Luftwaffe Colours, 1935-1945 - Hardcover

Ullmann, Michael

9781902109343: Luftwaffe Colours, 1935-1945

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1902109341 ISBN 13: 9781902109343

Publisher: Hikoki Publications, 2006

Much has been written about the Luftwaffe but no aspect has been more controversial than the question of camouflage and markings of the aircraft.

In this comprehensive study, the author follows the development and use of many colours used and establishes the links between the then standard RAL colours and those adopted by the German Air Ministry.

Using much original documentation he reveals how and why these finishes were developed and applied to both military and Lufthansa aircraft - in such detail that anyone with an interest in the subject, either as an historian, model-maker or aircraft preservationist - can recreate Luftwaffe colours with unprecedented accuracy.

Supplemented by over 300 photographs, over 40 drawings and 16 pages of detailed colour aircraft profiles, Luftwaffe Colours presents a remarkable insight into the art of WWII German camouflage markings.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

If ever there was a topic that caused more arguments, debate, and disagreements amongst scale modelers than "Luftwaffe Colors", I'd be interested as to what it is. When you factor in things like WWII ending 63 years ago, the fading of photos taken with color or monochromatic film, restorations, field mixes of colors, enemy paints thrown into the mix, oxidation, and a million other variables, one wonders if it isn't impossible to reach a consensus. In recent years though, advancements have occurred in answering some of those questions. Through improved technology, and more and more artifacts (read; wrecks) surfacing, the aviation history and modeling communities have been provided with better evidence, if not hard answers, as to what may have been worn by the aircraft we all so love to read about and replicate in scale.

Following 1994's "The Gordian Knot" and 1997's German-Language "Colours of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945", comes the Second Edition of Michael Ullmann's 2002 "Luftwaffe Colours 1935-1945". It is an outstanding investigative text which comprises 360 pages printed on high-quality gloss-finish stock (104 more than the original's 256), over 300 black & white photos, 16 pages of color photos, 40 drawings, and a set of color chips. Several of the technical drawings, once in black and white, are now presented in color. In this edition, like the original, Ullmann follows the development of colors used and establishes the links between the then-standard RAL colors and those adopted by the German Air Ministry.

The assertions made in this book are clearly stated as being "based exclusively on original documents". However, the author is intelligent enough to add the following disclaimer: "We now know that old colour photos and colour remnants are unreliable as evidence, that shades varied from one manufacturer to another, and that people have poor colour memory...In the opinion of this author, in the light of the above facts, a scientifically precise reproduction of the colour shades is out of the question today."

As such, this book does not intend to imply that it is the definitive authority on what is, and is not, beyond reproach. Instead, Ullmann uses the vast wealth of information he has complied over the years to present the best possible explanations of the colors so many have debated for so long, and what they most likely are, based upon said information. After reading this book, and considering the documents and sources used for his conclusions, I'm confident that there are few authors that can be more definitive than Ullmann is here.

Having said that, I did notice a few contradictory statements throughout the book, largely in photo captions. On page 125, a Bf-109G lays resting where it crashed. It displays a `saw-toothed" pattern on the wings, and the author describes the colors as "74/75/76"; the standard "Daylight" camouflage scheme. However, the color contrast on the wings is so dramatic, I would offer that they are not, in fact, RLM 75/76. In fact, the lighter of the two colors is in stark contrast to the presumed RLM 75 on the horizontal stabilizers. Again, on Page 96, is a wonderful picture of a JG.3 "Freidrich". Ullmann speculates that the ring camouflage is "either RLM 74, or possibly a Dark Green." To my eye, it is a match for the presumed RLM 74 on the wing, which is, of course, d�nklegrau; almost purplish-grey in hue. Is this important? No. I simply would have worded the captions differently. The differences could be the angle of the flying surfaces' light reflection, or a myriad of other factors. The bottom line is they're great photos with dubious captions.

Like the original edition, this book is not a book of color profiles. It is a "scholarly work", one that Mr. Ullmann has clearly devoted a large portion of his adult life to. It covers everything from the historical aspect of RLM (RiechsLuftarhtMinesterium) colors and their derivation from RAL (Reichsausschuss f�r Lieferbedingungen, or Reich Committee for Conditions of Supply) documents, to the L.Dv.521 series of regulations directly applicable to paint application, to the different types of camouflage applications, aircraft types, markings regulations, and informational tables. Sound like a pretty dry read? Well, it's actually not. While watching paint dry may not be a lot of fun, reading about the arcane development of Luftwaffe paint regulations, including the type of lacquer specification, etc., and how it relates to one of my favorite subjects is actually quite enjoyable in the presentation by Herr Ullmann. Compared to the Merrick series (VOL.1 & VOL.2) it is an easy read. Additionally, I want to make clear, that while it is not a "color profile book", there are, in fact, numerous small color camouflage pattern diagrams.

