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jkim wrote:I THINK I'm done. I've got the author of the Experten Decal Sheet depicting Yellow 3 messaging me that my blue bands are "way too bright".

I wonder if that would be due to “scale effect”? Or perhaps lighting? How does the blue look compared to everything else on the build in various light conditions? Direct and indirect sunlight, LED, incandescent, and flourescent lights? If under all those conditions it looks too bright and stands out, especially say compared to the white and yellow, you may want to think about fine tuning and toning it down a bit.

Is the marking color RLM24?

speedgraflex wrote:Is the marking color RLM24?

I think that is the question. The author asserts that the tail bands on Yellow 3 are RLM24. My position is... how do we know that they are RLM24 and not some other shade of blue? Author states that the only blue used for markings was RLM24 therefore, Yellow 3 had RLM24 bands. I counter with Eagle Editions decal sheet 32-155 showing two different color blues used for tailbands on JG300 109G-10's, neither of which are described as RLM24.

My answer... to the “only one blue” from a nonacademic standpoint. Here is a period color photo:



Now maybe these are temporary markings, but... that’s quite a bright blue.

Yes, the blue in that photo is bright and stands out compared to 74/75/76 camo scheme. As do the red landing gear. Boy thats a new one and I’d say anybody who built a kit painted with red struts and wheels was crazy. But somebody did it for real.
As far as that blue band goes, those colored ID tail bands started appearing in 1944 and were used to identify fighter wings assigned to Reich air defense tasks. That is in addition to the previous yellow or white theater ID markings worn as tail bands, on wing tips, and cowl areas. Each wing was assigned a specific color, or color combination.
On a personal viewpoint, I doubt that in 1944 that the Luftwaffe has lots of varying shades of blue paints lying around for such purposes. They would be issued their paint by the higher ups supply... “Your assigned color is blue, here you go meine herren.” If the directive says RLM 27, that’s what will be used. Any variation would simply due to the application process.

speedgraflex wrote:My answer... to the “only one blue” from a nonacademic standpoint. Here is a period color photo:



Now maybe these are temporary markings, but... that’s quite a bright blue.

Bruce, what is the source of that photo. The location and unit info could help a lot. That blue almost has a greenish hue to it in the photo to my eye.

The band in the Bf109 photo looks green to me. Which would put it in JG27. I've run into red undercarriage legs on prior 109 builds so the pic didn't surprise me. In fact, the Black 11 G-10 that I did a few years back had portions of its landing gear legs reported to be red in color.


Another well-know 109 with red legs...


At this point, I am not sweating the shade of blue on my 262. It was not long ago when the consensus on Yellow 3 was green/white on the tail band.

Stikpusher wrote:

speedgraflex wrote:My answer... to the “only one blue” from a nonacademic standpoint. Here is a period color photo:



Now maybe these are temporary markings, but... that’s quite a bright blue.

Bruce, what is the source of that photo. The location and unit info could help a lot. That blue almost has a greenish hue to it in the photo to my eye.

The first group of The Jagdgeschwader 27 With Bf 109 in Fels Am Wagram In the Summer of 1944. (Archiv Reisner)

So yup... the tail bands are likely green. The plane looks to be a G-10 or maybe a G-6/AS? Tall tail, short tailwheel, Galland hood, DB605AS cowling.

She's looking pretty awesome! There is one area I think most folks don't think of and I often wondered. What are the chances of canopy frames having some sort of wear and tear, chipping involved? How would one achieve some type of minor paint chipping on canopy framework?