Quote:
Originally Posted by Cpt_Farrel
413607 would have had a tall tail and the extra bulge below the regular bulge for the Mg131's.
|
FWIW, the "double" starboard cowl bulge wasn't in reality a characteristic attributable to a particular version other than the G-5. In fact, such modified cowls were built originally for the Bf 109G-5 series to accomodate the pressurization compressor moved to that side once the bigger MG 131s were adopted.
Thus, such little bulge (along with its small airscoop) had sense only for the G-5. Unfortunately such version was built in much lower numbers than foreseen, while the modified cowls were apparently built at a much more "enthusiastic" rate.
The net result was that they were available in much greater numbers than the G-5s, so - not to waste material - it was decided to use them in late G-6/early G-14 batches (which chronologically were being produced when such occurrence happened...).
After all, the same happened a little later with the "double-chinned" (horrible English term, I know) lower engine cowls which, being available in great numbers at MTT Regensburg, were applied on their G-14/ASs though there was no necessity at all of any "chin bulge" on that sub-type.