1:32 US aircraft carrier deck crew N°4

1:32 US aircraft carrier deck crew No. 4 from Black Dog model

A resin figure in 1:32 scale from the series devoted to the deck personnel of American aircraft carriers. It is not a kit of an aircraft or a vehicle but a stand-alone accessory that you set beside a finished model or into a flight deck scene. The designation No. 4 distinguishes the individual items within the series, so you can gradually put together a whole group of figures around one machine.

The real subject

Operations on the deck of an aircraft carrier are run by a numerous team in which the functions are recognized by the color of the vest and the helmet. One color is worn by those who direct the movement of aircraft around the deck, another by the catapult and arresting gear crews, another by the ordnance and fuel parties, another by maintenance and safety. It is exactly that use of color that makes the deck personnel a rewarding subject: it brings contrast into an otherwise gray deck and gives the aircraft model both scale and a story.

Building and painting tips

First wash the resin castings in lukewarm soapy water so that the mold release residue disappears, otherwise the primer will not hold. Separate the casting blocks with a saw or a cutter, trim the surface and sand it; protect your airways when sanding resin. It is bonded with super glue, as ordinary cement for polystyrene does not work here. Apply a primer before painting. Build the skin in thin coats and glazes, and the vest and the helmet in a saturated covering color so that they stand out against the uniform. A matte coat at the end evens the surface out and hides the transitions.

Who the figure is for

• Modelers who build carrier aircraft in 1:32 scale and want to bring them to life with deck crew.
• Builders of dioramas on aircraft carrier themes.
• Anyone interested in figures who wants to practice painting skin and fabric in a larger scale.
• Collectors of the series who already have further parts of it.