[WWI] Eduard's new Spad

[pfalzdvii at comcast.net]

Actually, I read somewhere, (probably in an old Windsock) that the British chose their blue pigment mix, with resistance to sun fading in mind. The French mixed aluminium powder with their paints beginning around 1917, to protect the fabric from UV decay, and the paints didn't fade as much either. BTW , that 'dusty' blue is called 'French Blue' to this day. 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diego Fernetti" <dfernet0 at rosario.gov.ar> 
To: "World War I Modeling Mailing List" <wwi at wwi-models.org> 
Sent: Thursday, October 2, 2008 10:02:11 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: Re: [WWI] Eduard's new Spad 

> Here's a contemporary colour photo taken by the Lumiere's of a Neiuport, 
> showing the blue as quite dark, almost British in its shade. 
> http://www.worldwaronecolorphotos.com/html/gallica_81-2_h_14.html 

Careful! The Lumiére colours relied much upon the pigment composition of the 
plates, and perhaps the colours you see aren't the exact same ones you may 
have seen on the real object. 

> I wonder why the British colours didn't fade? 

Because the Brits hardly have any sun. 
Seriously, the blue pigments can vary a lot (where's our man Shannon?) and 
probably the fading rate of each may have varied a lot. 
Speaking of... have you guys read that article on windsock on the theory of 
the pigmentation of German aircraft camouflage? 
D. 

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