PAINTING A PILOT BUST
By Stan Alexander | onawing4602@att.net
IN THE OPINION OF MOST SCALE MODELERS, every Scale model should have a pilot. In some competitions, it is required. The Balsa USA Eindecker EIII that I’m finishing should have one as well. The model is approximately 1/5 scale. Looking around the shop, I didn’t find much that would substitute for a World War I pilot.
Aces of Iron Productions, Inc. has sold pilot busts for several years in a variety of sizes for different aircraft. I went with this one for a number of reasons. It will fit in the model at approximately the right size, it has realistic looks, it’s lightweight, and it didn’t cost $100. With shipping, this 1/5-scale pilot was approximately $33. I can paint it myself as well.
The pilot is made of hollow cast resin to help keep the weight down and increase the scale accuracy of the bust. This product will accept either enamel or acrylic paint. The company also offers a section on its website with painting tips and a downloadable and printable PDF version of the instructions.
I made some screenshots of the pilot figures on the website then looked at the finished products there. I assembled the paint bottles I had on hand, including craft paint and Testors plastic model paint. Some of these I mixed, such as the Testors orange with a flesh color for the lips. Some of the other colors were mixed on a piece of cardboard to check the shade that I was trying to get for the pilot.
I started with the largest area on the helmet as where I would use that color, which turned out to be sort of a brown/rust color. I painted the pilot face with a darkened flesh color then the smaller parts, including the eyes. Paint the belts and harness different shades of brown or black to suit your taste. The very last thing I painted was the large collar around the neck of the intrepid Eindecker EIII flier.
Having the right size brush is very important as well. The eyes require a very small-tipped brush, while different sizes of brushes can be used on other areas. These can usually be found at local hobby outlets in packs.
Robart and Sullivan Products Updates
Both Robart Manufacturing’s landing gear product line and Sullivan Model Products are back!
Sullivan Products has moved to Florida with a new owner and new website and is ready to go! Robart’s landing gear was bought by HighViz RC. The company is working to get set up to supply landing gear, struts, and replacement parts as well. I’m looking forward to seeing more from both of these companies in 2025!
Nick Ziroli Plans
Another great source of information, plans, parts, engines, etc. is Nick Ziroli Plans. Besides the extensive group of warbird plans on its website, the company also has parts such as spinners (some with fans), propellers and propeller hub extensions, fuel tanks, and mufflers for Scale modelers. There are also plans from Vailly Aviation, Kerry Sterner, David Andersen, Jim Pepino Designs, Dick Graham, and several others.
One model that caught my attention was the 1/4-scale 1911 Avro Model D biplane.
This one comes out to a 94-inch wingspan; a smaller one is available at 62 inches. This is a prewar WW I type, so I wouldn’t expect any aerobatics from it, but what a beauty.
There are lots of others to check out, including the pictured Beechcraft Model 18/C-45 that was used extensively during World War II.
From the Shop
Making tools or jigs to reproduce parts and align hinge points and hinges, in general, is just something we have to do. I’m currently working on a landing gear jig for the Eindecker EIII. Using a 2 x 6 from the lumber yard and cutting it just a bit past the projected landing gear length, I’ve cut the slots just like the formers in the fuselage then added the original struts.
2025 AMA Scale Nats
The 2025 AMA Scale Nats will take place July 10-14 at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana. RC will compete on Site 4, which has the grass runway that was so nice this past year. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) F4 Scale Team Selection for both RC and Control Line (CL) Scale will take place on July 11-14, with CL F4B on Site 6.
As I wrote this in early December 2024, the event director was trying to obtain a block of local hotel rooms at AMA rates. I hope this happens because the IRONMAN competition will again be in Muncie the same weekend.
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA)
www.nasascale.org
Aces of Iron Productions, Inc.
info@acesofiron.com
www.acesofiron.com
Nick Ziroli Plans
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroligiantscaleplans.com
HighViz RC
info@highvizrc.com
www.highvizrc.com
www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61566601171253
Sullivan Products
(410) 732-3500
www.sullivanproducts.com
Robart Manufacturing
(630) 584-7616
https://robart.com
2025 AMA Nats
https://nats.modelaircraft.org
