W W I German Pilot & Mechanic - 1/32 scale - Model Cellar

[ModelCellar]

Now available in our catalog: a WWI German pilot putting on a Heinecke parachute harness with the help of his mechanic. ​

Sculpted by Mike Good, the detail is amazing - as usual. The period photo was the inspiration. ​

Kit particulars:​

WWI German Pilot in Heinecke Harnes (with mechanic)​

item MC32029​

sculpted by: Mike Good​

box art by: Mike Butler​

scale: 1/32 (54mm)​

resin cast​

retail price $41.00 USD​

Thanks for looking,
Paul
www.ModelCellar.com

 

[Nap]

Hi Paul

Thanks for sharing this release , another nice sculpt and in keeping with the photograph

Artwork by Mike B as well a pleasure to see

Thanks for the news

Nap

 

[Martin Antonenko]

Nice figures!

But what is unfortunately missing is the most important detail, the "Heinecke" parachute just launched in 1918! The original picture is titled: "German pilot with Heinecke parachute".

Here are two more photos of the same pilot from the series ...:




Cheers

 

[NeilW]

But what is unfortunately missing is the most important detail, the "Heinecke" parachute...

Nice piece but I wondered about that as well... but I suppose that the harness was fitted first, then the parachute added later. Pity that the option isn't provided.



also see: https://www.historynet.com/heinecke-parachute-a-leap-of-faith-for-wwi-german-airmen.htm

 

[bonehead]

Thanks for the kind words.

Unlike WWII, parachutes in WWI were not worn by the pilot. Instead, the pack was kept on the seat of the plane and the cords merely clipped to the harness. Notice the shape of the parachute pack: exactly the shape of a seat cushion which the chute doubles as. This is explained in the annotated illustration above. Notice the pilot hanging from the plane - the chute is not visible and is attached to the cord passing into the cockpit where it remains attached by the static line. At least, that is how I understand it....

I hope this helps.

Mike

 

[megroot]

And it is stated here before. The parachute wasn't used untill the end of WW1. The invention became by Otto Heinecke.
Otto Heinecke, a German airship ground crewman, designed a parachute which the German air service introduced in 1918, becoming the world's first air service to introduce a standard parachute. Although many pilots were saved by these, their efficacy was relatively poor. Out of the first 70 German airmen to bail out, around a third died, including aces such as Oberleutnant Erich Löwenhardt (who fell from 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) after being accidentally rammed by another German aircraft) and Fritz Rumey who tested it in 1918, only to have it fail at a little over 900 m (3,000 ft). These fatalities were mostly due to the chute or ripcord becoming entangled in the airframe of their spinning aircraft or because of harness failure, a problem fixed in later versions.

Marc

 

[NeilW]

Unlike WWII, parachutes in WWI were not worn by the pilot.

Fair point... that famous series of photos is rather misleading.

I stand corrected (but would still be inclined to add the bag/chute)

 

[ModelCellar]

Thanks everyone for the compliments on our figures. Mike G did a fantastic job sculpting - as always. And, Mike B did an amazing job on the box art.

re:> parachute or not>>
Not to mention, we patterned the figures after the photo. And, there is no parachute in the photo we used. We tried to stay true to the photo. Had we made the decision to use the other photo, well then we would have included the parachute.

thanks for looking
Paul
www.ModelCellar.com

 

[NeilW]

but would still be inclined to add the bag/chute...

We tried to stay true to the photo

Yes, I respect that. I just meant as a separate/optional item, perhaps lying on the grass alongside them... it gives the context to what the harness is.

For them as wants it, it's easily fabricated out of putty and some fuse wire

 

[bonehead]

Yes, I respect that. I just meant as a separate/optional item, perhaps lying on the grass alongside them... it gives the context to what the harness is.

For them as wants it, it's easily fabricated out of putty and some fuse wire

The kit does include a separate pair of gloves that can be laid on the ground or the plane (if one is used). Certainly the simple parachute pack and a few cords are not beyond the ability of most modelers. The pack is merely a "D" shaped blob. A blob of epoxy putty and a little sewing thread will take care of that with little fuss....

Mike