[hworth18]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

and their light blue/gray color. Also there are no squiggles on the lower portion of the engine mount and no outer wing bombs. It seems that Corgi's research department let them down rather badly on this one.

I don't see how.. I certainly would never use a color profile of a plane as gospel as the profile is only the artists interpretation and nothing more.. I would say both color profiles have more errors than Corgis version.. Both profiles show the lower engine nacelles as gray, and the photo of the actual plane shows they are black, just like Corgis and The "squiggles" you are referring to, are on the drop tanks, not the engines..
One profile doesn't have the colors painted on the spinner and the squiggles are clearly too light comapered to the real thing..

We can't see the wing tips in the photos, so I can't say about the bombs, but other than the fact that the Ju-88 also has wing radar which was left off the Corgi model, I would say Corgi is DEAD SPOT ON...

[Shamrock]

You're right on the money Epapazian with your comments. Despite the fact that Corgi are not totally accurate in their paint scheme I still feel it is 'worth a punt' until the BOB comes along next year. I came across an article on KG 54 and how they sunk USS Maddox off the French coast in 1944. At that stage they were using the gondala mounted 20MM cannon which I feel would be essential on anti shipping missions.
BTW many thanks Hornchurch for clearing up the 'band' issue.

[Cruver Collecter]

Found another shot of the Ju 88A-6/Us port wing and it does show the FuG 217 radar antenna on upper surface of wing with FuG 101 Radio Antennas on lower portion of wing. Position of antennas brings into doubt the bomb racks on AA36704 as two would be in the same position. Did find a neat Ju 88A-6/U variant that had one of the FuG 200 antenna moved from nose section to the port wing. Even though model has some minor discrepancies, think I will have to pick one up. I think the maritime camouflage pattern looks pretty good.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I don't see how.. I certainly would never use a color profile of a plane as gospel as the profile is only the artists interpretation and nothing more.. I would say both color profiles have more errors than Corgis version.. Both profiles show the lower engine nacelles as gray, and the photo of the actual plane shows they are black, just like Corgis and The "squiggles" you are referring to, are on the drop tanks, not the engines..
One profile doesn't have the colors painted on the spinner and the squiggles are clearly too light comapered to the real thing..

We can't see the wing tips in the photos, so I can't say about the bombs, but other than the fact that the Ju-88 also has wing radar which was left off the Corgi model, I would say Corgi is DEAD SPOT ON...

You are right regarding the drop tanks, however I find it hard to believe that the Luftwaffe would go to the bother of painting squiggles like these on drop tanks which might be employed on a variety of planes using all sorts of camouflage schemes. As for the squiggles, generally, Corgi's rendition makes the plane stand out rather than blend in when flying over water--at least in my opinion. I also remain skeptical regarding their color---are these squiggles really in RLM 76 or some form of off-white as it seems in the pictures?

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

You are right regarding the drop tanks, however I find it hard to believe that the Luftwaffe would go to the bother of painting squiggles like these on drop tanks which might be employed on a variety of planes using all sorts of camouflage schemes. As for the squiggles, generally, Corgi's rendition makes the plane stand out rather than blend in when flying over water--at least in my opinion. I also remain skeptical regarding their color---are these squiggles really in RLM 76 or some form of off-white as it seems in the pictures?

I am looking at 3/4 port side rear picture of aircraft and Wellenmuster camouflage pattern buts up directly to the white theater band. To be honest it does lend itself to looking more of a gray color as apposed to an off-white. Both sources I have regarding aircraft depict the wavy pattern as grey. Camouflage often is not necessarily to blend with background, but to break up the shape or outline of the equipment it is trying to conceal. An example would be the some of the odd ship camouflage patterns (Razzle Dazzle or Dazzle Camouflage), definitely these schemes were not designed to blend in, just break up a distinctive pattern.

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

I am looking at 3/4 port side rear picture of aircraft and Wellenmuster camouflage pattern buts up directly to the white theater band. To be honest it does lend itself to looking more of a gray color as apposed to an off-white. Both sources I have regarding aircraft depict the wavy pattern as grey. Camouflage often is not necessarily to blend with background, but to break up the shape or outline of the equipment it is trying to conceal. An example would be the some of the odd ship camouflage patterns (Razzle Dazzle or Dazzle Camouflage), definitely these schemes were not designed to blend in, just break up a distinctive pattern.

Most likely, the squiggles are RLM66 Lichtblau since that was a common color, and I found the pic of the wing and it doesn't show bombs, but hardpoints/ bombs are removeable, so it is possible that it had bombs at one time..

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by hworth18

Most likely, the squiggles are RLM66 Lichtblau since that was a common color, and I found the pic of the wing and it doesn't show bombs, but hardpoints/ bombs are removeable, so it is possible that it had bombs at one time..

Only problem I have with this is that this aircraft was really designed to using radar for ship interception. Model depiction would conflict with FuG 101 radar antenna and the under wing ordinance which pretty much negate method by which aircraft was intended to find and engage targets. The fact that Corgi missed the FuG 217 on port wing just adds to my suspicion that the wing bomb racks are an error. I still look forward to adding this model to my collection.

[SkyBuffalo]

Since this baby has radar, did it fly night missions? Just wondering if anyone can tell me if the KG 54 group did mainly daylight missions or night missions? Was the radar just used to find the ships?

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

Since this baby has radar, did it fly night missions? Just wondering if anyone can tell me if the KG 54 group did mainly daylight missions or night missions? Was the radar just used to find the ships?

Information I have is that it was predominantly used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-shipping. One source also indicates they were occasionally used to shadow Allied bomber formations with their radar. Paint scheme would tend to lend itself to more of nocturnal operations, but resources I have do not narrow that down.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Shamrock

Thanks Cruver. All I can say is that Corgi have got it wrong in their research it appears. The brochure and catalogue state war in the East; ie Russian Front. The theatre band seems like MTO to me as does your data Curver. No mention of Poland and yet Ryzm and Wlochy sound like Polish to me. More input please to enable me to theme this 'cracking' aircraft!!

Wouldn't be the first time!!