There are also many, many diagrams of marking specifications, reproduced directly from factory documents. These should answer any questions one has regarding dimensions, placement, size, etc. of the national markings used by the Luftwaffe. The hundreds of photos in the book, most of which were included in the First Edition, are a consortium of all types used by the Luftwaffe in World War II. If you do not own the First Edition, then I will offer that a lot of these pictures have not been previously seen by the reader. The extra pages in this edition may mislead one to think that there are 100+ pages of new material. That is a misnomer. There are about 10 pages of new material over the 1st Edition; the other pages are due to some photos being enlarged over the previous versions, and re-formatting of the page layouts.

One issue I find to be a disappointment about this book is the set of Color Chips. They're really very small (29x16mm), and they have a glossy finish to them. I think it would be beneficial if they were larger, and had a matte, or at least semi-matte finish. Adding a glossy finish to the chips, in my opinion, further clouds the issue of color accuracy. A few of the colors differ slightly from the larger ones provided in VOL.1 of Merrick's work, but I feel confident that both of these authors have infinitely more wisdom concerning this issue than I. I will take it on faith that the colors were mixed using authentic documents by professionals. The similarities between the two sets of chips, however, are just as striking.
Conclusion
In conclusion, is this book worth the money spent? Absolutely. While it may not appeal to the average "it looks like a Focke-Wulf to me" modeler, it is an invaluable source of archival data for the modeler who is more concerned with color accuracy. It will also have great appeal to the historians among us, or the Luftwaffe and General Aviation enthusiasts. Additionally, it is a pleasant read, considering the arcane subject at hand. If you already have the First Edition, you may want to seriously consider whether or not you need to add this to your collection. But, if you don't have any of Michael Ullmann's works, you definitely can not do any better than to add this book to your library!

Review:

The first edition of Michael Ullmann's Luftwaffe Colours was an incredible achievement in color research, providing a detailed analysis of the actual paints used on Luftwaffe aircraft. While many thought that the first edition would be the final word on the origins and composition of Luftwaffe colors, this new volume shows that research continues on. The author has added more information, and re-examined his original research, and has found that his theories on late-war colors continue to hold up. Other additions include the link between RLM colors and the RAL register and the inclusion of more primary source documentation. The result, while useful in the conclusions for the modeler, goes far beyond what most would expect and is, in fact, a richly detailed historical text that will likely form the foundation of all future Luftwaffe color research.

For those not familiar with the first volume, or for those who need a refresher, this book is about color and the use of pigments in a carrier liquid to present those colors on a solid surface. To properly understand the final result (i.e. paint on a plane), there needs to be a bit of background presented, and the first section does just that by answering the important question, "What is color?". This is a short chapter, but of high importance, as without understanding this basic question, the rest of the book will be quite confusing. Following this introduction to color is a section on the regulations and documents of the German government concerning colors and finishes.

With that background taken care of, the rest of the book describes the paints themselves. This begins with those paints used on Lufthansa aircraft and the Zeppelins, then moves on to Luftwaffe-specific colors. A useful chronology outlines the progression of the standard colors used by the Luftwaffe from 1935 to 1945. Following the basic colors, separate chapters cover the special colors, such as maritime aircraft, tropical colors, and night camouflage. Other chapters cover markings and insignia, interior colors, and the late-war RLM 81, 82, 83 shades.

Spread throughout the book are many photos showing the specifics of what are described in the text, and in most cases these photos have been chosen for clarity rather than uniqueness. So most of these have been seen before, but they are nicely printed in this book and reveal quite a bit of detail. Also included in this book is a separate color chip sheet with the RLM colors individually printed. This was also included in the first edition, and it is a welcome addition to this volume as well. On the downside, though, the color chips stuck to the dust jacket on my copy, and even with careful removal several of the color chips are now covered with white paper from the dust jacket. I have not tried to clean those up, but perhaps some gentle rubbing with water or a mild cleanser will take care of that. It is a very minor issue in an overwhelmingly excellent publication.

For those who have the first edition, the additions to this second one are useful to have. If you missed out on the first edition, do not hesitate this time around, as you will not find a better source of Luftwaffe color research out there.

Chris Banyai-Riepl

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.