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Thanks guys for all of the great replies. Without a doubt, the most fun that I've had to date putting together a figure. I have four other figures nearing completion but this one just took over and finished first.
I've noticed a lot less postings of figure projects as of late and agree that much of it has to do with the economy. I just wanted to show with this figure that there are still an almost infinite number of subjects out there untouched by the major manufacturers and an amazing array of loose gear both Axis and Allied. With a little time spent perusing the loose gear retailers and a few custom items...only your imagination is your limiting factor. I'm still working on the information I was gathering for a book I thought I would put out after college in the early 1990's. I have, at last count, about a dozen boxes of photos and information to pull ideas and all of this has renewed interest in finishing the book.

"...Well researched and well executed - an original and exciting subject.
Wish it was guys like you who did the R&D for the big companies.

Henrik "
I actually did all of the R&D for a figure for one of the major manufacturers several years ago. It was very exciting and I thought that it would be a very popular release. The company wound up going in a different direction, but I still hold out hope that they may change their mind...maybe this post will get them thinking.

Also on the helmet. I need to mention that I wasn't able to reproduce the rolled edge of the original. In case anyone was wondering about the hand painted symbol on the original 1:1 helmet, it's a Dutch wooden clog, the unit symbol of II./ZG "Horst Wessel" adopted while stationed in Holland. Stamped inside the helmet is it's 'Reichsbetriebs-Nummer', RB-Nr. 0/0250/0201 attributed to the firm Karl Heisler in Berlin.

While in college, I was given the chance to inspect several aircraft that were under-going restoration at the NASM's (National Air & Space Museum) Silver Springs facility. My two favorites were the Ar234 'Blitz' and the He219 'Uhu'. They're both now on display at the NASM Dulles International Airport facility at Reston, Virginia. The only examples of these aircraft in existance. My boys play travel ice hockey and we're in Reston at least twice a year and I always stop in to see these birds. Below is the NASM Ar234:



Below is the almost completed He219 'Uhu' at NASM Dulles. The wings and both engines are almost finished and should be back together with the fuselage this year...can't wait:





I'm sorry if I'm rambling but also, if you live anywhere that's drivable to the Philadelphia area, check out the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Assoc.'s museum at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station http://www.dvhaa.org/ . It's this crazy little museum with an amazing assortment of aircraft housed in what looks to be an old car dealership. There, you can check out this:

winterdan wrote:

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Is that really the only He219 "UHU" in existance ?,i never knew that i always thought at least a few survived...that's amazing....i would love to visit that place just to see the "UHU",thanks for sharing the photo's.
Winterdan.

Yes, it's the only He219 left. What's even more amazing is that it sits next to the last Ar234 and the last Do335 known to exist. Also remember that this is the NASM over-flow facility at Dulles International Airport in the suburbs outside of Washington D.C.. The main facility is in Washington D.C. proper, making this a really great vacation destination if your an aviation buff. The Dulles facility is amazing by itself. Here are the three above mentioned aircraft in one photo:


Edgar