This is one of my favorite planes, a Bf-110 that flew in southern Russia in 1943. The unit code is Q1+VB, which indicates that it belonged to NAGr.1 (
Nahaufklärungsgruppen were short-range reconnaissance units). The
Staffel letter "B" signifies
I Gruppe Stab.
There is some uncertainty as to the variant, however, and the plane has been variously described as either an F (which seems likely, given the apparent absence of the cooling intake above the exhaust), G-2, or G-3. The Bf-110G had the more powerful but problematic DB 605B engine, which tended to overheat. The cowlings, although virtually the same size as in the older model, were therefore fitted with two small inlets just above and in front of the exhaust pipes. This, and the location of the pitot tube, which is used to determine airspeed (and was positioned at the end of the wing on the G), are the most obvious diagnostic differences between the two models--assuming the grainy black-and-white photographs of the time allow them to be recognized. Of course, all this is a bit beside the point, given that a C-4 is being skinned.
In this picture, the caption indicates that the plane is a G-2. The engine has caught fire while being started, and the ground crew is looking on rather cautiously as one member approaches with a hose. It is the only photograph I have, but when Bryan Philpott's
German Fighters over Russia arrives, there should be more photos from which to work.
I am not quite certain about the camouflage scheme and, for the time being, have patterned the fuselage after airplane models but without the mottling. For now, there is only a screenshot. The spinners have been rendered in green, the color of the
Gruppe Stab, with two-thirds of the white hub in black, as shown in the photograph. Although more accurate, the overlay does give the spinning hub a certain epilepsy-inducing quality when the plane is flown.
Even though wrapping the bony fingers over the upper portion of the nose was a challenge, the skeletal hand reaching out toward its prey has made for a satisfying skin.