#176 RAF Pilots and Ground Personnel

Painting up the set of figures from ICM in 1:48 scale.

Build

Notes

I’ve used these figures in a few projects:

The Kit

RAF Pilots and Ground Personnel (1939-1945) ICM No. 48081 1:48 has appeared in various forms and was tooled back in the 1990’s. I got it included as part of the diorama set WWII RAF Airfield ICM No. DS4802 1:48 from 2021.

Paint Scheme

Feature	Color	Recommended	VMC Equivalent	Used
A shoes & boots	Semigloss Black	MM1597	70.861 Gloss Black
B	Flat Black	MM1749	70.950 Black
C	Flat White	MM1768	70.951 White
C parachute straps	Flat White	MM1768	70.993 White Grey
D	Intermediate Blue	MM1720	70.943 Grey Blue
D uniform	Intermediate Blue	MM1720	70.943 Grey Blue	see recipes below
E	Semigloss Blue	MM1594	70.963 Mediterranean Blue
F	Flat Sea Blue	MM1718	70.898 Dark Sea Blue
G	Military Brown	MM1701	70.843 Cork Brown
G flight suit	Military Brown	MM1701	70.843 Cork Brown	see recipes below
G briefcase	Military Brown	MM1701	70.843 Cork Brown
G jacket	Military Brown	MM1701	70.843 Cork Brown	70.872 Chocolate Brown, 70.981 Orange Brown
H mae west	Chromate	MM1584	70.953 Flat Yellow + 70.942 Light Green	70.953 Flat Yellow
I parachute pack	Sand	MM1706	70.986 Deck Tan
J	Medium Gray	MM1721	70.905 Bluegrey Pale
K	Light Ghost Gray	MM1728	70.990 Light Grey
L	Dark Green	MM1710	70.893 US Dark Green
M	Radome Tan	MM1709	70.917 Beige
M inner fleece	Radome Tan	MM1709	70.917 Beige	70.976 Buff
N	Skin Tone	MM1516	70.955 Flat Flesh
O	Wood	MM1735	70.843 Cork Brown
P	Pale Green	MM1716	70.974 Green Sky
P satchel	Pale Green	MM1716	70.974 Green Sky	70.885 Pastel Green + 70.897 Bronce Green
Q	Aluminum	MM1781	70.997 Silver
R	Steel	MM1780	70.864 Natural Steel
S	Gunmetal	MM1795	70.863 Gunmetal Grey
T	Bright Brass	MM1782	70.801 Brass
U jerry cans	Field Green	MM1712	70.850 Medium Olive
V	Leather	MM1736	70.984 Flat Brown

RAF blue-grey service uniform

Stage	VMC Recipe	AK Recipe
Base	70.816 or 70.907 Pale Grey Blue + 70.870 Medium Sea Grey (1:2)	AK11865
Shadows	70.867 or 70.862 Black Grey + 70.899 Dark Prussian Blue (2:1)	AK11190
Mid-tone	70.907 Pale Grey Blue	AK11866
Highlight	70.907 + 70.951 White (5:1)	AK11866 + AK11868

raf-uniform

RAF khaki drill

Stage	VMC Recipe
Base	70.879 Green Brown + 70.917 Beige (2:1)
Shadows	70.889 Olive Brown
Mid-tone	70.917 Beige
Highlight	70.976 Buff
Final highlight	70.976 + 70.951 White (4:1)

raf-khaki-drill

Olive flying suit

Stage	VMC Recipe
Base	70.887 US Olive Drab
Shadows	70.895 Gunship Green
Mid-tone	70.889 Olive Brown
Highlight	70.879 Green Brown
Final highlight	70.976 Buff + 70.879 (1:3)

olive-flying-suit

Brown leather flying jacket

Stage	VMC Recipe
Base	70.846 Mahogany Brown + 70.843 Cork Brown (3:1)
Shadows	70.822 Camouflage Black Brown
Mid-tone	70.846 Mahogany Brown
Highlight	70.843 Cork Brown
Final edge highlight	70.843 + 70.917 Beige (3:1)

leather-flying-jacket

Step Ladder

Feature	Color	Recommended	Paint Used
O base	Wood	MM1735	H37

Workbench

Feature	Color	Recommended	Paint Used
O base	Wood	MM1735	H37
Q top	Aluminum	MM1781	H76

Jerry Cans

Feature	Color	Recommended	Paint Used
U base	Field Green	MM1712	H337

Gallery

build01a

build02b

build02c

build03a

build03b

build04a

build04b

build05a

build05b

build06a

build06b

build07a

build07b

build08a

build08b

build10d

build11a

Credits and References

RAF Pilots and Ground Personnel (1939-1945) ICM No. 48081 1:48
- on scalemates
- on icm.com.ua
- instructions
- Purchased as part of DS4802
WWII RAF Airfield ICM No. DS4802 1:48
- on scalemates
- on icm.com.ua
- Purchased from IBG Models for €25.00 (Jun-2021).

Research References

Remembering the RAF Ground Crew : The Unsung Heroes

YouTube by The Battle of Britain With Dilip Sarkar MBE

Build References

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Vallejo-Equivalent-Colors-1.pdf

ICM 1/48 RAF Pilots and Ground Personnel - “Full Build + Final Reveal” (9.11.19)

YouTube by International British Modeler

Project Notes