Color: Albatros D.I and D.II

[ReducedAirFact]

Many years ago (1995) Dan-San Abbott published a paper called, "The Camouflage and Markings of the Albatros D.II Aircraft", containing a lot of data, diagrams, and Methuen color references. Since Methuen color references are useless to many people, here is a translation into more useful references: hobby paints (where there is a good match) and colors from popular paint stores, from which you can get sample cards and do your own comparisons.

The usual caveats: As always, there was frequently variation in paint color, weathering, varnishing, etc., so this is just a general guide. Unless you've got a high-end, wide-gamut monitor in perfect calibration (and who does?), do not trust the colors you see on your monitor! Instead, visit your local paint store and see if you can find paint samples like the ones listed below and then match your hobby paints or mixes against those. The goal is just to "get close". See 'Color: why we'll never get it exactly right'.

Entries with an asterisk (*) are excellent matches; hobby paints with tildes (~) are just very rough, not-especially-close matches...the best we can do without a custom color mix.

Common Colors
Methuen/CIElab/RGB	House Paints and Standards	Hobby Paints
Fuselage Wood #1 78.8,0.4,34.0 #D4C183	Behr Almondine M310-4 Benjamin-Moore Henderson Bluff HC-15 Dulux/Glidden Green Morning 41YY 53/306 * Kelly-Moore Rainforest Fern 4754 PPG Country Style 11-04 Sherwin-Williams Independent Gold 6401* Valspar Dry Leaf 3008-8A	Vallejo Dead Flesh 72.735 Vallejo UK BSC 64 Portland Stone 71.288 Vallejo Beige 71.074
Fuselage Wood #2 77.2,8.8,30.2 #DDB887	Behr Praline S270-4 Benjamin-Moore Tawny Bisque 1110 Dulux/Glidden Brown Ginger 15YY 49/288 Kelly-Moore Buttery Leather 4622* PPG Splash of Honey 1088-4 * Sherwin-Williams New Colonial Yellow 2853 Valspar Young at Heart 3003-8A*	Vallejo Dark Sand 70.847 *
Light Gray 86.5,-1.5,6.3 #DAD9CC	Behr Silver Marlin N360-2 Benjamin-Moore Stonington Gray HC-170 * Dulux/Glidden City Life 44YY 65/034 Kelly-Moore Slow Perch 4898 PPG Tornado 1009-2 Sherwin-Williams On the Rocks 7671 * Valspar Notre Dame 5006-1B	Vallejo USAF Light Gray 71.276 *

Color matching with 1989 Methuen Handbook of Color and Nix Color sensor

[ReducedAirFact]

Albatros D.Is built by the parent company used a two-tone camouflage for the wings and tail and a blue for the underside fabric surfaces. The fuselage was usually a rich straw yellow varnished wood. The struts, hatches, and metal surfaces were a pale gray. Landing gear struts and wheel covers were usually -- but not always -- the same color as the underside wing surfaces. Fuselage undersides were only sometimes painted, using the underside color.

Albatros D.I Numbers D.421-435
Methuen/CIElab/RGB	House Paints and Standards	Hobby Paints
Olive Green 60.4,-2.3,37.9 #9E924D	Behr Retro Avocado PPU9-3 Benjamin-Moore Lichen Green 2150-20 Dulux/Glidden Green Seaweed 53YY 26/275 Kelly-Moore In a Pickle 4770 PPG Loveliest Leaves 1116-6 Sherwin-Williams Brassy 6410 Valspar Crushed Oregano 6007-6C	Vallejo Dark Yellow 70.978 Vallejo Heavy Khaki 72.149 Vallejo Middlestone 70.882
Rust Brown 53.0,22.3,43.0 #AF6F33	Behr Desert Clay S250-6 Benjamin-Moore Byzantine CSP-1075 Dulux Spice Island 00YY 19/464 Kelly-Moore Exotic Life 5366 PPG Bronze Eucalyptus 16-20 Sherwin-Williams Gingery 6363 Valspar Caramel Toffee 3009-7	Vallejo Golden Brown 71.032 Vallejo Yellow Rust 70.303 Vallejo Glorious Gold 72.056
Blue Underside 65.1,-26.6, #AF6F33	Behr Lagoon Rock P460-4 Benjamin-Moore Peacock Blue 2049-40 Dulux/Glidden Sea King 90GG 38/242 * Kelly-Moore Swagger 5049 PPG Biscay Bay 1234-5 Sherwin-Williams Aquarium 6767 Valspar Swim 5006-8A	Vallejo ALL SV Gol Light Blue 71.317 ~

