[WWI] "Whiteless" French roundels

[Diego Fernetti]

Hi Stuart and welcome to the posting crowd!
> Was the omission of the white a regular practice, perhaps an effort at
> "low viz" markings?  Is there any other evidence that Jean Navarre's
> banded Nieuport was missing the white in the upper roundels?

I think that it would be unusual to have the roundels without the  
white inner portion. However, one learns not to be too dogmatic about  
paint schemes in WW1!
Low visibility was a concept that probably wouldn't bother the  
flamboyant Navarre, so if he has a broad white band in the fuselage  
and cockades on the wheels, why avoid having the white showing on the  
wings? Besides, recently Allan Toelle argued that the lines around the  
surfaces must be greyish blue and not black as depicted in that  
profile. The whole fuselage seems also painted white (or near white)  
and contrasts wih the darker CDL of the wings and horizontal tail  
surface.

> Also, I notice on the above mentioned photo that the blue (forward)
> fuselage band appears considerably darker than the blue of the tail
> stripe.  The profile nevertheless depicts them as the same.  My
> inclination based on this photo is to make the blue of the band a more
> royal blue, and go with the grayish blue of the decals for the national
> markings.  Any thoughts on this?

I think you're correct on this. Go for it and don't forget to send  
pictures to the gallery once it's finished!
D.