comparison of 1-32 lozenge decals
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10 June 2011, 06:56 PM #1 (permalink)
jamoShot Down Join Date: Sep 2001Posts: 881
Comparison of 1/32 lozenge decals
Now that there is a range of after-market 5 colour lozenge decals from differentsuppliers I thought it would be useful to put them side by side and see how theylook.
To introduce the comparison I would like to quote from Wingnut Wings openingparagraph in their decal instructions:
Quote:
It is unlikely that there has been a single topic more controversialamongst WWI aircraft modellers than the subject of 'the correct' coloursfor German lozenge camouflage decals. Many different manufacturershave produced lozenge decals in the past and will continue to do so inthe future, most of which have reportedly had their colours matched toexisting samples of fabric, sometimes in person but frequently throughintermediaries. Yet there is a great disparity in the colours presented bythe various manufacturers.
There is no extant Idflieg report specifying what dyes were used so the questionof colour accuracy will probably never be settled absolutely. There are however amultitude of surviving original flugzeugstoff fabric pieces which have beenstudied. This doesn’t necessarily provide conclusive evidence for colours either,however, because after being stored for around ninety years in a variety ofconditions the fabric can become faded and the dope finish discoloured.Nevertheless it’s a key place to start.
This review covers five colour lozenge decals from three suppliers: D.B. Decals,Wingnut Wings and Pheon Models' new release specifically for the WNW Albatros.
D.B. DecalsD.B. Decals is of course Doug Baumann who now is a Registered Supplier here atThe Drome. If you are new around here you may not be aware that Dougdesigned his lozenge decals by tapping in to the opinions of a number of expertson this forum. He went through an iterative process, posting digital images,receiving feedback and refining the colours until finally achieving a consensus.Initially he made the digital images available for modellers to download for freeand print at home. He also sells decal sheets he has printed himself for modellerswho don’t find it convenient to do themselves.
The decals are inkjet printed on a white decal sheet and must be clear-coatedbefore use to prevent the ink from running. They are produced as bolt-widthlengths which must be cut to shape.
To my eye the colours are not completely solid or uniform but have a ‘fabricappearance’ which, although probably not in scale, provides a desirable effect.
I bought my set from Doug about 18 months ago:
In the package Doug included two sheets printed on ordinary paper to use aspattern makers for angled fabric on the wings or inside the fuselage. Instructionswith the decals are minimal and there is no guidance on historical application, the
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Comparison of 1/32 lozenge decals 11/17/2013
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assumption being perhaps that this is readily available elsewhere.
I should point out that Doug offers three different colour options for the lowerfive colour lozenge: one based on the original Albatros DV in Australia, one basedon fabric featured in an article in WWI Aero magazine, and another called HAN's 5colour lower (whose origins have eluded me). The one I am reviewing is the 'WWIAero' option
Price: US$15 for two 8.5x11 sheets (top and bottom designs) or $10 for a singlesheet. This includes free postage worldwide.
Ordering & Payment: Available directly from Doug by email to [email protected] by Paypal.
Wingnut WingsWingnut Wings first produced five colour lozenge decals for their LVG C.IV kit andthen recently released the lozenge decals as separate items. The design hasbeen subtly improved since they first came out with the LVG and the ‘pixellated’appearance of some of the colours has been reduced. These decals are also inbolt-width lengths which must be cut to length.
The lozenge decal sets come with a well illustrated instruction sheet in the samestyle as their kit instructions, including period photos of lozenge covered aircraft.
As part of their research Wingnut Wings staff personally examined original lozengefabric material and colour-matched their decals under natural daylight conditions.According to the instructions their sample material came from undoped and un-faded dyed areas from where the edges had been folded over to sew the panelstogether. Working with their decal printers, Cartograf, multiple samples of eachlozenge decal were printed before Wingnut Wings were completely happy thatthe colours matched their research findings. The decals therefore representfactory-fresh original colours and are somewhat brighter than the other twoproducts.
Top and bottom lozenge sheets, and rib tapes, are sold separately.
