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Huub, that sort of reminds me of the paint scheme on the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum's Me-262, which was also originally a "Me-262A-1a/U3" with photo recon nose, captured by the Allies at the end of the war at an airfield near Lechfeld, Germany. The blisters on the sides of the nose were required so as to make room for the large film boxes for the R6-50/30 cameras. Today, the FHCAM Me-262A-1a/U3 is restored with a standard fighter nose (that it has had since 1946), but has been finished in the same field-applied paint scheme it originally had at the end of the war when in U3 configuration. https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn....=8962aad45a8fa3bf8eed95be56865310&oe=5E9A8C8E
After the war, having been one of the number of German aircraft brought back to the US for evaluation, it ended up having its photo nose swapped with the fighter nose from another Me-262 during the evaluation period (the photo nose going to the Me-262 that is now at the Smithsonian). The photo nose is said to still be in storage with the Smithsonian, while they restored theirs back to fighter nose configuration. The late Paul Allen decided early on in the restoration of the FHCAM Me-262 that he wanted to keep the fighter nose on the aircraft, but with everything restored to 100% accuracy/authenticity, as it has been. On the aircraft today, you can still see the mounting locations on the fuselage for the aft fairings of the camera nose blisters. The aircraft was restored with brand new Jumo 004 engines, featuring original cores and restored original two-stroke starter motors. Beginning last fall, the aircraft has done numerous engine runs and some taxi tests, and has been moved to Moses Lake for flight testing that should commence sometime this year. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref..._id=f2f74534955c1e1e279d103d6f55ba55&q=me-262
Hi John
Thanks for your reply. The wavy stripe pattern was quite common for the aircraft of "Nahaufklärungsgruppe 6" (Short range reconnaissance group). So its not uncommon that other Me262A-1a/U3 aircraft, like thge Flying Heritage one, had similar liveries.
I was aware of the Flying Heritage Me262A-1a/U3 and that it was painted in similar colours as TonyG's repaint. I have also been following the discussion whether you should fly a vintage aircraft with the original Jumo 004 engines.... But so far I hadn't seen any images of the engine tests, so thanks for the Facebook link (any thoughts about the light grey smoke escaping from the bottom of the engine?).
Its not that strange the Flying Heritage wants to keep their Me262 with a fighter nose, as it might originally has been built as a normal fighter. When you look at the picture from the aircraft below, you can still clearly see the gun ports from the guns which aren't installed (The single MK 108 gun was not present on all reconnaissance Me262 aircraft). Also interesting, White 34 was actually converted from U3 version into the normal fighter version.
Cheers,
Huub
Thank you. Will pick it up tonight when I get home, or when it becomes available.I'll upload it here tomorrow (as soon as I paint the glare shield on the nose). I didn't see it in the 1940 photo until I enlarged it to post.
Joe