Luftwaffe Pilots
Reading a Map

Modelu, 1/72, 1/48 & 1/32 scales

Reviewed by Brett Green

Modelu is a British company that produces 3d printed figures and associated services including full-body custom scans.

Their focus has been railway and lineside figures but they also offer military, civilians, workers, pets, wildlife, livestock figures and more.

This review covers three figure sets, or perhaps I should say one figure set available in three scales, from Modelu’s brand new Luftwaffe figure range.

Each set comprises two different WWII Luftwaffe fighter pilot figures poring over a map.

The figures are wearing Battle of Britain era blue flying suits with separate tunic and trousers, riding boots, flying helmets and yellow life vests.

Once figure is has a bare head but is carrying his flying helmet.

One of the figures is holding a folded map and it looks like both are engaged in conversation about it.

This is another lovely self-contained scene.

The figures are perfectly 3d printed in grey resin together on a single base with fine attachment points. No striations or other imperfections can be seen on my samples.

I thought it was important to see what these figures would look like when they had been freed from their 3d printing cages so I set about cleaning up the nine figures across the three scales.

For the last batch of figures, I removed the figures from their attachments one set at a time using a new hobby blade and a quality set of sprue cutters. This was a fast and easy job. I cut the points close to the bodies of the figures using the sprue cutters and they were quickly freed with almost no residue.

I found that little more time and planning was required as the scales got bigger, but cleanup was still fast and quite easy. No more than 10 minutes per figure and they are ready to paint.

This time, I tried a technique suggested to me by 1/48 scale armour guru Luke Pitt. He said that he had run some resin 3d printed figures under hot tap water and the attachment points came away effortlessly. I tried this and it worked.

While experimenting with the hot tap water in the kitchen, my wife asked if a heat gun would do the same job. I think that sort of heat might damage the resin figure but I countered with a hair dryer. Sure enough, with a few minutes application of hot air through a hair dryer, the attachment points came away with no trouble.

The figures can really be appreciated once removed from their printing strips.

Also note that Modelu offers these figures in a choice of seven scales from 1:24 to 1:144 including all the usual model aircraft, military and figure scales.

These really need to be seen to be believed. Rather than waste words extolling the virtues of these lovely figures, I think I will let the pictures tell the story:

1/72 scale Luftwaffe Pilots Reading a Map - Item No. 50601-072

1/48 scale Luftwaffe Pilots Reading a Map - Item No. 50601-048

1/32 scale Luftwaffe Pilots Reading a Map - Item No. 50601 -032

Regardless of your scale preferences, these two Luftwaffe fighter pilot figure sets offer plenty of opportunities to add character to your dioramas and vignettes. They are both amazingly realistic and highly detailed.

All Highly Recommended

Thanks to Modelu for the review samples

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 20 April, 2025
Last updated 20 April, 2025

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