RP Models -1/10th Douglas Bader and Spitfire Cockpit

[Brodiebear]

On 2/23/2019 at 11:17 PM, Planeguy88 said:

I have the same kit and had a hard time finding information about his uniform.  In his biography "Reach for the Sky" there was a mention of him wearing his special black flight suit around the base.  I thought it would be interesting to model that but could not find any information on it.  So I went with what I hope is reasonably close.  I have most of the base colors on the body and will start to highlight, shade, and touch up this week.  It's been a slow build but absolutely love it!  It's my first figure so I thought I'd get practice on the body before doing the head.  

 

Any information you can share on his uniform would be appreciated!  Although it's too late for me...   I'll post a few pictures when I get a chance.

 

I'm looking forward to following this build!!!!  Good luck and enjoy!

 

I thought i had already replied to you, so sorry for that. After talking to Hugo at RP Models, They produced Bader in his Sidcot Suit (loads of photos on the web), they all seem to be a variation of hemp/canvas / brown drab. The suit was a mainstay of the Royal flying Club, before the war, usually in white, so were seen as a bit of a status symbol ( I Believe). If you manage to get some shots on line, by always post a link to them from here.

 

The photo RP models based their figure of Bader on;

 

 

 

 

Sidcot Suit

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 2019 by Brodiebear

[Planeguy88]

Those are the same photos I used so I'm thankful for that!  I think the black would have been very unique as well, especially since I have the proof he wore one.  This is my first figure though and I was told trying to do an all black suit would be difficult to shade and highlight....maybe I'll do my next Bader figure in that.  I'll try to find a free photo sharing service so I can post....

 

[Planeguy88]

Here's a few pictures of my progress to date on the major pieces.  I found a picture of an actual Spitfire compass (looking straight down on it).  I tried to make a decal but my printer wasn't good enough to pick out the detail.  I ended up cutting the picture out and mounting it on the compass with an overlay of floor wax.  I think it turned out OK, but wish I could've printed with more detail.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 27, 2019 by Planeguy88
Took pictures off my club website instead of my personal page

[Out2gtcha]

Wow, that looks terrific!

[LSP_Ray]

Superb!

[Brodiebear]

Calling the cockpit finished, all items painted from reference photos found on the web, main source was 'Anatomy of a spitfire' website. Next up the great man himself.

Dry Fitted his lower torso, with parachute pack to make sure everything lines up - which it does so thats a testament to the model with all those pieces of resin.I think (after the photos were taken i knocked off the left rudder pedal stem) i will also remove the right pedal and set at a more vertical angle;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brodiebear]

So got to work on the life jacket last night, in hindsight I should have coated the jacket in white first before adding the fist coat of yellow, but hey ho. Shaded and highlighted with various wash mixes to give it a faded/worn look , didnt want it to look like a 'toy' version, plus references i have found shows them to be faded than overtly bright

 

 

 

 

This probably a more accurate rendition of the colour

 

 

Palette used to paint the jacket, along with the paints.

 

[Brodiebear]

After some advice on the PF forum I decided to revisit the shadows and highlights, so this is where I got to;

 

 

Then I noticed this piece of resin sticking out on the right side of the life jacket

 

So a quick look on the internet and I found this image on Alamys website showing the correct colours, so will have to paint these details, even though the right arm will probably obsucre the detail.

[Brodiebear]

Last night I joined the upper and lower body parts and this only needed a 'smidge' of Mr liquid filler then got the brushes out and painted up his scarf and the fur collar, Not as shiny as it looks, but everything needs a good coat of AK's ultra matt varnish;

 

 

Needs a bit of 'tidying' up where everything meets :-)

[LSP_Kevin]

Wow, that pilot figure is starting to look really good!

 

Kev

[Brodiebear]

More superb sculpting and casting on the parachute. I spent far to long (again) on something that will never be seen once the cockpit is completed, but an enjoyable hour or so anyway.

 

 

[Thomas Lund]

Lovely work !!

 

I have that figure (kit?) too, so I'll be watching :-)

[TimHepplestone]

Lovely work and an intersecting subject. Thanks for sharing 

[Out2gtcha]

Great work! 

[Brodiebear]

Got his sidcot suit painted, highlights and shadows added, ‘stitched’ his harness and attached his parachute pack. Flat varnished with AK ultra Matt;