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Focke-Wulf Fw 190D
camouflage & markings, Part II

Cover previewThe content of Part II follows the outline of Part I, with rules and detailed descriptions of colour patterns applied to Fw 190D-9s and D-13s built by the type’s licence manufacturers, i.e., the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Weserflug (Arb. Roland), Mimetall Erfurt and Fieseler Kassel. Separate chapters are dedicated to the influence of repair work on the final appearance of aircraft, and the comparison of different Doras in single units at a specific time.
There is also a “bonus” chapter of a slightly different form, dealing with the detailed analysis of the development of the Fw 190D with Daimler-Benz DB 603 engines, including the Fw 190D-14 and D-15.
The book is fully documented with extracts from original documents, black & white, and colour photographs, as well as numerous colour schemes and colour profiles. It is completed with a comprehensive loss list of the entire Arbeitsgemeinschaft Weserflug, Mimetall Erfurt and Fieseler Kassel production.
Highly recommended for all students of WW II aerial warfare, Fw 190 fans, and modellers.

Discussion forum → Focke-Wulf Fw 190D camouflage & markings, Part II

26. 9. 2019, 21:14
reply
Colour previously thought to be RLM83
from: maurice northcott
Hi All
Michael Ullmann has clarified that RLM83 is actually a blue.

Consequently as a modeller my brain is asking "Well what colour were the areas of Fw190D's that were previously identified by authors/commentators as RLM83?"

Most authors/commentators have been quiet on this matter.

RLM74 was specifically superseded by the later colours, so it is logical (to me) that it was not this colour that was used.

Please advise opinions.

Many thanks in advance,
maurice
Maurice Northcott

6. 11. 2022, 18:08
reply
Re: Colour previously thought to be RLM83
from: Dan B   to: maurice northcott
As I understand, RLM83 was never previously linked to a particular colour , colour name, or painting diagram - all known Wartime painting diagrams refer to RLM81/82 (usually over RLM76), and we can be pretty confident that RLM81 was manufactured in both a 'Brown Variant' (as I beleive Japo has uncovered an original pot of, a few years back from a barn in Czechia?), and a 'Green Variant', giving rise to some of the confusion. With the lack of a definitive answer about these two variants, and a colour that remains undescribed, it was logical to come to the conclusion that 'undescribed colour = undescribed number'.

Ullmann appears to have linked (by document) RLM83 to a Maritime Blue colour.

Thus we seem to have to consider something like:

RLM81b - Braunviolet
RLM81g - Dunkelgrün
RLM82 - Hellgrün
RLM83g - Dunkelgrün
RLM83m - Marinelblau

... and to include the other 'unknown colour':

RLM84* - Blaugrün (which I think is more than likely just a variant of RLM76 - which I like to call RLM76g)

Personally I see no problem - we are always uncovering new information, and the simple numeric RLM designation does not change our understanding of the colour...all it does is mean we need to refine our vocabulary around the colour.

If you're modelling a 1944 Cottbus Fw 190D-9, you're still going to paint it with Lichtblau lowers, with Dunkelgrün and Hellgrün uppers - because that is what we know to be accurate. It doesn't matter so much if we call the colours RLM76 plus RLM81/82 or RLM82/83 or RLM81g/RLM82, as long as we're clear about things.

D
17. 11. 2022, 9:46
reply
Re:Re: Colour previously thought to be RLM83
from: Tomáš Poruba   to: Dan B
Good morning,
explanation of "Dan B" is, accorning our today´s knowledges, nearly right. If it is possible to say is very simply - two colours were used on upper surface - RLM 81/82 - and one - RLM 76 - for under surface of fighters. A problem is, that their real shades weren´t identical. It is valid specialy for RLM 81 or 76.
The RLM 83 was really dark blue and the shade wasn´t used for fighter aircraft.
We will follow the question in Part III of our Fw 190D camoflage and marking study and we will try to get an explanation and proofs of our oppinion.
It is needed to say, all "RLM 83" colours in Part I and II of our books are in reality RLM 81 with a different shades. A darker colour on Fw 190Ds was RLM 81 (or RLM 74 in several early pieces Fw 190Ds) and it was completed by RLM 82 (or RLM 75) and RLM 76 shades. And be careful - colouring of wings could be different thanks of production and assembling process.
A base fact is - colouring of series production aircraft was a result of system of production.
Thanks
Tomáš Poruba
23. 11. 2022, 11:51
reply
Re:Re:Re: Colour previously thought to be RLM83
from: maurice northcott   to: Tomáš Poruba
Hi Tomas,
Thank you very much for your knowledge and your time.
Much appreciated.
Many thanks
maurice

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