I wanted to report on some investigative research that I've been conducting on a future subject. Focke-Wulf 190D-9 WNr 500647 is one of two documented D-9's to have been retrofitted with the tail of the Ta152H. It is interesting from that perspective and I am going to be building this aircraft as a future build.
There are not many photos of 500647. In Jerry Crandall's Dora Volume 1, a photo is featured of Brown 4 looking somewhat decrepit/damaged parked within a revetment in the woods without a prop or engine cowling.
This photo of the port side of the aircraft leads to a speculative color profile featuring a camo pattern similar to other 500xxx machines produced at the Mimetall factory. Note the shape of the "4".
In Dora Volume 2, there is an addendum to 500647 based on a more recently discovered photograph showing Brown 4's starboard side with a clear view of the "4" marking.
There is a revised profile based on this new photo and the style of the "4" was changed to feature a curve that is seen in the photo.
I've always had an issue with this assessment since there is a curvature in the fuselage cross section that could be distorting the "4", similarly to what is seen happening to the fuselage cross. Since I have several Dora kits in hand and can created custom painting masks with my Silhouette Portrait cutter, I thought it would be an easy and interesting experiment to see if my doubts had any teeth.
I created a mask based on the "4" marking found on the Eagle Cal decal sheet EC32-126. But I replaced the curved element with a straight one.
This was sprayed onto the starboard side of an unbuilt Hasegawa 190D-9 fuselage.
I then photographed the marking at an angle that approximates the archive photo. It is immediately apparent that curvature of fuselage could very well make the straight "4" look curved.
For further confirmation, I composited the two images in Photoshop and used transparency to see that two "4" markings are almost exact matches.
Since comparing photos like this can be tricky, I don't consider this a fool-proof analysis but it is enough for me to believe that the "4" marking on Brown 4 did NOT have curvature.
Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
John aka JKim
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Re: Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
Brown 4 looks like she has seen better days. I’m looking forward to what you do with this one.
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Re: Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
You are absolutely right about the “4.” I loved watching that proof happen! Excellent investigative work, John. Excellent!
Bruce / SPEEDGRAFLEX
Re: Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
Great investigative work or would this be considered more forensic? Either way I'm really impressed how you went about finding the truth the angle of the photo causes the curved look of the four.
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Odin's sons... Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent! Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one! In unity our victory's won
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United we shall never fall
Odin's sons... Attack!
Unleash hell! Do not repent! Warfare grants us no lament
Let your weapons slash and tear This is no place for fear
Hold the lines! Move as one! In unity our victory's won
Our shields will form a mighty wall
United we shall never fall
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Re: Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
It’s amazing how it looks straight straight on then curved in another angle. Great detective work, John!
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Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Re: Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
Pretty simple test actually! I would've thought that Mr. Crandall would've performed something similar before jumping to the conclusion that the 4 was curved.
John aka JKim
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- Medicman71
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Re: Another Dora... Big Tail 500647 "Brown 4"
Very interesting.
Mike
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