I was researching some camo schemes for my upcoming ME-262 build and a thought popped into my head that I’ve had before but never asked about. What was the purpose of/ how effective was mottled camo?
I can understand RAF camo with a light underside and earth colored upper surfaces. And most of the mottle makes sense, ie the same light under surfaces and earthy uppers but what was the point of the mottle transition? To my eye it doesn’t looks like it would be particularly effective. For example in this camo, when view from above it appears to me the white part above the wings would stand out against the ground
You answered your own question. Transition was the point to lessen the tree-line look on the fuselage and especially at angles when banking from an enemy. Can’t wait to see your build. I have one on the build list myself.
Okay that makes sense, ive always found some of the axis fighter camos to be very interesting albeit confusing.
Was wondering if you might have a reference for the evolution of Luftwaffe camos and colors? My Google fu is broken today and I keep getting links to model builds and not reference material.
I know colors were RLM but when I go to buy AK real colors RLM there are like four for each color ranging from early to late variants
AK RC are my “go to” paint. However, just as it was with every country, colors can vary slightly from one plant/place of build to another. German aircraft late in the war had components built in different locations and assembled in another.
One person you can contact is Greg of Greg’s airplanes and automobiles on youtube.
Fantastic thanks! I’ll take a look at the links and reach out! This will be my first Luftwaffe aircraft since I got serious about the hobby. I love AK real colors, just need to home in on the correct variant of each shade! Appreciate the time!
Much of Luftwaffe camo was in fact to hide the aircraft while on the ground rather than be specific to flight.
Pretty much all Luftwaffe paint was spray applied in the factory and in the field. Masking takes time and so was typically dispensed with as a matter of efficiency pretty early in the war hence the soft edges.
The exception to the spray application was the white distemper on the Eastern Front applied in Winter which typically looks like it’s applied by brush or broom,.
