𝕸𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖈𝖍𝖒𝖎𝖙𝖙 𝕭𝖋 109𝕲-6/14 "𝖌𝖊𝖑𝖇𝖊 11", 𝖂𝖓𝖗.: 230 785 , 𝕱r𝖎𝖙𝖟𝖑𝖆𝖗 𝕾𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖗 1945 - simple conversion Hasegawa 1:48 (4 Viewers)

[BOBO]

Can't answer the first questions but a WAG, the drain was extended to prevent fuel from getting on the lens

Not fuel, but rather oil - or are you referring to the "Extend Fuel Drain Tube"?

 

[BOBO]

AFAIK it is just a cover panel, an aerodynamic fairing. It is not structural for the camera itself which was mounted on a supporting frame inside the fuselage The opening was just a hole in the fairing.
This is the camera in the fuselage:
View attachment 901134

So – just a hole in the fuselage, and the rest is an attachment for channeling oil and and a little bit of fuel away from the lens – right?
But what is the purpose of this "extend fuel drain tube"—was it a standard feature, or was it only used on very specific 109 variants?

 

[CATCH 22]

So – just a hole in the fuselage, and the rest is an attachment for channeling oil and and a little bit of fuel away from the lens – right?
But what is the purpose of this "extend fuel drain tube"—was it a standard feature, or was it only used on very specific 109 variants?

I don't know. As George mentioned before that long pipe/tube probably drains the fuel (the fuel vent is just a small pipe protruding from the fuselage) away from the lens. It appears to me that the fuel vent is far back though:

The edge in front of the lens (rain barrier) probably keeps the opening from dirt, oil, whatever.

 

[Wurger]

So – just a hole in the fuselage, and the rest is an attachment for channeling oil and and a little bit of fuel away from the lens – right?
But what is the purpose of this "extend fuel drain tube"—was it a standard feature, or was it only used on very specific 109 variants?

I agree with Catch22. The entire cover panel was nothing more but an aerodynamic fairing. Being a set for a field modification couldn't be any reinforcing fuealge panel just because of its attaching. Although the RB camera wasn't so long it had the long leans of focal length 50 cm and the antiglare tube that protruded a little bit at the bottom. For the reason the fairing with the moisture/water deflector also could protect the camer lens against the oil droplets from the engine exhaust or the cooling system of the engine compartment coming out at the bottom.

Regarding the extend fuel drain tube .. it should be kept in mind that the main and also the belly jettisoned fule tanks were attached quite close to the camera compartment... Actuallly the pilot was sitting on the main tank. Contrary to that the oil tank(s) were installed at the front of the engine compartment and didn't go through the firewall in front of the cockpit too much. So getting the oil at the back this way wasn't rather possible rather. But the fuel filler and pipes were just going close to there and the possibility of appearing the fuel leaks there was highly likely. For the reason the draining extended tube seems to be quite logical reason for using it when the rüstsatz R2 was installed in order to protect the camara mount and lens against the fuel as well. But I don't think it was any standard way of draining as the drain was already installed there but a little bit back between the bulkheads 3 and 4 also seen in the B&W shot from the manual.

 

[CATCH 22]

I agree with Catch22. The entire cover panel was nothing more but an aerodynamic fairing. Being a set for a field modification couldn't be any reinforcing fuealge panel just because of its attaching. Although the RB camera wasn't so long it had the long leans of focal length 50 cm and the antiglare tube that protruded a little bit at the bottom. For the reason the fairing with the moisture/water deflector also could protect the camer lens against the oil droplets from the engine exhaust or the cooling system of the engine compartment coming out at the bottom.

Regarding the extend fuel drain tube .. it should be kept in mind that the main and also the belly jettisoned fule tanks were attached quite close to the camera compartment... Actuallly the pilot was sitting on the main tank. Contrary to that the oil tank(s) were installed at the front of the engine compartment and didn't go through the firewall in front of the cockpit too much. So getting the oil at the back this way wasn't rather possible rather. But the fuel filler and pipes were just going close to there and the possibility of appearing the fuel leaks there was highly likely. For the reason the draining extended tube seems to be quite logical reason for using it when the rüstsatz R2 was installed in order to protect the camara mount and lens against the fuel as well. But I don't think it was any standard way of draining as the drain was already installed there but a little bit back between the bulkheads 3 and 4 also seen in the B&W shot from the manual.

View attachment 901160
View attachment 901164

Wojtek, thank you for the input! I couldn't find that photo from the manual but it was exactly the one I was looking for. Thanks, great!
It is obvious the that fuel vent is further back. Not sure if the scheme (in English) with the longer tube is correct at all.

 

[Wurger]

Wojtek, thank you for the input! I couldn't find that photo from the manual but it was exactly the one I was looking for. Thanks, great!
It is obvious the that fuel vent is further back. Not sure if the scheme (in English) with the longer tube is correct at all.

No problemo Yves. Glad I could help a little bit.

Anyway the diagram with the longer tube is the excerpt from Squadron/Signal Publication Aircraft no. 57 - Bf 109 in action vol II. It is on page 25 in the chapter for Bf 109G-4 non-pressurized fighter. According to the info there the G-4/R2 had the 300l drop tank carried normally. So it's possible the manual for the rüstsatz R2 mounting could recommend attaching the drain additionally. The reason for that , as I mantioned it above, could be the fuel lines that run at the cockpit bottom area just in case of the leaks there. But I haven't seen any images of Bf 109G with a such long tube there.