[WWI] Accurate colors

[Stephen Auslender]

Isn't there the problem of the WHEN appearance of the model aeroplane? Is the model supposed to represent the specific craft just as it left the paint shop, with a brand spanking new paint job? or after a  week of flying, or after a month of flying, or two months? 

Also the WHERE is meaningful, too. An aircraft exposed to the winds and sand storms and hot sun of the western desert will show changes in color differently than a similar craft that saw action in a European winter, or an European summer for that matter.
Additionally some colors are noted for their rapid changing under the sun's rays, like red for example.

A good friend of mine who is a super modeler and was a combat grunt in Viet Nam related to me seeing a row of army trucks in 'nam. I am quoting him: "Ever see what the sun does to flat colors in a matter of days ? , a bit longer to semi-gloss ? I can tell you first hand from reality that you could tell the age of any given piece of equipment by the shades it faded to in the hot sun like in Nam , or even in the near desert summer heat in Ft. Riley, Kansas. Just looking down a row of vehicles you could see a dozen variations including that  "chalky" oxidized finish that if you ran your fingers across a dusty film of the paint color was on your fingertips."

Furthermore, no matter how you guys argue and rant there is no way you are going to convince me that paint colors did not vary from provider to provider and even, in some cases, from batch to batch from the same provider. Especially during wartime conditions.

All I look for in a color is something close to what most probably was in use at that time in that location.  Finding that color is difficult, even if we a have a piece of the actual fabric from an 80 year old souvenir. 
Those of you who seek absolutes in your life will argue with me but the most you can do for me is to finally find a color that perhaps is  "closest".
For that I thank you.

Since I do not enter IPMS contests I am never bothered by what the judges say or argue. My sympathies are all with you guys who have been bitten by the contest bug and thus must endure the judging process. 

Happy(?) modeling,
Stephen
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.wwi-models.org/pipermail/wwi/attachments/20070606/468ea943/attachment.html