Friends,
I am no specialist for painting figures. But I think that a nice little aircraft model deserves being accompanied by some pilots or ground staff (pilots are overrated anyway). They can be used wonderfully to transport a story that gives some "life" to a model.
Both figures are made by Martin Hille of Kellerkind, and although both seem to show something similar (ground staff), they are both really different.
First the Hauptmann beim Stabe (captain working for a higher staff), a Hauptmann of the bayerische Fliegertruppe (that's rather obvious, friends! You will recognize the red letter "F" on the grey armshield, which was only worn by the bavarian flying personnel, and of course you will see the blue-white-blue cockarde (the lower one, the upper one is, of course, the black-white-red of imperial Germany.)
As is so typical for those staff guys, this one is complaining about one thing or another, and has even started to sweat. Poor guy. And his eyes are widened with distaste and fear for the bad things he just had to see...
The other one is my personal favourite, the tiny Staffelmaler, who is dreaming around... I really really like the face he makes. This little guy has one mistake, unforunately: his center of gravity is modelled too far forward, which means he is very prone of falling forward. Not hitting his nose, kuckily, but breaking the small paintbrush. Again and again. Even inserting some small pin did not improve things (he will be fixed to the ground later on).
That both figures seem to be shiny comes from my lightning, in real life they are absolutely matte/flat/not shiny (you get what I mean, I hope).
Skin was painted with oils, the clothes with acrylics. Most details, like the Hauptmann's Iron Cross and his Fliegerabzeichen, were again painted with oils.
I hope you like the little fella's.
Regards,
Stefan
