Options for US Navy/Naval Aviation figs?

[jonwil]

Can anyone suggest any parts or figs (LEGO or 3rd party custom) that would work for US Naval Aviation (pilots and ground crew) or for US naval officers? I am building for a joint display, the theme is Movies and I am thinking of doing Top Gun Maverick.

Was thinking torso/legs from https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0437 or https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw1092 or https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0819 could work for the pilots (although actually getting hold of some might not be easy or cheap) but I have no clue what would work for mechanics/ground crew or for the naval officers (doesn't seem to be that many customizers making US navy stuff unfortunately)

 

[Feuer Zug]

If you've got the budget, https://www.brickmania.com/ is one of the best options out there for the minfigures you're looking for. They have the naval ground crew in their minifig offerings. There are probably other vendors as well, but I've seen Brick Mania's works at a few shows and remember the name.

[Lion King]

Sailor from the regular CMF series in early 2010s.

[TheBeeze]

Here you go:

https://www.brickmania.com/us-navy-cold-war-fighter-pilot/

https://www.brickmania.com/modern-stealth-fighter-pilot/

https://www.minifigcat.com/shop/Categories-c-4/Headgear/Pilot-Helmet-HGU-56-c-736/

https://www.brickmania.com/modern-us-navy-deck-crew/

https://www.brickmania.com/us-navy-flight-deck-crew-v2-pack/

[jonwil]

Ouch those BrickMania figs are expensive (even by the standards of custom printed minifigs). Don't think I will be using those (even if the "NAS Miramar Action Pack" would absolutely be perfect for this, no way I am spending that much)

I do own the CMF sailor but I don't think you would see someone wearing that kind of uniform hanging around a naval air station.

Other than a nice torso to represent an admiral in the almost-black blue uniform coat, I think I might have ideas for most of what I need at this point.

 

 

[ParmBrick]

For pilot minifigures I made custom minifigs with pieces from modern Star Wars rebel pilots, with the helmet and oxygen mask from City Air Police theme, you can see one of mine here. Hope I helped

[jonwil]

Yeah Star Wars flight suits are exactly what I was planning to use for those.

Was thinking that (with the right stuff on the desk and in the room to show who its supposed to be e.g. custom print name plate sticker) the torso and hat from the Series 23 ship captain might potentially be something I could pass off as a US Navy Admiral every-day wear suit.

[Lion King]

On 10/7/2022 at 4:34 PM, jonwil said:

I do own the CMF sailor but I don't think you would see someone wearing that kind of uniform hanging around a naval air station.

Dude…. First of all, I’m from America and I’m working in one of the DoD branches for 7 years. Second of all, sailors do wear that white uniform when it’s summer time. If it’s winter, they would wear dark navy uniform with a white hat (there is one minifigure too).  BUT they don’t wear that uniform that often tho… only speical events.

Edited October 16, 2022 by DBlegonerd7

[TheBeeze]

On 10/16/2022 at 12:49 PM, DBlegonerd7 said:

Dude…. First of all, I’m from America and I’m working in one of the DoD branches for 7 years. Second of all, sailors do wear that white uniform when it’s summer time. If it’s winter, they would wear dark navy uniform with a white hat (there is one minifigure too).  BUT they don’t wear that uniform that often tho… only speical events.

The white uniform matching the CMF minifig is a dress uniform worn for formal events and special occasions. If this is for a build in a working environment near the flight line, (assuming it is since he mentioned ground crew and pilots) you will not see that uniform there. Sailors WOULD wear this uniform on the flight deck of a carrier in a situation in which they were manning the rails, but that is also a formal occasion. The same generally applies for the dress blue uniform as well. Both of those uniforms are generally a safety hazard in a working environment, especially flight line duty related. Rarely seen in a work environment. 

That being said, you WOULD see the khaki uniform in a maintenance control environment. Down on the flight line, personnel would be wearing either the NWU Type 3 or coveralls. 

 

[jonwil]

At this point I am thinking of using https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=973psac01 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=973pb0307c01 for the mechanics and weapons loaders and others on the flight line.

