Kurt Wolff's Dr.1 markings?

[John_P]

I'd like to model this tripe's markings at the time of KW's death, Sept. 1917. Pics on the Dr.1 site show it to have standard fokker camouflage striping. It had already been flown by MvR before Wolff was lost in it. Does anyone know whether it had J.11 markings by then of red upper wing, red nose, red aft fuselage etc? thx.

PS. This is re: Dr.1 102

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by John_P

I'd like to model this tripe's markings at the time of KW's death, Sept. 1917. Pics on the Dr.1 site show it to have standard fokker camouflage striping. It had already been flown by MvR before Wolff was lost in it. Does anyone know whether it had J.11 markings by then of red upper wing, red nose, red aft fuselage etc? thx.

PS. This is re: Dr.1 102

John_P; Yes he was KIA in F.I 102/17. It is generally acceted that it was in factory standard camoflage. But there are several schools of thought on just what that was for the F.I types. Some believe the lt. blue was first applied over all then streaked on the upper surfaces. Others say that it was clear doped linen (CDL) then streaked. There is no official confirmation that any part of the airframe was red.

[John_P]

Got my Dr.1 and F.I confused. Sounds like the red treatment was reserved for later production models. As I recall, Voss got the next one, F.I 103/17 and there has been ongoing debate over whether his tripe was blue with olive brown streaks or just blue underneath with CLD/olive on top. I think I'll be conservative and go with CLD/olive and lt. blue undersides. thx. again.

[StephenLawson]

Here is a bit of fun.

[John_P]

The choice overall blue for 102 or 103 seems a a decided maybe, thanks to this pic. Flip a coin I guess, although didn't some of the pilots of 56 Sqdn involved in Voss' demise swear it was blue?

[StephenLawson]

The term employed was silvery-blue. The strong sun glinting off the airframe skin and the heat of battle tell the researcher to beware. And whatever you do don't get Pete Grosz going on colours...not unless your wearing asbestos shorts that is.

[Terry_Crisp]

Gentlemen,
It was McCudden that described Fi 103/17 as "silvery blue". My take on that, concurring with SLs caveat, is that because of the tripes superior climbing ability it was above the SE 5s for much of the fight therefore exposing the blue underside.
McMillan describes his encounter with Voss on the occasion of Voss's last victory in his Book INTO THE BLUE. He states that he was above and some distance away trying to close before the victim was finished and that the tripe was BUFF COLORED with dark streaking. At that time there were only two or at most three tripes on the front. There is no contention that I know of that the incident in question did not in fact involve Voss.
Best regards and a Merry Christmas to all
Terry

[John_P]

Aghhhhhhhhhhhh!!

[Dan_San_Abbott]

John:
The photographs of Ltn. Kurt Wolff's crash shows the Fok.F.I 102/17 was in standard factory finish of olive streaking over a clear doped linen on the top and side surfaces and light sky blue on the under surfaces. The rudder and cross fields on the upper wing and fuselage were painted flat white. The cross field under the lower wing was matt black on the clear doped linen. The engine cowling and the top cowling was painted solid olive. The cowling panels under the fuselage were solid light sky blue. I have a 6 view drawing of Ltn. Werner Voss's Fok.F.I 103/17 in color for $10.00 plus $1.50 USA and $3.50 international postage and handling.
Blue skies,
Daan-San

[Terry_Crisp]

John,
I have a copy of the above mentioned print hanging over my desk and can highly recommend it. Depending on how anal retentive you are about accuracy I would suggest that you refer to the many photos of 102/17 for the streaking as no two triplane finishes were alike. They were hand done with a four inch brush using about four swipes per paint load.
Hth,
Terry