Albatros C.III OAW colours?

[Familyman]

Gentlemen!

All your knowledge and educated guessing needed here! Albatros C.III C.12069 built by OAW late 1917, photographed in Finland in 1919. The Balkenkreuz of fuselage sides and upper wing have been modified to represent some kind of Finnish national markings (normally blue swastika on white roundel). Otherwise the plane is presumably in its original German finish. The lower wing underside markings may even be crosse patée, with no white lining?

The fuselage seems to be painted all over with same dark colour? What might the colour be?

The wings: Do you see light tape on the leading edges and ribs, especially on the lower starboard side wing? Could the wings be covered with lozenge fabric and light blue rib tapes?




Mikko

[Chock]

Estimating colours off monochromatic images is always a bit tricky, but I've had a go. By the way, I do know a fair bit about this, I have an Adobe Certified Expert qualification, and I have taught police department artists in the UK on how to do this sort of thing off monchromatic security camera footage, so it's not just wild speculation. Keep in mind that doesn't mean I'm definitely correct here, but anyway here's basically what I did:

I opened the image up in Photoshop, then converted it to monotone with the channel mixer, using the known ranges of what WW1 era monochromatic films tend to react to. Then I took an average sample of the fuselage colour and converted that to monotone too. Then I got a swatch of the RGB spectrum and moved a copy of the monotone average sample swatch along it, to find out at which points on the monotone converted RGB spectrum the average sample of the fuselage tone aligned. Here's the result:



A further bit of guesswork, based on the fact that WW1 era monochromatic film was not great at distinguishing certain colours, leads me to think the sky blue colour is the best bet, which is of course slightly supported by the fact that blue might be favourite for Finland too.

But that's not concrete, and if you prefer the red or the lilac colours, and there is no reliable period documentary evidence to contradict it, then you could go with those. I reckon you might be right about the wing colours, there are slight hints of tonal differences on the wings that might point at lozenge fabric, although it is not hugely apparent, so that is more of a guess.

Al

[Familyman]

Thank You Chock!


Most interesting analysis. Of the colour peaks the violet could be possible, coudn't it? Maybe there is some dark green on the rear fuselage not seen in the picture?


Mikko

[Chock]

Well, as I say, it might be an educated guess, but it is still a guess LOL

Al

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Familyman:
Alb.C.III built in 1917 would not have been front line aircraft, they would have been used as training aircraft in the varoius training schools for observers or possibly gunners. Some of the later reconnaissance aircraft were used as personnel transport in the Jagdstaffeln. Alb.C.I machines were used for basic flight training. They would not have been camouflaged with either paint or in printed fabric. Generally they were covered with plain unprinted fabric, which was clear doped and varnished for waterproofing. Pywood fuselages were not stained but shellacked and varnished. metal fitting, struts cowlings, panels, etc., were painted grey.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Familyman]

Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott

Hi Familyman:
Alb.C.III built in 1917 would not have been front line aircraft, they would have been used as training aircraft in the varoius training schools for observers or possibly gunners.

The way the serial number is painted in big letter and numbers indicates that the Alb. C.III in the picture is a training machine, doesn't it?

Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott

Generally they were covered with plain unprinted fabric, which was clear doped and varnished for waterproofing. Pywood fuselages were not stained but shellacked and varnished. metal fitting, struts cowlings, panels, etc., were painted grey.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Frankly, I just can't see clear doped plain fabric or shellacked plywood in the machine in the picture above.


Mikko

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Familyman:
In an 1918 amendment to the Bau=und Lieferungsvorschriften für Militärflugzeuge (Construction and Delivery Instructions for Military Aircraft) stated the serial numbers was to be painted in black in large letters on the center-line, on both sides of the fuselage. This was totally ignored by Fokker Flugzeugwerke. Most complied with the change order.
Another directive that was sent out to the manufacturers of training aircraft specifically stated they were not to camouflaged, in order to save paints and oils. This machine has the late style cross as directed by the 4 June 1918 order, which indicates this photo was taken after that date.
The first application of the Terrain/sky Camoufage was on production order dated July 1916 for 100 Alb.C.III(OAW) 2274/16 to 2373/16. These were camouflaged in a three color scheme of light green, dark olive green and burnt sienna on the top and side surfaces, and light sky blue onthe under surfaces.
The machine in the photo was from a production order for 200 Alb.C.III (OAW)12000/17 to 13099/17. These were ordered as training machines and were delivered without camouflage, with varnished fuselage and plain fabric surfaces which were clear doped varnished. They were delivered in during the period of October to December 1917. They were delivered with the Iron cross with the 5cm white border.
Blue skies Familyman,
Dan-San