Gloss finishes on some Luftwaffe planes

[JG1_Vonrd]

Were some WW2 Luftwaffe planes glossy? I've been doing internet research and have come across several period photos that seem to indicate that some aircraft were a gloss finish. I've also read factory fresh (at least in the early years) were delivered with a semi-gloss finish. Here are several photos that indicate a high gloss finish. I suspect that some pilots probably directed that their planes waxed by the ground crew with the intention of maybe gaining a few extra kph (plus it looks snazzy ?).

 

There is also a photo (which I haven't been able to locate... I should have saved it) that clearly shows the reflection of the pilot leaning on the horizontal stab of a Bf-109. It almost looks like it's gloss clearcote. Anyone have any insight into this subject?

Edited July 10, 2022 by JG1_Vonrd

[CUJO_1970]

Common up to mid 1944 and I have many pics unfortunately I’m out of town and can’t post them. 

[JG1_Vonrd]

1 hour ago, CUJO_1970 said:

Common up to mid 1944 and I have many pics unfortunately I’m out of town and can’t post them. 

I'd love to see them when you get a chance @CUJO_1970

[CUJO_1970]

You may be able to search JG/26 they were notorious for high gloss black prop and spinner - you can search for Pips Priller 190A-8 for example, and Oscar Romm D-9.

[sevenless]

They polished them to squeeze out the last possible bit of performance. Especiallly this unit, founded to hunt down Mossies in 1943. JG 50 which was lead by Hermann Graf.

 

Gottfried Weiroster shot here:

 

[CUJO_1970]

 

 

 

 

 

[CUJO_1970]

Another view:

 

 

It's hard to really tell from old B&W photos, but most would be rather flat, or matte in appearance:

 

 

 

 

Focke-Wulfs typically had very smooth fit and finish, some appeared "shiny"

 

 

 

 

 

This D-13 repaint is very much like you would have seen IRL - they closely matched the real colors and technique with the restoration:

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2022 by CUJO_1970

[JG1_Vonrd]

Thanks for the photos guys! It looks like there is a wide variation to the amount of gloss, from the highly reflective as on Gottfried Weiroster to more eggshell. I especially like the D-13 repaint which shows how the overspray at the edges is matte while the wet areas are gloss (I've painted numerous planes IRL and know this affect well... sometimes it's not wanted  ?). To get an overall gloss there would have to be some sort of clear overcoat... I would think most likely multiple coats of wax. I doubt that they had clearcoat.

 

I'm currently working on skins for "that other sim" because there is more ability to manipulate the reflective appearance using roughmets. Once I figure out how to achieve similar results (if possible) using alphas, I will probably do some skins where there is photographic evidence of reflective paint.

[CUJO_1970]

Honestly I think it was typically very lightly sanding the rough (late-war) factory paint jobs - and then buffing the living hell out of the rest of the plane by hand, most likely buffing was done with nothing more than soap, water, and rags. 
 

Contrary to conventional wisdom here on the forums where many believe Luftwaffe aircraft were cobbled together with rocks and panels were flying off in flight, ground crews worked very hard to keep these birds in the best possible shape between flights, often cannibalising new aircraft to do so. 

[JG1_Vonrd]

59 minutes ago, CUJO_1970 said:

ground crews worked very hard to keep these birds in the best possible shape between flights

That's why we maintenance types are the real heros...  ?