with the rank of Feldwebel, it's sort of a cross between a senior NCO and a Warrant Officer. To translate the title: Vize (vice, i.e temporary or acting), Feld (Field, as in a practical combat role), Webel (a derivative of the old German word, waibel, which is the bit on a loom that aligns the warp strings. So if you glue it all together, it means a soldier acting in the role of keeping things (i.e men) in line in the field.

Although Feldwebels would perform similar roles and be over the same numbers of troops as a sergeant might be when in the army, the rank is probably more like a Platoon Sergeant in terms of seniority. Feldwebels would be subordinate to low ranking officers such as Leutnants, so you could regard VizeFeldwebel as being a bit like a cross between RAF Sergeant Pilots and Pilot Officers - i.e. just enough rank to be in charge of an aeroplane and the fitters and armourers, but not much more than that as far as the pecking order in a squadron goes.

Al

[mgtaylor]

Hey Chock ! THanks !! Perfect description ! I understand perfectly. Kinda like a NAVY Master Chief , an NCO Non-Commisioned Officer or a Warrent Officer. Gotcha !

I thought of another question regarding the Fuselage natioanl crosses. The Profile shows both the Rudder and Fuselage cross with a White border instead of a White square field behind it ? Was wondering if anyone knows is that right for this profile ?

Yours mike

[Chock]

You can find quite a few profiles of Jasta 9 aircraft in the Osprey 'Albatros Aces' books, since there were one or two prolific scorers in Jasta 9. If you base the wing colours on other aircraft in Jasta 9 of that period, then you probably won't go far wrong with standard camouflage on the wings and tail, although as with a lot of things in WW1, if there is no photo, then there is room for a bit of artistic licence. However, if you intend to stick your model in a show/competition, it helps to have photographs of what you've modeled.

The same is true of the colours on the insignia, since the actual colours, if not documented, are often 'guesstimates' based on the tonal range of monotone pictures, and in wartime, they wouldn't necessarily have any colour they liked to hand on a wartime airfield. You could see both versions of the national markings in that period, so unless you have a photograph which says otherwise, then it can be regarded as, if not definitely correct, then at least not historically incorrect. As it happens, I do have a picture of that aircraft, and I've included a scan of it, which does confirm the national markings looking that way:



Note that the wheel mudguards on your profile view are also confirmed by this picture, so it seems likely that this pic would have been one of the sources for that profile painting.

Feb 1917 at Leffincourt would put Jasta 9 opposing the French, so they'd be tangling with SPADs, Neiuports and Breguets. It was an interesting period in the war of course, since the Russians were just about to bail out and have their revolution, which would have been good news for the Germans had it not been for the fact that the Americans were just about to declare war on them.

Al

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hello Mike:
You aredoing a model of Vize Feldwebel Kohler's Alb.D.II which has th three camouflage scheme of pale green, dark green and rust brown. Kohler's Albatros D.II is Albatros built asnd has a specific scheme. I refer you to the Forum menu, go the articles and there is an Article on Albatros D.II camouflage, it will show you the correct patterns for Albatros built D.II aircraft. The article also shows the patterns and colors used on LVG built Alb.D.II machines.
For the correct colors, go the gallery below my avatar and there are Albatros D.III illustrated in my gallery, that will give you the correct colors for the Alb.D.II.
Blue skies Mike,
Dan-San

[mgtaylor]

Dear dan

Thank you ! It is not to late for me to change the wing camo scheme. Thanks for the refernence Article. I am on it.

1. Other than that would you agree with the rest of Bob's Profile, ie, Lt Grey Cowls, CDL wheel covers & rudder ?

2. I take it the Sword color may be opinon based ?

3. Any idea on a Serial Number or even close ? D.471/16 to D.520/16 for an Albatros Built D.II I take it ?

Thanks again !

Yours MIke

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Mike:
The serial range of Vzfw Kohler's Alb.D.II is D.502/16 to D.521/16.
Follow the D.II patterns on Figure 2 for the color area and patterns.
I have used photo of his machine to determine color locations.
Upper wing pattern and color location are:
From right tip to left tip; pale green, rust and dark green.
Lower wing panel patterns:
Right tip to left tip. rust ,pale green, dark green || dark green,pale green and rust.
Tailplane pattern,right tip to left tip: rust, pale green, dark green.
Rudder; pale green
cowlings, spinner, access doors, louvers, foot step door, all fittings, all struts, under carriage, axle and spreader bar; light grey.
Fuselage and fins: yellow shellacked and varnished.
Under surface of wings, tailplane and wheel covers; light sky blue.
Upper wing, fuselage and rudder crosses 50 mm white border surrounding the black cross.
Lower wing crosses; plain black crosses without a white border.
Right and left is defined, as sitting in the cockpit.
Blue skies Mike,
Dan-San

[mgtaylor]

Dear Dan

Your Article is a Master Piece. Amazing information you gathered and published. Fantastic !! Thank you very much. I knew you were the right person to go to on this. I am waiting for a coat of Future and Clear yellow to dry over the fuselalge now while I was masking the undersides for an attempt at some shadowing.

With your info I now am no longer poking in the Dark picking and chooseing what might look pretty but finally have the real info to make an informed choice, which will make it all have much more meaning for me when I am done
and admiring it on my shelf.

I plan on purchasing your CD before months end !!

Let me know if their is another historical soceity convention you'll be attending again !

Thanks DAN !!

Yours MIke

[StephenLawson]

Though Chock's transliteration is a good interpretation of the wording and is sound, the term was applied to acting sergeants. Much like an "Acting Jack" E-4 in the US Army. A spec 4 or corporal in a temporary promotion. Feldwebels were hard stripe NCO sergeants. The "Bureau Spiese" (office - tip of the spear) was the the First Sergeant or "Top Kick" or "Top."

[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

Though Chock's transliteration is a good interpretation of the wording and is sound, the term was applied to acting sergeants. Much like an "Acting Jack" E-4 in the US Army. A spec 4 or corporal in a temporary promotion. Feldwebels were hard stripe NCO sergeants. The "Bureau Spiese" (office - tip of the spear) was the the First Sergeant or "Top Kick" or "Top."

Very much like the top Centurion in a Roman Legion 'Primus Pilus'---what it amounts to is 'First Spear (or Javelin)-----our military institutions and even nomenclature really do go back a long way...

Cheers,
Dave.