OT: Ernst Hess

[itifonhom 6]

         Hi everyone,

 

  I´m currently building the reissued Albatros D.III from Eduard at 1/48 and I´d like to use the Ernst Hess livery, which is one of the kit options. Since, as far as I know, Hess is burried in Wiesbaden at the very same cemetery as the Red Baron, not far from where I live, I thought that at some time I´ll pay him a visit too. Photos from my build, as well from my visit there, of course will be posted here.

 

     So, to my question. I´ve noticed some differencies between the kit livery and the one at OFF and I´m a bit unsure. As far as I know, there are no photos of his Albatros but maybe someone of you, with your fantastic libraries, can find a profile or rendering or whatever that might help.

 

 

 

 

                     If anyone can help a bit, would be really great, thanks for your time,

 

 

 

 

                                        Anastasios

 

 

[OvS 8]

Hi everyone,

 

I´m currently building the reissued Albatros D.III from Eduard at 1/48 and I´d like to use the Ernst Hess livery, which is one of the kit options. Since, as far as I know, Hess is burried in Wiesbaden at the very same cemetery as the Red Baron, not far from where I live, I thought that at some time I´ll pay him a visit too. Photos from my build, as well from my visit there, of course will be posted here.

 

So, to my question. I´ve noticed some differencies between the kit livery and the one at OFF and I´m a bit unsure. As far as I know, there are no photos of his Albatros but maybe someone of you, with your fantastic libraries, can find a profile or rendering or whatever that might help.

 

 

 

 

If anyone can help a bit, would be really great, thanks for your time,

 

 

 

 

Anastasios

 

 

 

 

Hi,

 

The tail section markings are correct. He flew with Jasta 28w, which I assume you are using for his D.III correct? The rest may/may not be speculative.

 

Like you said, with no clear evidence, it's hard to say... so we tend to extropolate, rather than have him flying a bare factory plane with a J28w tail.

 

IIRC, I made him in a dark wood color, with green from the pilot section back to the tail, and J28w standard markings. That was based on the look of his D.Va. Not to say that it's correct, but it's an educated guess. Like some of the aces you come across, they are educated guesses, and artistic renditions based on circa markings/styles.

 

Better that, than a whole sky full of factory colors.

 

OvS

[itifonhom 6]

Thanks OvS,

 

In fact, the differencies between the kit profile and the OFF skin are only two actually. The hue and transparency of the green part of the fuselage and the standard camo on the upper wing. I read a page of "Albatros Aces of WWI" of Osprey on the net where stated that only reports exist about the colors of his plane. I'm not sure if in this book there's a rendering of his D.III too.

I like the lighter hue of the kit profile but also the slight transparency of the green on the fuselage, as of OFF skin, so maybe I'll get the middle way. I just thought to make a try and gather all the info I can, before I start painting

 

Thanks again for your reply, Anastasios

[OvS 8]

Thanks OvS,

 

In fact, the differencies between the kit profile and the OFF skin are only two actually. The hue and transparency of the green part of the fuselage and the standard camo on the upper wing. I read a page of "Albatros Aces of WWI" of Osprey on the net where stated that only reports exist about the colors of his plane. I'm not sure if in this book there's a rendering of his D.III too.

I like the lighter hue of the kit profile but also the slight transparency of the green on the fuselage, as of OFF skin, so maybe I'll get the middle way. I just thought to make a try and gather all the info I can, before I start painting

 

Thanks again for your reply, Anastasios

 

Now that I think of it... It might actually have come from a profile from an Ospery book. I do remember now seeing his plane in front of me when I did his skin. That was a few 1000 skins ago, so I do forget.

 

OvS

 

Now that I think of it... It might actually have come from a profile from an Ospery book. I do remember now seeing his plane in front of me when I did his skin. That was a few 1000 skins ago, so I do forget.

 

OvS

 

 

Low and behold... here it is... and yes, this is a lighter shade of green that I did. Maybe I'll rework it...

 

http://www.mincbergr.net/index.php?page=d-2041-16---jasta-28w&plane=00002.00001.00011

[itifonhom 6]

Wow!!! Although I searched and searched, never had the chance of seeing this profile! Many many thanks OvS, that was really helpful. I can even see that the left upper wing is light green instead of dark green that the OFF skin is. But no transparency on the fuselage green. Hhhmmmm!

