1/32 Fokker F.I/DR.I (Meng kit)

The Meng/Wingnut Wings circus has landed!

Designed by Juanita Franzi and myself with colour guidance from Alan Toelle.
​All sets include upper, lower surface and interior decals as well as cowling data plate and two "Axial" propeller logos
​(the data plate and logos drawn by Rowan Broadbent).

Subtle weave and in some cases, weathering effects, enhance the illusion of a fabric covered model aeroplane.
Match whichever brand of paint you prefer for the metal areas, struts and undercarriage to the applied, finished decal colours.

Olive green?..
Each manufacturer of German aircraft had their own take on camouflage colours, usually but not always complying with Idflieg guidelines.
Fokker green, I believe, was a medium bright green, its hue only altered by the varnish as it aged.
Capture and combat reports on Fokker triplanes describe the finish as "green", "olive green" and "brown" and this is explained by the ageing of the linseed element of the paint and dope used, once exposed to the elements for a period of time. Several surviving linen examples we have studied (and some you'll see on the internet) have changed colour to a tobacco brown/yellow glazed effect in the subsequent 100 years, which cannot be assumed to have been achieved during the aircraft's relatively short service life.
Generic sets and some choice future schemes will feature different effects.

These decals represent the fresh appearance of this streaked paint effect and you should match your metalwork colour, with a scale satin/gloss effect, to the medium green (or individual pilot's colour) on the sheet.
New, shiny dope, varnish and paint soon matted once exposed to the elements.
No two triplanes finish was identical (despite what has recently been said) and you can apply your own random streaking, in matched green or aged shades thereof, to copy photographs of a particular machines streaking "footprint".

New theories - and remember, that's all they are - suggest that a mix of brown and green was applied. Ray Rimell's forthcoming triplane build specials promise some new ideas on Fokker camouflage colours.

The nature of colour shifts in paint pigments and varnishes with time is not well understood it seems but if you wish to add some olive/ brown bands of colour this can easily be done on top of your base undercoat before or after applying the decals, which are translucent.

"Aged varnish" streaking sets used on John Tuckett's lovely Meng DR.I's!..

Two Meng beauties from Mark Krumrey - with Aviattic streaked decals..

A few additional placement possibilities - spotted after the instruction leaflet went to print!..

1/32 Meng Fokker F.I 103/17 with Aviattic decal set ATT32303 by Dave Maddox.

Lothar von Richthofen's Fokker DR.I

Lothar's crash in this aircraft is unusually well documented with photographs but, irritatingly, most are slightly out of focus, crucial details hidden and the grey-scale interpretation of colour cannot be judged simply as many still think.
I have assumed that this aircraft is indeed 454/17 but, like his brother, Lothar could well have had more than one aircraft at his disposal at this time.
The over-painting of the top wing surface in yellow paint, though an attractive option, is just not confirmed by the photos which clearly show the green over-paint on insignia fields but the exposed aileron is still in it's standard, streaked finish.
I would be nice to imagine that Jasta 11 had all it's aircraft decorated in true, cohesive "circus" style with the top wings of the triplanes of Weiss, Karjus, et al all gaily painted in recognition colours but this didn't happen.
Add to this the conflicting information the photographs give us of the rest of the airframe that can be caused by light refraction and surface finish, differing effects across the surfaces of both fabric and enamel-painted areas and you have a real head-scratcher!
After much consideration I am offering three possible (admittedly in my order of preference) options - each of which has it's merits - none of which can be judged as "wrong"...though, no doubt, someone will!

Lothar seated on 454/17? If you believe so, you will need to add the carburettor inspection hatches behind the cowling as you see here.
Match your choice of paint to the decal wheel cover red colour for gloss/eggshell red cowling, undercarriage legs and struts.
Medium green paint for the forward fuselage metal cowling, matched roughly to the darkest green of the streaking decal.
​Neither colour needs to be a perfect match as the straight enamel (metal parts) and its thinned version (streaking paint) would not appear quite the same.

Meng F.I with Aviattic decal set ATT32304. Note the matched streaking pattern....model by Mario Ramaioli.

1/32 Meng triplane with Aviattic "Jacob' s Red Devil" and black linen tailored decals. Model by Nigel Rayner.

Just because an old photo seems to depict a crude illustration - it may not be necessarily true!..

​Jasta 14 line-up!