Taken from the Iliad website, the description for this line of products reads, “Each set of pages provides ACTUAL PAINT CHIPS (not just printed reproductions) for the colours and schemes described! These have been carefully researched and produced to match the original factory production colours as closely as possible. Each Aircraft Colour Chart set also provides brief chronological descriptions of the various camouflage schemes as they evolved, and also one or more pages depicting typical camouflage patterns for the schemes covered. The heavy cardstock pages are drilled for insertion into either a 3-ring or an ISO binder, and the assembled collection will provide you with a superb colour reference.”

Currently, Iliad offers 15 Colour Charts. This review covers CC-002, Luftwaffe Early & Mid War Fighters Aircraft. The product arrives within a zip lock bag, safely sealed and well protected. The packet of materials includes 3 pages of heavy cardstock, providing 5 pages of information and data, pre-punched for insertion into a binder.

• Page 1 contains text that indicates that this product covers aircraft of the Luftwaffe Fighters (Early & Mid-War) in WWII.
• Page 2 contains 7 color chips affixed to the card stock. Each chip is identified with a color description such as, “Black Green 70. , “Dark Green 71,” and “Light Blue 76”. Two of the chips represent color found on the lower surface and the remaining 5 chips represent colors found on the upper surfaces.
• Page 3 contains four paragraphs which describe some of the various color applications one finds on Luftwaffe aircraft in various theatres of operations and at points in the early years of the war.
• Page 4 features a set of 3 view drawings showing the typical camouflage patterns one can apply. Page 4 features the Bf-109 while page 5 provides the same information for an Fw-190.

Conclusion

This product is highly recommended. Comparing the colors represented on the Iliad charts with various other sources indicates that Iliad is identical or extremely similar in color intensity and tone. In short, Iliad nailed it. The product is well packaged and can be placed in a binder instantly upon opening the shipping packaging. The protection of the color chips is of paramount importance since that, after all, is the heart of the product. Thanks to Iliad for supplying this excellent product to IPMS/USA for review space.

(Please note that in some circumstances the Canadian spelling for “colour” was retained while in other areas of this review the American spelling was used.)