Damn I thought it was going to be a Dio in the Vietnam Ski Fields !

A small update....







Progress is very slow, but it's coming on. Figures are not going too well though

What about the heavy SEAL's Sean? Sorry couldn't resist ! Looking good so far mate.

After a massive learning curve here are my figures so far. I can see 1000 things wrong with them and I'm sure you guys can help me out with 1000 more but to be honest I am kinda happy with my first effort in 30 years and with a whole range of new materials and techniques. I know my next lot will be a whole heap better for the experience!

The Seals are not going well...I really hate figures!

Another thing bugging me about them is they are posed with personal weapons, but if they're in a boat with M60s & ammo I'd think they'd be using those and saving their own ammo. They'd be better suited to a dio with the figures on shore and the LSSC just after dropping or coming in for pick-up, but I'm not going that far....

Your figs have come out quite well Scott. If I can achieve that I'll be happy

I think the LSSC would have their own crew to man the boat's weapons. This way they can give covering fire when the SEALs are running for the boat during a hot exit. Once on the boat, they might use their personal weapons on the way out.

I'm with Gary, if you are taking fire from shore you wouldn't land but fire back with all you have and bugger off, so the SEAL's firing their own weapons is pretty feasible.

Hi all,

@Sal: very good work, what a nice weathering,undoobtly your Jeep suffered bad weather !
@Sean: good progress, so you resolved the driver place problem ? i'm waiting to see the following.
@Scott: after 30 years break (if i well understood ?) your figures look good, and they will give a dynamic effect in your dio. I will look too the following.
@Orestis: your models seem very fine, congratulations, i love them, can't wait to see more !
@Vlad: very good dio, you did well with the sand bags and others parts, your dio is looking very realist !

So here are my slow progress, mostly on the figures:

I model the co-pilot head and helmet (not finish yet) but it they seem to big, please tell me your opinion so i could remodel them before it will be to late...





Then i began the tank leader and a paratroops officer who will be talking together with a map (which will be hold by the para officer against the Shermn hull and the tank leader pointing something on the map):














Here i just began the officer hands, they are not finished








And then the tank leader





That's all, off course tell me all mistakes i did
cheers, nico

Sal: Nice snow! lol, couldn't resist a chance to jump in with that one The tires look a lot better with the tops of the tread blocks cleaned up. Well done!

Vladimir: Anytime, and my pleasure!

Sean: Those figures are a bit tough to deal with for sure, take your time and do what you need to with them. I third Gary's thought regarding who's firing what, and honestly when it comes down to this kind of operation you just improvise based on the situation. Bottom line is, you have guns and you're in hostile territory so you're going to use them as you see fit.

Scott: I like your sense of humor And regarding the figures, that's what the hobby is about. You just keep building stuff and getting better at it

Nico: I'm not entirely sure what the figures are going to be doing, but their proportions look very good. Judging by the level of detail at this early stage, I'm sure they are going to be really fun to paint.

Model on!!

Hi all,

thanks Jeremy, if you are talking about the two last standing figures, they will talk together. The one with the hat (paratrooper officer) will hold a map on the Sherman hull as in this photo (imagine there are hands and a map instead of metal wires) :



The other one with his left hand in a pocket (the tank leader standing out of the Sherman) will show something on the map with his right index. Here is the last progress with him, the right arm and right shoe (which is to big, i will correct it):











Here are the para officer' shoes (laces missing), gourd and gun holster









And the last step for the co-pilot, i finished the helmet, and then applied Tamiya grey primer as it is ready to paint (i just forgot three buttons on the shirt, they will be added this evening):

















Thats all
cheers
nico

Looking good there Nico, really impressive work.

How French it is to be using Champagne corks as your bases !

Isn't it ? And i need at least five more figures for this dio....i'll have to open some more bottles, have no choice, duy is duty !

And thanks for your comment Scott

cheers
nico

@ Scott: It’s nice to see your figures painted!
@ Nicolas: It’s finally taking shape, looks really good and the sculpting is really fascinating me!
@ Sean: Looking forward to seeing the figures aboard!

Regards,

What are you waiting for? Get to work then!

And yes, I see how your figures are going to be postitioned. This is going to be a very nice dio when you are done.
Keep an eye on the detail for your figures boots. If you look around the ankle area here you will see that it is a bit small, the back of the boot should be filled out a bit more between the heel and pant leg:

Hi,

you're absolutly right Jeremy, thanks for your com.
I'll correct it, there's also a problem with the front of the two shoes, the left one (the figure' left) is smaller than the right, but i didn't decided whether i'll reduce the right or i'll enlarge the left...

cheers
nico

I will take some better pictures in better light at the weekend
but other than that My T 54 is done

Hi Jack,

well done ! I like the paint and the realistic weathering !

Will you add some fig ?

cheers
nico

im afraid not figures aren't particularly my strong point at the moment
thanks for the feedback though

Hi all,

here is my last progress.

Firstable i finished to paint the co-pilot, only with Tamiya acrilics:

Kaki as basic color



and then other basic colors



more colors



And finals colors + dark and light drybrushs









Paint isn't my top skill, so tell me what you see that i might correct.

Oh, it's time to diner, so to be continued soon...
Cheers
nico

Hi,

so here are the others steps, the para officer ready to be painted (he received the Tamiya grey primer too) and the Sherman interior (but the turret ) which was painted in white before the other colors:













And little advance on the front hull



Cheers
nico

Gentlemen,
I've been dragging my feet as far as this campaign goes. Actually there is sooooo much during Vietnam to choose from, I had a heck of a time deciding. But we definitely seem to be Armor heavy at the moment. So therefore I've started a 1/48 scale Monogram A-1H Skyraider. I realize the Tamiya kit is better, but I have several of the Revell/Monogram Skyraider kits in my collection. Plus this build is for fun, and to see what I can do with the old kit. I'll get some photos taken and add them in here to show you what the kit is like over the next few days.

I do have to say there are some very nice builds going on here. Nico, I really enjoy watching your figures being scratchbuilt. Now that is some talent !

Enjoy, guys, and keep building............................ Bruce

Greetings one and all. One could call me a late starter but then again what is new.
Me, I am going to build a couple of swimmers - LVT(A) 4 and M29c from 1REC.
Will get a pic up of contents/kits to use over the next week.
Great to see all the good work so far folk, keep the pics coming.

Don't feel bad Rod mate ,,i've been in this campaign for quite some time now and still haven't started ..to much building models for other people ,, damn it
Like your idea ..will be watching ,always liked the LVT range .

Well here we go. This is what I am going to build. Will also be including extra figures etc. Some from Maim and Verlinden plus some conversions etc.
Wanted to use Doug's Originals Water Buffalo but understand that it is now out of production.







I will use some bits from this Academy set. The only figure designated as Indo-China is the guy outlined in red but others are also useable or at least as parts.

Hi Rod,

very interesting subject, i will follow it !

cheers,
nico