forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => WW1 Aviation Figures => Topic started by: elanlane on January 03, 2014, 09:42:44 PM
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In several other posts members have commented that they would like to see more interesting figures with more varied poses to go with WW1 aircraft.
What sort of thing would you like to see produced?
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Hi Elanlane and thank you for the invitation.
All with have their own ideas and no doubt more sensible than mine. But, nevertheless, here we go...
I think we have an important distinction to make. There will always be a market for the almost classic portrait stance showing a great aviator standing by his or her machine. This is scarcely surprising and also reflects a genre of common period photograph. The standard of many of these figures is becoming very high indeed. For commercial reasons I know and accept that another Richthofen will be just round the corner, but it would be so refreshing to see portrait stances of other renowned aviators: Ball, Mannock, Fonck, Nungesser, Luke etc etc.
My concern is something different. We've recently seen, for example, a beautifully conceived and realised fighting FE2b aircrew. I'd like to see similar thought given to aircrew on the ground. Groups of them, standing around, laughing, joking, pointing, playing around, doing the sort of casual things people do before and after posing for camera.
Again with ground crew, there are some splendid exceptions, but rather too many seem very generic and able to be posed pretty much anywhere. I like to see small groups more closely preoccupied with a task we can relate to - like clustering round to look at an engine problem, a fuel leak, working in tandem checking the rigging etc. and here's an off the wall idea. We spend hours and hours on the markings etc of the aircraft we love to model. Wouldn't it be great to see a model showing someone from the staff actually painting the personal emblem? Imagine a scene in which someone is painstakingly applying the Seven Schwabians!
If we take the idea further, I'd love to do a small diorama in which the hapless painter has done what we all do and made a daft mistake, something which has attracted the attention of others who are pointing and howling with laughter. Now, I recognise that the sales potential probably runs to one - me, and so would never see the light of day but that highlights another problem which might be addressed. I know that I would have to convert existing figures but these don't help too much. Take a look at the stances, particularly, those in the Eduard Great War personnel series. Apart from the individual sitting or kneeling figure they offer a very limited range for the would be converter. More varied stances would be a great help.
Sorry to have gone on for so long, but I do think we have some years of opportunity ahead.
Best wishes
Nigel
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I think figures in a diorama should tell a story. I think your ideas are great Nigel. :)
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One possible option for thought. Groundcrew manoeuvring an aircraft. Lifting the tail, guiding the wings etc. I think it would make a great diorama and dynamics as opposed to having an A/C on its skid or tail propped in a trestle. Revell had the idea with the 1/28th DRi yonks ago, shame the figures were... ummmmmm Pants! ::)
Mechanics on steps or trestles working, most engines are out of normal reach.
Most, not all current figures are designed or seem designed to be posed alone, not much about them links them to the diorama if you include them. This is understandable at the market they are aimed at.
I'm hopeful some of the injection figure manufacturers linr Master box twig there is a market they do some rather oddball 1/5th military figures and I believe have ventured into 1/32 WW2 aircrew.
Keith
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Thanks for asking for our opinions. I have to say that a lot has been covered in the previous posts. I think a lot depends on two or three factors.
First what is you business plan/Model ? Are you looking at Limited run cast resin figures or Figures produced in Larger Quantities?
What Market are you seeking? Stand Alone Figures, or Vignette figures that would Appeal to Modelers and Figure Painters? Diorama figures that would fit more with the previous posts? For example I cant see many figure painters buying a Mechanic that is Lifting a Tail as a stand alone project.
Sorry if I am complicating things! To me I LIKE ALL of the SUGGESTIONS the others have made as I do cross over as a Model Airplane builder and Also Paint Figures to be displayed alone. As for what will bring you success I would think those figures that can answer both Markets needs. Of course this goes back to you and what your sales desires and Projected Market are.
RAGIII
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I, too, will have to echo what the others have suggested. I'm not very well educated in sales, marketing, moulds, etc...
