1/28 Fokker Triplanes- A new take on paint

[Wild Child]

Recently I have posted my custom build 1/28 WW1 planes, but I thought I would share my very first builds, several Fokker Dr1's.  They all have full rigging, custom made aluminum exhaust and carefully applied unit markings.  For quick reference without getting into all the pilots and bases, the black/white stripped tails are Jasta 6 planes, the yellow tail is Jasta 27, the Black/White fuselage plane is Jasta 11, and of course Richtofen's  red Jasta 11 plane.  

Now, the true purist will note that the original Triplanes used a poorly applied wash effect to the fabric.  While this looks great on a nicely built model on an open shelf or a table, I ran into a weird issue.  My 1/28 planes are displayed in a non-lit wood curio.  The wash paint effect looked nice enough in the light, but terrible in the curio.  The lack of bright lighting made the planes all look like blah looking light tan.  There was no 'POP', no contrast.  I like displays, and this just did'nt cut the mustard.

After looking through dozens of old black and white pics, it was obvious many of these had much darker streak effects that made the planes look cool in the pics.  I decided to highlight these planes with more pronounced accents.  I first used a multiple tan, brown and khaki base, then hand applied a bit more streaky camouflage scheme in the angles seen in the pics.  This effect allowed the paint to stand out much more in a poorer lit environment, and really makes them stand out with all the other planes on display. The various unit and personal markings now really stand out too.  I know, not exactly correct, but.....

What are your thoughts...thumbs up or thumbs down?  ALSO-  The last pic is an old set of the large size Homco cast iron biplanes from the early 1970's.  I bead blasted them and repainted them in realistic looking paint schemes.  Looks cool on the wall above the curio!

[PappyD340]

Nice builds!

[stavanzer]

-Excellent Finishes on the DR 1's. I think WW1 planes were more Garish than we give them  credit for. The time from 1908-1914 was a much more colourful time than we imagine, as so much of the photography was all B&W with poor reproduction, and washed out detail due the the Long Exposure time (by Today's Standards) and different processing methods.

And the water colour paintings of the time are by nature, faded and dim. So the written descriptions paint a more Vibrant Picture than we associate with the era today. I think youur planes reflect this fact well!

As for the Homeco Plaques, I thought my wife and I were the only ones who still collect that stuff!

Good save on yours!

[Wild Child]

Thanks guys for the kind comments.

Alan, I believe you are spot on about the old style photography being light and slightly washed out, due of course to both old reproduction photos as well as the quality of old style pictures.  The darker streaks I observed in old pics probably were even darker in real life.  I tried this  paint finish (which still looks correct to most people) because of it's visual pop when on display.  The 1st plane I like most, pattern-wise. The 2nd one I put the pattern on thicker for experimentation purposes, but the 1st is still best.  Glad you liked them.

Also, I like the old Homco metal planes, and had mine well before I even had the WW1 model planes.  I love the re-finished planes in more correct colors.  Always hated the Triplane in yellow!

Edited March 13 by Wild Child
Added text.

[stavanzer]

Yeah!

Who decided to paint the Tripe Hound in Yellow?

Although there apparently was a Yellow painted Tripe, but we didn't know that until just recently.

(Flown by Lothar Van Richthofen, the Baron's Brother. And it wasn't all Yellow)

https://aviationfilm.com/articles/dr1lothar/index.shtml

[ybsluos]

Bill I say thumbs up on your paint streaks!  I think it is a nice effect.  -Mark

[Wild Child]

On 3/13/2025 at 10:42 PM, stavanzer said:

Yeah!

Who decided to paint the Tripe Hound in Yellow?

Although there apparently was a Yellow painted Tripe, but we didn't know that until just recently.

(Flown by Lothar Van Richthofen, the Baron's Brother. And it wasn't all Yellow)

https://aviationfilm.com/articles/dr1lothar/index.shtml

Yes, this Jasta 11 Triplane has the most yellow, but the Jasta 27 planes had yellow tails, nose, struts and wheels too.  As you said, why did Homco make theirs all yellow?  That's all right, always good to repaint it any combination you like.  Cool pic though.

[Wild Child]

5 hours ago, ybsluos said:

Bill I say thumbs up on your paint streaks!  I think it is a nice effect.  -Mark

Thanks Mark.  By the way, is the Nova in your pic yours by chance?  Nice car.

[PatW]

Superb brown finishes!

[ybsluos]

12 hours ago, Wild Child said:

Thanks Mark.  By the way, is the Nova in your pic yours by chance?  Nice car.

It is.  Thank you.  I just rebuilt the carburetor and hope to get it fired up and out and on the street this summer for the first time in a couple years.  We built in back in the 90s.

[Mike 1017]

Very Kool. 

[Wild Child]

This is one more I had done.  I was experimenting with the undertone effect using more pronounced colors.  I have always loved the Triplanes,...a very cool era.

 

Also, you will note the large Iron Cross logo on the tail section.  Early on, the German Triplanes were being shot at by friendly fire because their own troops thought they were British Sopwith Triplanes (which were already out).  This was hopefully going to aid in identification.  This plane was from one of a couple air units (Jasta 36) who tried this.

Edited March 16 by Wild Child
More info.