1:32 (Clear decal paper) Fokker DVII (Albatros built) 5 colour “lozenge” tail with linen rib tapes

Aviattic 1:32, a five-color lozenge tail for the Fokker D.VII (Albatros)

This Aviattic decal sheet covers the tail surfaces of the Fokker D.VII of licensed Albatros build with a five-color lozenge pattern and fills it out with rib tapes in the tone of natural linen. Thanks to the greater number of shades, the five-color version of the printed covering looks finer and livelier than the four-color one, and on a model the difference is visible at first glance. The print on a clear backing carries a fine drawing of the cloth; you tune the final intensity with the color of the base.

The real subject

Covering fabric with a printed polygonal pattern was introduced by the German air service to save weight and time compared with sprayed camouflage. It was printed in four-color and five-color versions, each additionally in a treatment for the upper and the lower surfaces. The Fokker D.VII, the top fighter of 1918 and built under license at Albatros and OAW as well, carried both versions, and the particular combination differed with the production batch. Undyed tapes of natural linen on the ribs were among the usual treatments.

Application tips

Spray the base uniformly and to a gloss; with a five-color pattern and its finer drawing, take care over how the segments carry over, so that the polygons follow on smoothly. Use softener and let the decals dry thoroughly before you lay the rib tapes on. A final satin or matte clear coat suppresses the difference in sheen between the decal and the painted areas around it.

Who the sheet is for

• builders of the Fokker D.VII in 1:32 who want the five-color version of the covering
• modelers who combine the sheets of the range into a complete airframe
• anyone interested in faithful printed fabric with texture instead of a sprayed imitation

This is a decal accessory, not a kit: the model, the paints and the glue are not included in the package.