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Decal ProductsWWI German "Lozenge" Decals
Our first releases depict five-color and four-color fabric patterns. Each come in different color schemes for use on the upper and lower surfaces of aircraft. The decal strips represent bolts of Fluzstoff as they would appear, ready for application to airframes, with the edges trimmed and sewn. Dimensions are based on generally accepted information provided in Albatros publications and cited by other sources. These finished dimensions are approximately 4' 3 1/4" for the four color pattern and 4' 6" for the five color pattern. Why they are different dimensions is not clear. NOTE: It has come to our attention that Fokker Anthology 3 now shows the four color lozenge bolt width as being the same as five color bolts (4'6"). If further evidence supports this, we will update future products accordingly. We are committed to providing the highest quality, most accurate products possible.
Great care was taken in interpreting the original colors and trying to accurately translate them to the printing process. Prolific WWI modeler, Stephen Lawson contributed his expertise with this task. Particular attention was paid to the relationships between colors and the resulting overall effect. There have been no cost saving compromises in the production of these decals. Each color has been adjusted to be as close to the original as possible. While we're sure there will still be debate about the exactness of some of these colors, we would say they are "reasonable". The proof of their effectiveness can be seen when viewing the decals from a great distance. The colors (especially those of the lower surface) blend together to form muted grays that seem to change depending on the lighting. To our knowledge no other decal has achieved this effect so successfully. In the coming months both 1/72 and 1/32 versions of these patterns will be released for sale. If you would like to be notified when new products are available be sure to register for a Personal Notification. 1/48 Scale Range
Special Effect DecalsA selection of decals created to provide modelers with innovative solutions to modeling challenges. Fabric Texture Sometimes large areas of solid color, or repeating patterns on models can look a little too pristine or uniform. This can make a scale replica look toy-like. There are many ways to alter the appearance of these areas including pre-shading, glazing, dry brushing and powders. Here is another choice to add to your arsenal. Fabric texture decals. The idea is to make a fabric area look like fabric!
The imitation of printed lozenge fabric on WWI models has always been an effect that has tested modeler's skills. The challenge is depicting the colors accurately without making them look too garish on such a small scale. These decals have been developed to add a subtle irregular cloth texture and tone down the lozenge patterns by about 5% without causing a significant shift in colors. While developed to be used in combination with lozenge decals, there are actually a wide variety of potential uses. Being printed on clear decal film with transparent ink, these decals will not obscure the underlying color. They can be added to any area where you wish to suggest a fabric weave. This could be the unbleached wing surfaces of aircraft, cockpit interiors, tent hangar walls, vehicle tarps, etc. For our initial release, we chose a "medium" density pattern. The pattern on MD-48008 will appear very subtle on the darker upper surface lozenge and more defined on the lower. Depending on sales, lighter and darker versions may be offered in the future to provide greater variety. Your favorite effects can be added over top of these decals for even greater customization. For example, on light colored solid areas you can overcoat the placed decal with a transparent glaze of the base color to mute the texture effect as desired. It is up to you. And yes, in reality the texture is slightly out of scale. But, as with many details on scale models (rivets the size of oranges, etc.) certain concessions are needed due to production limitations — and ultimately it is the overall impression that is most important. Moreover, while these are being released in the 1/48 range, they can certainly be used on other scales too (They look splendid on 1/32 aircraft!). NOTE: Because this is a transparent decal it
is essential to get a perfect bond with the underlying surface. A
detailed description of the application method can be found here.
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These
decals simulate the camouflage fabric applied to German aircraft during
the First World War. While usually referred to as "lozenge"
by modelers today, this term is in fact a misnomer. The repeated shapes
in these patterns are not lozenges (having four sides), but rather
polygons (having six sides). The official German term for the material
was "flugstoff". However, for our marketing purposes we
decided to use the familiar (though inaccurate) term "lozenge",
simply for ease of recognition by the general public.
