Sculpting a WWII Luftwaffe Pilot Figure
I decided that I needed to finish out the WWII combatants in the 1/5 scale line of Best Pilots pilot figures and had been getting quite a few request for WWII Luftwaffe pilots. Jose of Fliteskin Models kindly sent me plans for their 1/5 ME 109 so that this pilot will fit perfectly in that model. Then through pure happenstance, Top Flite is realeasing their 1/5 FW 109 pretty soon. So hopefully, this guy will have LOTS of airplanes flying him around in the sky.
The subject matter: Wow! So many aces to choose from... where to start. I know my selection won’t please everyone, but mostly for me, I just liked Gunther Rall. Seemed like he got along with his former enemies okay and wasn’t a Nazi war criminal or anything like that. Anyone I talked to that met him thought he was a good guy and he certainly wasn’t a slouch in the air. He flew a total of 621 missions, and was shot down no less than 8 times, being wounded 3 times during which he shot down a total of 275 enemy aircraft, including 3 on the Western Front to become the third highest scoring fighter pilot in history! Gunther it is. Now this doesn’t mean that you can only use this pilot if you are doing Gunther’s personal aircraft. I just like to do portraits and this is one way to make sure that the pilot looks real, doesn’t come out looking like a Ken doll and the gear is authentic. If everything works out through this process, he will ultimately look fantastic in any German WWII model.
The Germans had some interesting gear, which is always intriguing on the similarities and differences between the combatants of WWII. I always try to stay true to history, just like making a scale aircraft, if you have photographic evidence, go with the photograph! In Gunther’s case, I’ve got a photo of him wearing the “knit” style flying helmet. Now this is really something different to sculpt and took me about 3 months to find a technique that worked. I always try to be true to the material being sculpted so that it has the visual quality of the real thing, even when not painted. This makes it look more realistic of course, but also makes the figure tremendously more easy to paint! I pay very close attention to that since I will hopefully be painting LOT$ of them in the coming years.Suffice to say, the texture that worked the best was right in front of me all the time with the knurled handle on a dental tool I use for sculpting! I love discoveries!The correct texture will do a lot of stuff automatically for you when painting a Best Pilots figure.
I pretty much just scale photographs of the subject to the correct scale and use those as “plans” and start mashing clay around until it starts to look like something and always referring to the plans for proper measurements. It always amazes me how this process is so close to drawing in pencil... its just in 3-D!
Here's looking at you!
I decided to try a pilot with the goggles over the eyes for the first time. I think this might be really cool. The Luftwaffe goggles were very distinctive - almost like the famous sunglasses Bono of U2 was wearing during the 90’s, LOL! Also, since he is will be piloting a plane the Allies will call a bandit, the goggles help him look the part! Eyes are a real bugaboo and can make or break the quality of a portrait. I went back and forth on how to do this and I think I discovered a way to still represent the eyes and give a realistic effect by using decals. See what you think... kind of freaks me out when I put those eye decals in!
After getting the face and main elements knocked in and 85% done, I made the MESH on the helmet which was a real #@#$%!!!
Next are pics of what I did tonight of just refining things around the helmet, stitching, leather texture, straps & attachment points. The frames of the goggles are pretty tough to keep true with the clay, but so far so good. I even sclupted in the hinge lines which made the ol’ carpal tunnel act up! So far I’m really liking the personality this guy is giving off. I wouldn’t want him on my six!
I meet you at the Indiana Warbird Campaign. I have one of your Sailor Malan Pilots in my new Ziroli Spitfire.
As always, nice work and keep them coming.
Big fan.
Chuck
From what I read the leather jackets were not issued they were bought by pilots usually at stores that sold motorcycle jackets and similar riding coats. US and British pilots did the same in England. This was more prevelant during WWI but did carry over into WWII. This is why there was such a variety of coats and individual style in the air forces especially among top pilots.
Cant wait to see Gunther done!
I think yours is amazing, please don't think this post was a dig at all. Just my tidbits to offer to the discussion.
Casey
GREAT WORK
I saw your work putting my buddies face on one of your 1/4 scale WWI pilots. Scary REAL.
Thanks for your efforts.
Id love to have the time to sculpt a pilot in fact I was just talking with a friend about doing one.
Are you planning on having his hands on the stick and throttle or some other pose?
As for the hands positions, I haven't decided yet. Stay tuned!