Neal,
Hang in there.  I just went through this with my Mom and Mother-in-law.  You're right, there's not a cure or easy fix.   Y'all will be in my prayers!
I've always said that modeling is my therapy.

Next question... where do you put them all?

nose plug for the canopy looks good.  Is that collage all the planes you built this year?

That should serve you well!

Great progress. I look forward to seeing the nose section coming together!

Mothes' mission objective on 4 May 1943 was specifically the airstrip known as Loukhi-3, located approximately 6.7 miles west of the Murmansk Railway head at Loukhi.  Somehow...I think they knew at Loukhi-3 that a Luftwaffe Recon flight was on its way.  Gunfire damage to V7+1H indicated that hits were made from below (ground fire?) as well as from the air.  One engine was apparently disabled with much damage to the canopy glazing.  Interesting that mission takeoff time was 0300hr...30 minute flight...how much light was available at that time of day(night)...at that time of year?  Maybe the sun didn't really set?

Pontsalenjoki as well as Loukhi-3 are all but abandoned today...rough airstrip...rare flights in and out...only appropriate ac.  Loukhi-3 still serves Loukhi and was probably used as a "forward airstrip" by the Soviets during the 1950's and 60's.  During WW2 there were virtually no roads or settlements between Pontsalenjoki and Loukhi...nothing but wilderness and disgruntled-angry troops.  Took Mothes two weeks to navigate that distance before fortunately falling into the hands of...probably Finnish forward units (Wehrmacht not actively engaged in ground operations that far north).  All those water-obstacles would have given the Soviets a good idea of where they needed to defend...and the closer Mothes got toward the good guys...the more risky it would have gotten for him.

I read somewhere recently that Fw-189's were considered a priority target by the Soviets for ground fire/air intercept..."special consideration."

Neal

My conjecture is...that Mothes saw the clearing ahead and did indeed lower his landing gear...which in turn slowed his airspeed still further...bringing V7+1H into the tree tops short of the clearing...not good.  As the ac sank further into the trees...horz. tail was torn off...along with booms...a weak point (attachment) being directly behind the wing's TE.  Once that occurred...the entire wing/center fuselage section rotated into an inverted attitude...actually facing backwards...came to an abrupt halt, and settled to the forest floor...what a ride.  Rear gunner's position was entirely destroyed...as was glazed nose.  Mothes intended to make a perceived clearing...just didn't get there.  Maybe it was sop to lower the gear...for any landing save in water...just because the nose was considered a no-go...all that glazing.  Let's face it...no protection regardless of the structure in those circumstances.  Mothes was just very lucky...more than lucky, even.  Rear-gunner may have had a chance...until that wing flipped...then he became the lead...and Mothes was then in the rear.  My conjecture...thanks, Ian. 

Incidentally...discovered V7+1H, originally an A1...had been modified to an A2 (upgraded armament...twin MG81Z in the rear-gunner's position).  That ops report says it was an A3...but that isn't so...A3 was an A1 with duel controls...very few constructed.

Note the rear-gunner in that one pic...appears to be wearing some sort of body armor.  Last pic...look at that baby-faced observer-dorsal gunner!  Schoolboy...bet Mothes' observer was NOT belted in like that...and even if he was....

Thanks, Ian.

Neal

Here's more of "the story"...apparently Soviet patrol was sent out immediately to locate the crashsite of V7+1H...which they arrived at within several hours.  Consider that it was situated only a few miles outside of Louhki...that says something about the terrain.  Obviously Mothes didn't have much time to loiter in the area.  It also dictates that all serviceable ac armament would have been stripped from the wreck...sop.  Remains of two KIA crewmen would have been dealt with by the Soviets...or not, according to their sentiments.  So the wrecksite was not pristine...but difficult to get to...and might not have been much disturbed since 1943.

Oh...apparently there was an open area that Mothes was attempting to reach for an emergency landing.  Didn't make it.  Hence...LG extended...still an interesting decision...couldn't have helped to extend his glide path.

Here's Luftwaffe mission report for V7+1H 4/5/43.  Circled description in upper right says it all..."flug nicht wieder zuruck"...aircraft did not return.  Entry to right of Mothes indicates MIA (vermiBt) (as it does for other two crew members)...with a hand-written line above indicating..."perhaps not."  Hand-written note directly below this indicates his return 17/5/43...with answers to the puzzle.

Neal