The Journal of Axis Eagles Inc. World War 2 Axis Aircraft

Special Interest Group May/June 2013

In this issue; Feature Article: Colour My World On The Nose News, Reviews and lots more.

OFFICE BEARERS President John Baxter Vice President Paul Sabin Secretary Brad Gaff Treasurer Mark Lewis Display Brad Gaff Co-ordinator Email axiseagles@hotmail.com Editor Keith Gaff Newsletter kgaff@bigpond.com Email Registered Office 83 Betula Avenue Bundoora 3083

FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK One of the great debates raging within our hobby at present is the issue of kit pricing. There are enormous differences in what a modeller pays for the latest kit depending on where they buy the product and it begs the question : why?. The answer is simple; the distribution network. For over 100 years the network that linked manufacturer to distributor to retailer was the conduit through which product reached consumers and what a cosy little arrangement that was. Prices were fixed and controlled and everyone got a slice of the action. The system began to fall apart when retail price fixing was outlawed and the restrictions on parallel importing were lifted. Suddenly the distributor became irrelevant. The system was no longer a closed shop and internet shopping simply added to the distributors woes, together with those of the retailers. I’ve seen similar occurences in other industries and the reaction is always the same. The distributors threaten punitive action and all kinds of nasties in a futile attempt to halt the changes. The net result of all of this is that the distributors will have to adapt or die; some retailers will, inevitably, fail and prices will fall, at least in the short term. Whether this is all in the interests of modellers in the long term remains to be seen. In my experience you pay a price for every innovation. The price here has yet to be exacted. Keith Gaff

Front Cover: Flambouyant was hardly the adjective worthy of describing Luftwaffe Chief, Herman Goering. Hisuniforms, jewellery, art and surroundings; much of it stolen was a testament to that fact. His personal aircraft, a red Junkers Ju52 was just another example of excess. In this editions feature article; “Colour My World” we look at some of the colourful schemes to adorn Axis aircraft.

2013 MEETING DATES

Bookings have been made for the Camberwell Library for 2013 and the dates are as follows; 21/7; 18/8; 15/9; 10/11. All meetings will commence at 1.00pm and email notification of each meeting will be transmitted prior to the meeting.

COLOUR CONTROVERSY The matter of colour is one of the most vexed questions in aero modelling.. Colour photo’s have long been the final arbiter in these disputes but as the photographs opposite show you can’t even rely upon them. This image of a derelict Mitsubishi Zero has been reproduced in two distinctly different shades and which is correct?. If I was a betting man I would say the top picture, but I can’t be sure. Without wishing to fan the flames of this argument the best one can do is build your model to the references available. Until someone comes up with better information it’s all you can do.

EAGLES DAY A date and venue have been arrived at for Eagles Day. It will be held on October 27th at the Burwood East Primary School. There are a number of changes to the show this year. The Junior Category will not be restricted to aircraft. There will be two new categories; Targets which will include ships, vehicles and armour which will expand the boundaries of what can be entered and we will be introducing a Master Class.

LAST EDITIONS “WHAT IS IT?” This was a tough one. The Caproni Vizzola F6Z was a development of the Capron Vizzola F5.

Caproni began work on two F.6 prototypes, This one; the F6Z was designed to use the Isotta-Fraschini R.C.25/60 Zeta 24-cylinder X-type engine and designated the F.6Z, with "Z" standing for Zeta. Problems with engine development greatly delayed the F.6Z, but it finally flew in August 1943.

Testing in August and September 1943 showed that the Zeta engine, although rated at 1,500 horsepower was producing only 1,200 horsepower, and this problem was not solved before the World War II Italian armistice with the Allies of 8 September 1943 brought the F.6Z project to an end. The sole F.6Z prototype was the only fighter to be powered by the Zeta engine. One other fighter type, the Reggiane Re.2004 was also planned with this engine, but was not built.

A modeller can choose to enter the Master Class if they think they’re good enough or they will be placed there based upon their previous performances and modelling prowess. This is something of a controversial move but it goes to even out the competitors. It will be interesting to see how this idea fares.

