why is this plane sometimes interpreted with a 2 tone fuselage?

[aurelien wolff]

Hello, I'd like to do this one from my revell G10 erla (it was started a really really long time ago and I want to finnish it) but I'm not sure about its cmaouflage, some see it with 2 tone of color on the rear but I don't see tha ton the picture, to me, it feel like one of those late erla G10 and K with the whole plane in one color. Some also think it got the red landing gear and wheel (may do it like that since it make it more interesting to look at). Some claim the number is green, other yellow and j-c mermet went for gray basing himself on a letter from a pilot.

thanks for your answers!

 

[Wurger]

The G-10 captured at the Prague-Kbely airfield in 1945.
The top colours RLM 81/82 are the assumption only. It is very likely the tops were of the RLM82 one colour only. The undersides are said to be not painted except the details coming form sub-contractors. Then these were of the RLM76. For sure the wings had the large bulges for the larger landing wheels. What is more the front cowling of the engine is taken from a different plane that was of the RLM74/75/76 uniform. Regarding the digit "7" , it can be noticed that the digit has the white outline. Taking the Germen's rules for aircraft marking if it would be the yellow there should be the black outline but not the white. Also it could be without the line around. See the shot with the "5" of the same squadron also at the Prague-Kbely airfield. The white outline was used for red mostly. However at the end of the war Germans might use what they could find and markings could vary. So the green paint would be as possible as the yellow with the white outline.

the pic source: the net.

 

[aurelien wolff]

eduard also intepreted it with a mix of color for some reason: (I got the royal class to do the croatian G14/AS and italian erla option)

 

[Wurger]

eduard also intepreted it with a mix of color for some reason: (I got the royal class to do the croatian G14/AS and italian erla option)
View attachment 844393

Yes and many others too. The main problem is that the RLM 81 and 82 were the low-contrast colours. As a result it is very difficult to state if there were two paints or one only applied. Here is an example .... can you see?

the pic source: Bf 109G-10 Erla, 3.JG300, Prague-Kbely,May 1945

 

[aurelien wolff]

I can see something on the cross but I don't think it's the same case with 7

 

[Wurger]

I can see something on the cross but I don't think it's the same case with 7

Yes you are right. The lighter tone can be also noticed at the cockpit area and the tail. But as I have said .. any clear demarcation line between the two colours can be noticed in the B&W pic clearly. Just the lighter and darker areas only. Here is the image you posted above with marked differences that may cause the thinking there could be the two RLM paints ...

 

[aurelien wolff]

still, it could also come from the light or the aircraft being dirty

 

[Wurger]

still, it could also come from the light or the aircraft being dirty

To be honest .. rather no. The whole aircraft is lightened by the sunlight from above without the shadow at the tops. But you are right that the plane is quite dirty and just dusty. However the difference in the tone can be noticed on the cockpit frame nicely. The front windscreen is light while the Erla hood got the dark colour. The dark tone is the same like the front band on the engine cowling behind the spinner and the area of the fuselage in front to the horizontal stabilizer.

 

[mjfur]

Color photo for comparison.

 

[aurelien wolff]

I wonder if luminosity can't also play a role in this

 

[Wurger]

I wonder if luminosity can't also play a role in this

Of course it can.But the a certain extent. The colours reflect light differently.

 

[aurelien wolff]

so there seems to be 2 hypothesis on intepreting that plane: one rlm 81 color on the fuselage and the other in 81/82

 

[Wurger]

I would say the RLM 82 on tops and the fuselage overal. According to the Eduard the fuselage got the RLM81/82 colours while the wing tops only the RLM82
.