1:48 ROCAF Ground crew Vol-2

Figures of ROCAF ground personnel in 1:48 scale, the second part of the range

This is not an aircraft model but a set of figures. Freedom Model Kits offers it as an accessory to aircraft models in 1:48 scale. The figures represent the ground personnel of the Republic of China Air Force, that is the technicians and the crews who work around the machines on the flight line. The designation of the second part of the range suggests that it follows on from an older set and widens the choice of figures.

Why ground personnel and not just the crew

While a flight crew adds one or two figures to a model, ground personnel turn the model into a situation. A technician at the landing gear, a crewman at the connections or a figure marshalling the aircraft explain at once what is happening in the scene. For dioramas and display vignettes these sets are therefore more interesting than a crew in the cockpit alone, because they offer more working poses.

Building and painting tips

• First lay the figures out dry and only then decide from the resulting composition which to glue and where.
• The working clothing of ground personnel takes weathering; a fine wash into the folds and light soiling of the lower trouser legs reads more convincingly than clean paint.
• Keep the reflective elements and the colored vests in a saturated matte color, as the contrast against the muted shades is part of the character of the scene.
• Paint the faces first, while access to them is free, and only then finish the clothing and the accessories.
• Glue the figures to the base before you move the model up to them, as correcting a position under a wing is awkward.

Who the set is for

• For builders of aircraft dioramas and flight line scenes in 1:48 scale.
• For modelers who want to add the context of operations to a model, not just a pilot.
• For anyone interested in the hardware and the operations of the Republic of China Air Force.
• For collectors who use figures to unify the look of a whole display case.

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and the aircraft model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.