[ReducedAirFact]

Albatros D.IIs built by the parent company usually used a three-color camouflage with sky blue underside. This includes numbers D.472-501, 502-521, and 1700-1799.

Albatros D.II Numbers D.472-501, 502-521, and 1700-1799
Methuen/CIElab/RGB	House Paints and Standards	Hobby Paints
Dark Green 39.3,-1.9,15.2 #605D44	Behr Alligator Skin PPU9-1 Benjamin-Moore Med. Olive 2142-10 Dulux/Glidden Green Pinion 70YY 12/167 Kelly-Moore Shagbark Olive 4743 PPG Olive Green 1113-7 Sherwin-Williams Palm Leaf 7735 Valspar City Arboretum 6006-4C	Vallejo IJN Dark Black Green 71.325 * Vallejo Medium Olive 71.092 Vallejo Refractive Green 70.89
Pale Green 71.3,-10.2,9.3 #A0B49D	Behr Roof Top Garden S390-4 Benjamin-Moore Cedar Grove 444 Dulux/Glidden Reptilian 50GY 43/120 * Kelly-Moore Montezuma Hills 4824 PPG Silver Leaf 1133-4 Sherwin-Williams Cascade Green 0066 Valspar Green Trellis 5006-3C *	Vallejo Italian Tank Crew Highlights 70.331 Vallejo USMC Tank Crew Highlights 70.323 Vallejo Interior Grey Green 71.305
Rust Brown 53.0,22.3,43.0 #AF6F33	Behr Desert Clay S250-6 Benjamin-Moore Byzantine CSP-1075 Dulux Spice Island 00YY 19/464 Kelly-Moore Exotic Life 5366 PPG Bronze Eucalyptus 16-20 Sherwin-Williams Gingery 6363 Valspar Caramel Toffee 3009-7	Vallejo Golden Brown 71.032 Vallejo Yellow Rust 70.303 Vallejo Glorious Gold 72.056
Sky Blue Underside 72.4,-15.2,-5.6 #8DBABB	Behr Aquifer MQ6-8 Benjamin Moore Spirit in the Sky 676 Dulux/Glidden Turtle Garden 77GG 46/139 Kelly-Moore Cabana Bay 5055 PPG Kingston Aqua 1150-4 Sherwin-Williams Blithe Blue 9052 Valspar Lake Country 5003-5C	Vallejo Flanker Blue 71.337 ~

[ReducedAirFact]

Albatros D.IIs built by the Albatros subsidiary OAW (Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke) usually used a different three-color camouflage with a pale blue underside. This includes numbers D.890-939. Albatros D.I's built by OAW (D.455-470) may have also used this camouflage scheme.