Here’s a German oddity that someone might be able to identify, Give it your best shot!!!!.

UNBELIEVABLE !!!!

Many years ago, as a younger man, when I got into this business the Australian War Memorials Messerschmitt Me262 was housed at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. During that period several people toyed with a proposal to replace the Junkers Jumo engines with Armstrong Siddley Vipers and actually fly the aircraft. It was utter nonsense but it made for a great chat over a biscuit and a cup of tea.

Not for one moment did I ever believe that I would live to see the day when a Messerschmitt Me262 would actually fly. Now we have several in the air. Admittedly they’re new build replicas and that’s incredible in it’s own right.

It’s been 40 years since a few young enthusiasts allowed their imaginations to run riot. None of us could have forseen an operation that would churn out replica German jet fighters and if anyone had suggested that possibility at the time they would have been laughed out of the room.

EVEN MORE UNBELIEVABLE !!!!

This Yokosuka D4Y4 Judy was discovered as a wreck on Babo Island in the South West Pacific in 1991. It belongs to the Planes of Fame Museum in the United States and was restored to taxiing condition by fitting it with a Pratt and Whitney R-1830 radial engine. It’s not airworthy but it must turn heads when it trundles down the taxi way.

MORE C.R.A.P.

This is beginning to make my head hurt. Some time ago we looked at a subject entitles Completely Ridiculous Aircraft Profiles or as I like to call them C.R.A.P. Well the Photoshop boys have been at it again. This Heinkel He 100 was supposedly captured by the RAAF in the Western Desert and painted in desert camouflage. If you believe that you’ll buy the Sydney Harbour Bridge off the next salesman to knock on your door. I would still like to see a club display at Model Expo themed to this nonsense and yes it should be titled C.R.A.P. You have to admit it would get some attention.

American Bomber Aircraft Development In World War 2

I was very pleased when I received this book for review, and after reading it through, I’ve found it to be well worth the wait. This is an excep-tionally good work on US bombers, not only for the wealth of information but the excellent illus-trative content to compliment its extensive text.

Published by Midland Publishing and written by Bill Norton, this 224 page, lavishly illustrated volume covers not just a wide range of bomb-ers but also their equipment and associated development. It covers the rapid advances in aerodynamics, engine, turbo-superchargers, bombsights, bombs and rockets, radar, guns and turrets – and that’s just in the first chapter!

Operational information is quite limited, as you would expect from the title, however, the histor-ical and technical aspects are chronologically presented within each chapter and things tech-nical are easily manageable so you’re not bogged down in heaps of techno-terms. The amount of material presented is remarkable, quite informative and well written.

Aircraft types covered include B-17, B-18, B24, B-25, B-26, B-29, B-32 plus A-20, A-26, PB2Y, PB4Y and Hudsons, Baltimores, Marylands, Venturas, early Neptunes without going into project aircraft, of which there are many. There two pages on the huge XB-19, for instance, with two very nice b&w photos and one in colour.

The extensive use of predominantly b&w photo-graphs is well laid out and most of the photos are new, in fact, practically almost all are new to me, and they’re been presented so well that the crispness is staggeringly brilliant! There are Many thanks to Ms Orietta Colussi of DLS for the review copy.

several, excellent contemporary colour pictures along with a wealth of b&w three-views, cutaways and illustrations of projected types. With all these presented on glossy stock, the quality of reproduction is truly top notch.

We see flying boats, bombers, attack aircraft, early jets and their predecessors or projected aircraft types that didn’t reach metal cutting stage. It could be mistaken for a primer and that would be very wrong. This title goes much deeper, is well researched and very well presented. I was delighted that so much could be placed in this single volume.

This is an impressive book for any aviation en-thusiast, especially the WW2 aviation enthusi-ast, at a very competitive price thanks to our dollar’s continuing high exchange rate. It is available from Hyland’s Bookshop in Melbourne www.hylandsbookshop.com.au or 03 9654 7448 for about $50. Is this a good buy? Is Black Caviar a race winner?

