Tamiya 1/48 WWII US Navy Pilots w/Moto-Tug Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Here is a nice release from Tamiya. They've bundled a set of pilot's figures with the Moto-Tug that has appeared in one of Tamiya's F4U Corsair re-releases. This new set of figures puts together a really classic pose that you see out of period photos from World War II US Navy carrier operations.

This set is molded in gray styrene and presented on two parts trees. As mentioned above, the second tree is the same Moto-Tug that was bundled with one of the Corsair reissues and features a nicely detailed deck tug, tow bar, driver's figure, and deck hand carrying a wheel chock.

The first tree is the new addition and it features five typical WWII US Navy fighter pilot figures clustered around a map board as the flight commander briefs his team on the operation that they're about to embark upon. Three of the pilots figures are on their knees over the map while two others are standing. All are wearing their flight gear, side arms, and Mae Wests, the two standing pilots are also wearing their butt-pack parachutes.

Two additional figures are included in this new set which are attired in standard deck uniforms for mechanics, and these two are posed lugging a heavy tool chest.

What makes this set particularly useful is that it will transform the bland Navy fighter on a deck base into a vignette depicting the flurry of activity that preceeds a typical World War Two mission launch.

This is a nice addition to Tamiya's line-up of detail sets and figures. This would look great not only with the F4U Corsair as the instructions hint, but also the F4F/FM-2, F6F, SBD, TBD, etc. Have some fun and bring your next carrier fighter subject to life.

My sincere thanks to HobbyLink Japan for this review sample!