1:72 RAF WWII heavy bomber crew

RAF heavy bomber crew 1:72 (Armory)

The set holds figures of Royal Air Force airmen in high altitude outfit in 1:72 scale, and the manufacturer lists it as a full crew set. It is not an aircraft kit: these are figures that give a model scale and life. Check the exact number of figures on the box.

The real subject

The crews of British heavy bombers, that is the Avro Lancaster, the Handley Page Halifax and the Short Stirling, flew at night and at high altitude. The unheated fuselage froze far below zero, so the airmen wore a bulky fur-lined flight suit, an inflated life vest, a parachute harness, a helmet with an oxygen mask and gloves in layers. It is that bulky outfit that makes figures of bomber aviation airmen recognizable at first glance and impossible to confuse with day fighter pilots in light dress.

Painting tips

• wash the castings in warm soapy water before painting and the paint will hold
• bring out the suit and the fur trim with drybrushing and the texture will stand out
• build the skin from a darker base toward lighter layers and leave the shadows in the recesses
• pick out the oxygen mask and the hose in matte black and they will separate from the face
• glue the small parts with cyanoacrylate glue and work under a magnifier

Who the set is for

For modelers who build British bombers in 1:72 and want to show the crew with the model or in a diorama. Painting figures in this scale is fine work, but the reward is a scene that tells a story.

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints, glue and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.