Osprey Aces books

[Kutscha]

I have been reading some not so nice comments about the series and the color profiles in the Osprey Aces series. This is especially so for the artist of the German a/c.

My questions are:

1. how did the artist(s) arrive at the colors used in the profiles?
2. how much research went into the books?

The second question because of between what was written and what actually happened.

example from another board:

"Or the glaring example of the claims by a certain "Arkadii Sukov" against JG 54. Some of these claims are so easy to uncover as exaggerations (or even lies) that it's not funny anymore:

a) May 22 1942: Sukov claimed to have shot down 47-victory ace Otto-Bruno Loerzer of II./JG 54. I cannot verify this claim as I have never heard of this man (who is supposed to be Generalfeldmarschall Loerzer's son). The Luftwaffe claim lists supplied by Tony Wood do not list his name at all.

b) August 9 1942: Sukov claimed to have killed 102-victory ace Max-Helmut Ostermann of 7./JG 54. It may be possible that Sukov's LaGG-3 was responsible, but I have also heard the version of Ostermann being killed by a P-40.

c) September 18 1942: Sukov claimed to have shot-down Herbert Findeisen who bailed out and became POW. Bull**** (with capital B) !!!! Findeisen was a recon pilot until well into 1944. He did not join JG 54 until then and lead II./JG 54 into british captivity. Remarkable career for a soviet POW from 1942.

d) November 11 1942: Sukov claimed to have shot down 54-victory ace Hans-Joachim Heyer. Again Bull**** (with capital B) !!!! Heyer was listed as MIA on November 9 1942 after a collision with either his wingman or his last victim (a Yak) near Gorodok.

e) December 17 1944: Sukov claimed to have shot down 52-victory ace Heinrich Wefers. I have not managed to find this name anywhere else, so either he does not exist or is misspelt. I cannot check anything.

f) January 3 1945: Sukov claimed to have shot down 76-victory ace Hans-Joachim Kroschinski. And again - you may guess .... Bull****. Heyer was badly wounded on December 21 1944 when his Fw 190 was badly hit by Pe-2 gunners over Libau. He lost his eyesight, a leg and suffered other grievous wounds so he could not have flown two weeks later ..."