Gordon Brown Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I'm continuing my CMPRO Mitsubishi Zero 120 build and I'm looking for a suitable pilot figure to add a touch of realism. Some time ago I spotted a latex moulded figure of quite good quality and low cost (about a tenner as I recall), one with a fur lined helmet with big flaps, but stupidly forgot to bookmark the page and I cannot for the life of me find it any more. The figure needs to be between 1/6 and 1/7 scale as the model appears to be 1/6.6, anyone recognise it from the description or have a suitable model surplus to requirements? Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I think you willfind that it is on Petes Pilots No! Tell a lie It is real pilots http://www.realmodelpilots.co.uk/?s=Japanese+pilot&post_type=product Edited By Peter Miller on 16/03/2017 12:07:25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Brown Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 No, you were right the first time, it's the one below from Pete's Pilots, found an archived listing with it on. However, he isn't listing this one on Ebay, I'll send him a message asking if he still does them. He does another one but it isn't as nice a model as the one below. Real Model Pilots don't do the bust any more, just the head, and the full body is much more than I'd want to pay. There is another one on ebay made of latex but the quality of the model doesn't look very good. Edited By Gordon Brown on 16/03/2017 14:01:57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I've contacted Pete in the past, about obscure pilots. A model of helpfulness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Brown Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Just heard back from Pete of Pete's Pilots regarding whether or not he still does that rather nice Japanese pilot, short answer from him, "no, sorry" which is a ruddy shame as it's probably the best looking one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R. Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I wouldn't worry too much about that pilot Gordon, as it's a bit too small for your model anyway. It not Pete's pilot either, it's a poor knock-off of the very fine Legend Productions 1/9 scale resin-cast kit of an IJN Kamikaze pilot. Almost unbelievably, "Pete's" even used Legends own artwork on their eBay listing to illustrate the painted pilot! Copied pilot (unpainted) and Legend Productions original resin-cast figure (packaging artwork) Unfortunately, it's been noticed that Pete's advertised versions of other apparently plagiarised pilots among which have been Verlinden's resin busts, Michael Johnson's excellent "Aces of Iron figures" and the Just Pilots range of 1/12-scale figures, not that long after they were launched (no pun intended). See this thread from 2006 - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?494732-Apparent-Fraud-on-eBay-Pete-s-Pilots!!! "Knock-off" RAF pilot and original Just Pilots 1/12-scale RAF figure). "Knock-off" US Navy pilot and original Just Pilots 1/12 US Navy pilot figure. It was also picked up and mentioned in post 12 of this thread from 2012 - https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?1451873-My-Squadron-of-Pilots! However, with regards to your model, are you only after a pilot bust or might you open up the cockpit area to install some detail and a fuller pilot? The reason I ask is that a 1/6 scale pilot looks quite at home within the space available as can be seen from a clip of a CMP 120 Zero with an opening canopy on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RSrDHB4pAU and so a search for a smaller pilot may not be necessary. As a final thought, and if you can get one, a Slimline Xtreme Kamikaze pilot is almost ready to fly, apart from maybe a flying helmet and some googles... Edited By Andy R. on 17/03/2017 03:25:29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 This might be of interest...Although he does look a bit like Barrack O'bama. Edited By cymaz on 17/03/2017 05:42:45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Brown Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Andy, thank you for the comprehensive reply, pity the Legend Productions model is too small as it is probably the best japanese pilot bust out there. It's entirely possible that I will open out the cockpit and do a proper scale detail job on it, lots of info out there to help me, but for the moment I just want to make it look reasonable until I've done the maiden flight. To be honest, this model is scaring the pants off me as I get closer to finishing it as it's the first ic model I've built and will be the first I've flown, although I have several years experience with fairly large electric models. I bought the airframe from a swap meet as it was going at a bargain price, with the intention of doing an electric conversion. However, the nose moment is so short that it's tricky to do an electric version and the challenge of an ic build was irresistable. I'm hoping I don't have to put too much lead in the nose (4 pounds is not unheard of on this model!) as it will make landing inetresting to say the least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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