Barracuda Cals Sheet 1 Black or Blue 22?

On Barracuda Studios decal sheet "BC32144 Erla Bf 109G-10 - Part 1" we've included a II./JG52 aircraft marked "Black 22". There is some doubt about the color of the numerals though as they look a bit paler than one would expect from black numerals. This could be explained by a glossy black paint used for the numerals or even a glossy fuselage that combined with a low setting sun reflects the light in such a way that creates this pale effect.

Turning to documental evidence, more precisely the losslist of II./JG52, it is clear that normally II./JG52 used White, Black and Yellow numerals. There's also a single mention of red, "Red 2", a WNF built Bf109G-10 that was lost on March 15:th 1945. A photo of a WNF built Bf109G-10 marked with what is likely a red "2" exists and shows that the red was used without outline. So based only on the losslist, Black 22 would seem like the most likelt candidate for the markings.

Another possibility comes from the fact that here was an 8./JG52 formed as part of II./JG52 for at least a month in early 1945. In other words it's likely that at least for a while, a fourth staffel color was used within II./JG52. Given the relative dark tone of the numeral on "22" I believe it's safe to rule out RLM 25 but RLM 24 could be an option. The problem is that not a single loss for an 8./JG52 aircraft can be found in the losslist, but there are also several losses that are simply noted as "II./JG52" without mention of neither Staffel number nor tactical number or color. So while the losslist doesn't prove the existance of blue numerals it can't be used to rule them out either. 

If the aircraft was marked Blue 22 due to it being part of 8./JG52 it would have been flown by another staffel of II./JG52 during the spring of 1945 as by the time the yellow rudder and band around the nose were applied, 8./JG52 was already disbanded.

That's all that is know at the moment. Hopefully something will emerge in the future to shed light on this little mystery but for now, this is it. We supplied the option, above is the explanation, the decision is off course yours and yours alone. Have fun!

Barracuda Studios Bf109G-10 Erla decals - additional comments on camouflage

Most Erla built Bf109G-10’s seems to have been camouflaged in the regular Luftwaffe camouflage scheme of RLM 74/75/76. A few colorphotographs as well as written descriptions in the “Crashed Enemy Aircraft Reports” supports this. 

Beginning somewhere in the 151xxx W.Nr batch another scheme was introduced that stands out clearly against the regular schemes. These schemes must have been the results of the requirements on factories to save on both labour and raw materials. The entire fuselages including the undersurface was painted in a very dark color, most likely RLM 81. In some instances a second lighter color, that if the rules were applied, would have been RLM 82 was sprayed on top of the RLM81 to create a camouflage pattern. Such a scheme gives a very low contrast in B&W photos and is often hard to discern.The wings of these aircraft were also painted in the same dark color on the uppersurfaces, while the undersurfaces were left in natural metal with only wooden and canvas components painted RLM 76.

The latewar colors

Docuements recently found in German archives by Michael Ullmann has revealed some startling facts about the so called latewar colors. RLM 83 was according to these documents not a dark green as has been previously believed, but rather a dark blue color intended for use at unit level on bombers operating over the Mediterranean sea. 

So the latewar colors seen on fighters must have been different variations of RLM 81 and RLM 82. The documents found by Ullmann shows that RLM 81 and RLM 82 were both developed from green colors, RLM 81 being described as Olive Green while RLM 82 was described as Bright Green. The document goes on to describe that new colors 81 and 82 (Brown tint) were introduced as well. This points to brown versions of BOTH RLM 81 and RLM 82 being tested. 

There is little doubt that a green version of RLM 81 was produced as there’s even been a can found in the Czech republic labeled 81 but containing a dark green paint. So most likely, instead of a transition period where RLM 83/82 schemes were replaced with RLM 81/82, it now seems as if it was RLM 81/82 all the time, but that the RLM 81 changed from dark green (or olive green) to brown violet. 

The so called 83/81 scheme would, following the same logic, be dark green RLM 81 with brown tint RLM 82. There’s no proof of this but it could certainly explain why there’s a brown color that is slightly darker than green 81 but also a brown significantly lighter than green 81. 

That would mean that an RLM 81/82 scheme could actually be a number of combinations and for the Erla built G-10’s I’ve used Olive Green and Bright Green as that’s the combination that would likely give the lowest contrast.  Until a colorphoto emerges of these aircraft, these theories are as close as one can get.

For modeling purposes, the olive green or dark green is matched by most brands by the “RLM 83” designation, Gunze for example being spot on. LifeColor has an RLM 81 that they call Brown Violet but in reality it is dark green. Green RLM 81 is also matched by RAL 6006 and FS 34083.

Monotone RLM 81 Erla camouflage

RLM 81 / 82 Erla Camouflage

Barracudacals Erla Bf109G-10's

The following decalsheets in 1:32 will be released by Barracuda Decals for the upcoming Bf109G-10 Erla from Revell. Some of these aircraft has been featured on the blog before, while others are brand new and created for these sheets. Big thanks to all who's helped in my research and made these profiles as accurate as possible. Keep an eye on the blog for further news and the inevitable errata...