Tamiya's 1/16th Scale
Luftwaffe Pilot Figure

KIT NO. 36302

By Ray Mehlberger

I recently bought this figure kit at the local shop and had an enjoyable weekend building him. The kit comes in less than 10 parts of gray plastic and has two alternate heads. One head is definitely supposed to be Adolf Galland, the famous Luftwaffe ace. The other head is just a generic German officer. Galland is molded bare headed. The alternate head is molded with the top of it chopped off at above eyebrow level, in order to put the peaked hat on it. Since I wanted to have Adolf wearing the hat, I chopped the top of his head off, with a razor saw to match the alternate head and added the hat. He has a separate Mae West vest that has two inflation cylinders on it. When this is used you cover up some nice breast medals that are on him – but the knight's cross at his throat is still thankfully visible.

He is pretty much built out of the box. The only modification was to the top of his head, as mentioned above, and I added one of the bases that are included in all of the DML 1/16th scale figure kits. Years ago, at a IPMS contest in Milwaukee, I purchased some metal luftwaffe squadron insignia shields from a vendor. One of these had Galland's personal Mickey Mouse insignia on it. I now had a use for it – so it went on the front of the base. I also added a label that says Adolf Galland, in old English lettering. The sculpturing of his face really gives away who it is though. You only have to paint his little mustache. I could have added his ever-present cigar to his mount from stretched sprue and I may do that later.

He is painted in all acrylics colors by either Tamiya or Polly Scale. His hat was the most tedious to do with all the silver trim, eagle etc. on it. I am not the greatest figure painter in the world, so he only ever won a third prize in a contest and some honorable mention certificates.

I really enjoyed putting him together and experimenting with oil paints on his face.