Chesterman explains: “I suggested the Heinkel plane. They wanted this photo-realistic effect, so I designed the thing with the detached bomb coming towards you.
“I worked in airbrush in black and white, which I would then tint,” he adds. “That’s why my work always looked very doomy. To get the lighting right, I got a little Airfix kit of a Heinkel 111, made it up and sprayed it black.” He then took photos to get the reflection underneath. “When you work realistically, you’ve got to have a realistic reference.”
Such was the sleeve’s impact that the band insisted on the now infamous Bomber lighting rig for their accompanying tour – a 40ft Heinkel replica that moved from side to side over the stage.
“It’s the most famous cover I’ve ever done,” Chesterman says.
The album was released on October 27th 1979, reached number 12 on the UK charts.
Airfix will be offering a version of its latest Heinkel with the “Bomber” markings included, and with the special 40th Anniversary box lid.
Numbers are limited.