Fokker Dr.I streaked camouflage.

RAGIII · 6 May 2009, 03:56 PM

Stephen,
Thanks for posting the link to my Aeroscale review of the Gunsight Graphics Streak decals. I have been extremely excited about the availability of streaking decals at long last, and now to have another on the market so quickly is beyond my wildest imagination. Although I haven't seen the Microsculpt versions I am already thinking that the 2 different methods may be used together. The more translucent Gunsight Graphics over the Microsculpt version. Just the way my mind works.

As for the "Fingerprint", yes each aircraft was unique. That being said, look at all of the DR1 sources you have and see how many are really identifiable. Most I have studied show perhaps the left fuselage side, and upper, left mid and lower wing, or bits of the other side. As an example, 3 photos of Richard Wenzles triplane. No right hand views and the other surfaces are not totally obvious. Take a look at MvRs 152/17 and show me the pattern of anything other than the left fuselage side. IMHO most schemes will require very little fingerprinting to match a known pattern. Some yes, but most no, and you can acheive this with careful applications and overlays.
RAGIII

MicroSculpt · 6 May 2009, 06:57 PM

RAGIII:

I like the way you think.

Indeed, I think they both could be used in combination very effectively.

Tom

StephenLawson · 6 May 2009, 08:39 PM

I may have to try that too.

Sreiko · 7 May 2009, 12:09 AM

All right but there is no two identical port sides, two identical top wings. I have no much scans of original images in my files, maybe some forty different types and they also show a variation of streaks style. Hope this will be covered in next decal sheet. This product will for sure cover needs of average modeler.

Tom- if mean anything to you, I have in my Photoshop a range of brushes which can replicate variaus strokes and maybe I can help you if you like to continue in this project.

Cheers

MicroSculpt · 7 May 2009, 12:38 PM

Everyone—

While we are waiting for Stephen to receive the samples I sent him, I thought I'd post an image of the sheet so everyone can see what it looks like.

MD-48009 overall sheet.jpg

Cheers!

Tom

StephenLawson · 7 May 2009, 11:27 PM

Greetings all;

Tom they are every bit the word WOW! Mine did arrive this last evening while I was at work. I just opened the Mailing envelope - Stunning. Now to prep some more wings.

TuveB · 8 May 2009, 09:16 AM

That was great news. Makes it easier to turn Rodens kit into a scale copy of Mikael Carlssons replika of

Johann Janzens Dr.I.

MicroSculpt · 8 May 2009, 01:09 PM

Sreiko:

Thanks for the offer, but I already have CS3 and a number of Nagel brush styles. They are nice to work with, yes?

I tried for an "average" pattern. Not too dense. Not too skimpy. Interestingly, if you add your own strokes over top—they will make the strokes on the decals appear more subtle by comparison.

I also took great care to scale the strokes to an appropriately sized brush. The patterns of the dense strokes are based on the typical patterns seen on DR.I airframes. Although they are indeed as unique as a finger print, most follow a general pattern of light and dark. This was depicted on the inside front cover of Albatros Publications latest DR.I special.

So, by carefully choosing from the decal patterns, you should be able to get close to what you want to start with, and then tweak it.

Cheers!

Tom

StephenLawson · 21 May 2009, 10:29 PM

Here are some examples of hand painted streaking on Eduard and DML Dr.I kit fuselages.

StephenLawson · 27 May 2009, 02:15 PM

Greetings all here is a bit more progress. Note the angle of the streaking tend to vary from one upper surface to the other. Also elevators and ailerons were done separately on all "production aircraft."

Looks like I got the Hakenkreuz too close to the leading edge of the blue field. And I need to add a darker field near the cockpit on 502/17.