I am also thinking of using the torso and legs from https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0437 https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0819 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw1092 for my pilots (depending on which ones I can actually get hold of) with https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=93560 https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=41805 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=39796 for headgear.

For the admirals I plan to use https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=973pb4873c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=12895pb05

 

The accessories and rest of the model (including the big custom-sticker Top Gun logo I plan to make and various other custom stickers) will sell the fact that this is a naval air station and that these are US navy personnel.

[Feuer Zug]

Nice options for uniforms. The khakis will do well for officers. I like your admiral design too. Might be harder to source the parts, but it will look splendid. The helmet option works well. I snagged a bunch of the oxygen masks at one point.

Have you considered this minfig for a pilot? https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0884#T=P The color is more in line with the real flight suit.

 

 

[jonwil]

Picked up a second ship costume guy yesterday to get another admiral torso and hat. Would have picked up a third but the place I was at only had one left in the single box of Series 23 they had on the shelf.

For the pilots I already have the torso and legs from a https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0819 and a https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=sw0437 so I intend to use those and then try and acquire some others as well (whatever option ends up working out to be cheapest or easiest to obtain, A-Wing Pilots aren't cheap)

Not sure what headgear to give the guys working the flight line though (mechanics and loaders and etc). Do I give them hair? helmets of some kind? Tan baseball hats with https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=14045 stuck into the hole at the top for hearing protection?

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by jonwil

[TheBeeze]

On 10/21/2022 at 5:03 PM, jonwil said:

Not sure what headgear to give the guys working the flight line though (mechanics and loaders and etc).

If they are on the flight line, generally speaking they wear helmets with ear protection. In a pinch you could probably get away with blank star wars rebel pilot helmets. 

My suggestion for a more realistic look

would be a combination of these 2 things:
https://www.minifigcat.com/shop/-41-Tank-Green_Helmet-TK-U21.html?category_id=1049

https://www.minifigcat.com/shop/Categories-c-4/Headgear/Headset-JS3-c-793/

[jonwil]

I am intending to stay purist for this (except for some custom stickers)

 

[jonwil]

So far for pilots I have 4x https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb2774c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c06pb04 plus 1x https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb1330c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c80pb01

Still considering more pilots, options available to me at a price that I can justify are either https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb2131c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c00pb0453 in dark orange or https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb2553c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c00pb0605 in dark blue. Anyone want to suggest which color (dark orange or dark blue) would look better for a navy flight suit?

 

 

[Rogue Redcoat]

On 11/15/2022 at 12:15 AM, jonwil said:

So far for pilots I have 4x https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb2774c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c06pb04 plus 1x https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb1330c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c80pb01

Still considering more pilots, options available to me at a price that I can justify are either https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb2131c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c00pb0453 in dark orange or https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=973pb2553c01 and https://www.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=970c00pb0605 in dark blue. Anyone want to suggest which color (dark orange or dark blue) would look better for a navy flight suit?

 

 

Here are some other minifigs I found on Bricklink, Bistan : Minifigure sw0780 | BrickLink, Rebel Pilot U-wing : Minifigure sw0800 | BrickLink, Rebel Pilot U-wing / Y-wing : Minifigure sw0793 | BrickLink, Resistance Bombardier (Nix Jerd) : Minifigure sw0862 | BrickLink, Sandspeeder Gunner : Minifigure sw0881 | BrickLink, Forest Police - Helicopter Pilot, Dark Blue Flight Suit with Badge, Helmet : Minifigure cty0267 | BrickLink, Resistance Ground Crew (Goss Toowers) : Minifigure sw0660 | BrickLink, and Ugnaught (Dark Blue Overalls) : Minifigure sw0710 | BrickLink.(the last 2 I thought could be mechanics)

[jonwil]

I ended up buying a bunch of the star wars flight suits on bricklink for my pilots. I am also using 973pb0307c01 and  973psac01 for various ground crew etc as well as a bunch of 973pb4897c01 I scored off Lego online pab for the guys in green gear. And the torso and hat from that CMF ship costume guy for high ranking officers.

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by jonwil

[FGMatt]

973px18 - Torso, shirt with pockets pattern does a reasonable job as a naval warm-weather officers' uniform for most navies (I can't seem to upload a picture for some reason)