Nachtjäger Bf110G-4/R3 (Italeri 1/72)

Bish

This issue about the Bf 110 and ju 87 being unsutable is a myth.

Not so much a myth as a narrow focus on specific situations.

As with the overly-optimistic projections -- by virtually all the world's leading air forces -- for the 'heavy fighter' concept, in the 1930s, Göring's wild enthusiasm for the 'destroyer' squadrons that would sweep all opposition from the skies simply didn't match emerging technology...and always-changing tactics. The Bf110 was an extremely capable aircraft when used to its strengths...but was badly mauled in the BOB when it was used in the close-escort role which instead highlighted it's weaknesses against more nimble single-engined fighters. The fact that both it and the Stuka soldiered on very effectively when used with better tactics (and where enemy fighter superiority wasn't quite so dominant) shows both aircraft were sound, but that rather it was the tactical doctrine that needed adjustment.

(Precisely the same adjustment needed, I might add, to the idea of 'flying fortresses' being able to dominate enemy skies on their own, without the need for fighter escort....)

This issue about the Bf 110 and ju 87 being unsutable is a myth. When used correctly, the 110 was very successful, i believe it had the best ratio of kills to losses than any other fighter aircraft in 1940, and ZG 26 was the first Geschwader to reach 500 kills in Sept 1940, flying 110's. Rather than being withdrawn due to flaws in the aircrarft and pressed into service as nightfighters, they were withdrawn because of allied night time bombing raids against German cities. Goring was under pressure from Hitler and the German people, Goring choose to use the 110 as it was the best option at the time to convert to a Night Fighter.

The Stuka, IMHO, was the finest dive bomber of WW2. Erich Winkle Brown, who flew just about every aircraft there was, said it was the only dive bomber which could dive at 90 degress, making it far more accurate. The fact that when German fighters did not have air superiority the Stuka's suffered heavy losses should not be a surprise and should also not reflect badly on the Stuka. After the BoB it continued to perform surperbly as a dive bomber in the Med and Russian Front. Creation of the Kannonvogel simply added a new string to its bow and this operated alongside conventional dive bombers.

Condeming Stuka's for their faliure against Allied fighters is a bit like condeming the A-10 tank buster for its faliure to conduct long range bombing missions.

Nice work, Greg.

MR TOM SCHRY

The new found use of the Me-110 reminds me of the Ju-87 Stuka being pulled out of action during the Battle of Britain only to find a new life on the Russian front as a tank buster.

TJS

Agreed.

Given their industrial situation, I think they were inspired to 'make do' and innovate much more than the Allies.

The new found use of the Me-110 reminds me of the Ju-87 Stuka being pulled out of action during the Battle of Britain only to find a new life on the Russian front as a tank buster.

TJS

wpwar11

How did you do the exhaust staining?  For me that's always a little tricky.  Nice work.

Thanks.

I use fine-ground charcoal...not the artist kind, the actual barbecue kind...applied with one of those cheapo Testors nylon bristle brushes. It's a lot more subtle than pastels or dry-brushing (which I'm otherwise a big fan of), easier to build up to the degree of darkness you require...and can be pretty neatly removed with one of those red rubber 'wedge' pencil erasers if you think you've overdone it.

Lightly scrubbed or ground into the surface, it also seems to 'grab' better than pastels do...so there's usually no need to clear-coat it, unless it just makes you feel better. (It will pick up finger oils and smudge if touched for a while, but it tends not to smear and pick up fingerprints the way pastel does so easily.)

How did you do the exhaust staining?  For me that's always a little tricky.  Nice work.

Bish, I'd be first in line for that one!

I'd like to see a new 32nd 110G, i am surprised dragon didn't produce one.

Thanks again, Gents.

I've always had a visceral admiration for the 110G myself, the moreso having read numerous fascinating crew accounts of the hard-fought nightfighter war over Germany. (Also can't help but admire a 'failed' a/c whose career had crashed and burned, being turned into a fearfully-effective weapon once more in another capacity.)

I hope one day soon to do a larger-scale version with detailed cockpit and radar positions, visible under all that 'glass.'

Great work Greg.  I'm a big fan of the G.

Nice work Greg,

The 110 is my favorite German fighter, always great to see a beutiful build of one.

Nice work again, Greg. That light scheme is unusual, but very cool. Great job.

BK

Thanks, guys.

MR TOM SCHRY

  Do you mind if I ask what Tamiya colors you used?  I have the old Revell 1/32 version of this important German night fighter.  TJS 

I usually mix my own colors pretty much by eye. Similar color mixes from another project are:

RLM 74 Graugrün: (10) XF-54 Dk Sea Grey + (2) XF-27 Black Green

RLM 75 Grauviolett: (3) XF-2 Flat White + (10) XF-83 Med Sea Grey + (1) XF-7 Red

RLM 76 Lichtblau: (3) XF-2 Flat White + (11) XF-19 Sky Grey + (6) XF-23 Light Blue.

I will often add or adjust the Flat White for scale effect, or until it looks right.

That looks great!  I really like that subtle grey camo as well.  One of my favorite german aircraft and I have the 1/48 eduard kit in the stash.  Well done.

Bish

they learned that black was not the best colour. The night sure is not pure black, what with moonlight, the stars, light reflecting off cliouds and light from probably burning cities underneath, a black mass would show up

Yes, an old soldier once told me that the best camouflage colour to wear at night was a darkish slate grey, or similar.

Hutch6390

Another beaut, Greg, I really like that camouflage.  It's always struck me as odd that, while we painted our night fighters black, the Germans didn't - probably didn't matter much in the dark, I suppose...

 

The Germans did paint them black to start with. But they learned that black was not the best colour. The night sure is not pure black, what with moonlight, the stars, light reflecting off cliouds and light from probably burning cities underneath, a black mass would show up. The RAF did switch from Black undersides later in the war, but it should be remembered that RAF bomber comand had the highest lose rate of any branch of serviceof all the Allied nations and were second only to the U-Boats. Black undersides didn't help our bombers much and you don't see many modern military aircraft painted black.

When it came to camo, the Germans seemed to have known what they were doing.

Another beaut, Greg, I really like that camouflage.  It's always struck me as odd that, while we painted our night fighters black, the Germans didn't - probably didn't matter much in the dark, I suppose...

Excellent build, especially considering it's an Italeri kit.  Do you mind if I ask whar Tamiya colors you used?  I have the old Revell 1/32 version of this important German night fighter.

TJS

Now thats really nice, i like how it came out. I still need to add a 110G to the stash, thinking of one of the Eduard kits.