Yet another Me 262

[BLOWHARD]

YEA!!!!!

[Jesters-Ink]

Well then, here's a question for yall.
Me262 had its rivets and panel lines filled and sanded after construction, then it was painted. Now although I've seen many examples the same as those posted by BH showing an unpainted finish, I also have seen many examples as shown bellow.

Now here's the question.
Did the filling of the rivets and lines get omitted towards the end of production, or is there some other reason why there are two standards of finish?

I'm quite keen to know.

[gamary]

Looking very good!

[AGNT_Matt]

while i'm on a break i'll give my opinion, towards the end of the war the 262's were i think rushed into production as a last ditch effort, in doing so i'd imagine that the rivets and bits would not have been smothed, to save time between the factory and service use. but again thats my idea on it.

[Jadehawk]

Near the end of the war, the Germans had their production scattered all over the place in forest, caves etc. Having many sub-contractors, one would assume there would be variances even on the same Me 262 aircraft produced in 1945. For example, the tail section, wings and nose sections were made by different sub-contractors while the body was made at several main assembly areas. Contractor X made the tail section and had plenty of filler. But contractor Y had difficulty getting enough supplies due to it's location, but went ahead and completed their quota of tail assemblies sans the filler.

Having said that, the earlier Me 262's made before 1945 would have been more consistent in manufacture before they started to have material supply difficulties.

[Otterkins2]

I do believe Jadehawk has the correct take on the matter. Moreover, Jester's photos are all of restored beasts so they may have removed all the tape and filler in order to restore the A/C and for one reason or another decided not to replace it. Whaddya think they are....drywallers?

And now back to my Fw 190 D-9 which is comming along quite swimmingly.

[BLOWHARD]

Bad restorations leave it off most likely
Based on the photos that show the partially assembled 262, unpainted, still in the outdoor assembly lines under camouflage netting, I'd say no, they were consistently taped and puttied.
This picture here, after capture by the US, still unfinished, plenty of tape and putty to go
around

More-


I'm sure there is a possibility of exceptions, but that's were specific photos come in

Do keep in mind the myth about too little too late is extremely incorrect. At least the little part. There were more complete 262 airframes sitting on runways than there were pilots to fly them, or fuel to power them, by wars end. Productions was way up at that time. It's just that they couldn't ship anything anywhere, or take off without fighters shooting them up.
(there were engine shortages though )
There were still plenty of planes left even after the allied fighter bombers tried destroying every one they saw on the ground.
I'd rule out shortages unless war time examples can be found.

[Jesters-Ink]

I have seen war time photographs of some taking off fully painted and you can see the lines on them quite clearly, it looks like an early to mid production sample too, so the too little too late does not add up completely. I will try and dig out the relevant evidence, but it sounds like different productions at different locations.
1900 aircraft completed by wars end or thereabouts according to my books.

[BLOWHARD]

You're going to make me got out those 4 heavy books and start scanning huh?

[mjag]

Looking good Jesters