Scale Models - View Single Post - The Scale-Models guide to aircraft markings-Part 1-Training aircraft 1941-42

**wonwinglo** · 22-03-2005

Messerschmitt Me.109 German fighter.

Camouflage systems used on aeroplanes used by the Luftwaffe varied widely and only a brief resume can be given here,the schemes can be broadly divided into those used on day fighters and day bombers plus those used for night flying operations.The majority of the high altitude Dornier Do.17 aircraft that were used for reconnaissance over the Maginot line early in the second world war,these were sprayed overall pale blue.The Heinkel He.III bombers shot down in the UK were finished in a dirty shade of forest green on the upper surfaces with a sky blue shade underneath.
Me.109 aircraft used in the Battle of Britain used many systems,one of the most common consisted of a dark blue or dark green upper surface to the wings,tail and fuselage deck,the rest of the fuselage and lower surfaces were painted a pale green or pale blue.Blue and grey mottled mottled tints together with whitish grey tints on the undersurfaces were also in favour.A few of the Me.109 fighters had the spinner and engine cowling painted in a vivid colour,this indicated a special squadron.
Dornier Do.215 and Junkers Ju.88 bombers used in daylight raids during the Battle of Britain were mostly dirty green or mottled blue/grey on the uper surfaces and a pale blue underneath.Me.110 two seat fighters were usually painted in a similar manner to the Me.109's.
Night flying bombers of all different types were painted either olive drab or a dark purple shade on the upper surfaces with pale blue underneath,it was not uncommon to convert a day bomber scheme using quickly removeable black distemper paint placed between the aircrafts belly and fuselage sides,with the upper surface colour remaining unchanged.
For operations over the North sea and the Atlantic mine laying & reconnaisance and shipping patrol aircraft were painted in a camouflage of irregular patches of dark & bluish grey and dark green on the upper surfaces sprayed as a mottle finish,with light green undersides.
Afrika Korps aeroplanes used in North Africa during the period of 1941 and 1942 were painted in a desert camouflage which took the form of leopard skin spots on the upper surfaces composed of patches of green,brown and purple plus additions of any colours associated with local natural vegetation,many Junkers Ju.87 dive bombers were painted this way.
German bombers used in the raids over Malta in 1941 and 1942 were finished in dark green on the upper surfaces and a light light blue or bright yellow on the undersides,at this point whirlyjig colours were painted onto the spinners of the airscrews to indicate certain flights and leaders etc.

22-03-2005	#5 (permalink)
wonwinglo Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Warwick,UK Real Name: Barry My Models: Aviation artifacts Visit wonwinglo's Gallery Posts: 5,596 Images: 49	The Scale-Models guide to Aircraft markings-Part 5 Luftwaffe schemes 1939-45 Messerschmitt Me.109 German fighter. Camouflage systems used on aeroplanes used by the Luftwaffe varied widely and only a brief resume can be given here,the schemes can be broadly divided into those used on day fighters and day bombers plus those used for night flying operations.The majority of the high altitude Dornier Do.17 aircraft that were used for reconnaissance over the Maginot line early in the second world war,these were sprayed overall pale blue.The Heinkel He.III bombers shot down in the UK were finished in a dirty shade of forest green on the upper surfaces with a sky blue shade underneath. Me.109 aircraft used in the Battle of Britain used many systems,one of the most common consisted of a dark blue or dark green upper surface to the wings,tail and fuselage deck,the rest of the fuselage and lower surfaces were painted a pale green or pale blue.Blue and grey mottled mottled tints together with whitish grey tints on the undersurfaces were also in favour.A few of the Me.109 fighters had the spinner and engine cowling painted in a vivid colour,this indicated a special squadron. Dornier Do.215 and Junkers Ju.88 bombers used in daylight raids during the Battle of Britain were mostly dirty green or mottled blue/grey on the uper surfaces and a pale blue underneath.Me.110 two seat fighters were usually painted in a similar manner to the Me.109's. Night flying bombers of all different types were painted either olive drab or a dark purple shade on the upper surfaces with pale blue underneath,it was not uncommon to convert a day bomber scheme using quickly removeable black distemper paint placed between the aircrafts belly and fuselage sides,with the upper surface colour remaining unchanged. For operations over the North sea and the Atlantic mine laying & reconnaisance and shipping patrol aircraft were painted in a camouflage of irregular patches of dark & bluish grey and dark green on the upper surfaces sprayed as a mottle finish,with light green undersides. Afrika Korps aeroplanes used in North Africa during the period of 1941 and 1942 were painted in a desert camouflage which took the form of leopard skin spots on the upper surfaces composed of patches of green,brown and purple plus additions of any colours associated with local natural vegetation,many Junkers Ju.87 dive bombers were painted this way. German bombers used in the raids over Malta in 1941 and 1942 were finished in dark green on the upper surfaces and a light light blue or bright yellow on the undersides,at this point whirlyjig colours were painted onto the spinners of the airscrews to indicate certain flights and leaders etc. __________________ 'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !' www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/ Last edited by wonwinglo; 22-03-2005 at 12:59.