Page 16
Info Eduard - September 2010
Page 16
One big advantage of this kit of the Albatros D.III OEFFAG
is that the fuselage, wings and rudder can all be built
as separate entities. They can be joined after complete
painting. In the case of the fuselage, this greatly facili-
tates work on replicating the wood grain effect.
I use oil colors. I am used to them, they are easy
to work with, and it’s possible to simulate the look
of wood very well with them. Oil paints are some-
what translucent, and this is something that can be
taken advantage of in thin layers. This is the reason
why they are particularly effective for this purpose.
In the simulation of wood grain, I start with the lightest
tones, and proceed on to the darkest, using a series
of overlapping layers.
Ten Steps to simulating Wood Finish:
1. A spray of a light base color
2. First layer of light wood - oil paint
3. Varnish layer
4. Layer of darker wood grains - oil paint
5. Varnish layer
6. decals
7. Varnish layer
8. Color lter layer
9. Weathering
10. Final varnish layer
Typical of the Albatros factory was the use of birch
plywood of the fuselage formers and skinning.
This same material was used by the licensed manufac-
turers. In the case of Albatros, the fuselage was coated
with a clear varnish, with no additives. Birch has a light,
low contrast grain to it, and on varnishing, it darkens up
a bit, and the yellow-cream shades become almost a red-
brown.
Further changes to the wood grain occur under service
conditions and weathering, fuel and oil stains, and the ef-
fects of the exhaust. These would all serve to darken the
appearance of the wood that much more, and accentuate
the grain pattern.
Steps During Fuselage Construction and Simulating
the Wood Grain
Be very careful during application. You only want
to apply a thin layer, through which the base layer
is readily visible.
WORKSHOP
Recommended Oil Paint Colors:
A. Blue, or, in some cases, purple - for toning down
colors
B. Burnt Sienna
C. Naples Yellow
D. Ochre (Golden)
E. Ochre (Light)
F. Resulting mixes of the paints
Bottom fuselage - the rst layer of wood - appears ideal,
so this is the shade I will apply to the model.
Top Fuselage - the second layer of a darker shade - but
it appears too dark. A lighter shade needs to be applied.
Advanced Technique For Wood
And Fabric Texture Finish - Oeffag 253
Sláva Vaňous
1. A light spray of the interior using cream toned Mr. Base White.
2. Mixing and testing a shade of the oil paint. For testing, I use the fuse-
lage from a kit that for one reason or another, won’t be built.
After testing, the fuselage is cleaned using a thinner for synthetic paints.
Here, the application method can also be tested out, and modied
as desired or needed. Here, there is a choice - a brush, a small sponge,
or your nger. If that sounds surprising to you, then try your nger out
as a paint applicator. This method has now been used successfully
my club colleague Marek Mincbergr. Personally, I prefer the sponge.