These original He 162 components were provided by D. Lemp in partnership with the Rechliner Museum and are left-over remnants from the restoration of the He 162 on display at the Aviation Technical Museum in Rechlin, Germany.
Restored He162 Salamander "White 4" - Aviation Technical Museum

Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from East Germany in the 1990s, long-inaccessible areas previously used by the German military during World War II became available for exploration. These sites, including former war production facilities and airfields, yielded numerous artifacts from Germany’s late-war aviation projects. Among the most significant finds were crates of parts of the Heinkel He 162, a rare jet fighter developed during the final months of the war. Although Soviet forces took the BMW 003 jet engines to the Soviet Union for testing, the majority of airframes and components were left behind. These parts had been stranded at various locations by the departing Russians, waiting to be uncovered.He162 Salamander relics 

He162 Salamander relics

Large portions of original He 162 components were recovered from former production facilities, including the main Heinkel plant in Rostock, which had been heavily bombed during the war. To disperse production, the Germans established smaller, more concealed sites in Mecklenburg, including a factory hidden in the forest near Rövershagen and another at the Barth airfield on the Baltic Sea. These sites were key locations where many He 162 parts were manufactured.
Heinkel Factory - Rostock Germany

Parts found at these sites have since been used to rebuild several He 162 aircraft, including "White 1" which is currently displayed at the Aviation Museum in Rechlin. Though most wooden components had to be reconstructed, much of the original structure remains intact, showcasing the ingenuity and desperation of late-war German aircraft production. Among the items recovered were cockpit components, armored plates, and original production tools such as drilling templates.
Restored He162 Salamander "White 4" - Cockpit

Restored He162 Salamander "White 4" - Front Landing Gear Bay

With just over 300 built before the end of the war, only 110 were actually delivered to the Luftwaffe. Only seven original aircraft remain to this day, with an additional four replicas built using original parts from this cache - making these pieces incredibly rare. Each relic included with the print originate from the cockpit and nose gear section of the He 162 Salamander.Remaining He162 Salamander components acquired by Aces In Action

HERITAGE ALLOY™

Heritage Alloy™ is the next generation of Aces In Action Relic Artwork. Made from a rigid aluminum composite material, its smooth surface delivers exceptional color, contrast, and fine detail with a luminous quality that is difficult to fully capture in photographs.

Each Heritage Alloy™ edition incorporates our exclusive Artifact Dock™, integrating the authentic historical relic, its provenance, and limited-edition identification directly into the artwork. Available Ready to Hang or finished in a solid black wood frame.

GALLERY-WRAPPED CANVAS

Select Relic Artwork editions remain available on our traditional gallery-wrapped canvas while inventory lasts. Canvas provides a classic, textured fine-art presentation and is available Ready to Hang or finished in our traditional black floater frame.

AVAILABLE SIZES & FORMATS

• 18" × 12" (45.7 × 30.5 cm) — Heritage Alloy™ or Gallery-Wrapped Canvas; Ready to Hang or Framed
  
• 30" × 20" (76.2 × 50.8 cm) — Heritage Alloy™ or Gallery-Wrapped Canvas; Framed
  
• Custom sizes may be available upon request
  

READY TO HANG

Every Relic Artwork edition arrives ready for display. 18" × 12" Heritage Alloy™ Ready-to-Hang editions include an installed rear wall-mount bracket, while Gallery-Wrapped Canvas arrives ready to hang without an external frame. Framed editions include installed hanging hardware. No additional framing or mounting is required before display.

RELIC MATERIAL & VARIATION

Unless otherwise stated, the relic included with your artwork is a fragment taken from the larger historical component shown in the reference photos. The size, shape, color, markings, and appearance of each relic may vary based on the original material available. Reference photos are provided to document and illustrate the source of the relic material and may not depict the exact fragment included with your artwork.

ARTIST • HISTORIAN • RELIC CURATOR

Craig Tinder has spent more than two decades creating historically researched artwork that connects collectors with the people, machines, and events that shaped history. His work goes far beyond illustrating an aircraft, ship, or vehicle—the research and historical artifacts behind each piece are an integral part of the artwork.

Craig works with museums, aircraft and vehicle restoration organizations, veterans, historians, collectors, and other historical institutions around the world to locate and document authentic artifacts with meaningful connections to the subjects he depicts. He supplements this physical evidence with extensive research using museum collections, military records, historical photographs, archives, and other primary and secondary sources from around the world.

In his workshop, Craig carefully prepares and incorporates these genuine historical relics into his signed and numbered artwork, preserving their provenance while giving artifacts that might otherwise remain unseen a new way to tell their story.

Meet Craig Tinder →

SHIPPING

Each Relic Artwork edition is individually handcrafted and completed by Craig Tinder. From engraving and assembling the Artifact Dock to preparing the relic, framing the artwork when selected, and completing the final inspection and packaging, every piece is finished specifically for its collector. Please allow additional time for this hands-on process before your artwork ships.

Gift wrapping is available for Relic Artwork, making it ready for presentation upon arrival.

DISPLAY & CARE

All Relic Artwork arrives ready to display. Unframed 18" × 12" editions include a rear wall-mount bracket, while framed editions arrive with hanging hardware installed.

Premium Relic Artwork editions are designed for long-term display. Keep artwork away from prolonged direct sunlight, excessive moisture, and extreme temperature changes. Dust gently with a clean, soft, dry cloth and avoid household cleaners or abrasive materials on the artwork, frame, relic, or Artifact Dock.