Albatros D.II(OAW) Numbers D.890-939; D.I(OAW) D.455-470?
Methuen/CIElab/RGB	House Paints and Standards	Hobby Paints
Deep Green 48.1,-25.2,19.4 #4C9D50	Behr Tuscan Herbs S400-6 Benjamin Moore Nile Green 2035-30 Dulux/Glidden Jealousy 70GY 20/289 Kelly-Moore Autumn Fern 5093 PPG Succulent Leaves 1131-6 Sherwin-Williams Garden Grove 6445 Valspar Mixedwood Leaf 5007-6C	Vallejo Splinter Blotches 70.346 Vallejo Intermediate Green 70.891 Vallejo Black Green 70.09 Vallejo German Camo Bright Green 70.833
Light Green 67.1,-21.6,17.3 #83AE83	Behr Baby Spinach M400-5 Benjamin Moore Aurora Borealis 565 Dulux/Glidden Summer Picnic 50GY 44/248 Kelly-Moore Summer Garden 5091 PPG Chatty Cricket 1131-5 Sherwin-Williams Lounge Green 6444 Valspar Green Goddess 5008-6A	Vallejo Green Sky 70.974 Vallejo Green Wash 73.205
Burnt Sienna 49.9,32.9,46.7 #B45E26	Behr Maple Glaze PPU3-16 Benjamin Moore Gold Rush 2166-10 Dulux/Glidden Copper Coin 70YR 19/432 Kelly-Moore Copper Creek A53 PPG Mincemeat 1200-7 Sherwin-Williams Copper Mountain 6356 Valspar Orange Glaze 3009-6	Vallejo Orange Brown 70.981 Vallejo Parasite Brown 72.042
Pale Blue Underside 81.6,-7.6,-10.2 #B4D0DE	Behr Breezy Blue M490-1 * Benjamin Moore Mediterranean Breeze 799 * Dulux/Glidden Siesta Sky 70BG 67/126 * Kelly-Moore Mudra 5011 PPG Flemish Blue 1238-3 Sherwin-Williams Something Blue 6800 Valspar Blue Tradition 5001-7A	no decent matches

[ReducedAirFact]

Albatros licensed the building of some 75 Albatros D.IIs to L.V.G. (Luft-Verkerhrs Gesellschaft m.b.H.), serial numbers D.1024-1098/16. These, again, used a different camouflage scheme, which can usually be spotted by the narrow pastel green bands on both left and right sides of the top wing.

Albatros D.II(LVG) Numbers D.1024-1098
Methuen/CIElab/RGB	House Paints and Standards	Hobby Paints
Dull Green 59.1,-15.7,6.7 #749682	Behr Mossy Bench MQ6-11 Benjamin Moore Parsley Snips 635 Dulux/Glidden Mountain Shadow 90GY 29/121 Kelly-Moore Prickly Pear Cactus 5106 ~ PPG Slate Green 1133-5 Sherwin-Williams Parisian Patina 9041 Valspar Cool Bluegrass 5005-6A	no known decent matches
Pastel Green 80.6,-12.2,6.1 #B3CFBC	Behr Pond’s Edge S410-3 Benjamin Moore Let It Rain 639 Dulux/Glidden Bottle Tint 79GY 57/120 Kelly-Moore Quiet Drizzle 5068 PPG Malted Mint 1139-2 Sherwin-Williams Kind Green 6457 Valspar Sweet Mint 5005-5B	no known decent matches
Chestnut Brown 37.4,11.4,20.1 #715138	Behr Ancient Root PPU4-20 Benjamin Moore Charleston Brown HC-186 Dulux/Glidden Mississippi Mud 89YR 12/197 Kelly-Moore Cellar Door A75 PPG Molasses 1079-7 * Sherwin-Williams Sturdy Brown 6097 * Valspar Cowboy Hat 3010-8	Vallejo Smokey Ink 72.068 Vallejo Camouflage Med Brown 71.038 Vallejo Beasty Brown 72.043 Vallejo 70.983 Flat Earth
Pale Aqua Underside 84.4,-10.9,-1.0 #BBD9D4	Behr Serene Breeze M440-2 Benjamin Moore Spring Sky 674 Dulux/Glidden Gentle Flow 81GG 67/099 Kelly-Moore Quiet Drizzle 5068 PPG Veridian Green 1142-3 * Sherwin-Williams Meander Blue 6484 Valspar Aquatic Edge 5003-5A	Vallejo Russian AF Light Blue 71.342 Vallejo Verdigris Glaze 70.832 Vallejo Flanker Light Blue 71.334

[mikeemagnus]

Thanks Daryl, very useful info

[camelbeagle]

Nice work! A great amount of information!

[Flying Helmut]

Excellent stuff, Daryl!

REP!