MISTER KIT ACRYLIC COLORS ITALIAN W.W. I

Series 3 – WW1 Italian colours

The colors applied to the aeroplane's of the Aviazione del Regio Esercito are amongst the lessor known and the most difficult to research.  This is mainly due to a lack of original references.  The enthusiast is forced to guesswork, studying the few original fabric samples still available and examining black and white contemporary pictures.

 

Two of the colors making this set (“Camouflage Light Brown” and “Clear Doped Linen – dark”) were particularly difficult to research and will be updated as and when new historical elements are developed.

The majority of Italian WW1 reconnaissance and bombing aeroplane's were delivered in natural finish.  Clear doped linen remained very light and wood panels were usually dark stained.

It seems a darker version of clear doped linen followed later in the war, to be applied to several Macchi-built Hanriot Hd.1s, SAML two-seater's and Caproni bombers.

Early Nieuport Ni. 11 fighters (with serial numbers remaining within the 1.000 series) were delivered in natural, very light finish, while later machines received a light brown camouflage finish to their upper and lateral surfaces.

 
In the second part of the war, bombers and reconnaissance machines began to receive camouflage colors, usually green or red brown, which were applied in a variety of schemes and patterns.

National insignias included large flag green and flag red bands painted under the wings (green always to starboard) and on fin and rudder.  Cockades started to appear late in 1917.