 

Maybe I will have to allow me some artistic freedom here! :-)

 

Thanks very much indeed! Anastasios.

[OvS 8]

Wow!!! Although I searched and searched, never had the chance of seeing this profile! Many many thanks OvS, that was really helpful. I can even see that the left upper wing is light green instead of dark green that the OFF skin is. But no transparency on the fuselage green. Hhhmmmm!

 

Maybe I will have to allow me some artistic freedom here! :-)

 

Thanks very much indeed! Anastasios.

 

The upper wing on this profile suggests the earlier issued Albatros serial# that had the center mounted radiator. I think I have it as the later D.III, wheres it's in Mauve and Green? I don't know, I'd have to look.

 

It's up to you how you paint it. Sometimes it's more dramatic to the viewer in a game to see the wood-grain, rather than a solid color. On a model, that would be hard to do.

 

All the best,

 

OvS

[itifonhom 6]

Exactly that's what I mean! On a model is also quite dramatic to see the wood grain underneath, that's why I like the idea so much!! It's a bit hard to paint maybe but what the heck, isn't that what's all for? After all, it's going to be only a desktop model and some things went already wrong, so I'm open for everything! Since it's my very first 1/48 WWI model, I don't expect too much. I take it more as an exercise for the upcoming Wingnut Wings Albatros D.Va, just to find the right techniques.

 

And of course as an hommage to Lt. Hess, a brave "neighbor" of mine.

 

Anastasios

[Olham 164]

Itifonhom, I wonder, if there ever was a painted Albatros, where the wood grain still

showed through. The plywood was first sealed and varnished. Now it was already

a semigloss laquer surface. When you paint a colour on that, it should become an

opaque, closed colour, like on a metal surface.

 

Although all pics are B/W, I have never seen a painted Albatros showing the grain

through the colour. They could as well have been made of metal or plastic - it won't

show.

 

See the pictures of this Albatros D Va at the "Vintage Aviator"; scroll down and see

the dark green painting of the tail. No grain visible.

 

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/node/3794

Edited March 2, 2010 by Olham

[Olham 164]

Another link here:

 

http://www.wwi-models.org/Images/Campos/CP/index.html

[itifonhom 6]

Yes, I see what you mean Olham and thanks for your feedback!

I don't want to start a debate here but I think that there "could" be a difference of the quality and opacity between WWI field paints and that of modern reproductions. And when I see the see-through crosses on MvR red Albatros, I think that may these paints have been a bit transparent. Not that transparent to let the grain show like wood stains but maybe a little, just for a good effect , bit dramatic and more colorful! Of course the crosses offer a lot more contrast underneath, I know.

 

That's why I said, I maybe take some artistic freedoms and go on.

 

Again Olham, thanks a lot! Anastasios.

 

P.S. The wood grain effect on the model is almost ready, so I will have some photos to show very soon.

[Olham 164]

itifonhom: ...when I see the see-through crosses on MvR red Albatros, I think that may these paints have been a bit transparent.

 

The opacity of colour paints varies within the same company products.

It depends on the colour tone itself.

All "glowing / shining" bright colours, like yellow, orange, most reds, yellow-green etc.,

don't contain any "dirt" greyish additions, as they are added to more "broken" colours.

 

So, the less "broken" a shiny bright colour is, the more will it shine through.

MvR's red could not cover a black cross in one layer; but they had problems getting enough

red to paint whole aircraft, already. So they haven't bothered to coat it thicker.

And still, without an underlying coat of a more opaque colour, it would have shone through.

[itifonhom 6]

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Perhaps in Hess's case there wasn't enough green paint too, so maybe they had to thin it quite a lot and some grain showed through. Who knows? I made a lot of mistakes on this model already, one more won't destroy it for sure. I hope that at the end it will decorate my desktop quite beatyfully and maybe it'll become part of a small figure presenting diorama. First things first. The wood grain must be finished!

 

Once again Olham, you are an invaluable source indeed, thanks!

 

Anastasios.

[Olham 164]

Please show pictures, when it's ready, Anastasios.