SPA Modeler

That is looking great. I find it interesting how the contrast is between the green uppers and the gray lowers and the amount of base prep showing thru. Yet both areas had the same background work done to them.

Great observations from both of you, Carlos and Bruce. The pre-shade works differently for each overlaying color as you've noticed. Some of the effect is from the camera, which has a much more limited dynamic range than the human eye. I've not really experimented with different mottling colors but that might be something I'll play with in the future.

I love that "cobbled together" look of later Doras. I'm not sure if this applies to Dortenmann's Black 1. We have to keep in mind that his (210003) was literally the first Dora delivered to a service unit. And we also have to considered that it was repainted to 82/83 late in its career along with some modifications such as the retro-fitted bulged canopy which replaced the earlier flat-top canopy. So I am keeping this in mind as I go through the painting stage.

The hairspray chipping was performed on the wing roots. It's interesting to notice the different effects achieved on the two sides. I prefer how the starboard side turned out as opposed to the two-layer chipping on the port side. Not to self: the low contrast between the silver and RLM 75 grey renders the two-layer approach all but useless. Given this observation, I have chosen NOT to try and represent any of the RLM 75 underneath the newer RLM 82. A note about the chipping... it looks a bit isolated since it is constrained to just the wing roots but I will "expand" the wear area outward using different techniques.



The mottle pattern was applied using the photograph of Black 1 and the color profiles found on the EagleCal decal sheet and the Dora book, which are slightly different. I started the mottle just forward of the windscreen, concentrated it in the area along the cockpit and then died it off. The tail was given a light mottle pattern but this will be covered by the yellow tail.



With the majority of the camo painting done, I've given the model a light coat of Alclad Aqua Gloss clear, which is my current favorite clear gloss. I want to protect the camo from scratching and also from the next masking step as I will be doing the yellow undercowling and tail and also the masks for the markings. Another coat of clear gloss will be applied prior to decal application.

speedgraflex wrote:Thanks for clarifying, John. My research for the Dora indicated that fuselages were built in one place, wings in another since 1940, which is why I was thinking that all the Doras would reflect this approach.

You may very well be right, Bruce! But many earlier Doras did not appear to have the distinct power-egg mismatch that some later Doras exhibited. Maybe there was a bit more care to match the camo after assembly early in the production run? And since Dortenmann's Dora was repainted from 83/75 to 83/82, the "cobbled together" look may have been further reduced on Black 1, which is what I was trying to portray.

In contrast, on Yellow 11, I made some hard demarcations to show the power-egg mismatch, in addition to what appears to be a replacement engine cowling.

The question of whether Black 1's entire tail or just the rudder being yellow is discussed in Jerry Crandall's wonderful Dora book. He concludes that the tail is yellow based on a quote from Dortenmann. It didn't seem conclusive to me but I decided to go with the book's portrayal. The profile in Crandall's book of Black 1 depicts the yellow tail. The EagleCal decal sheet (which is coincidentally produced by Mr. Crandall as well) shows Black 1 with a yellow rudder only. I am assuming that the Dora book is more recent than the decal sheet. The book profile also shows some stenciling on the engine cowling that is absent from the EagleCal decal sheet, which I will have to source elsewhere. I have not seen any dispute of the 82/83 repaint.

Klaus Jerrold's Black 1 is indeed a beautiful piece of work. As is Chris Wauchop's rendition. There's also Black Dog's great build over at the ARC forums. The existence of the these superior builds made me hesitate on modeling this particular aircraft. These builds have achieved levels that I am incapable of matching. But I have to believe that I can put my own unique mark on Black 1 that will make this model stand on its own. One is the all-yellow tail! I am careful not to pay TOO MUCH attention to those other builds in order to preserve some individuality but in the end, the look is going to be very similar. You can't really stray too far away from the framework of a 83/82 scheme on a Hasegawa 190D-9 kit.

Your comments about Jerrold's chipping rendition has me thinking about different things but I can't seem to verbalize them right now!

This quote?

"In order that my pilots always know where their boss is I order that my aircraft's tail is painted bright yellow. That is very colorful and can be seen for a great distance. I do not care if the Americans and British will take mine to be a leaders aircraft; I have my pride, too. With my little yellow tail everything works out fine. I do not have to scream my head off when the novices fly after the wrong aircraft during a diving attack and they save themselves a dressing down after they land."

Dortenmann's diary, October 20, 1944

Not that quote specifically but similar. Volume 1 of the Dora gives three descriptions of Dortenmann's mount (W.Nr. 210003) in three incarnations: Red 1 of 12./JG54, Black 1 of 14./JG26 and Yellow 1 of 3./JG26. Each entry is comprised of one page of descriptive text and one page with a full color profile painted by Tom Tullis. Each of the three entries contains quotes from Dortenmann that support Crandall's conclusion that the tailplane and not just the rudder was painted yellow.

Red 1
"I paint my whole tail plane a bright Yellow." September 20, 1944

Black 1
"... my favorite No. 1 stands there expectingly, Yellow tail glistening..." (just the rudder being Yellow would not match his description)
"... the rest of the unit have made out my Yellow tail and follow me..." March 19, 1945
"... the whole Gruppe following Yellow tail in order to attack Viermots on their return leg..." March 28, 1945

Yellow 1
"A last look at the Yellow tail, so well known and maybe even a little feared by the others." May 5, 1945

A little more work on Black 1 accomplished this evening after work. Since I have Jerry Crandall's great Dora book in front of me, I shall give some history behind Black 1 in Mr. Crandall's words:

"On 25 February 1945, when III./JG54 became IV./JG26, Hans Dortenmann would lead 14./JG26 (Black tactical numbers with White outlines) with his D-9 W. Nr. 210003. At that time, it would undergo major changes - a new blown canopy type 8-190.1025 would be retrofitted; the uppersurface camouflage was converted from 75 Gray-Violet to RLM 82 Bright Green resulting in a new combination of 82/83 Dark Green. Axel Urbanke, historian of III./JG54 has arrived at the same conclusion. The JG26 Black and White recognition bands were applied at this time on their D-9s. Each of the photos and recovered aircraft reveal these dimensions were not consistent and in most cases not always parallel. Over these sprayed bands, the old III. Gruppe welle (wave) markings were chosen for IV. Gruppe."

The black and white recognition bands are masked and painted at this time. Non-identical stripe widths per the color profile.




The pre-cut masks for the Werk Number and swastika are put into place. Before I mask the tail off, I spray a few coats of hairspray.


We'll let that dry thoroughly before masking.

Now this is the stuff I love. The level of research you are putting into this project to get all the details of appearance historically accurate is excellent. That is the sort of thing that can be inspirational.