Klaiber

That's good!

We're all a superstitious lot. It happens in JG1 too. That's a lot of fun to watch. I really admire your dedication to get things just right. Honestly, its definitely worth it, as its extremely possible that you might notice something that others might have missed. Recreating paint schemes is always a moving target, due to advances in research and better access to primary information. Yes, as time passes, you lose access to the men and women who where there. But, our ability to remember details like color and such is actually pretty poor. And really, its the digitization of original sources (like diaries, unit records, photographs, manuscripts, film recordings, etc.) that has really been the godsend to better accuracy. You can very clearly see a delineation between sort-of accurate and very accurate in the profile books on your shelves. Anything prior to the 1990s is probably imprecise and even downright wrong. Even the historical JG Nr. I, one of the most lauded and researched units in military aviation history, is still having new things discovered. From figuring out the actual shade of Jasta 11 red, to actually being able to identify which pilot had which markings and when. One of the best debates I remember about JG Nr. I on the Aerodrome forums was about what color Ernst Udet's most famous DR.I was: http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29128 He had three, as I remember. But here's Udet's Fokker Dr.I 586/17 as commonly viewed: http://www.fokkerdr1.com/586_17.htm Inherited from Ltn. Hans Kirschstein, its shown as black and white. Just with Udet's LO painted on the side (for his childhood sweetheart (later wife), Eleanor "Lo" Zink). But, here is what a few researchers thought it actually looked like: Talk about a difference... Even for us, Vonrd and Heinrich tried many different shades of red from many different sources to get the "Richthofen red" we landed up with. And we're not even trying to recreate historical aircraft, just create pseudo-historical aircraft that are easy to see in-game. Some were downright orange, while others were basically red-black. How can orange and red-black be the same aircraft?! As Von mentioned above, he and Heinrich eventually settled on 830002 (dark red) because it was somewhere in the middle of our choices (a good guestimate) and looked the best in game. One of the best videos to cover just what conservators need to do with real aircraft is this one regarding the restoration of the Memphis Belle: There is also this very interesting video regarding the painting of a PzKpfw VI (Tiger I) at the Tank Museum in Bovington, UK. It's a rabbit hole.

Very nice ruleset for the 3rd PG skins! Can't wait to see the first submissions.

Regarding orthochromatic film, I also found this website which might be helpful: https://carmencitafilmlab.com/an-orthochromatic-autumn/ Specifically, these graphics:

Yeah, I'm not suggesting this to find the real colors. You're only going to be able to do that with research. But, as you said, you can use these programs to find hidden details that you missed. Especially in complex photographs. And especially if you have a good understanding of the different types of film stock and what they do to images. I think the example you have above regarding Orthochromatic and Panchromatic is perfect. And keep in mind too, these are just the free software. The pay ones that are obviously much much better. And that the more modern the photograph, the easier a time it's going to have. But even the pay software makes clear mistakes. Making a light pink dress light blue, or something that's orange into blue. It's a moving target really, and only good to assist in identification of anomalies and areas of interest. Funny enough, even though they did an amazing amount of research, they got stuff wrong. The Mark V tanks you see in that movie are all green. In reality, they were a neutral brown color. For example: https://youtu.be/DmR_Z0dggQ0?t=37

Btw: I'm not sure if this really helps (or is just quaint) but are you both aware of computer programs that use AI to colorize photographs? Basically, the program looks at the photo, checks for objects that it recognizes, and then guesses as to the color / hue of that object or person based on what it already knows. Sometimes they're way off (because it can't recognize what it's looking at). But, sometimes they help give you a new perspective on the image you're trying to figure out. Background details you missed, for example. A free version of one of these programs is Algorithmia: https://demos.algorithmia.com/colorize-photos This is just one of many. Here is a test I ran through Algorithmia's demo: Wrong. But interesting. Then, compare those results to what Colourise.com gave me: https://colourise.com/upload/ Still wrong. But I can see some details I missed in the black and white. Then, through DeepAI.org: https://deepai.org/machine-learning-model/colorizer Again, it's interesting what different programs will do with the same image. For comparison, here is Jasta 11, first through Algorithmia: It doesn't know the "black' is red, so everything is off. But its recognizing wood. And I can now see details on the aircraft in the back of the line-up. Now through Colourise: Now through DeepAI.org: You can do this with WW2 photos to, and it's not too bad. This is through DeepAI: This Bf 109 of Maj. Horst Carganico is actually in Luftwaffe grays (RLM 74, 75 and 76). And its making it too brown. But it recognizes his face is flesh colored, for example. As I said, this might be a good tool to use when you're completely stumped and need an outside opinion on something.

Outstanding work, @DeFreest Larner! Question: since many US and French SPADs had a tritone green camo, how have you been able to match the patterns on your skins? Was there regulations that said all camo patterns had to be similar, and thus it saves you from having to figure it out? Or do you have to research each aircraft with written and photographic evidence? I ask because you've done a great job of creating the pattern in the above skin. Though, the yellow green and the light green are so close in the black and white photo that they may as well be invisible. For example, I think I can sort of see that the yellow green actually cuts through the headdress of the 103rd insignia in the photograh. Where as on your skin, the dark green is right behind it in the same shape. Just curious!

