Hello gents,

after some constructive comments, I've decided to modify the placement of my figures and even some of my figures. I've added two vietnamese people, attending to the left of the french soldiers from cao bang city. I'm a bit sad because I gave up my officer who had a nice red beret, but I've decided to take my revenge in planning a new dio on indochina involving red berets, civilians and a jeep.
I've also started the groundwork, very exciting, but I'm not really informed on what could be indochina vegetation. I guess it should be the same as the pictures I've seen on Vietnam war. I've read a book from Erwan Bergot on this episode of the war, and he depicts the landscape as limestone rocks. That's why I put two big rocks I need to rework a bit, and paint in white
here are the pictures.
Comments are criticisms are more tan welcome.

Greetings. I have a very large interest in the Indochina war. I have a lot of books on the subject, but alas cannot read most of them, as they are in french, and I unfortunately cannot read that language. The dio looks appealing to me, and am looking forward to seeing progress on this not often modeled subject. As far as terrian, the areas in Vietnam/Indochina varied greatly. It really depends on where this dio is taking place. The Red River delta, the Highlands, or around Da Nang/ Tourane, in the "Street without Joy". Let me look further into this and I will get back to you. Please post more pictures, and where did you get the Viet Figures from? Around Cao Bang it was up near the Chinese border, and I am guessing it was as you say, but the Vietnam dirt is very reddish in color from my understanding. Keep up the good work, and post more pictures, as time permits.

Cheers, and Regards...................

Hello Ray,

I'm very pleased to find someone interested in Indochina war.
If you like books on indochina war, you must read erwan bergot books.
He made indochina and Dien Bien Phu. I don't know if his books has been translated, but I guess they have been.
If you like indochina war vignette and diorama, and maybe more boradly vietnam war, have a look to this website's gallery : www.ediorama.com.
This scene takes place along the RC4, between Dong Khe and Cao Bang.
Unfortunately, almost all of the pictures I have are B&W. I know what you are talking about on reddish groundwork. I've seen many dio and pictures depicting it, but This dirt is called boxite in french. I'm not sure this is the type of ground found near cao bang, due to limestone rocks.
Regarding the Viets, they are from Dragon, one of theyr early set, which is quite detailled and original. The figure depicts Meos, who fought together with french as they hate chinese and vietnamese. The girl is crying as the frenches leave and probably his boyfriend his walking with them.
I've made some progress today on the groundwork. Here are the pictures, taken by night, so the colour are not very natural..
Anyway I would like to have your toughts on the giant fern on the right. Do you think they look natural. I thought it would give an exotic touch..I'm searching for spefici plants other than giant grass for the upper part of the vignette. Any idea are welcome.

Comments and criticism are always welcome, as usual.

Best and regards !
Julien

way cool!!! pls add more pics

Hello,

Daylight pictures, normaly better.

Best,

Julien

Not too crazy about the vegitation you are using. I will find a link to some really good stuff made from paper. It is fantastic! It will take more for coverage, but it is worth the effort. It adds a realistic affect to the plans. Give me a day or so. Other then that I like it. Keep up the good work. I am looking for the books too by the way. Thanks.

Regards, Ray

Didn't need the day found it in my favorites right awat. Here it is. This stuff is wonderful!!!!!!!

http://www.kamizukuri.jp/index.html

Hope this helps.

hello,

A little update on the figure of my vignette on indochina.
First figure half painted.
First time with this kind of camo.
Sorry for the low quality pictures.

Any tips on this camo is welcome, as I have three more fellow to paint with the same bean jacket.

Best,
Julien

Hi Julien,
nice job!
The terrain is so realistic....
Looking forward to see the more of it
ciao
Tom

Grazie mille Tommaso,

It was a great week end here, sunny, quiet (my swmbo was i her parents house), which gave me the opportunity to paint, and shoot pictures as I have bought a new camera (Panasonic DMC LX2, quite a good compromise betwwen reflex and automatics).

here is the result. I'm more happy with the bald head guy, in particular regarding the painting of the camo. But what is done is done..3 buddies left to paint.
I put the picture before and after.
I had great fun !

By the way, I haven't seen Jim report from Nuremberg, nothing bad happen to him ??

Best,
Julien

Julien,
Your figures are coming on great, I'm really looking forward to seeing this vignette evolve and to see the finished masterpiece.
Could tell me what figures you're using? I am thinking of doing some French Indochina modelling and I don't really know where to start looking for figures?
Cheers
David

Hi David !
Thanks for the comments, will try to work on it more regularly.
regarding figures...hum....that's not the cavern of Ali Baba.
there no reference of french army in indochina in plastic 1/35 set.
You have an academy set of legionnaires, but verylow detailled, and I guess one or two references in resin, warrior I guess.
So I took 2 dragon sets : advance to the Rhine (for rangers and equipement) and the second armored division in normandy set, for the jacket and trousers. Arms come from in majority the Ramcke brigade set. weapon are from an old italeri set, and the rest is converted /scrathc..ah, and of course the head are hornet.
It depends what troops you want to depict ? legionnaires, colonial troops, airborn guys ? Dragon marine korean set (phu san if my memory is correct) does fit aslo.
Don't hesitate if you need help, I have loads of reference.

best,
Julien