I may get one of my old figures produced.

[Jeff]

It looks like one of my old figures may become a kit. I will keep you posted. Here is a shot of the figure. It is a figure of Air Mail pilot William "Wild Bill" Hopson. I need to paint a new figure this one was not really my best paint work.

 

[Dan Morton]

Congratulations, Jeff! Nice figure also!

All the best,
Dan

 

[nagashino]

Hello Jeff

I like the look of this one - much potential for conversion there too. What's the scale?

Interesting era, full of characters who learned their trade in WW1.

Thanks for posting it

Regards

Phil

 

[Jeff]

He is 54mm. I found a photo of him and and I just had to do the figure. I have gained great respect for the early Air Mail pilots. They really were tough guys. I have come to have as much respect for them as I do for the great fighter and bomber pilots.
Here is a great site about the early Air Mail pilots.

http://www.airmailpioneers.org/



I have also come to really respect the air trasport pilots of WWII. Think about what the guys who flew the big paratrooper drobs of WWII went through. And they had no way to fight back. They just had to sit there and take it.

I have actually thought about doing a futuristic version of him. You know a Sky Captin sort of thing or something like Firefly. Mixing old with new. I though it would be fun.

Here is the photo that started me wanting to do the figure. I am thinking about doing this whole figure over agin there is a lot more info on old "Wild Bill" then there was when I did the figure. I have found a lot more photos of the old B3 bearskin lined flight suits as well.

 

[Jeff]

I just have got to add a few quotes I found about Air Mail pilots tonight. They really did fly by the seats of there pants.

Once in particularly bad weather, pilot Frank Yager "flew" in heavy fog by driving his airplane on the ground. Pilot Wesley Smith used a half-empty whiskey bottle as a flight level indicator.

The earliest airmail pilots were rightfully distrustful of their airplane's instrumentation panel. The few instruments installed aboard the JN-4H "Jennies" and the Standard JR-1Bs rarely functioned well. Pilot Harold Lewis scoffed that the instrument panel "is just something to clutter up the cockpit and distract your attention from the railroad or riverbed you're following."

There is a really great story about Hopson but I will have to make you wait for that one. Time to get the kids to bed.

Best
Jeff

 

[Dan Morton]

Jeff - Thanks for the story! Personally I really get into the background of a particular figure and enjoy learning the history or the story behind a photo. Neat! The pilot in the photo has an interesting, strong face.

All the best,
Dan

 

[nagashino]

Thanks for the in-fill Jeff. I agree the WW2 transport pilots were a brave bunch, no mistake, as were the ferry pilots who flew US-made aircraft across the North Atlantic on delivery to Britain. Minimum crew, maximum fuel and usually no armament.

Thanks for the link on airmail flyers - very informative

I'd be interested to see your refreshed version of "Wild Bill" as and when

Regards

Phil

 

[gryknght]

I have actually thought about doing a futuristic version of him. You know a Sky Captin sort of thing or something like Firefly.

Neat idea, as in "The Message" episode. Someone has to fly the mail though the Reaver infested black. I'd never thought about it, but I guess it would be a mix of the early Mail flyers and the Pony Express riders (like William F. Cody - AKA "Buffalo Bill").

 

[Jeff]

I have a few resin copies of him that I made. I mostly gave them away. I still have about three or four, and I still have the mold. So it would not be hard to do a future retro verison of him.


One of the best stories about Hopson was one night he had a hot date in New York. So he asked if he could hitch a ride with the guy who was flying the mail form Bellefonte to NY. The front seat was full of mail so Bill just got up on the wing and and laid down next the fusalage of the old DH-4 and held on the guy-wires all the way to New York. She must have been a really beautiful lady. Or perhaps she has other charms that fueled his enthusiasm to make his date. My wife always says she hopes the woman really apperaciated what he went through to make his date.

Best
Jeff