Print Scale PRS48070 Blue Bavarian rhombuses 1:48 decal. Leitwerk im blau/weisse Rauten (blue and white diamonds on tail or as a sash around the fuselage) is the Wappenrock (coat of arms) of Bavarian ruling house.

History

The coat of arms of the German state of Bavaria has greater and lesser versions. The greater tends to include the reigning house and some of the acquired states (through marriage). The lesser tends to focus just on the reigning Wittelsbach family. They served as Electors, Dukes and finally Kings of Bavaria. Their family history was long and illustrious from about 1180 to 1918. The white and blue wappen colours were acquired with the state of Boegen in about 1280. Often referred to as lozenges, diamond hatch or rhomboids the white and blue became the central colours representing Wittelsbach family as the ruling house of the state of Bavaria. Even after the First World War the standard was not forgotten.

Often it has been stated by some ill-informed writers that all Bavarian Jastas in WWI employed the blue and white colours as their unit identifier. This is applicable only to the German Jastas formed due to the Amerika Programme established to raise the number of units in the Lufstreitkräfte from 40 to 80 as a measure to face the impending arrival of the United States troops after the declaration of war on April 6 1917. Late in the war as new aviation units were formed they began to adopt the blue and white colours generally. Though there were a few pilots both before and after the Jasta expansion that applied the Bavarian rhomboid pattern as a personal marking to their aircraft.

Decal set

Mine came as a single 5.5 X 6.5 sheet comes with a ¾ inch border with a centralized field of several hundred connected blue rhomboids with clear carrier film. This means that a basic coating of white gives you the field to lay down the diamond hatch pattern. If they appear too light because of the background bleeding through simply cut another section of the blue and lay it down over the first attempt when it is dry. There are plenty of rhomboids to do multiple schemes from WWI aviation subjects.

How to apply

They are typical in their make-up of waterslide ink based decals. Their worst problem can be fracturing and tearing. But the method that you use to lay them down makes all the difference.

First, do yourself a favor and spray the section you are working from with a clear gloss. Once this begins to dry it bonds the surface and when dry to the touch will keep fracturing and tearing on the edges to a minimum. Do this at least twice. Also, if you apply clear lacquer, plan on using these within 12 hours.

Second, remember always use a "new" blade to cut the sections of the strip. Do not use scissors on this type of decal.

Third, always use hot water to submerge the cut decal section in. Work one piece / section at a time.

Fourth, lay down liberally a decal setting fluid (Microscale blue script on the bottle).

Fifth, Move the decal section in place and after a few minutes roll the brush you applied the setting fluid with - over the decal and smear any excess fluid out over the adjacent areas.

Sixth, add liberal amounts of decal solvent or Sol (Microscale red script on the bottle). I usually hit the decal at least twice or even three times. When the decal wrinkles, it is working. Don't touch the decal at this Point.

When you get good at this you will be able to lay down up-to three decal sections at one time with very pleasing results.

References

Individual profiles are cataloged in various Albatros Ltd & Osprey publications on the subjects of WWI German aviation units.

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