Personally, I'd love to see "sets" made. For example a set comprising of enough ground crew to manouver an aircraft like you see in the pictures. Some on the tail, others pushing the wings. That sort of thing. Or enough ground crew to be pulling full maintainence on an aircraft, reaching into access panels, etc..
Just an idea
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I am going to post a couple of figures that I feel represent those that reach BOTH Markets.
First the Newest Manta Figure: German Pilot with Early Heinecke Harness. The Second is Kellerkinds Mechanic with Heinecke Parachute. Both can be painted and displayed individually but together can tell a story. I plan to pose them with Erich Lowenhardts DVII. The Parachute Played a Major Role in Lowenhardts demise, so together with the Model the implications are there for a fine Vignette. That being said, if the figures were just a tad more animated it would be even better. I think that sets of one or two figures in action poses would also be great. Aurora had it right in the 50s'. A Pilot climbing in his Sopwith Triplane, a mechanic handing a box of grenades up to another in the rear cockpit of an Albatros CIII, etc., etc. Finally look at the Airfix 1/32nd Hard Plastic Multi Pose WWII figures. They could be assembled in pre designed manner or one could Mix and Match Torsos, arms, heads, and equipment to custom make your own poses. Very cool stuff! I Hope this Helps,
RAGIII
(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/rickgeisler/vossandpilots/voss023_zps8212f588.jpg) (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/rickgeisler/media/vossandpilots/voss023_zps8212f588.jpg.html)
(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/rickgeisler/WNWfokker041_zps70c15df4.jpg) (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/rickgeisler/media/WNWfokker041_zps70c15df4.jpg.html)
(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/rickgeisler/WNWDVIIF/wnwdvii002_zps623dfa07.jpg) (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/rickgeisler/media/WNWDVIIF/wnwdvii002_zps623dfa07.jpg.html)
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For example a set comprising of enough ground crew to manouver an aircraft like you see in the pictures. Some on the tail, others pushing the wings.
Exactly! Ground crew handling a taxiing aircraft by the wings would add a lot of action to a scene.
LT
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Groundhandeling figures are very melcome, I would like to some figures in poses that are preparing the plane. Arming, both for machine guns (stepladders?) and for bomb loads (kneeling, crouching perhaps) and refueling come to mind.
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I agree with what has been said, we need ground crew. Guys standing on a ladder working on the engine, someone spinning the prop, changing a wheel, carrying a machine gun on his shoulder, sitting having a coffee (or tea), working at a work bench, the list could be endless.
Des.
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Thank you for all the suggestions. It helps to know what people are interested in seeing produced.
At Elan13 I have begun a range of pilots initially; largely because the subject matter interests me and because they do have the 'cross-over' appeal and I am trying to make them interesting, hence the first release of an RFC pilot carrying a dog. I can see the need for aircrew, and like the concept of figures man-handling a plane/working on an engine, however how subject specific would this be as heights of aircraft differ etc? I am not interested in high volume production so more specialist subjects are possible.
Much to think about...
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Thank you for all the suggestions. It helps to know what people are interested in seeing produced.
At Elan13 I have begun a range of pilots initially; largely because the subject matter interests me and because they do have the 'cross-over' appeal and I am trying to make them interesting, hence the first release of an RFC pilot carrying a dog. I can see the need for aircrew, and like the concept of figures man-handling a plane/working on an engine, however how subject specific would this be as heights of aircraft differ etc? I am not interested in high volume production so more specialist subjects are possible.
Much to think about...
Just winging it here, but I think if you were to create "generic" ground crew, then add accessories, such as scaffold sections, various guns, etc..., that would allow someone to add the "extra" scaffold to the height they wished.
Maybe a British crewman carrying a gun, but include both a Vickers and a Lewis, so depending on the aircraft being modelled, it's covered.
Just a thought.
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lots of great suggestions... my 2cents worth. I'd love to see some 'chocks away' ground crew... would complement the increasing number of pilot figures designed to be sitting in the aircraft (plus we have a couple of prop spinners available).
cheers
FF
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These Photos of Salmsons might give you some ideas. see the last couple of posts.
