Hi everybody

Has anybody attempted to dismantel any of the Series2 or 3 modles yet? Or has anyone atleast successfully removed the brown pilot blobs?

I am considering adding Peter Pig pilots to my Sopwith Snipes prior to repainting and converting 6 of them to 4 AFC markings using the soon to be released decal sheet by Doms Decals. 

So if anyone has done some major surgery on any of their planes or just dremelled out the pilots I'd love to hear about what you uncovered before I tackle it myself.

I have never taken out the pilots, but I am taking apart a fokker VII to make a fokker V.23 for what if and pulp fiction games.

Roger_Wilco said:

I haven't tried anything of that sort myself, but I think you hit the nail on the head, IMHO, when you said dremel.

Isn't it easier to just buy a few metal ones instead? They cost just 4 pounds each and are easy to convert. Save the nice Wow planes as they are instead.

Here is a picture of my pilots current plane, a modded Pfalz EIV in combat with a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter (From Skytrex.com):

Pour Le Merite said:

Um -- I think the British plane is an Airco DH2, or RAF FE2B -- the 1&1/2 didn't have the engine in the back.... :)

Isn't it easier to just buy a few metal ones instead? They cost just 4 pounds each and are easy to convert. Save the nice Wow planes as they are instead.

Two reasons really

The first is that I have already got six copies of the models of the planes and the squadron decal sheet is designed specifically for that model.

The second is that personally I think that Skytex models are really nasty. That is one company that really needs to have a good hard look at themself. In my book they either need to re do everything they produce to a 21st century standard or just retire. If they did the later I am sure that someone else would soon pick up the ball and fill the void with a better product. The worlds moved on from HG Wells Little wars cast your own low quality soldiers

Four pounds equals about $8-10 Australian plus the expensive postage rates from that company means its not going to happen. I bought two of their Bristol Fighters and was appalled at the poor quality of the detail, the casting was crude the shape looks all wrong and it took hours to get them looking nearly right. Then don't get me started about the time it took to arrive in the mail after payment (6 weeks) . I buy my models from a US seller on Ebay he consistantly gets the models to me within 5 working days.To top it off the pair of Bristols cost me nearly $30 Aus, I can get three WoW models for that price incuding postage.  The WoW models are consistant and look great enmass and they are robust, the Bristols are always at risk of getting squashed.

Skytrex? No thanks

csadn: Sorry, you can't see the 1 1/2, the picture got a bit bigger than I thought it would be. right click on it and choose "show picture". It is indeed a Tommy in a DH2 in the right corner.

Roger Wilco: I personally think they look comparible but you could by from Reviresco or www.modelimex.com/Seznam.aspx this place instead, Reviresco takes 8 bucks each however and the resin models after are even more expensive but the detail level is actually better then on the Wow planes then.

As for the postage it do tend to get expensive if you are only buying 2 or 3 planes but we usually get a bunch together and then it costs less. I like the Wow planes myself but I rather use an unpainted plane when I do my custom planes.

I don't really see any problem with removing the pilots of your planes however as long as you are very careful I do agree that you might have to do some repainting also if you own that many, the Wow planes are nicely painted but having more than one looking the same in a huge combat do tend to be confusing.

You might BTW find this page helpful: military-machine.blogspot.com/ , at least if you have a hard time finding pictures to base your paint jobs on.

Pour Le Merite said:

*Left* corner. :)

Also: The 1&1/2 had a two-blade prop, not a four-blade. But that's nit-picking on my part. :)

csadn said:

You are right, there was some experiments with 4 blades but almost all had 2. I should have modded it but havn't got the time, still should do some more Nieuport 16s also... Few planes during WW1 had more prop blades than 2.

Fixed your image

Pour Le Merite said:

Unfortunately, it's my experience that 4-blade props inevitably "modify" themselves to 2-blade -- usually with the blades at 90-degree-angles to each other.... :P

csadn said:

Well, I think I have solved that by using a box for screws nails and stuff with cotton in the bottom and on top of the planes. It really protect both the metal and plastic planes very well.

I could post a picture if you want to :) Of course accidents during play is another matter...

Pour Le Merite said:

Offsite, of course. :)