WWI French Camo

A good friend is trying to figure out the mixes for the WWI French five color camoflage.

Is there anything available ready-mixed such as Humbrol? Is an accurate mix chart available?

His research indicates that the French mixed 42% aluminum flakes into their aircraft paints in WWI. Would that influence a finished color in 1/72 or 1/48?

Appreciate any help.

Tom

Reply to
Maiesm72
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There was a recent batch of World War i acrylic paints from an Italian firm, Chris Mickesh had a rack of them in his shop before he closed. With the release of the Hobbycraft 1/32 scale SPAD someone really should try to publish that 3 part series on French Camo that ran in the old Cross & Cockade Society quarterly many years ago. "Project Butterfly" was the title. And yes, the French did mix aluminum powder into their paints, it helped protect the fabric from the Ultra Violet portion of the Sun's rays which made linen deteriorate very quickly. The 42% figure was probably for the silver finish used on Nieuports and Voisons and some other types from 1916 to late 1917. When the 5 color camo was introduced the amount was lower so as not to compromise the color. Someone on the W.W.I website may be able to help you with this. see below:

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Bill Shuey

Reply to
William H. Shuey

I think Polly offers some of those colors too?

Reply to
Eyeball2002308

For Polly Scale equivalents, see:

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The aluminium powder would not have given the pigmented colours a metallic look, but would have served to act as a protection for the underlying fabric.

The metal parts of the airframe had a different paint used, so a tiny difference may have been apparent

Reply to
Dave Fleming

Thanks Dave.

I think that's just what he's looking for.

Tom

Reply to
Maiesm72

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