I seem to be starting more than I am finishing again but I suppose that is the nature of the hobby. The two latest peices to hit my bench are for Group Builds on forum that I frequent. They are both pilots sculpted by Mike Good. I have, as I have noted elsewhere, an interest in the history of flight so these pieces fit nicely with that interest.
The first peice is for a Group Build on The Basement called ‘Flight’. Basically anything that conforms to the concept of flight is eligible. Take a look at the forum you will find some interesting pieces on there.
My entry is Ultracasts Francis Gabreski.
Francis Stanley “Gabby” Gabreski (Franciszek Gabryszewski) (January 28, 1919 – January 31, 2002) was the top American fighter ace in Europe during World War II, a jet fighter ace in Korea, and a career officer in the United States Air Force with more than 26 years service.
Although best known for his credited destruction of 34½ aircraft in aerial combat and being one of only seven U.S. pilots to become an ace in two wars, Gabreski was also one of the Air Force’s most accomplished leaders. In addition to commanding two fighter squadrons, Gabreski had six command tours at group or wing level, including one in combat in Korea, totalling over 11 years of command and 15 overall in operational fighter assignments.
Here is a pic of the box art and the casting.
Here is a close up of the head. A great likeness.
I have started laying in the basic colours on the face but I need to return to this to tighten up the features.
The other Group Build is a piece I am doing for the Great War group build over on Britmodeller. It is Pegaso’s Lanoe Hawker VC.
Hawker was the third pilot to recieve the VC. He earned it for attacking and downing three German aircraft in succession, flying Bristol Scout C, serial No. 1611. The first, after he had emptied a complete drum of bullets from his aircraft’s single Lewis machine gun into it, went spinning down. The second was driven to the ground damaged, and the third – an Albatros C.I of FA 3, which he attacked at a height of about 10,000 feet, burst into flames and crashed. (Pilot Oberleutnant Uebelacker and observer Hauptmann Roser were both killed.) Hawker would eventually be killed in 1916 when he was shot down by Richtofen.
His VC citation read:
The award of the Victoria Cross was made to Major Lanoe Hawker for most conspicuous bravery and very great ability on 25 July 1915. When flying alone he attacked 3 German aeroplanes in succession. The first managed eventually to escape, the second was driven to the ground damaged, and the third, which he attacked at a height of about 10,000 feet, was driven to earth in British lines, the pilot and observer being killed. The personal bravery shown by this officer was of the very highest order, as the enemy’s aircraft were armed with machine guns, and all carried a passenger as well as the pilot.
I have not started painting this one yet so here are some pics of the casting and the box art.
More soon…
R.M. Models 