Heinkel He 162 upper wingcolour Mystery

[DaveM2]

The wing crosses are applied as they were found on the aircraft during restoration, different styles for the upper and lower wings.

Dave

[NC900A8]

Yes Dave!

Exactly what we found during the cleaning of old paint.

Remenber also that the very first He 162 of the serie 120 received on the fuselage the small b&w cross.
And also the two tails were green......with the "WNr." painted in white.

Sorry I work this night, but it is time to take the road before going to my bed!!!

See you later!

Philippe

[SMF144]

Philippe,

NO! The original upper wing camouflage on the wings of 76 and 86 were and are not 81/82!!!! And, the intake for the engine pod of 86 is not 02 like yours. End of story.

Stephen

[NC900A8]

Hi Stephen,

I just say "I hope", not "I am sure" for the upper wings color.

But Here is a photo showing part of the upper wings of 120086.

For you what is this color: RLM70, 81 or 82?

[SMF144]

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/he162sf_1.htm

And I have a slew more photos that I did not post with this announcement.

Stephen

[SMF144]

Philippe, et al,

Further to my previous post:

Actually, it’s no colour; well German that is. I suspect what you are seeing is an attempt, possibly by the RAF, to make 86 presentable for display in Hyde Park? The reason why I say this, if you study the markings on 86, the original ones were painted over by the RAF with roundels, most likely on the continent. Then, sometime later, maybe in England, the roundels were been painted over and representative German national markings were applied. As can be seen on the fuselage of 86, I suspect some effort was made to match the original German colours.
Both 76 and 86 came to Canada more or less wearing their original camouflage. When the national aviation museum, god bless them, repainted 76, they did it as a complete unit. Consequently, and lucky for us, the area covered by the engine pod wasn’t touched and the original camouflage is still present. (See attached images)
If you can, Phillipe, head to Aero Vintage’s work shop to study the wing before they strip it.
As a side note, my observations of 86 prove that the upper wing surface was not painted in two colours as per the official guide.

http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?i...20076209gj.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?i...20076110qq.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5048/app00001jw2.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9497/app0002vz2.jpg

Stephen

[Pascal Abbet]

Hi folks,
Once again!

The picture (see below He 162 white 21) shows the presumed undersurfaces of the 120015. The cross looks like the bold type, the same as seen on the white 3 (see second picture).
Philippe, could you confirm me you fin thin cross type during the restoration process. If it'is the case, how could you explain the difference between the picture and the present wings?

Concerning the restaoration schedule, when do you expecte to complete the project.

I'm looking forward to your answer and your coming publication about the He 162 (120015).

Best regards

Pascal

((Pictures from Defending the Reich, The history of JG 1 "Oesau", E. Mombeeek, JAC Publications, 1992)

[NC900A8]

Hi Stephen and Pascal,

My photo show a very small part of the wing of 120086, only taken in november 2006!! by the team of the Canadian Museum in order to help us for the restoration of 120015!
I am sure that this small part have the original german paint, as you can see on the bottom some original german markings for the fuel tank.
But I am OK with you, the german cross were overpainted during the Hyde park show, so the 'green color' near the actual german cross is an english green!
Stephen, the wing's photo with the splinter camouflage show the wing, not of 120086, but of 120076.

Pascal, I know those two photos, with the all black cross, but our wings have not this sort of cross, sorry but we discovered under the 4 french paint the original cross, like you can see at our MFA site.
Don' remenber that tail , fins and wings were easy go from one to another plane!
For our 120015, one fin come from 120223, one from 31005 and the ejection seat from 120231!!But the wings come really from 120015, as we find "15" on the wings.

The story of the 162 camouflage is difficult!

[SMF144]

Philippe,

Thanks for your reply to my post. I am well aware that the two pictures I supplied of 76's wing are just that. I posted them to prove a point about the colour of the upper wing surface. Please re-read my post. The other point I am trying to make by positng these photos is not aimed at the post war splinter camouflage repaint, but the surface directly underneath the engine pod; see where the red arrow is pointing.

Now, I am not sure how many photos the staff at the National Aviation Museum Canada provided, but obviously they didn't know what they were looking at because it shows in the photo that you have posted. (It is not, repeat, not the original German camouflage colour) I know, because I have dealt with the staff and there is no in-house expert on the He.162!

In regards to 120086, the point I am trying to get across is the fact that the upper wing surface is a vibrant dark green, possibly RLM 82? Also, it proves that the wing was painted in one colour and not, I repeat, not segmented as per the official RLM guide.

As for 76, I have no idea what is under the post war splinter repaint, but, the only evidence we have of original camouflage paint is the surface area under the engine pod, which is similar to that of 86. I can only assume that the original paint on 76 is the same as shown on 86. (Which, again, is a vibrant dark green).

As of note, the camouflage on the horizontal tail plane of 86 is not, and I repeat, not segmented. The starboard elevator is RLM 81, top and bottom, whereas the port elevator is RLM 81 on top and and RLM76 on the bottom. (I suspect the port elevator is a replacement because the photo on page 10 of the Monogram Close-up 11 taken at Leck shows 86 with what appears to be a missing the port elevator.)

I really hope your project goes well.

Stephen

[NC900A8]

Stephen,

Many thanks for your reply!!

Here is another photo from the 120086:


You can see on the right around the post-war german croos, the "englsh green", and on the left side the original german color.

Like you, I am sure that the wings are painted in one color, possibly the RLM82.

Do you want a photo of 120015's cockpit? My first 1989 restoration?
We must restore it again, it will be more easy in 2007 than in 1989, as the fuselage is now on the circular jig!