Wings Cockpit WWI and WWI Pilots Preview

1/32 scale

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David Allen has sent the following images and information about the latest addition to his wonderful range of figures:

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Thumbnail panels:

WWII Catalogue

Mike Good’s early-mid war seated Luftwaffe pilot 1939-43 (LUFT 01) features a choice of three highly detailed heads and should fit or be adjustable to a good selection of Luftwaffe cockpits. As with Mike’s seated RAF pilot, the limbs are supplied as separate parts are very modellable to the space available. The Luftwaffe pilot is specifically designed to fit the Eduard Bf 109 E series and Hasegawa 109 F models, and, by shaving down the rear parachute harness where it touches the seat he also fits the Cyber Hobby Bf 109 E series models. The Aires cockpits are impossible without major surgery. (I apologise – I don’t know if he fits the new Revell Bf 109 G models yet.) The painted example was painted by Alex Varela Quiros. Price £16.50.

I am particularly delighted with Nino Pizzichemi’s RAF fighter pilot standing in the cockpit 1939-42 (RAF 02 A) and RAF Flight or Ground Sergeant leaning against an aircraft in service dress, 1939 – 45 (RAF 02 B). The pilot in the cockpit is designed for Spitfires, but will adapt to other fighters with the height of his right arm to meet the forward canopy. As always, test fit first. He comes with two highly detailed heads offering alternative Type B and Type C helmets. Both are superb connoisseur figures and work nicely together. They will be joined by a WAAF by Nino shortly when cast to make a mix-and-match group of three. Price £13.50 each.

The two ladies – the WAAF officer 1939–45 (RAF 08A) and the Luftwaffehelferin 1941-45 (LUFT 05B) – are sculpted by Benoit Cauchies in Brittany. They work nicely with the other figures. Benoit’s prowess sculpting female figures in this scale should shortly be legendary. It pleases me to think of modellers worldwide lovingly painting their curves (as I do). Both have a choice of two heads – with uniform cap or bareheaded. Price £13.50 each. The WAAF is painted by Mike Butler, on disc.

Also by Benoit Cauichies, the Luftwaffehelferin is accompanied by a Luftwaffe pilot, 1939 – 45 (LUFT 05A). Modelled on Erich Hartmann, smiling, hands in pockets, he is the perfect scale Luftwaffe pilot to accompany any model. One head only. Price £13.50.

The Soviet VVS pilot with a mapcase 1941–45 (VVS 01C) is another of Nino’s masterpieces and should work on his own, or as a handsome companion to Nino’s earlier ‘Sturmovik girls’. He comes with two heads – helmeted and bareheaded. Price £13.50. Marion Ball’s excellent painted example is on disc.

Long overdue, I have some American pilots coming. The first to arrive is Przemyslaw Szymczyk’s USAAF late war bomber pilot in body armour and flak helmet (USAAF 02). He is a representational figure, kitted up, intended to stand alongside the B-17. Two heads are provided with the goggles ‘open’ (to paint the eyes) or ‘closed’ to paint the lens. Price £13.50.

The painted version on disc is by Mike Butler.

WWI Catalogue

These figures here are by sculptor Steve Warrilow.

For the Lüftstreitkräfte German Air Services Steve has sculpted an LSK pilot in a short greatcoat 1914-18 (LSK 09). The figure comes with a choice of two heads, one in helmet and goggles and one in peaked cap and spectacles. The helmeted head fits the figure perfectly, looking up at the skies, but a word of warning about the second head. It needs tailoring to the figure. Steve sculpted the head leaving the neck to be able to use the head with other figures. Price £13.50.

There has been some demand for groundcrew, and I hope these help fill a bit the gap.

First comes the propeller carrier (LSK 12), who also nicely carries an MG on his shoulder. The beautiful handmade wooden Neindorf prop featured with the figure is by Doug Craner at Propshop (dougcraner@hotmail.co.uk) and is not included. (Nor is the MG, stolen from my WnW Fokker DVII kit.) The head comes separate for you to choose the angle you want, and with an optional base. The angulation of this figure is nice. Price £13.50. I painted the version on disc.

Coming as a two figure set are a groundcrew team manhandling an aircraft (LSK 13) one pulling it by the propeller and one carrying the tailskid. They should work credibly with all smaller aircraft. The prop puller is a single piece casting with an optional small base, and the tailskid carrier comes with the head and left arm separate. Price of two figure set £27.50.

The following figures are sculpted by Doug Craner.

Doug's LSK pilot leaning against an aircraft (LSK 04 B) is taken from a photograph of a Ltn. Malchow standing on the wheel of an Eindecker, leaning against the wing and cowling. He is actually sculpted by Doug to fit standing on the wheel of an Eindecker E II or E III, but you can also place him on the wheel of an Eindecker I, or just on the ground nonchalently leaning against almost any aircraft. The casting comes in two pieces, a single piece casting plus a separate left foot for you to choose the angle yourself. I think he is also a versatile figure. The overalls and helmet with cowl are almost timeless, and aside from the semi-hidden Teutonic uniform collar he could easily be posed against a Bentley at Brooklands in the 20s or any open cockpit aircraft from 1915 to the present day.

Doug's LSK pilot sitting on the decking for Wingnut Wings Fokker DVIIs (LSK 07 C) is taken from a photograph of a Ltn. Wilhelm Leusch (shown on p.28 of the OAW Fokker DVII instruction book), and designed to fit the Wingnut Wings’ Fokker DVIIs. He may fit other flat-decked models with some tailoring. One foot is in the cockpit, and one foot swinging off the fuselage. There is a choice of two heads, helmeted and bareheaded, and a flying helmet laid flat to accompany the bareheaded one. The model comes in five pieces, with a separate right hand for you to fit him to the plane. Watch out for the fiendishly vulnerable chest flap, which is a miracle of casting but can break off very easily. I immediately glued mine with a small dob of CA glue under the strap tail to reinforce it for painting.

The final figure is by Benoit Cauchies.

The French WW1 pilot leaning against an aeroplane (AMF 01) by Benoit Cauchies is slight of build but very fine, and can be posed against almost any aeroplane. He is modelled from a pose of Paul Tarascon leaning against Zigomar. He has two heads - the classic French kepi and a head with a flying helmet. The figure comes in 6 pieces: 2 heads, helmet chinstrap, main body with right arm and legs, left arm, coat flap. Price £13.50. I thought it was time for a Frenchie, and Benoit is, of course, a Frenchman. I've often boggled at Roden's big line in Nieuports and Spads (but struggle with much cursing making their models) and I'm rather hoping Wingnut Wings will engineer a beautiful Nieuport or Spad. The superb painted examples on disc are by Mike Butler (kepi) and John Belcher (helmet) in New Zealand. I am very fortunate to have such excellent painters.

The Wings Cockpit Figures’ full range is available from MDC online (who do an excellent international service)by following this link.

or by enquiry from me at –

david.allen@wingscockpitfigures.com

Thanks to David Allen from Wings Cockpit Figures for the images and information.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2013 by Wings Cockpit Figures
Page Created 26 March, 2013
Last updated 30 May, 2014

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