Author Topic: RAF ground crew and pilots in 28mm? (Read 5370 times)

Daeothar · « **on:** 17 July 2013, 11:18:17 AM »

I'm looking for some RAF groundcrew and/or pilots in 28mm to go with my recently acquired flight of Spitfires. I need them to be pre-war or early 2nd WW and am looking for about 5 or so of them.

Eventually, I will be needing the same in Germans as well (also pre/early war).

I've scoured all ranges I could thing of, but to no avail. the only option I can think of right now is getting Eduard or Revell 1/48 ground crews / pilots and shortening their legs and arms, which should work, sort of.

There are some scale model manufacturers who do single metal figures in 1/48, but those are scarily costly and will still need heavy converting (read; shortening).

Anyone have an idea?

Mason · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 July 2013, 11:48:05 AM »

Artizan have some pilot types in their Thrilling Tales range and ground crew could be covered by fellas in coveralls, couldn't they?

If so, I may be able to help you.
Give me some time to dig.

Lowtardog · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 July 2013, 11:49:32 AM »

Hmm not seen them, I know there may be some heroic pilot types in pulp ranges.

Luftwaffe troops could be pressed form ranges in soft caps but would be armed or possibly converted from artillery crews that would give you some mechanic type poses and open handed

You may find some suitbale Brits in ebob POW range. got me thinking know off to scout around

ebob chaps below

http://www.ebobminiatures.com/products/stalagluft.htm

Pilots...woohoo

http://www.blacktreedesign.com/uk/product.php?productid=25163&cat=2523&page=1

carlos marighela · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 July 2013, 11:54:44 AM »

Not 28mm but both Czechmaster and DMM produce 1/48 RAF pilots and groundcrew. Artizan produce a 28mm pilot. Some of the Brigade games 28mm U-boat crew would work as groundcrew in battledress and sidecaps.

former user · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 July 2013, 12:15:39 PM »

I also know of 1/48 kit sets, but would be curious about groundcrew too since I've been looking myself for ages for mechanics

Mjolnir · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 July 2013, 12:32:37 PM »

Maybe 'VERLINDEN PRODUCTIONS' ??

aircav · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 July 2013, 12:59:45 PM »

Black tree do a couple of WW2 British Pilots & Foundry have some german downed aircrew

Kane · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 July 2013, 02:14:55 PM »

Bolt action has a "downed RAF pilot" too.

Glitzer · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 July 2013, 02:25:50 PM »

Revell does some in 1:48 But that would be 35mm or heroic 28mm as some call it nowadays. Preiser would do Germans. Here's the links:

http://www.revell.com/germany/figures/80-2620.html#.UeabjGzWJaU
http://www.preiser-figuren.de/1:43-48-Preiser-1-48-EDW-Luftwaffe-Piloten-unbemalt--13-St.-Preiser-67001-,art-18221

Belgian · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 July 2013, 02:36:46 PM »

Quote from: Daeothar on 17 July 2013, 11:18:17 AM

I'm looking for some RAF groundcrew and/or pilots in 28mm to go with my recently acquired flight of Spitfires. I need them to be pre-war or early 2nd WW and am looking for about 5 or so of them.

Eventually, I will be needing the same in Germans as well (also pre/early war).

I've scoured all ranges I could thing of, but to no avail. the only option I can think of right now is getting Eduard or Revell 1/48 ground crews / pilots and shortening their legs and arms, which should work, sort of.

There are some scale model manufacturers who do single metal figures in 1/48, but those are scarily costly and will still need heavy converting (read; shortening).

Anyone have an idea?

Most interesting, I had searched the web and only found the downed pilot from Warlord Games coming in at a steep £2.50.

Will certainly be looking forward in seeing more options.

folnjir · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 July 2013, 11:09:14 PM »

Foundry do some downed Germans.

Poiter50 · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 July 2013, 02:05:39 AM »

I can recommend those Ebob Stalag types, they are great figures.

georgec · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 July 2013, 09:59:48 PM »

Ground crew....difficult in 28mm.... What you need is:

Head dress: The peaked cap (a la BEF 1914 and not scruffy) was withdrawn from NCOs (apart from MT drivers and RAF Police) in December 1939 so you really need a field service cap, the 'Chip Bag' in a glengarry style in 1940 onwards. Bareheaded is also possible, although our propeller-servicing forefathers were not as obsessive as modern air forces about head dress and Foreign Object Damage. Steel helmets are also a possibility, although only if some activity has to be performed during an air raid etc

Clothing: Overalls are a possibility, but worn over shoes/boots without puttees. The main dress up to 1943/44 is the 36 pattern service dress, which looks (again) like the classic BEF 1914 service dress but (again) worn without puttees. Webbing is uncommon outside guard duties and RAFP, and a very light order at that, with the exception of gas masks in the early war. From 43/44 it gets easier with War Service Dress - Battledress in RAF Blue. Again, not puttees. From 42-43 onwards RAF Regiment and Servicing Commandos (manning forward landing grounds) are in army battledress with occasional War Service Dress items.

Footwear. Black shoes/ boots but hard to tell apart as no puttees (as above!)

So... either figures in overalls or WW1 style service dress, with appropriate head swaps, not too much webbing and green stuff over any puttees. Gunners might do the trick but Gripping Beast's are in shirt sleeves, Great War Miniatures have a bit too much webbing in WW1 pattern and Rengade need to lose the peaked caps...

Daeothar · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 July 2013, 10:30:42 AM »

Thanks for the suggestions all; much appreciated

georgec: great information; very useful indeed!

I've managed to compile a little list now, with minis that could be useful to this project:

Artizan

PLP010 - Major Cadd
PLP011 - Private Rotter
PLP125 - Pilot Officer Reynolds
PLP124 - Flight Lieutenant Carter
PLP127 - Colonel Quinn
PLP146 - ATS Driver Sally Haines
PLP165 - General Clearwell
PLP179 - Lance Corporal Seymour
PLP180 - Rifleman Thomas

Black Tree

WW2311 British Flyers (2)
WW2202 British Infantry Communication Teams (4)

Ebob miniatures

Dispersal 'Penguins'
Stooges 2

Bolt Action / Warlord

Downed RAF Pilot
Christmas Truce
British Army FOO team

As it is though, this side project is to be used in both my pulp campaign (which takes place in the early thirties) and eventually in early war scenarios. So I'm not afraid to put in some anachronisms, as long as they 'look the part'.

My gaming group does not contain any history buffs, although they can all tell a WW1 from a WW2 soldier, and can usually also discern the nationality etc. But I won't have to worry about which uniform issue is appropriate for what month of what year in which theater. Luckily...

And that's a good thing, since Spitfires were not even in production back in '32...

BattlewagonBruce · « **Reply #14 on:** 04 August 2013, 02:47:46 AM »

I love aircraft, especially RAF.

I did some converted/refurbished Dinky Spitfires and Hurricanes for an American client last year. I used (don't laugh) Westair pencil topper RAF Pilots. He was a bit stretched so I took a sliver from his midriff and I think they are great figs. They are aimed at tourists and sold at historic homes etc. Dinky aircraft are around 1/60 scale so close enough, even if they are a little odd shaped, but I had them all as a boy, Aaaah, the memories!

Here he is with an angry Wingco (my own sculpt with a Warlord Plastic Brit officer head, in a very old Dinky jeep (which is more like 1/48, but hey!)