Dewoitine D.520
Standard 1940 fighter
Colours used
in this example.
Build the main surfaces in light layers. Keep the quiet background softer than the aircraft.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact historical paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Light overlapping pencil strokes with paper highlights
Light layering
Edge shading and reserved white glass reflections
Controlled strokes with lighter edges
Light pressure and open white paper
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
Aircraft reference 1
Period D.520 side view, with French roundel and number 10 on the fin. Monochrome photograph. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: G.Garitan · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Aircraft reference 2
Rear quarter of the same D.520: tail tricolour, fuselage roundel and disruptive camouflage boundaries. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: G.Garitan · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Aircraft reference 3
Head-on D.520 view showing the wing geometry, spinner and undercarriage. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: G.Garitan · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0Aircraft reference 4
Period D.520 side view: rudder stripes, canopy profile and radiator. Monochrome photograph. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Unknown author · Source · Public domainAircraft reference 5
Restored D.520 at Le Bourget, representing number 277 of GC III/6: tricolour rudder and number 6. Museum airframe 862 repainted as 277. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Falcon® Photography from France, France · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Aircraft reference 6
Restored D.520 862 in the colours of 277: front quarter shows muted green, brown and grey upper camouflage with pale lower surfaces. Museum airframe 862 repainted as 277. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: ERIC SALARD · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Historical finishes and markings
The Le Bourget aircraft is D.520 number 862, repainted to represent Le Gloan’s GC III/6 aircraft. The checked gallery shows muted brown, green and grey upper camouflage over pale grey-blue lower surfaces plus French roundels and a tricolour rudder. These are observed display colours; exact wartime paint standards remain unverified.
Markings: French roundels; Tricolour rudder; Displayed number 277 and tactical 6 Observed restoration: brown, green and grey upper surfaces; pale grey-blue underneath
In the photographs
Period monochrome photographs establish shapes and markings but cannot independently establish paint colours. Museum and restored aircraft show their photographed display condition.
In the coloured example
This pencil interpretation uses upper camouflage: Grey, Green, Brown; lower surfaces: Light blue-grey; canopy: Pale blue-grey; propeller and machinery: Charcoal, Steel grey; scenery: Pale blue, Muted green, Warm cream. It is a creative colouring example based on the book drawing. It does not reproduce a verified individual aircraft or an exact paint standard.
Make the details count.
Use soft boundaries between the large camouflage patches.
Keep rudder tricolour stripes clear without obscuring the serial.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.