Price: $12.50 each for top or bottom lozenge decals, $7.50 for an A4 sheet of ribtapes (pink, blue and clear doped linen). Includes free postage worldwide. So asheet each of upper, lower and rib tapes would total US$32.50 and this wouldprobably give enough lozenge for at least two Albatros kits.
Available only direct from Wingnut Wings at Wingnut Wings . Payment is byPaypal.
To be continued . . .
Last edited by jamo; 11 June 2011 at 01:04 PM.
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10 June 2011, 07:14 PM #2 (permalink)
jamoShot Down Join Date: Sep 2001Posts: 881
Pheon ModelsPheon have just released 1/32 five colour lozenge decals tailored specifically forthe Wingnut Wings Albatros DV/DV.a kit. The decals come as ‘cookie cutter’shapes to fit the wings, rudder and tailplane. Rib tapes are printed in place,including leading and trailing edge tapes, and strengthening tapes around theaileron hinges and inspection panels. This will greatly reduce the time and effortrequired.
Comparison of 1/32 lozenge decals 11/17/2013
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The decals come in two options: with blue rib tapes or with pink (note that amixed set, say blue top tapes and pink lower tapes is not available).
Additional tapes are provided in case modellers wish to portray the supplementarytapes sometimes seen on the lower wings. There is also a decal for the fabriccovering behind the pilots seat, in both upper and lower colours.
Pheon’s lozenge decals have been developed in collaboration with RichardAndrews and Harry Green from theaviattic.com, who provided the historicalresearch and undertook the colour matching to surviving fabric samples. Thedecals are printed by Fantasy Printshop in the UK and are printed over a whitebase for improved opacity.
The decals come with two booklets. The first outlines the development and useof printed camouflage fabric on German aircraft in WWI, including references touseful websites, and the second provides extensive modellers notes for applyingthe decals. Lots of great advice here and worthy of close attention.
Pheon are working on cookie cutter lozenge sets for other aircraft including fourcolour lozenge pattern.
Price: £19.50 plus P&P. Payment by Paypal. Specify pink or blue option.Available only direct from Pheon Models by email to: [email protected]
Post & packing: £3.60 to the UK & Europe, £4.95 to the rest of the world
The Side by Side ComparisonTo start out I photographed all the lozenge sets side by side in natural day light,so that any colour bias on your screen or in my camera would affect all thedecals similarly.
Then I digitally cut up each image into equal sized bolt-width lengths and putthem side by side. Note that in the case of the Pheon decals this required twodecal images to be pasted together, which created a small vertical line in theimage. Out of interest I also included Roden’s five colour lozenge decals fromtheir Siemens Schuckert D.III kit – these decals have received unfavourablecomments both for ease of use and colouring, and are best replaced.
10 June 2011, 07:15 PM #3 (permalink)
jamoShot Down Join Date: Sep 2001Posts: 881
Upper comparison:
Lower comparison:
Next I compared the pink and blue ribtapes from Wingnut Wings with the PheonModels tapes:
Comparison of 1/32 lozenge decals 11/17/2013
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The blue tapes a similar. Pheon's pink is substantially brighter than WingnutWings'.
Other 1/32 lozenge decalsI am aware of another 1/32 lozenge decal product from Techmod but I do nothave a sample. Images of Techmod’s 5 colour lozenge viewed online suggest thecolours are quite different to the products in this review.
Achieving a realistic fabric textureLarge areas of uniform colour or regularly repeating patterns e.g. lozenge fabric,can look toy-like on a model. A more realistic fabric effect can be achieved usingany of a variety of techniques including chalks or pastels, washes, filters, pre-shading or texture decals.
Wingnut Wings and Pheon both suggest further treatments if you are trying torepresent weathered or faded lozenge. Wingnut Wings recommend carefullywashing or airbrushing (misting) a highly thinned pale sand coloured paint overthe top of the decals after application to your model. Always test on scrapmaterial first!
ConclusionAnother quote from the Wingnut Wings lozenge instructions is particularlyrelevant at this point:
Quote:
It would be naive of us to believe that there was only ever one set ofexact colours for each version of the preprinted lozenge material. Sowhile we believe that our colours are as accurate as we can make themwith current decal printing technology we are equally aware that otherinterpretations may also be correct as there were bound to be variationsin available dyes.
