I have one of the 1/48 kits and once again a horrible color guide for RLMs is the Me-262 colors RLM 76 at the bottom and RLM 80? somthing at the top. This goes for all late war german aircraft.
Here’s what they say at Stormbirds.net:
Like most Luftwaffe aircraft, the Me 262 sported a variety of different camouflage schemes.
The use of mottling to break up the decarmation line between upper surface and lower surface colors usually ensured that no two aircraft looked exactly alike.
There were two official camouflage schemes specified for the Me 262. The first early scheme utilized the standard gray colors of 74/75/76.
This “late-war” Me 262 camouflage scheme was issued on 26 September 1944 and featured a revised splinter pattern in the late-war colors of 81/82/76.
The two top colors were in RLM 81 Brown-Violet & RLM 82 Bright Green with bottom surfaces in RLM 76 Light Blue. A random spray of 81 & 82 was used on the sides to blend the upper and lower surface colors together. The amount of mottle and how far it extended down the fuselage and nacelles varied. Careful study of wartime photos will reveal many variations, some bearing no resemblance to the official directive.
Since RLM 82 was a rather bright color, sometimes RLM 83 Dark Green would be used instead. The result would be a low contrast scheme that would be very effective when the aircraft was parked on the ground. Since the Luftwaffe was constantly on the defensive at this point in the war, ground concealment was extremely important. This is an interesting contrast to the earlier 74/75/76 scheme which could be considered an “air superiority” color scheme.
In an effort to save resources, the undersurface of the wings and fuselage were sometimes left bare metal.
Have a look at Wings Palette for variations and patterns.
I did a build report on that kit. The undersides were RLM 02, the upper surfaces were RLM 80 and 81. About the time I did this build, I visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and the colors of the Me262 there were about spot on with that.
I don’t know if it’s correct… but it matches pretty close to how that one was restored.
And wouldn’t you know it… I just noticed I didn’t get the color pattern right… DOH! [:D]
“this goes for all late war german aircraft”
Late war reich aircraft have such a variety of paint and camo both factory and field applied so that there is no real standered that applies to ALL. What Dahut posted is accurate, and does convey the RLM guidelines at that time. I have seen 262’s paint in everything form bare metal to having a mess of every color in the house. The colors you are asking for would be determined by what unit and front your 262 is operating in.
I have never seen or heard of 02 being used as a lower external color for any me262, as this is usually reserved for internal wheel wells and such. Most latewar 262’s did even use this color at all as the internal surfaces were usually bare mental or partly painted 02 at best. If this was used it’s new to me (and could be new info).
I used it simply I didn’t know better! LOL [:D]
I don’t recall if the instructions called for it, or if I just guessed. Been a couple of years now since I built that. I was surprised when I visited the NASM that it was so close!
In reference to yellow 7 you maybe right JWB that mechine is a restore job and they may have used 02 or something close. Since you modeled it as such I’d say you did a very good job (in fact it looks great). you are right it does match up. A WWII era mechine most likely would not have used 02 but who knows that late in the war they could have used anything, I’ve seen stranger things come from the luftwaffe. I was assuming he is doing period era mechine. My bad sometimes I don’t type real clear.
Thanks so much! That was probably my 4th or 5th kit after starting back in the hobby, and I was actually surprised how it came out. Probably the second or third time I used an airbrush… had me nervous! LOL
I recall somewhere reading a history of that bird. It did not come to the US as Yellow 7 IIRC. In fact, I bet Revell modeled the markings after the NASM bird. That would explain the colors too! [:)]
One thing that amazes me is the varioations in Luftwaffe paint. It’s about as complicated as Spitfire Mk. numbers! [:D]
Check this out- third profile down the page! It was Yellow 7 fromt he start… musta been thinking of another bird.
It says they started restoring it in '78. Maybe they didn’t have access to all the data we have now for all the Luftwaffe color schemes? Who knows… now I’m curious. [:)]
you are right it was yellow 7 during the war. The restorers carefully stripped and sanded the us paint and did there best the document the original finish both off the aircraft and from actual pictures. IMO with the exception of white 3, yellow 7 is one of the most accurate examples of a me262A-1A we have today. It’s a far better example then the one at USAFM. But it was completely restored and repainted and thus the luftwaffe color police don’t like the lower color and a few other things about it. I think they ask too much and are not happy unless they have something to complain about. The lower color changed and got mixed up so much through the war I don’t know how they keep track of it. I read some of the paint debates on other forums but don’t go crazy over it. I would say the lower color could use some more blue to it but who really knows. I think as far as modeling goes it more important to get the color tones to look right together rather then the actual color themselves.
JWB luftwaffe paint is a very highly debated subject and many people have writen whole books on it. I agree with them that many of the restored subjects havecolor errors, but on the other hand there are very few actual examples of luftwaffe left in good condition. Oh yah they did repaint it as close as they could back to what yellow 7 looked like during the war. From what I remember it is a very accurate in both color and camo pattern. There is a book out i believe on the restoration of yellow 7, but I have not read it cover to cover.
Finally don’t mention the S word during a conversation about the luftwaffe, you know how bad those planes beat up the luftwaffe[:D][B)]
Jwb thats a very good 262 I think I’ll use RLM 82 and 83 for the tops thanks everyone[;)]
Can’t wait to see that!