RAGIII
http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=492.615
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Ground crew with fuselage on shoulders like this:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Z%20Oddments/Figuresb.jpg)
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Z%20Oddments/Figures.jpg)
Sorry about poor detail, but photos were small. You probably get the idea
Cheers
James
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Bombs loading ground crew:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Z%20Oddments/Figurese.jpg)
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Z%20Oddments/Figuresd.jpg)
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Z%20Oddments/Figuresc.jpg)
Cheers
James
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Just the thing Jamo! What superb photos.
Best wishes
Nigel
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How about some pilots just lounging about in chairs drinking tea ,coffee or wine , smoking pipes and reading the latest newspaper from home .
Nice to see you on this site Robert , I know you can bring a lot to it .
Gordon
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Hi
Just one further comment. I have mixed successfully figures by Martin, Model Cellar and ModelKasten in a couple of dioramas... any differences in height are within the variations one might expect in 1/32.... however I recently purchased a MDC figure and while nicely done, it absolutely towers like a giant over these other figures and I couldn't use it in a 'mixed' group. A long -winded way of saying compatiability between makers seems like a good idea.
cheers
FF
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I would like to see german ground crew members loading small bombs or better mortar grenades Wurfgranate 15 or hand grenades to a Hannover. I have the famous pics from Halberstadt Cl.II "Brunhilde" in mind.
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Thanks for asking our input!
In a different vein---It would be nice to see figures that were young. Some figures that have been produced are of men that look like they are in their late 40s or 50s. The men in the photos were young. It would be great to see figures that reflected the ages in the photos.
Also the huge handlebar moustaches are not typical of this war.
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With the new Salmson from Gaspatch and Eduard's impressive SPAD XIII in 1/48 scale we really need some AMERICAN groundcrew/pilot figures. the only ones that I have seen are the Rickenbacker/ Luke ones in the Eduard American Eagles Spad kit, unfortunately both of these guys are not in flight gear and are posed from photographs. Some USAS ground crew working on the guns, loading a camera or small bombs, and some pilots in flight gear would be nice sets.
Perhaps several different sets for various countries such as French and Italian would also be good. It seems that 90% of the figures made recently are either British or German.
Another idea would be to offer sets to build a "mini diorama", I remember in the early 1990's a company named Van's Models did a set with 4 or 5 figures that was supposed to be the death of Richthofen, it had a dead MvR laying on the ground and several Australian soldiers looking for souvenirs. Unfortunately I was never able to get this set and have never seen it since. They had other sets like French pilots and soldiers, and probably also German and British ones, with a mix of men including helmeted soldiers with rifles and gear, which could be very useful in small dioramas especially when modeling crashed aircraft.
Hope this gets the creative juices flowing.
Dave
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Yes, Flieger, bit odd, ain't it...the huge moustaches..you do see a lot of them....and you're right, they're not particularly period. As for me, I would love to see some Imperial Russian pilots and/or ground crew...1/32 would be really nice...looked high and low....I'm working on a Russian diorama that will have to go unpopulated, I'm afraid....unless somebody reads this and has seen some of the Tsar's air service folk.
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I also would like, and buy, figures more representative of the age and builds of the predomimently young men who flew and maintained these machines. Portly old men with big moustached are not in keeping with the accuracy of the kits we build.
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Rust Models makes a nice 1/32 figure of WWI Russian ace Alexsnder Kozakov.
Regards,
Bob
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OMG, Bob, I posted that in a dead thread with very little hope of success and BOOM!....one of the ships in my diorama is Kozakov's Bullet(!)...amazing...never run across Rest Models...the figure of AK also comes with another Russian officer who looks downright regal....excellent...testimony to the value of community well in place here. Thank you so much. -M
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Read Kozakov's N17.
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A David Mary Tidmarsh - Figure ;)
Servus
Bertl
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I'd like to see a German pilot in 1/48th seated in the air craft.