(Editors Note) In a previous edition of Eagles Nest the brightly coloured aircraft of the Japanese forces were reviewed. In this article we will study the aircraft of the European Axis nations that carried striking colour schemes.

So let’s start with a real controversy of colour: the Messerschmitt Bf109V10 flown by Ernst Udet at the 1937 Zurich International Flying Meet. Udet hoped to win the Alps Race during the meet which would have been a real coup for the Nazi propaganda machine. Unfortunately for him the engine failed and the aircraft was destroyed in the crash landing. Udet escaped virtually unhurt. Debate has raged regarding the colour of the machine. Some say it was blue while others claim it was red. Personally I would punt for blue. Blue was the colour of other German experimental aircraft and in black and white pictures of the aircraft there is a distinct difference in shade between the red band surrounding the swastika and the colour of the remainder of the aircraft.

German experimental aircraft were sometimes painted in colourful scheme. The Messerschmitt Me209V1 carried this rather attractive overall blue scheme. This aircraft held the Worlds Airspeed Record at 469.2 mph but it was a difficult aircraft to fly. Test pilot Fritz Wendel described it as a “diminutive monstrosity”.

Very little is known about this Focke Wulf Fw190D-9 of JV44. The red and white under surfaces were recognition markings to stop German anti aircraft gunners shooting at them.

This Bucker Bu181 was used post war by the Polish Main Institute of Aviation.

A spectacularly marked Cant Z-506 of the Regia Aeronautica’s 190 Squadriglia, 86 Grupo based in Ethiopia. The red diagonal wing stripes were an aid to identification from above should the aircraft be forced down into the desert.

This colourful Arado Ar96 was probably based at Tilsit Weinhofen during 1944. Little is known about this aircraft but it was probably a trainer given its paint scheme.

The Arado Ar96V3 prototype as it appeared during 1936 in overall yellow, a scheme more commonly applied to Allied training aircraft. At some later point this machine was paionted overall grey.

Contrasting with the drab colour schemes carried in wartime this Fiat Br20 cut a colourful profile at the 2nd International Aviation Exhibition at Milan in 1937.

The pre war Austrian Air Force apparently saw no need for camouflage if this Caproni Ca133 of Fliegerregiment 2, seen during 1937, is anything to go by.

Airliners of any persuasion flying with the airlines of neutral nations often carried very high visibility colour scheme. Originally this Focke Wulf Fw200 served with 1/KG40, but in September 1945 it began operations with Danish Airlines on the run between Copenhagen and London. It was finished in neutrality orange and acquired Danish roundels during 1946.

A spectacularly finished Messerschmitt Bf108 seen after capture at Freeman Field in the United States in September 1945. The aircraft was painted in this manner by the Americans and the aircraft was part of the Foreign Evaluation collection of captured aircraft. Retention of the Luftwaffe markings was very unusual.

It is often forgotten by enthusiasts that the Messerschmitt Bf108 was originally designed as a civilian light aircraft and quite a few brightly coloured, privately owned examples were registered pre war. This Bf108B-1 is seen as it appeared during 1935.

This Messerschmitt Bf108 was operated by the German Embassy in London in 1939. When war was declared the aircraft was disabled by the simple expedient of sticking a screwdriver into one tyre. The machine was impressed into RAF service for the duration of World War 2.

This attractively finished Focke Wulf Fw58 was the personal transport of Friedrich Christiansen, the German military Governor of the Netherlands.

Another Norwegian Storch seen in post war service with the Norwegian Air Force. These aircraft were to serve well into the 1950’s

Norway used few ex Luftwaffe aircraft post war, but a number of Storchs were operated in the communications role and as hacks including this brightly coloured machine.

This spectaculary painted Heinkel He70 as seen during the Spanish Civil War when it served with the Condor Legion at Seville during March 1937. Again there is some debate over this colour scheme. Some historians claim that this aircraft was blue rather than red.

