Two French Hens...

Painting on the two recent Shapeways models is underway. The two models are the Caudron R.11 haevy escort fighter and the Letord light bomber / recon kite. Both planes shall be painted in the French four color camouflage used to the end of the war.  My friend Scott had experience painting a pair of Salmson's using this pattern and recommended the following color palette;

Folk Art Forest Moss -
Vallejo Reflective Green
Vallejo Camo Orange Ochre
Game Color Charred Brown
Vallejo Black
Undersides: Folk Art Lemonade


I made one small tweak to accommodate paint that I had on hand;

Folk Art Forest Moss -
Vallejo Reflective Green
Vallejo Camo Orange Ochre
Vallejo Flat Brown
Vallejo Black
Undersides: Folk Art Lemona

Here's a good overview of the R.11. It's a nice clean casting and the repeated
coasts of gloss coat have filled the surface nicely.

View from the starboard quarter. 

view from the port quarter.

The Letord is a similar project, but for variety, I've reversed the color pattern on the wings.

In this view the flat brown has been painted on the rear fuselage. Compare this to the prior photo. 

The Letord had prominent radiators and engine struts. Combined with the negative stagger on the wings and you've got a fairly unique airplane! 

Those magnificent men in their (heavy) flying machines - The Letord and R.11 hit the work bench

Two new arrivals on the table, both twin engine aircraft.

The Letord is a French observation/bomber introduced in early 1917 and used throughout the war. This particular model is armed to the teeth with each observer having a pair of machine guns in a flexible ring mount. With this much firepower, the Albatross might find that this prey has fangs.

The Letord after surface preparation and  a primer coat of generic tan. 

Nice modelling of the wing and fuselage ribbing.

Our other arrival is a Caudron R.11 heavy escort fighter. More of a late war aircraft, the R.11 mounts an impressive five machineguns including one the fires to the rear and down through the bottom of the plane. Typically used as an escort to the BR.14 bombers. It may not be agile, but it packs a wallop!

The R.11 has nice big, streamlined engine nacelles. 

The R.11 evolved from the G.6 bomber design (you can see it in the back)

And now in the front. The R.11 is larger than the G.6

The R.11 on the left and the Letord on the right. The G.6 is stuck in the middle.

It's an all Caudron mission. Two G.6 escorted by the R.11.