Recently, I picked up a really nice kit from Master X. This is the 1/48 scale DFS-40, which was a beautiful experimental flying wing Alexander Lippisch designed. While the kit itself is quite nice, even for a resin kit, high quality, the building instructions leave a bit to be desired, and there are no color references. And looking at the extant photographic record, all being black and white, you really don't know what it was colored, although I suspect RLM grey overall. But then, what about the interior colors? Perhaps RLM grey, as this was a primer, but I'm not sure, because as an experimental, the interior might simply be bare aluminum. I just don't know, so am asking.

But the model itself is gorgeous, I've had a crush on it ever since I saw the photo of it in Lippisch's book, Delta Wing, which is chock full of modelling possibilities, if one desires to build more than just the Me163, and various Luft 46 offerings.

Hi Max

I can't remember ever having seen a shot of the interior. I'll also be interested if your search turns anything up.

All the best

Rowan

I went to school with Rudi Opitz's son, He at the time worked in Stratford Connecticut, USA as a test pilot for Avco Lycoming. Mr. Optiz had been the Test Pilot for the ME 163 and all the previous Prototypes. He had several models of the earlier trials air Aircraft I also saw some fil of the trails, on fortunately those were in B&W> but the Models were the RLM light grey of most of the other 1930's Luftwaffe aircraft. the film included some gliders of the sort as the DFS-40 but I have no recollection of the type (except for a powered and unpowered 163A.

The paint was the grey. and all had the pre-war Swastika on the red band, and the civilian D- number coding.

I hope this helps a little; this was 50 years ago.

Captn Tommy

Hi Tom

Now that's a name to be able drop and impress us aircraft modellers with! Wow! I bet you found every and any excuse to go visit the Opitz household! The stories to be told...

All the best

Rowan

No, there are not any, as far as I've been able to find out. I suspect, at least so far, that the mold designer exercized a certain amount of artistic license with regard to the cockpit arrangement, as there have been few photos of it period, that is, photos of the aircraft itself. I think that Lippisch himself wasn't concerned so much about posterity with regard to the uniqueness of the machine itself as with it being simply another flying wing configuration he was playing with, so to speak. So, I think that "the sky's the limit" with regard to interior colors, although with respect to metal structure and components, if there is any color at all, it'll be more a primer like RLM grey than anything else. But then, methinks that few would dispute my choice, provided I don't use something obviously wrong like chromate. Of course, the instrument panel might be black.

Something I'm also trying to research is the interior color(s) of the Mitsubishi K3M3, as I picked up a little 1/72 kit of one(the Czech Master Resin, a very nice little kits, like the DFS, with a lack of paintintg instructions, such as none at all).

The DFS had no markings, not even a registration number, nor even any kind of national marking(s).

I would suggest looking up on BING or Google GERMAN SAILPANES 1930'S , find a cockpit and copy it. Even today the sailplane cockpits look identical especially in 1/72 scale

Mr. Opitz had original films of the ME-163A & B tests B&W, Nazi logos and everything. spent a couple of Hours watching them, and I saw only one on the Discovery Planes of the Third Reich several years ago. this was in 1964.

ALTAAFFA.

Captn Tommy

Thanks.

It'd make sense, because Lippisch did start out designing sailplanes.

I think Mr. Opitz wrote a book on flying the 163, titled "Rocket Fighter". I think he is the author, but don't quote me on that.

He did write the book. It really shows how dangerous the flying was for the Me163 and its prototypes. It did not glide per say he flew it to a VERY large field then at as low as possible pulled the air brake lever and dropped the thing to the ground (stopped it from flying).

If you have a large city library near you call them up with the title or the author's name and see if it is there or do the same with the Smithsonian. they have a reference section second to none. RAF museum is another. the rocket is famous if not the Pilot.

By the way He did fly missions with it.

enjoy the explore
Captn Tommy

That was Mano Zeigler who wrote that one. Opiz gets a lot of page space though