Another colourful Storch; this time a French built example serving post war with the Aeronavale’s 4 Escadrille de Servitude.

Predecessor of the Messerschmitt Me163 was the DFS194 tested at the Luftwaffe experimental station at Peenemunde during the Winter of 1939/40.

Probably the most celebrated of all the colourful Axis aircraft were the Focke Wulf Fw190D’s of JV44. This Fw190D-11 of the Papagei Stafffel was based at Bad Abling |Airfield in May 1945 and would have been one of the last Luftwaffe aircraft operating before Germany’s surrender. This profile is somewhat speculative.

Blue seems to be one of the dominant non camouflage colours for the Axis air forces. This Hungarian Messerschmitt Bf108\B-1 was attached to a training unit during 1938/40..

It’s kinda Axis. This French built Morane MS505 is a French built version of the Storch that was used as a glider tug post war.

Without doubt the most colourful Axis aircraft ever was this Junkers Ju52 painted up some years ago as a flying billboard for a brand of chocolate.

This Messerschmitt Bf109Ga6 is seen in an attractive light blue scheme of the Rumanian Air Force in July 1952 serving with the Regimentul 180. Note the massively enlarged gun breech bulges that were indicative of Rumanian 109’s.

Wolfgang Spate’s red Messerschmitt Me163. It was never flown in this paint scheme.

The Swiss Fieseler Storchs were often garishly finished and this Fi156C-3 seen at Dubendorf Airfield during 1943 was no exception.

The Bucker Bu181 was built in Egypt post war as the Gomhouria. This aircraft served with the Libyan Airforce between 1959 and 1969 judging from the national insignia.

An oldie but a goodie. This is Walter Wagners Focke Wulf Fw190A-8 which flew with 4/JG4 and was brought down at St Trond during Operation Bodenplatte. It was captured intact by the U.S. 404th Fighter Group. It was repainted with the intention of flying it but that never took place and the aircraft was left behind when the unit relocated.

Eagles of the Southern Sky

The Tainan Air Group in WWII, Volume One: New Guinea

This is a long awaited publication by Tainan Research & Publishing 2012, which provides an objective and complete view of the aerial fighting over New Guinea throughout 1942 from both sides. Not since the Saburo Sakai’s story of the Tainan Air Wing in ‘Samurai’ which gave just a glimpse of the fighting over New Guinea, has this story included the Japanese point of view and never in this much detail.

The book is letter size, with card covers and comprises 352 pages with 95 colour profiles of Japanese and Allied aircraft, 8 colour maps and 28 computer generated images of protagonists’ aircraft set against actual New Guinea terrain. For modellers, there are Tainan Kokutai colour codings and a set of photos showing the oxidisation and thermal ageing/fading of the original, overall colour scheme applied to the Tainan Model 21 fighters. And finally, over 380 b&w photos complete the vast pictorial content.

There is exhaustive, strong and heavily researched text provided by authors Luca Ruffato & Michael J Claringbould (with associate editors Lawrence Hickey, Gordon Birkett, Ed Dekiep & Steve Birdsall). The style is very similar to that of Christopher Shores. Now, there is some confusion, or so I found. Zeros and many other aircraft types are presented within the text with either a Japanese name or the Japanese military aircraft designation system but with little consistency. And without any of the Allied code names later applied, which is historically correct, in the time frame. But unless you constantly refer back to page 16 for ‘translation’ it can be a little confusing unless or until you’re ‘up to speed’ and even then all types within the text aren’t mentioned in the decode on page 16.

Photo captions also provide alternative namings for aircraft but now with the extra alternative - tail numbers which also makes it a bit awkward unless you’re really well acquainted with the Japanese military aircraft designation system and or Japanese names. For instance, unless you know what the G6M1-L is (page 31), you’ll find no clues until you discover a profile on page 229 or pictures 220 pages on from the first reference to the type! Or, as I did, refer to Rene J Francillon’s ‘Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War’. And, for the purists, I think it should be G6M1-L2. There are some other little annoyances but I’m nitpicking and that’s totally unfair given the number of contributors/editors. The book is well above such trivial matters.

