Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Albatros Oeffag D.III part 2

Oeffag D.III Gallery 2

Today I am back with more examples of the Albatros Oeffag D.III. My examples yesterday dealt with only one configuration of this excellent fighter. I wanted to give you a sample of the three main types which were produced between 1917 and 1918. As time allows I will be giving you a peak at the collection I am building. I have enough reference material for for perhaps 50 profiles. Between my other Albatros and Pfalz types I can see me hitting the 1000 profile mark before Halloween.

This is an Oeffag D.III Series 53 powered by an Austro-Daimler, 185 hp (138 kW) 6 cylinder liquid cooled inline engine. The upper wing surfaces are covered in the same camouflage as on the upper fuselage and tail section. The lower wing is varnished cloth. Superficially it is very similar to early series 153, the main difference is in the power plants.

This is an Oeffag D.III Series 153 powered by an Austro-Daimler, 200 hp (149 kW) 6 cylinder liquid cooled inline engine. The aircraft served in Flik 41J and was flown by Stfw Kaszala and Hauptman Brumowski. The paint scheme is very similar to the previous example except for the color and the nose section is a solid color. Note there is no engine cover being used at that time.

This is an Oeffag D.III Series 253 powered by an Austro-Daimler, 225 hp (168 kW) 6 cylinder liquid cooled inline engine. The rounded nose section is bare metal and the top surfaces tailplane and rudder are covered in a camouflage pattern only seen in Austrian and Polish aircraft. It consisted in two different spiral elements. Common opinion is that the pattern was printed on fabric since painting such an elaborate scheme would be so labor intensive and time consuming that if hand painted it would be impractical. The Maltese Cross would place it after May of 1918. The two tone wheel cover adds some flash to the scheme. Also of note is the large number instead of a pilot identification design. Once again this aircraft is in shown in its warm weather configuration as there is no engine cover present.

4 comments:

Paul´s Bods said...

Stop!!! No more albys!! :-D I keep looking and then it makes me want to copy this or that colour scheme.
Richthofens DV. It is shown in the new Red baron film...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Baron_%28film%29
The one on the poster is the DVa (I think but the star is missing??) but he also flew a DV with wood coloured sides.
Cheers
paul

Unknown said...

HAHAHA Paul. Now you know how I feel when looking at my reference material. So many paint so little time. I have been forced to break up my profile gallery because of the amount of graphics per page. I have only done 3 Oeffag profiles today. I started working up to attack Aviatik-Berg aircraft so I may give you a break for a few day, perhaps...

Thinking back... was it not you who said you hoped I did not run out of aircraft to post?

I will check out that picture and see what I can do for you. MVR used so many aircraft it can be difficult to know which one someone is referring to I know I have a sweet one with a green, wood and red scheme, the wings are 3 part mauve and green if memory serves me. I know you also are not a fan of the all red schemes. It looks like you are going to give Lothar some support with this model.

Drop me a line on my main site so I have somewhere to send you the file.

Cheers
Will

Zoe Brain said...

"253.64 Albatros D.III (Oef) Flik 42J Friedrich Hefty

Hefty was wounded in the right foot by Italian anti-aircraft fire on 7 October 1915. He transferred to Flik 42J in the Isonzo sector of the Italian front in October 1917, scoring his second victory during the Battle of Caporetto. During 1918, Hefty formed a strong friendship with fellow pilots Johann Risztics and Ferdinand Udvardy. Amongst the airmen of Flik 42J, the trio became known as the Arany Triumviratus (Golden Triumvirate).

Hefty began marking the sides of his Albatros D.III with the number "6." "

"Albatros D.III (Oef) 253.64
Flik 42J, Pianzano, August 1918,
Kpl. Geza Keisz
This particular aircraft was flown by Friedrich Hefty of Flik 42J, and it was forced down August 28th 1918 when being flown by Geza Keisz."

Unknown said...

Many thanks Zoe,your information is of great help. I love when my readers keep me honest.

Cheers dear and have a lovely day

Will