Posted By: Peter Willicks <peter.willicks@stk.rlp.de>
Date: Thursday, 9 August 2001, at 7:16 a.m.
Hello Gus,
No need to apologize, but sometimes I start to grumble, when I see those "legends" again and again.
As a "compensation" let me give you some information about the color schemes.
At first the Ju 290 was painted in the standard RLM 70/71 on the upper sides and RLM 65 on the undersides. This was logical, as the planes were used as a transport.
When it switched to the long-range reconnaissance role, the colors changed to:
Upper sides of wings, fuselage pp. RLM 72/73. These were the correct for planes flying over water. The FW Condor was painted in that color, and also the Do 217 E/Ks of KG 100.
The assembly instructions of the Airmodel vacu and the resin kit by planet claim, that RLM 70/71 had been retained. This may be possible, if the Junkers works couldn't get the correct colors, as there were no anti-shipping planes constructed at Junkers' factories. But I would prefer the correct colors.
The sides of the fuselage, Fins pp. were painted in very light RLM 65. I think in W. Greens books you can find photos of this color scheme. Another source for the English/US-Market may be the translation of Heinz J. Novarra's brochure on the big Junkers planes. I think, it was published by Schiffer books. I don't know if the superb book by Ott/Kössler had been translated too.
RLM 65 changed its shade during the war from a light blue gray to a sort of light gray. The cover of the mentioned Schiffer brochure gives a good impression of this color, it is a very light gray with a slight bluish tone. Humbrol Matt 147 comes very close to the shade.
Personally I don't think they used RLM 76 as a replacement of RLM 65 at that time (Summer/autumn of 1943). This happened during 1944.
When the Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5 was withdrawn from the Atlantic, the Ju 290s were transferred to KG 200. The agent-dropping missions were mostly flown at night, so the lightly colored parts were overpainted with black. Well-known pictures of this scheme are those of the captured Ju 290 A-7 with the
"Alles kaputt" Nose-Art.
I would be pleased, if I haven't carried coals to Newcastle and could offer some new information to you.
Unfortunately I do not have the technical equipment to scan and send you some pictures or profile, so sorry.
Best regards
Peter