Now the reality check – this is not a cheap book, in any sense. At about $80 for a card cover book, you might hesitate at its asking price. Rightly so; but the other side of the coin, pardon the pun, is that this is a very impressive production on a topic rarely commented upon in any similar detail, and RAAF information alone, as contained within, is very well worth having – in my opinion. My recommendation is to check it out, you won’t be disappointed. For me, this is a valued edition to go into my library and I suggest strongly that you look at this book at the earliest convenience. It should sell quickly!

It is a great book for any aviation military enthusiast but more especially for those interested in the air war over New Guinea and the RAAF’s participation during the period April to November 1942. It is available from Hyland’s Bookshop in Melbourne www.hylandsbookshop.com.au or 03 9654 7448 and (dare I say at risk of ‘conflict of interest’) from John Baxter Publications (jjbaxter@techinfo.com.au ).

ISBN 9780473217631.

The Macchi Mc202D was a one off prototype built with with a chin radiator. The standard cooling system in the Macchi 202 involved a complex series of pipe to circulate the coolant from the existing radiator to the engine.. It was found that this system was vulnerable to damage in combat.

The modification was carried out in late 1941 and in appearance the chin radiator is reminiscent of a P 40 Kittyhawk.

While the system certainly simplified the cooling system it also led to a large increase in aerodynamic drag which so eroded the Macchi’s performance that it rendered any advantage useless. After a short test program the idea was cancelled.

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Volume Two 1943-1944

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Definitely not – especially when it comes to Volume Two of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 by Classic Publications and authors J Richard Smith and Eddie J Creek!

Volume Two in this three, or perhaps four, part series, deals with later developments of the Fw 190A, F and G series and their use in twelve months of operations from June 1943 to May 1944. This was a pivotal time when the Luftwaffe and the Fw 190 began to lose ascendancy in the air.

This volume, like the first, took considerable time to both read and digest. Once again the pictorial content is very, very impressive with colour profiles, contemporary colour photos and a huge selection of b&w photos – the vast majority never published previously. It’s an amazing array especially of detailed cockpit, engine and armaments shots more than sufficient to satisfy the appetite of most modellers as well as the aviation enthusiast.

The text is strong, authoritative and extensive, as you would expect from these authors and it covers the development of the different series of the butcher bird and their operational use. It’s a big book in every sense – content, information and enjoyment, if one can say such about an instrument of war. There’s little point in going into vast detail – basically if you’re a Luftwaffe or Focke-Wulf fan, you need this book. If you purchased Volume One you know exactly what I mean and will want Volume Two. If you haven’t yet seen these two but are even vaguely interested, then don’t waste time – get them and enjoy them.

Finally, this book is definitely great value for money. It is a great book for any aviation enthusiast without a doubt; it is an absolute must for Luftwaffe fans! It is available from Hyland’s Bookshop in Melbourne www.hylandsbookshop.com.au or 03 9654 7448 for about $89. Even better value than the first volume (at $99).

Many thanks to Ms Orietta Colussi of DLS for the review copy.

Border Scale Modellers Inc.5th Annual Scale ModelExhibition & Competition

zo" & 21st July 2013Galvin Hall,

Wodonga Senior Secondary College69 Woodland Street, Wodonga 3690

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j _.. ' .. J \. •).,,\' '

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Raffle Prizes Various Traders Swap & Sell

PUBLIC VIEWING TIMESSaturday zo" 1Oam - 5pm

." Sunday 21 st 9am - 4pm

COMPETITION ENTRIESSaturday zo" 8.30am - 1.30pmCompetition Fee - $2.00 per model

ADMISSIONAdult - $5.00Children (under16) - $3.00Concession - $3.00Family - $10.00Competitors - Free Entry

For more information please contact or go to:Neil Witt - 02 6024 1708kknott@iprimus.com.au

http://borderscalemodellers.googlepages.com