Buck Danny
- GENERAL
Buck Danny is a Franco-Belgian comics series about the three US-military pilots Buck Danny, Mike Tumbler and Sonny Tuckson.
Mixing historical references with fiction, Buck Danny and his friends are operating in many different countries.
Onre of their recurring antagonist is Lady X. She is an elite pilot who work for different criminal organisations, nefarious business conglomerates and various dictators. In the story arc "Return of the Flying Tigers" she is put in command of an Asian despot's air force.
In the 70ties I read the comics of the story arc "Return of the Flying Tigers".
They were published in Germany in three comics:
- 20 "Kurs auf Niang-Ngai"
- 21 "Einsatz in Viet-Tan"
- 22 "Die Fliegenden Tiger schlagen zurück"
2. STORY ARC
Set in the late 50ties in the fictitious South Asian state "Viet-Tan" an ally of the USA, King Sidong-Sihanukh face an open rebellion of his nephew, Prince Praha-Bang.
The USA soon find out that the prince is a puppet of a business operation which want to get access to the natural ressources of Viet-Tan. This organisation placed Lady X in command of the rebel forces and equip them with modern italian-built Fiat G.91 jet-fighter.
Because the military does not have jets their forces suffer heavy defeats.
The USA creates an inofficial volunteer force, called "The Flying Tigers". This unit, with "Volunteers" of the US-Air Force is equipped with Douglas A-4 Skyhawk which are painted in the colors of the Imperial Viet-Tan military.
In the story arc many air battles of these units are shown. Finally Buck Danny and his forces crush the rebellion.
3. PLAN TO CREATE THE 1/200-TABLETOP-MINIATURES
Somehow in 2021 I purchaed again the 3 comics which I read in the 70ties. I was still fascinated when I saw these planes. So I decided to create 1/200 Tabletop-miniatures of the Fiat G.91 and the Douglas A-4 in the colours of this fictitious conflict.
3.1. STL-FILE OF THE FIAT G.91 VIA PLANE PRINTER
I asked an excellent 3D-designer, to create stl-files of the Fiat G.91. I know him because of his Patreon-site, where he offers more than 100 different highly detailed stl-designs of historic 1/200 planes. Soon I received a stl-file of the Fiat G.91.
Link to the Patreon-Site (Plane Printer): https://www.patreon.com/m/5221048/posts
3.2. STL-FILE OF THE A4-SKYHAWK VIA THINGIVERSE/CAPTAIN_AHAB_62
I found an A-4-STL-file on Thingiverse. It was an early Skyhawk-version without the hump of the later models. The model with the hump was also offered.
Here the link to the STL-file:
3.3. DECALS
The decals for miniatures were a real challenge. Because the planes had emblems of fictitious nations I could not find them in regular decals-shops.
First - thanks to Sandra - I got precise vector-drawings of these emblems.
Next I asked a friend to create a sheet of these special decals for my private project.
Here the result:
4. ASSEMBLY AND PAINTING OF THE MINIATURES
I ordered the 3D print of the miniatures, based on the STL-files, at Shapeways in the Netherlands.
4.1. PRINTMATERIAL
The STL-file of the Fiat was highly detailed, so I ordered to print them in the highest quality plastic in 1/200.
The Skyhawk had less details. For these miniatures I selected a lower quality and much cheaper plastic in 1/200.
I also ordered 2 Fiats in 1/200 printed with the cheaper plastic.
4.2. PREPERATION
The holes were set at the underside of the planes, so I could fit the hexbases later.
Then the planes were treated with white primer-spray of Citadel.
4.3. PAINTING OF THE FIAT G.91
- Complete with Aluminium
- Light Blue (Cockpit)
- Black (Air intake under the nose)
- Red and Yellow (Engine)
- The plane was covered then with Nuln oil to highlight the details
- Dry brush with Silver
- After placing the decals: Matte varnish and Gloss on the cockpit.
4.4. PAINTING OF THE A-4 SKYHAWK
Lower parts: Light blue, Upper parts: Dark green.
The border between upper- and lower part have a wave-form.
5. ADDITIONAL PICTURES
Here two pictures, where I combined the miniatures with some pages of the comic.
The pictures in the gallery below can be enlarged by clicking on the thumbnail.
