This figure started with the Douglas Caldwell fighter pilot but after a series of upgrades all that's left of him are the boots and the helmet. The first thing to go was the unrealisticly coloured uniform. It was styled like the army's BDU with short jacket, and although these were worn, much more typical was the longer tunic. I have so many photo's of RAF fighter pilots with the tunic sticking out under the Irvin jacket and that's the look I was going for.
I finally found a uniform I could use - Richard Schelmm's Luftwaffe has a colour much closer to RAF blue. It also has the longer tunic. The next piece of the puzzle was the Irvin jacket I stumbled upon at an RC aircraft website. The parachute is the carded set from BBi.
Headsculpt: DML Paolo Arnesi.
Flight helmet BBi
Irvin jacket: 21stC Toys
Uniform: DiD
Parachute: BBi carded set (thanks Panagea!)
DML's feet are bigger than BBi feet and I had quite a time getting the boots on. I cut out around the strap - that area was molded solid and touched up the buckle with a little gold marker. I also had to cut down the white socks supplied with the original figure - they were way too bulky.
I am still doing research, trying to figure out whether to name this guy after an actual WWII pilot. The headsculpt looks a lot like Canadian Spitfire Ace Buck McNair so maybe......
K.
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