Scale model aircraft are a great way, and sometimes the only way, to see a historical aircraft fly. Invariably at a fly-in, the aircraft that gets the most attention are the ones with top-notch weathering, detailing, and a fully decked cockpit. Unfortunately, I’ve found that pilot figures usually didn’t look like the real thing. Following the philosophy, “If the model looks real, so should the pilot,” I created my own pilot figure company called “Best Pilots.” I sculpt, make molds, cast and paint my pilot figures so that they look as realistic as possible. Since I paint quite a few pilots a year, I thought I could share some of my knowledge.
CLEAN IT UP
Before painting, it’s really important to clean the figure. You really have to ensure it’s…