Fake Tail Section and Swastika?

[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