Shirtless WWII Navy Maintenance personnel

Tamiya British 25 Pound gun has a crew that is shirtless and in shorts.  I believe some of the Tamiya 8th Army figures are also shirtless.  In the Italeri USMC Pacific WWII figures, there are a couple guys in tank top shirts with bare shoulders and arms that would probably work as well.

Of course those are all 1/35th scale, and will be on the small side for the model, particularly the Italeri figures. If you can find the old 1/32nd scale Monogram M4 Sherman kit, the one with the hedgehog on the tranny cover, it has a tanker holding an M1 Carbine and IIR, his shirt is open to a bare chest. The pose isn't likely to be of use, and he is wearing atanker helmet, but there are modification possibilities, and, he's in scale.You're probably going to have to do some heavy modifications though, regardless of what you find out there.

Just wanted to thank you for your recommendations and time. I'll look up those figures and get to work. Thanks again!

GrnLntrn.

I wouldn't worry too much about the scale differance with 1/32 aircraft and 1/35 figures. I mix them all the time with 1/32 aircraft, helos, and civilian vehicles and 1/35 figures and armor (check my showcases below to see some examples).  There is no issue mixing the similar scale, yes, I know 1/32 is 10% bigger than 1/35, but as long as you keep standard sized items such as weapons, canteens, etc, the same scale, they will look fine.  You can even mix 1/32 and 1/35 figures in the same dio as long as you keep all the equipment the same scale.  Remember, people come in all shapes and sizes, so can figures.

Oh I know. I used to do it all the time. Many figures in 1/35th scale aren't even to scale with each other. But I noticed that the old Revell 1/32nd scale planes seemed just a hair big with with Tamiya figures. I used them anyway, for lack of any other option at the time.

I think Heavy Arty hit it on the head there the 25 ponder crew was what I was going to say. As far as the scale differnce check out some WWII movies sometime like battleground or some such as that and check the disparity in actors or even where you work. Now if you look at all the figures in a specific scale they all seem to be the same height which isn't right either. Heavy Arty pointed out a very important thing I never thought of either, the commonality of gear, that maybe what makes the 1/32 stuff stick out. Plus your working with a corsair Mighty big bird there so everyone will look small in a way. Throw a few white hats or blue hats in the pattern of white hats on a couple of the figures too that will put a little flavor in them and don't forget to put wings on them. Bend over the sides so it looks like there are little wings on the hat. The blackshoes didn't care for us Airdales doing that!

Just makin Noise,

Tracy

 

I appreciate all the insight. I believe, as you have discussed, that the 10% size disparity will be lost in the fact that not every American sailor in WWII broke the six foot height barrier. My plans for the figures are to have two on the starboard wing setting the timing and head space on the M2 .50 cals.; one sitting on the port wing reading a letter from home (his guns are loaded and ready for firing); one removing tape from the muzzle openings on the port wing and two behind the aircraft lugging a crate of ammunition. I might have one other figure lifting ammo boxes up to the starboard wing.

You all have mentioned gear as part of the scene. Right now there will be ammo boxes, ammo crates and wheel chocks in the immediate area. Off to the side there are six 55 gal steel drums (five standing and one on its side - all are meant to be empty). Additionally, there are two shell craters which have become filled with water. The Corsair is positioned on PSP (perforated steel plating) and I will put empty ammo crates under the ejection ports to collect spent brass casings and links. With the aircraft and the coconut log frame to lift the tail section, I think that is about as much as this 20 inch square diorama can handle.

Again, I appreciate your time and recommendations. 

Sounds pretty good.  Show us some pics when you get going on it.

 

Good luck.