Hi SandMan, It was great seeing everyone and reminiscing. We just wish that it was under better circumstances. I personally didn't take any video, but someone in our group might of. I'll PM you our TS and Discord information. Talk soon!

S! All, The following JG I pilots are being recognized for their actions during Session B4 of Flanders In Flames 2020 "Fall Campaign" (flown on 5 December 2020). Congratulations! . . . German Army Report Hptm. Fritz Butzzell, Jasta 11 (session #B4, 5 December 2020), posthumously, for gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service. [good streak - 3 ground victories, and 1 wounded-in-action, over 7 sorties] Hptm. Heinrich (Maus) Maushake, Jasta 10 (session #B4, 5 December 2020), posthumously, for gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service. [good streak - 2 aerial victories, and 2 wounded-in-actions, over 9 sorties] OffzSt. Emerlist Davjack, Jasta 10 (session #B4, 5 December 2020), gunner, for gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service. [esprit de corps] Uffz. Josef (Jaus) Ostländer, Jasta 10 (session #B4, 5 December 2020), gunner, for gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service. [esprit de corps] Oblt. Dudley von Flederwurst, Jasta 4 (session #B4, 5 December 2020), gunner, for gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service. [esprit de corps]

Hanukkah sameach!

Glad it helped!!

I looked through all of my JG 1 books, and couldn't find a photograph of this aircraft. It's such a unique scheme that you'd think that every book would have a picture of it. However, Claes Sundin did paint a profile of it in 2014. And I trust his work and research. So I kept looking. After searching our boards (in a Hail Mary attempt to locate it), I found a post from @Weiss in 2017 where he actually had a photograph! Here is the aircraft, taken from an auction on Ebay: Of interest - according to a model kit for this aircraft, the standard markings (the RLM grays and the crisscross patterns) were painted on at an Arado factory, where the aircraft was probably built. Arado, under license, built various versions of, and components to, the Fw 190. Hope this helps!

Thanks!

Could you PM it to me? I have people asking for it. Thanks!

I've PM'ed him for the TS server password.

The FIF 2020 "Fall Campaign" has officially come to an end! …and with it Flanders In Flames 2020. Congratulations to both the Blue Team and the Red Team on their outstanding performance! This tournament wouldn't be able to function without the great pilots who take the time and effort to fly with us every Saturday. This year was unique, as we found ourselves beginning in Flying Circus and ending in Rise of Flight. Obviously, none of that was ideal. But, for both @Butzzell and I, it made the most sense for the event's stability. With the recent announcement of Flying Circus - Volume II, things are looking up for World War One simulations, and everyone involved in the coordination and upkeep of FIF can't wait to see what 2021 brings. Thanks again to everyone. Let us lift our glasses filled with our favorite libations and toast our virtual opponents. Prost! Salut! German and British soldiers stand together on the battlefield near Ploegsteert, Belgium, in December 1914. To celebrate the conclusion of the Fall Campaign, here is the FIF campaign ribbon. Blue for the Blue Team. Red for the Red Team. Large version: Small version: And as always, thank you to every pilot who flew! Without your continued support, this tournament would not be able to function! The scores for Session B4 are shown below. . . . FIF 2020 "Fall Campaign" - B4 Results (Saturday, 5 December 2020): Blue (Entente) Objectives Completed: 9 Factory destroyed Front Line Recon completed HQ Recon completed Bridge destroyed Aerodrome destroyed General completed Trench attack completed Reserve Unit destroyed Recon secondary completed Red (Central) Objectives Completed: 7 Artillery Spotting completed HQ Recon completed Aerodrome destroyed Bridge destroyed Moving ship destroyed HQ destroyed Espion target destroyed Total "Phase B" Objectives Completed (to date): Blue Team = 12 + 10 + 12 + 9 = 43 = 1 PHASE POINTRed Team = 8 + 10 + 8 + 7 = 33 = 0 PHASE POINTS Total "Phase A" Objectives Completed (to date): Blue Team = 12 + 11 + 10 + 7 = 40 = 1 PHASE POINTRed Team = 3 + 9 + 12 + 11 = 35 = 0 PHASE POINTS . . . Server Stat Information: http://fif.jg1.org/mission/9861/ . . . Server Screenshots: . . .

Hi @Slippy, Welcome! I'll send you an email to the address you registered with. Talk more soon.

The Bf 109 paint pack has been updated to include Butzzell's G-2 paint scheme. If you already have all of the new Bf 109s, you only need download the smaller update.

I've added WWIcy's memorial to our calendar. For all attending, let's plant to meet on JG1's TS first before heading to the WW TS.

Geezer, I'm extremely sorry to hear this. I didn't know Icy well, but definitely remember flying with him. Please extend our heartfelt condolences to Tim's family, friends, and of course everyone within the Wing Walker family.

Great news!

Looks great! Downloaded.

Thanks Mox!

Fantastic work, Vonrd! It looks really really nice. Can't wait to see it in-game.

Thanks for posting this @DeFreest Larner! I'm positive your efforts will help a lot of people.