Is there a solid, historical reason to believe that the nose of Udet's D.VII F wasn't painted the Jasta 4 black rather than red? It's pretty difficult to tell from photos and I think it would look more interesting with a black nose.



Michael

Michael, about that question I think you've already checked this?:
http://theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16179
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18600
At the first link our WW1-experienced member Stephen Lawson comment on this intense discussed matter.

I believe you can' find any more solid evidence.
Thomas

Thomas,

Thanks for the links, it's always interesting to see what Stephen has to say about a subject! However, I'm not talking about his OAW D.VII "Du doch nicht" but his D.VII F 4253/18. I think it's pretty well established that it had a red fuselage with lozenge covered wings; my question is about the forward fuselage/engine cowling. Jasta 4 had black engine cowlings but Osprey's and WNW's artwork shows this aircraft as all red. I just wondered if that was speculation or if anyone has anything more solid.

Michael

Michael,
of course you meant D.VII F 4253/18, I know. As this is one of the most discussed aircrafts of World War 1. The controversial about the possible black or red nose is fulfilling almost all forums addicted to this subject. There is no evidence about the one or another. So sadly I think you will remain in uncertainty
Udet himself wrote in his book only about "a red plane" without further details. As a Jasta-Leader at this time he had maybe 2 coincident aircrafts in service? Another aspect is, that Goering took over and flying the 4253/18 after Udet was wounded. And again here comes another irritation weather it was painted white all over or white with a red! nose. As commader of Jasta 11 he might have had also two similar planes when he flew 278/18, 294/18, 4253/18 and 5125/18

Confused

Thomas

Thomas,

Hey, we're WWI modelers, confusion is what we do!

I may just go with the black forward section because I think it looks better.

Michael

If the standard colour for Jasta 4s nose was black, by a strange logic would not the leader have a different nose colour, say red.

In fact it would be very logical for the leaders aircraft to be all one colour, be it red or white.

Leadership and being able to spot the leader was very important, more so in the German colours then the Allies colours methinks.

No facts, just supposition.

personally I've always thought the nose was black, no hard evidence just a personal opinion.

paul