All three lozenge products appear to have an excellent foundation in terms ofresearch and accuracy. So its up to individual taste as to what colours appealand how important convenience and simplicity are for the builder.
Thanks to Wingnut Wings and Pheon Models for the review samples. I purchasedDoug Baumann’s lozenge decals
10 June 2011, 08:49 PM #4 (permalink)
coyotemagicShot Down Join Date: Aug 2009Posts: 1,346
Thank you for posting this, Jamo. You've given us a very comprehensive andunbiased look at 3 excellent options. Outstanding review, my friend.
,
Bud
10 June 2011, 09:38 PM #5 (permalink)
terri wernerForum Ace
Join Date: Jan 2008Posts: 1,369
Fianlly nice to see a review with all the different maufactures side by side . Well done Jamo !
11 June 2011, 03:23 AM #6 (permalink)
JohnReidShot Down Join Date: Oct 2003Posts: 9,891
Price: £19.50 plus P&P. Payment by Paypal. Specify pink or blue option.Available only direct from Pheon Models by email to: [email protected]
Post & packing: £3.60 to the UK & Europe, £4.95 to the rest of the worldPrice: $12.50 each for top or bottom lozenge decals, $7.50 for an A4 sheet of ribtapes (pink, blue and clear doped linen). Includes free postage worldwide. So asheet each of upper, lower and rib tapes would total US$32.50 and this wouldprobably give enough lozenge for at least two Albatros kits.
Available only direct from Wingnut Wings at Wingnut Wings . Payment is byPaypal.
Comparison of 1/32 lozenge decals 11/17/2013
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/models/52885-comparison-1-32-lozenge-decals.html 4 / 6
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Price: US$15 for two 8.5x11 sheets (top and bottom designs) or $10 for a singlesheet. This includes free postage worldwide.
Ordering & Payment: Available directly from Doug by email to [email protected] by Paypal.
An ad disguised as a comparative review,clever.
11 June 2011, 03:46 AM #7 (permalink)
Bill McGillShot Down Join Date: Jul 2006Posts: 105
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnReid ...An ad disguised as a comparative review,clever.
Just exactly who do you think this is an ad for John? This looks exactly like thesort of thing that modellers want to see here. Good INFORMATION!
Bill.
11 June 2011, 03:59 AM #8 (permalink)
jamoShot Down Join Date: Sep 2001Posts: 881
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnReid An ad disguised as a comparative review,clever.
John: What is the difference between an advertisement and a review? ReallyJohn, you need to answer me that.
Should a review not include the price? I think the price is *very* relevant.
Should a review not include where someone might buy the items from? As ithappens John all of these items are *only* available from the manufacturers. If Idon't mention that, people reading the review will want to know, where will I beable to buy this stuff?
Almost all of us modellers here buy the stuff we use, not scratch build it.
I was not paid to write this review. It took a lot of my time to do thephotography, put together the side by side comparison, upload the images to myPhotobucket album and then post it here. I did this to make our hobby moresuccessful. It is what this forum is all about.
I despise the guys who criticise and minimise the enterprise of other guys who'senterprise has made them rise above the guys that criticise.
Thumbs down indeed.
Last edited by jamo; 11 June 2011 at 04:06 AM.
11 June 2011, 04:18 AM #9 (permalink)
JohnReidShot Down Join Date: Oct 2003Posts: 9,891
Please see forum rules page.
-You may not post advertisements.
11 June 2011, 04:31 AM #10 (permalink)
Bill McGillShot Down Join Date: Jul 2006Posts: 105
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnReid Please see forum rules page.
-You may not post advertisements.
And he didn't, so pull your head in John before you chase off all the people wholet us know about new models and modeling supplies with your over zealous andunevenly applied policing of the forum.
It seems that if you like the product someone mentions it's OK. If not, it's abreach of forum rules. Should we call you out for advertising every time youmention your model expo (or whatever they are) kits? Or would that be a littleover the top... even for you?
Bill
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