1:32 German WWII Luftwaffe Pilot

The real subject

The real subject is a pilot of the Luftwaffe in the Second World War period. A pilot is the figure that goes with a model of an aircraft most naturally of all: by a machine on the ramp, at the cockpit while getting ready to fly, or leaning against a wing. A scene thereby gains scale and action, because from a human figure a viewer instantly judges the real size of the aircraft.

What the item is

A single figure in 1:32. In the large scales a figure is big enough to make it worth working up the face, the folds of the clothing and the small equipment. The manufacturer gives the details of the material, the number of parts and the recommended procedure on the packaging and in the instructions.

Building and painting tips

• First wash the figure in lukewarm soapy water and let it dry thoroughly, as paint holds substantially better on a degreased surface.
• Cut the excess material and the marks left by production off a little way from the part with a sharp blade and sand what remains with fine abrasive paper.
• Glue any joints between several parts with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) and fill the gaps with putty, so that they do not show once painted.
• Paint from the large areas toward the detail and do not spare the shadows in the folds, as only they give the clothing shape.

Who it is for

The figure suits any aircraft in 1:32 that has no crew, and it will serve just as well as an object on its own for practicing figure painting. Anyone building a diorama gains a natural center for the scene with a pilot. Paints, glue and a base are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.