He 162 @ Technikmuseum Berlin

Holger Kranich
Oh my god, how wonderful it is! It a state-of-the-art treasure!

Holger Kranich
Is the frontgear painted in RLM02? Seems to be very faded out!

Burkhard D
Yes, I'd say this is RLM02. Overall, the aircraft seems to be in the original 1945 state.

Christian Lehmann
Burkhard, did you use a flashlight to take these pictures?

Holger Kranich
Absolute wonderful pix!

Burkhard D
Yep, on all but the first. But the colors on the images taken with the (built-in) flash are pretty well white-balanced (thanks to Canon 7D auto-balance, very decent DSLR)

Christian Lehmann
Of course. As you wrote above, it seems to be the original condition of 45. I hope it will stay in this condition. This makes it unique.

Aghis Barberopoulos
Wonderful shots, thanks !

Aghis Barberopoulos
Very late Doras had landing gear legs painted in light grey other than RLM02. Is it possible that this is also an exception, or is it the effect of sunlight for so many years ? RLM02 is very stable if kept in reasonable conditions.

Burkhard D
Well, after 67 years in storage, the He162's legs may be allowed to fade a little. To my eyes the color looked still close to the the other Luftwaffe landing gears on exhibit that were clad in 'factory fresh' RLM02 and similar to an original main landing gear leg of a Ju280, see here
b-domke.de/AviationI..eum_Berlin.html#Misc

Holger Kranich
Wonderful pix, Burkhard! For me, the coloures look very convincing!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Judging from photo #1 and the rest, there are differences in the white rendering, so I believe you are correct about the He 162 legs being RLM02. I have to visit this museum!!!

Bill Gilman
Here is a picture of an Me-163 at the NASM at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C. It is still in its 1945 paint scheme as well. I think this is the plane that Eric Brown flew in for the RAF right after the end of the war.

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Holger Kranich
@Bill: Very glossy shine on this "Kraftei"!;)

Bill Gilman
Only where the paint has worn away completely! 🙂

Holger Kranich
No question, great pic! Would love to replicate a Kraftei with such glossy effects on worn parts!

Aghis Barberopoulos
I have been to that museaum in DC - in 1990... she wasn't there then 🙁

Holger Kranich
What a pitty!!! You would have fallen on your knees, in front of this wonderful aircraft? I would!!!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Wonderful killer you mean ? 😉
I did see the Me262 but completely repainted...
That Pfeil in the background of that photo wasn't there either!

Holger Kranich
I saw the Do-335 on pix at wiki! Definately a good reason to make a trip in the states!

Holger Kranich
I´m still amazed about the exquisit condition and quality from the metal of the frontgear-suspension! I didnt expected those metalquality´s under the given economy conditions, after 1943!

Holger Kranich
Wonderful displayed on image No. 3!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Indeed this is a nice close up shot, but landing gears are usually the strongest parts of an aeroplane, along with their end fittings.
What I love in this photo is the wooden door! Great colour record!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Another interesting thing I noted: Did anyone see the little stencils in the edges of the balkenkreuz ? Never seen those before. It seems they were used to assist the masking.

Holger Kranich
Yes saw it and i was wondering too, not to have seen them on any decalsheet...

Bill Gilman
The Do-335 was restored by Dornier - exquisite work, I think it's the only one left. There is also a restored Arado jet bomber, very small I expected it to be bigger. I should create a gallery with pictures from the museum!

Christian Lehmann
Bill, please do this.

Holger Kranich
Good idea, Bill!

Aghis Barberopoulos
The Ar234 always looks to me bigger that it actually is - it has something to do with the glazed nose - we associate it with big aeroplanes (B-17 for instance). In reality it is similar size to the 262, it has to be (same powerplant).

Bill Gilman
@Aghis, I think you are right, we are conditioned to think of a bomber as much bigger. When I first saw the Ar234 and its glazed nose, I thought, wow, that looks like a fun ride!