I LOVE these drawings and artwork! GREAT JOB!!! ;D
Pioneer and I seem to have similar imaginations: I, too, have been contemplating how Heinkel could have built a fighter version of the He.178.
My idea is this: Heinkel installs an advanced version of the original turbojet, installs two 7.62mm machine guns in the wing roots and designates the new fighter the He-278 Sperber (Sparrow). At first the Luftwaffe rejects the aircraft, but Heinkel, ever the individualist, makes a dozen or so for demonstration purposes and gains the interest of several top notch fighter pilots like Galland to support the project. This would allow the Luftwaffe to introduce a true jet-powered fighter in 1940-1941.
Naturally, the He-178 is NOT a fighter design, merely a test item and IF a true combat fighter version SHOULD have been made (the He-278, which could also have shifted Heinkel's focus from the He.112 and He.100) it probably wouldn't be a very effective fighter, with limited range, time in the air, fire power, modification potential, etc. (not to ignore the fact that the engines' TBO would be measured in single hours not dozens or hundreds). However, it WOULD have given the Luftwaffe early jet experience and COULD have induced Hitler to support the concept of an all-jet Luftwaffe.
But this is alternate history and we would have to "modify" Hitler's attitude somewhat and GET RID OF GOERING, MILCH and UDET!
OK, 'nuff said. Time to switch off the imagination engine.
Good work so far!
Chuck