How to paint a pilot.

[James Mills]

I want to use a Williams Brothers pilot in my next plane.  What kind of paint can I use on the plastic pilot, will craft paint work?

James

[Andrew Hathaway]

I did one with water based craft paint, and another with Testors paint for plastic models.  The Testors seemed to work better...

[peabody]

Bob Hunt has a terrific video about painting pilot figures....check Robin's View Productions.

[RC Storick]

Bob Hunt has a terrific video about painting pilot figures....check Robin's View Productions.

I bought this CD from Bob. The guy who narrates it is a fine artist. The pilot in my Continental was done in this method. I Looks more life like. Highly recommend this CD.

[Mark Scarborough]

I paint my pilots with acrylic paints from the craft store. I also make sure to wash the pilot very thoutoughly before I try to paint. the Acrylics dry faster and allow much better use of the "wash" techniques.

[Balsa Butcher]

I thought I did pretty good pilots but Mark "You da Man".  A key with the Williams Bros pilots is to get them to look to the side, not straight ahead.  The easiest way to do this is to angle the entire body slightly in the cockpit. THE REST OF THIS  POST IS RATED "V" FOR VIOLENCE:  A more elegent way is to amputate the head above the collar - angle the pilots head to your liking and glue it back on.  Fill any mis-matched area with plastic model putty. 

If you want more security just jam a piece of soft balsa stock into the neck cavity and glue appropriately.  You will have to cut an access hole in the base to do this.  On another note:  Isn't it great having the Williams Bros pilots back into production?  I thought they were gone forever when the original Williams company closed down a few years ago.