2 Messerschmitts in original wartime paint
G’day all, it’s been an age since I posted here as life has been in the way of modelling recently. Unfortunately I still don’t have a project to share but I thought some of you might be interested in this.
I recently took my son to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for his birthday. Among the AWMs impressive collection are a pair of Messerschmitts that still carry their wartime paint schemes. Me 262 “black X” and a Bf 109 G-6. In fact, in the case of the 109, the museum claims it is the only known example in original colours. The 262 shows areas of the original RLM paint as well as over painting by it’s captors in 1945.
The exhibits are kept in extremely low light in the interest of preservation, and access to all angles of the aircraft is fairly restricted, particularly with the 262. This made photographing them difficult. Nevertheless, I hope they are a useful reference. Enjoy the pics!
28 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 21, 2021
Those were amazing pics, Ben!
It is of utmost importance to see how the actual aircraft stood in reality.
Thanks for sharing, they will definitely serve as reference.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Cheers Spiros, the pleasure was all mine mate!
Michel Verschuere said on February 21, 2021
Great pictures, thanks Ben!
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Thanks for checking them out Michel.
John vd Biggelaar said on February 21, 2021
Thanks for sharing, Ben.
Very useful pictures.
What a wonderful day to spend your son’s birthday, he must have liked it a lot.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Thanks John. Yes, it’s his favourite place to go. He loves warbirds more than I do!
Paul Barber said on February 21, 2021
Hey Ben, fantastic shots – despite the light and the tight spaces! I’m a Pommy living on the Gold Coast – you just cemented my determination to head to Canberra to the AWM with my two (8 and 9). Thanks for the photos and the inspiration!
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Hi Paul, the aircraft hall is currently being renovated so there are a few planes missing, but still well worth the trip. If you fly down, there is a bonus Hudson in the airport terminal.
Ross Paton said on February 21, 2021
Fascinating. Transports you back! Weathering!! Hope the poor pilot’s not been stuck in there all this time 🙂
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Hi Ross, he gets to shoot down a Lancaster once an hour so he doesn’t mind. By now he must be Germany’s highest scoring ace!
Haslam Yeoman said on February 21, 2021
Great photos Ben. Next time I am over east I will have to visit the memorial again. I haven’t been since my early teens.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Thanks Haslam. I used to visit as a kid too, I even worked there for a while years ago. It has changed a lot but just keeps getting better and better.
John Healy said on February 21, 2021
Thanks for sharing. Pretty simple and crude mottling on the 109. Makes me feel better about my airbrush skills😂.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
I thought the same John!
gary sausmikat said on February 21, 2021
Nice! Great detail shots. Thanks for sharing.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
No worries Gary.
Pedro L. Rocha said on February 21, 2021
Thank you very much for posting those wonderful pictures Ben! Black X is a well known machine, but it’s the first time I see the 109 G-6. It’s a very peculiar machine, since it combines several features not the most usual, like having a retrofitted Erla Haube canopy, since it still carries the antena mast of the earlier squared canopies.
Also quite interesting are the “mixed” paintings of the spinner, both one third white and spiral, the very visible patches of oxide primary and the reinforced stripe at the wingtip panel line. In fact the whole paintwork might as well been made by a talented modeller.
Your post is a very valuable image source, I’m bookmarking them if you don’t mind 😉
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Be my guest Pedro. There is some more information on the museum’s website that states the aircraft was refurbished at some point during it’s service life.
Gábor Szabó said on February 21, 2021
Wow! Thank you for Your effort! I will use Your pics as references in my future builds.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Cheers Gabor!
Bernard Bedeur said on February 21, 2021
What a valuable resource the photos are you posted.
Weathering to the Max.
Thank you.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
G’day Bernard, next time someone tells you you’ve over weathered a kit just show them the 262!
Stephen W Towle said on February 21, 2021
Considering the age of the a/c and the paint the things that I see are the number of scratches, scrapes, dings and missing paint. We modelers go to great links to have perfect paint jobs and flaw less finishes . Maybe another step in making a kit will include taking the kit out back and hitting it with a belt. 😉
I am sure that at the end of the war the hardware was kept running and the looks of the aircraft didn’t matter.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Agreed Stephen, although to be fair, I believe the 262 spent a few years being displayed outside before it went to the AWM.
Erik Gjørup said on February 21, 2021
Ben @popeofchillitown, thank you for sharing these fantastic kites. Indeed it was a great story that these were kept in original condition. Unlike later “bernfind” planes, these were newer restored, but kept in as close to original condition as humanly possible.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
Thanks for looking Erik,
John Krukowski said on February 21, 2021
What a time capsule these are, especially the ‘109, looks like it could fly today.
The ‘262 is amazing too, it’s a finely-built machine yet a bit crude in spots.
Even considering they’re 75 years old they really don’t look it, and it’s so nice to see the actual colors for once instead of someone’s interpretations of them.
Thanks so much for sharing these absolute treasures here with us.
Ben Walmsley said on February 21, 2021
My pleasure John.
Robert Royes said on February 22, 2021
It’s like looking through a time machine, awesome! Thanks for sharing .
Ben Walmsley said on February 24, 2021
No worries Robert, thanks for looking.
Tom Cleaver said on July 31, 2021
I love the fact that your photos prove that all the guys who are worried they can’t airbrush nice neat mottling on a 109 can rest easy. 🙂