Fokker DR,I model help (with uniforms)

[Sal Williams]

Hi Guys,
Well after visiting Duxford air museum I got myself a model of a Spitfire so remember the trill of seeing them roaring around in flight. Now I have become a model nerd (I blame Ade ) and I got a Fokker DR.I (Manfred Richtoven model) with 2 ground crew and richtoven himself standing around smoking a cigarette. Did he smoke? I don't remember ever seeing a photo of him smoking. Also I dont trust thier paint advice on the uniforms. Could you all tell me what the colors would be? Should I post a pic of the little guys so you can see what they are supposed to be wearing?
Best, Sal

[Erich B.]

von Richthofen

von Richthofen did smoke--I've seen at least one photo of him with a cigarette.
He wore an Uhlan uniform which was the WWI fieldgrey with red piping--his cap was fieldgrey with a red band and red piping.
Erich

[Sal Williams]

Thanks Erich,
Sorry, I didn't mention he is wearing his flight uniform with pilots helmet. No they didnt give him his custom made fur suit that he flew in, so what would I paint it? The ground crew is in regular uniforms with caps (the round kind)
Best, Sal

[Sal Williams]

Here are pics of the little buggers!
This is Richtoven

[Sal Williams]

and these are the ground crew. What are they doing, tuning the prop? Shouldn't Richtoven be in the plane if they are starting it up?

So what colors do I paint them???!!!!!
Best, Sal

[Sal Williams]

I have to paint the plane in flat red don't I?

[Erich B.]

crew

The ground crew look like mime street performers!
I'm not sure if the plane should be 100% flat red, because I'm not sure if the paint was mixed with aero dope or applied over the doped surface. The aero dope had a slight sheen to it.
You might want to do a google search for paint schemes--I know that he flew a red tripe with white cowl, but also one with an all red cowl (if memory serves).
Also, I can't tell from the photo--is M.v.R. supposed to be wearing a leather jacket or a tunic?
Erich

[AOK4]

If he would have worn only such a flight suit, he would have frozen to death in his plane...

[Sal Williams]

The ground crew look like mime street performers!
I'm not sure if the plane should be 100% flat red, because I'm not sure if the paint was mixed with aero dope or applied over the doped surface. The aero dope had a slight sheen to it.
You might want to do a google search for paint schemes--I know that he flew a red tripe with white cowl, but also one with an all red cowl (if memory serves).
Also, I can't tell from the photo--is M.v.R. supposed to be wearing a leather jacket or a tunic?
Erich

Thanks Erich,
I think M v. R isa wearing a tunic with shoulder bars. What about the ground crew? Colors? BTW he did have a plane with red cowl as well. I am leaning towards flat because the pics I have seen the planes look dull and weathered.

HELP GUYS! I want to paint!!!!!
Best, Sal

[Gerd Becker]

Hi Sal,

cannot help you with the colours, but here is a website with a lot of informations around Fokker-planes.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Fokker%20Dr.I

best,
Gerd

[Chris_Werner]

Take a look at the Osprey series "Fokker Dr 1 Aces of WW I". by Norman Franks and Greg VanWyngarden. They have some nice plates of the Tripes flown by the Baron, and research text about why they have them painted as portrayed based on the available evidence.

[Rick Research]

Yikes! Moon walkin' break dancers!

Officer leather (boots, leggings) should be brown, while enlisted belts and boots were black by that period.

Feldgrau on their uniforms, with black bands and red piping-- but I don't think you'd get piping, even with a brush using a single mouse eyebrow!

Flying Corps personnel would also have collar Litzen, but many men were assigned from other branches, so not always the case.

[Sal Williams]

Thanks Rick!
What are collar litzen? And the black bands?
Best, Sal

[Frank Heukemes]

Here´s some Manfred for you!

[Frank Heukemes]

Here are your two guys, they are not starting the plane up, they are "fondling" it!