Fake Tail Section and Swastika?

[CCNCCN]

Just curious about the cockpit width at the pilot's seat position - thanks

[Junkers88A1]

1.20meters at shoulderhight at pilots position

[CCNCCN]

Interesting, that's a bit smaller than it looks (at least to me) in pictures - thank you

[Junkers88A1]

its really small. did measure it today when i was in the museum ! i measured it from the bottom of the forward canopyframe ( shoulderheight )

[CCNCCN]

wow - awesome restoration!

[Junkers88A1]

thanks

its the whole story on my website

http://www.ju88.net/

its a lomg ongoing process but its slowely starting to look like something

[Andy Saunders]

Hello Junkers 88A1.

I am in constant amazement at the superb restorations undertaken at Gardermoen and Bodo and have visited the latter twice. What you guys have done, and are doing, is awesome!

I understand what you say about the "green" colour and have seen this myself, too. However, I am of the view that this is in fact one of the RLM shades. I admit it does appear "greenish", but I don't think it is the same colour as on the interior of the swastika panel under discussion. That said, viewing these shades on a monitor is not a reliable basis, I suppose, for any definitive answer to be forthcoming. How you and I both view the colour will doubtless be different on our monitors - as it will be for everyone else. Perhaps the jury is still out on this aspect, although interior colour aside I remain convinced that this swastika panel is a fake.

One last thing, Junkers88A1. Slightly off topic, but were you involved in the He 111 restoration(s)? On a technical point I am curious to know what the collection of small round apperures is on the starboard side of the nose on the He. 111 just aft of the nose glazing. They appear in many photos of 1940 period He 111's and there has been some discussion here on another thread about this. They seem something to do with flare/signal cartridge stowage. But why? And how? And why are there this series of holes in the external skin - was this covered in fabric or something of the sort? I am just puzzled as to what this is. I am hoping that someone can tell me and put me out of my misery!! I just want to understand what it is/was and its purpose! Does the Gardermoen Heinkel have it?

Andy

[David Ransome]

Hi Andy,

This was a wooden block perforated with holes that held the cartridges. On the inside was a metal cover, the outside was originally covered over with doped fabric/thick paper although some production photos show this being left off. If you find the original long thread you will find more explanation and illustrations. As you will note from the thread the holes were angled in such a way that if a cartridge went off the 'blast' would be deflected away from the aircraft - or at least that was the idea!

The Gardermoen aircraft will have had it although when I saw it the block was missing and the rectangular hole in the cockpit skin was the only evidence of it, couldn't say whether a block is now fitted or not.

Regards,

David

[Junkers88A1]

hi

as i mantioned above, i will not comment on the part if its real or fake because i have not seen it in real life. monitors does give a bad view and colours( but i can say one thing that does make me a bit puzeled ) the rivets are riveted from the outside and flattened on the back.. this is unusual on the german aircrafts i have seen. they usually have the round heads inside and flattened on the outside and then was grinded down to a smooth surface ) this the germans was experts with

now to the He 111. the small holes are for the flares ! and the outside is covered with fabric. in case of a fire the flarebox was jettisoned by pushing it out. its the same in the Ju 52 and all other bigger planes that the flarebox could be jettiosned !
allthough the Ju 52 and the Ju 88 has metalcovers on the outside and the boxses are springloaded so one just pull a handle and out goes the whole flareboxses !

i have done quite a lot on our He 111 as it was pretty fast and poorly restored so it has gotten a sexond restoration where this item was but back in place by me ( as it was missing and i managed to get hold on one from belgium )and during the planes repaint it also got the correct fabric cover on the outside ( one these pictures taken over different times one can see the box from the outside beeing white and red ( the middle part of it between the white and red was not yet painted when these pics was taken.. that is now very green ( lighter green that the fuselage..but the outer fabric is painted in the same fuselagepaint.. just realized that somehow that detail has been left out during my picturetaking over the years..hehe

the box is seen from the inside withe the leather Mg 15 sparepartkit mounted on the "door"
just behind it is the flares and one push and out the whole thing goes

attached also a picture of the flreboxses in the tail gunner compartment of the Ju 52- those are jettiosned by pulling a handle ( on top of the two tubes you see going down towards the flareholders

[Junkers88A1]

and thanks for the comments. we try oer best with what we got

the Ju 88 had a slightly better construction.. the falerboxses had a inner lids as well and did not make a gaping hole in the fusealega after jettiosn of flareboxes. and that would not give the fire more air to "breathe " in
the handle to jettiosn the Ju 88 flareboxes is just barely seen between the two partely open lids ( see small red part ) and when jettiosned the boxses will pop out on the side ( see the golden area on right side of fuselage..these pics are take some years ago so the parts look much better now

and the Ju 52..the early war years the Ju 52 used the twin barrel flaregun mounted in the back ( see picture ) and one can also see from the outside ( on the balkencross ) there is a flat area not corugated.. that is the flareboxses. and that area is jettisoned in case of fire ( this picture was take for another reason but does clearly show the flat area on the side of the fuselage )

welcome back anytime and let me know if you want to see the workshop if that was closed during your visit

i hope this maks thing clearer for you