USN Modern Aircraft Carrier Deck Crew

Goffy Model, 1/350 scale

Reviewed by Steven Eisenman

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

Goffy Models of the Czech Republic, a company with which I am not familiar, is a specialty producer of resin after market products for aircraft, armor and ships in various modeling scales.

Goffy’s 1/350 deck crew for modern USN aircraft carriers is a unique offering to ship modelers.  Unlike most deck crew figure, which are molded in gray, Goffy has used colored resin to represent the different function specific colors worn by USN aircraft carrier deck personnel.

While the entire figure is molded in a particular color, one would need to color the lower portion to represent the dark or camouflaged trousers. If you have a rock steady hand and a good magnifier, you may also want to paint the faces and hands.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Goffy provides ten sets of ten figures molded in five different colors.  Each pair of colors has figures in two different positions.

The colors provided, and the functions that they represent, are –

• Purple – Aviation Fuel Handlers

• Yellow – Flight Deck Officers and Plane Directors

• Blue – Plane Handlers, Tractor Drivers, Elevator Operators

• Green – Operations Personnel, Catapult and Arresting Gear Personnel, Ground Support

• Red – Ordnance Handlers, EOD Personnel, Crash and Salvage Crews

The only colors I have qualms about are the red and the green.  The red appears a tad pink ands the green a bit pea soup in color.  But given the scale, that may be more appropriate than deep, dark colors.

While the figures have some flash, the bigger issue is that they are subject to damage in transit.  All ten sets are packed in a small plastic bag. Given that packing method, the sets bang against one another with the result that some figures lose arms while others are knocked off the molding block altogether.  Luckily, all is contained within the bag, and those that are knocked off the block can be recovered.

One of the things I came to realize, while examining the sets and taking close up pictures, is that, in this small scale, the figures create more of an impression than a detailed replica of a crewman.  As with many things in small scale, viewing distance becomes crucial to the overall impression of the model.

For those modeling 1/350 scale modern USN aircraft carriers, this set from Goffy seems to be a relatively painless way to add a good bit of colorful detail and life to the deck of one’s model.

If nothing else, receipt of this sample convinced me that, given my eyesight and less than steady hand, I will not be taking up after market detailing of 1/350 scale ships.

Thanks to John Vojtech of UMM-USA for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2009 by Glen Porter
Page Created 1 December, 2009
Last updated 1 December, 2009

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page