Me 262 WNr. 501232, Vol 2, p. 291

[PhilippeDM]

David,

When do you fly over???

You're welcome. Belgian beer is better than dutch one (say experts, as I do not drink beer)

Nice to hear from you...

Very best regards,

Philippe

[Ruy Horta]

Quite a reunion going on in here!

I guess I could at least scan and post the bits that matter to the discussion.

Difference in filter and film explain the variance of colors seen on different shots of the plane, but cannot explain the difference between markings in the similar shot.

Since the word photoshop has been dropped, I expect that this didn't happen once, but twice in time.

You've been studying this a/c for some years, so there is little I can bring against that, but it certainly has kick started my interest again!

There is a third possibility, which added to photoshopping and old fashion retouching, and that's (re)painting in the field. And I am talking about a possible mix of these as well.



Itching to scan these tids and bits, will do so later today.

[Ruy Horta]

Three times the same WNr 501232, three times the same photo, but not the same pattern.

Ullmann



Ullmann in detail



Ullmann 300 dpi

http://www.threewhitemice.com/images...olours_p75.jpg

Smith & Creek



Smith & Creek in detail



Smith & Creek 300 dpi

http://www.threewhitemice.com/images..._Vol4_p822.jpg

Merrick



Merrick in detail



Merrick 300 dpi

http://www.threewhitemice.com/images..._Vol2_p291.jpg

Of course I can understand inconsistency between different photos, even on different sides, but this is the same shot. I'd be extremely surprised if they could have managed a film or even filter change. Besides that would not explain the continued pattern of camouflage.

IMHO either the starboard (right side for the most of us) had an unfinished chequer and some people were creative enough to finish for them on the through retouching or in modern times photoshopping, or the opposite is true and camouflage was added (which doesn't make sense).

Even the photos of the port side look to have a messy pattern, either through having been a rush job, or again some inconsistency - perhaps even post war imagination??

But I am not willing to speculate on the port side, the starboard side is proving to be challenging enough, and I think you will agree with me that pictures say more than a thousand words.



Please understand that I do not want to breach any copyright laws, these scans are purely to illustrate what is proving to be an interesting enigma.

[O.Menu]

Excuse this late answer but I always though that Germans got time to finish portside only of the fuselage bi-color band, only one color being painted on the starboard side...

So i agree with you Ruy, the only not photoshoped image is probably only the last (the one from Merrick)...

But on the other way i m surprised to learn that you found some "messy Pattern" on portside!

[Dick Powers]

Interesting. I noticed that the "Ullmann" photo seems to have dark patches reversed from the other two photos.

[robert_schulte]

Regarding the Smith/Creek photo: There is a small dot at the chin of the soldier standing in front of the Me. Is this a fault of the scanner? My copy of the book doesn't show this dot
BTW: Dan O'Connell's Production Log shows the same version of the photo as Merrick (page 182).

[Kjetil Aakra]

I agree with your observations, Ruy.

Certainly looks like the dark starboard side checkers are the only ones present, the others being made out of camouflage. If not, I really hope someone can explain the apparent camouflage demarcation visible in one of the checkers??

It is obvious that the three versions you posted, Ruy, cannot all be portraying the truth. I would like to learn which photo is closest to the truth, if any!

Hopefully some of the Me 262 experts here can enlighten us further.

Kjetil Aakra

[Harold Lake]

Everyone is missing something. It must be understood that once an airplane falls captive, the new owners will probably mess with the original. Why? Because they have the time, the paint and maybe the inclination. The last element here is key.

The American's may have wished to complete what they thought the Germans started but did not finish. This could have meant adding the supposed missing 2nd color to the checker band, or overpainting it in one new dark color. A photo exists of another Me 262, from the same unit, that has the same one color half finished checker band! Draw your own conclusions.

Hal