Green dope over lozenge

[Brez]

Hi,
I was wondering if it is known how common the practice of covering the top surface of the upper wing of German lozenge fabric with green dope was. Mr. Endsleigh Castle's depiction of Pfalz D.XII 2454/18 in the old Profile Publications show it, done apparently to give extra U.V.protection to the fabric.
It's difficult (impossible) to determine whether the top wing of a given A/C is of a solid colour or it is light shining off the surface, or indeed the lozenge pattern has faded to a vague grey, from period photgraphs.
As a ''for instance'' Jakob Pollinger's captured Pfalz DIII looks to have a solid coloured upper wing is there any mention of this in the British report I wonder?
Cheers Tony.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Brez:
It is my understanding that the upper surface of upper wing on Pfalz D.XII 2454/18 was painted olive green by the Australian Museum staff during an early restoration.
Blue skies Brez,
Dan-San

[Brez]

Hi Dan San,
Good to have you back, hope all is well with you.
The Aussie Pfalz is 2600/18 not 2454/18, but yes you're right the upper surface of the wing was overpainted with green, and that is more than likely what the profile in profile publications No.199 is based on.
The trouble is I can't for the life of me remember where I read about the Germans overpainting upper surfaces to protect the fabric.

[Brez]

Found it!
In in an article by Colin Owers on the Pfalz DXII in Windsock, where he quotes Ian Huntley;
''... the short life of German dyed fabric when assembled on the airframe with only the clear shrinking dope. The dyes and the clear dope afforded no protection from the sun, and frequent recovering took place, but once shortages of fabric took place, it was decided that crack units could paint colours on the wing fabric, because it did much to preserve the life of the fabric.''
Anyone elaborate on this?

Incidently the article also mentions the Australian War Memorial Pfalz;
'' when the fabric was removed from the top wing during restoration it was discovered that repairs had been carried out and the wing repaired with plain fabric. It is thought that the uppersurface was then painted this colour (very dark green) to achieve a uniform finish. Whether before or after 2600/18 came into Australian hands is not known''

['14-'18aviationcollector]

Hi Tony,

I don't specifically know the answer to your question, but I can comment on Pfalz D.XII 2600 / '18. I know what you mean, it can be extremely difficult, impossible in many cases to be able to tell whether the camouflage on the top wing was a solid colour, faded or if the uniform colour is due to reflection of light, etc. I would also be very interested to hear if there is any mention of the colours applied to Jakob Pollinger's captured Pfalz D.III in the British report.

Hi Dan San,

I sincerely hope that everything is going well for you. None of us are immune to health problems, and I wish you all the very best of health. Having examined some surviving samples of the upper surface fabric from the AWM's Pfalz D.XII I agree. It does appear to have been painted olive green by AWM staff during an early restoreation. The forward half of the upper surface lozenge fabric was mostly retained, and the rear half, from one wing tip to about the aileron cutout on the other wing had been replaced with plain fabric and painted over with olive green dope, then varnished. The entire upper surface of the top wing was then a uniform colour, even though the underlying fabric was a mixture of original and replacement fabric. My memory of the patch of plain fabric is that it was not stitched onto the wing, so it was almost certainly applied when the aeroplane was a museum exhibit, and was not intended for flying. I will have to see if I can find any photographs of this fabric. The national insignia were then re applied after the upper surface of the top wing was re painted olive green.

Cheers,

David.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi David:
I believe I got my information from Bob Waugh many years ago when we were working on the details of the Alb.D.Va 5390/17. He had indicated in one of his letters he was also working on a drawing of the Pfalz D.XII 2600/18.
Blue skies,
Dan-San