Master Details are – as their name suggests – a company that are in the business of making things better, they take details from a particular kit – no preferences but usually a 1/32 aircraft kit – and try and improve on it. We have reviewed their improved P-47 tail and 1/32 Commonwealth pilot already here on T.M.N., but just touched down is this- their latest work – a WWII pilot from the USAAF in cold weather gear. We will review and construct the pilot to see if he is as cool as his name suggests.
Scale: 1/32
Kit No: 32032
Resin (7 pieces) + White metal (6 parts)
$19.95 from the Master Details Site direct
As the pilots of the USAAF began to operate at higher
altitudes in the colder European skies of WWII their kit had to match the need
for warmer clothing in these harsh conditions. The US Army Air Force issued
their pilots with fur lined and electrically heated clothing to meet the needs
of pilots – and as the late war came the pilots were pretty well kitted out.
Master details has chosen to portray one of these pilot figures from the late
war/high altitude in their latest release in 1/32 scale.
We have reviewed Master Details other USAAF Pilot in this
scale a while ago – and found the resin and white metal kit to be of excellent
quality and the kit had lots of options to choose from in the choice of heads
and 02 masks etc. This pilot looks not much different in that factor so already
it is looking good! He is built especially to fit into the USAAF fighters – the
P-47, P-51, P-40, P-38 & even the USAAF flown Spitfire cockpits. With full
“get up” of A-11 leather helmet, A-14 oxygen mask, goggles, B-3 fur-lined
leather jacket and B-1 Trousers and big thick lined A-6 flying boots - and don't
forget the A/N-6510 Parachute and gloves!
The figure consists of seven resin parts making up the torso,
arms & legs, while there are six white metal parts (heads, oxygen mask and
hose) and the combination of these parts is what I was talking about when I
mentioned choices.
The four white metal heads are cast in superb detail, the
finest details really do not show up in photos as certainly not as impressively
as they look in real life. There is a separate A14 Oxygen mask cast in metal
with a separate flexible metal oxygen hose that can be manoeuvred to fit
anywhere you like it to go. This mask can be included on the heads or not. The heads on these figures is slightly tilted to the left as
the neck is cut at an angle – leaving him peering out the port side a little
To show the glazed section with the goggles on I would use
some “Crystal clear” which Master details also sells - to tint these lenses just
mix your liquid with a dark shade of applicable paint.
The grey resin in the kit is without air bubbles and is very
sharply cast in detail, there is no extra resin to remove or clean up except
for the small casting blocks on each arm sensibly inside the joint. The arms
and legs all have little positive and negative lumps to securely seed into
their right position. This with some superglue makes for a strong figure you do
not have to handle with kid gloves after it is constructed.
The Arms come in resin – and this is where you have more
choices – there are four arms in resin, two for each side, one set is holding
the control stick with the actual stick moulded in the hand – so to use this
option – which I suppose is grasping the stick properly and not just vaguely
nearly holding it - you will just have to chop the top of the control stick off
for him to fit. The other two arms are sitting either side resting. You could I
suppose - use these in any order – but most people I suppose would opt for a
seated pilot operation the “throttle and stick” option.
The worm lined pants have zips in all the right places and
the fur-lined A-6 flying shoes are just like the real things in thickness and
tread – especially the heels. Although you will not see these they are still
finished to the highest standard like the rest of the figure.
The Resin - and the real thing - the details are well sculpted & nothing is left out.
The A/N-6510 Parachute is finely detailed and has every
strap in the right place – you will need to make sure you place your harness
over all of this though! Another level of detail will really set these off. I’ll talk you through the head options. From uncovered to most cover.
-Firstly no mask - just an A11 flying helmet on his head
-Then with A11 helmet on and A14 goggles
-The next with A11 helmet and A14 oxygen mask on and A14 goggles
-Lastly with A11 helmet B7 goggles and A14 mask all on
A great figure – please make more – I am thinking some new
bomber pilots to match those B-25 and B-26’s in 1/32??? Well done.
This pilot figure and
all of their other pilots and additions are available directly from the Master
Details website.
