So I was thinking about doing a diorama along these lines...


I need to find a suitable aircraft (possibly in 1/35) and instead of the heavy movers just have an M1 with some tow cables attached and maybe a couple hummvees.

Thoughts?

Mike,

I don't know of any aircraft in 1/35 other than some helos. There's a pretty good variety in 1/32, but then you won't have the armor kits - though I suppose you could kitbash some Forces of Valor stuff...

It would be a cool diorama - maybe an M-88 yanking a stripped down Foxbat out of the sand?

In any event, I think it would be a cool dio - hope you move forward with it!

Can you tell me more about the photo? I m keen to know more about what they are doing with the MIG-25. Its a waste of material if the US actually destroy it and burry it in the sand.

i fin it a ood idee

It looks like they're digging it out. Probably buried into the sand when it went down. Looks like it's in good condition too.
From what I've seen most aircraft are done in 148 and 172. Since you mightn't find the armor kits in 148 then you could always try a 172 diorama. It would give you more space to work with.

From memory, the Iraqi Air Force covered many of their aircraft with tarps and sand when it became obvious how superior the Coalition's Air Power was.

I guess what we're seeing here is a 'find' of one of those hidden aircraft.

I remember that photo - great idea if you have room. With an M1, a MIG, M88, Hummer - that'll require a LOT of space.
I'd opt for smaller scale as mentioned or you could focus on one end or the other and litterally cut the MIG in half and run the cut side to the edge of the diorama.

Mig produces the tractor on the left.

Lars

Well thats a MIG 23 and it appears no one does those in 1/32 scale. Ive not done a complete search but i couldnt find any. There are several pics like this on the net, another with an M1070 pulling a MIG 23 out of a sand dune, it would make a very cool diorama if only there was the suitable fighter on the market. Perhaps try a smaller scale and use some diecast earth movers instead.

I think I can get away with a helo. I know that the Iraqis used Hinds and other Russian gear. An M-88 and a Hind in 1/35 could look pretty cool.
As for history: A buddy of mine who was a USMC combat engineer has some personal pics he took when they dug up some cool stuff. Most his unit found were a few hundred yards outside of airbases or along desolate highways to Syria and Iran. They burried tanks, planes, cars, helos... (maybe some WMDs ) everything they could that might be usable eventually.
I think a helo could work. And some soldiers that aren't in combat poses... but they are hard to find for modern troops.

-Mike

Other way around. The Iraqis buried at least some of their aircraft in the sand around their air bases either prior to or during the invasion. Since Saddam truly believed that he could stop the Americans, he wanted to preserve his air force for future operations - kinda like Iraqi aircraft flying to Iran in 1991.

Rob, that is a Mig-25 Foxbat. Not the twin vertical stabilizers as opposed to the single on the Mog-23/27 series.

I don't know what the US forces did with them other than the multiple photos I've seen of that Foxbat(s) being resurrected. Honestly I don't think I've seen any other photos of buried aircraft other than that Foxbat(s). I know that at least one was crushed under the weight of an M1 Abrams (seen below) which may be a better dio idea. I always thought there was an Air Force joke here, but I was never creative enough to think it up!



Jeff

Jeff, That is an awesome pic! And I agree that would be a great dio!

-Mike

Well... I have a few options. I looked about and some issues are present! I can get a MIG-29 and Abrams in 1/48, but no one makes figures! I can get an Abrams in 1-35 but would have to scratch build the plane, or substitute in a helicopter (my favorite option...). Any thoughts?

-Mike

You wouldn't have to do it with that exact aircraft. Trumpeter does a 1/32 SU27 or an older Mig 21 that would work too. To me, 1/32 and 1/35 are close enough to work together. I have mixed 1/32 helos and aircraft w/ 1/35 armor and figures often. They go fine together. The helo idea would work too. Iraq did use MI-24 Hinds, MI-8/17 Hips, UH-1N Hueys, and a few other types as well.

Just so happened that while doing research for my own Iraq War dio I stumbled across these pictures. Thought I'd post em just in case you hadn't seen them.









And here's something else you may be interested in. A smaller version.



-Matt

wouldnt it be easier to just blow up the jets? for the iraquis i mean .it would take half as much work to build anoher jet than to clean a burried one

I've just seen one of the Mig-25's being restored at Wright Patterson AFB (the Air Force Museum). It has all the Iraqi markings but no wings yet. I was able to get on a restoration tour. Just dumb luck in getting on the tour. They had alot of neet thing under restoration, including the "Memphis Belle". It was in pieces and stripped of paint. Just awsome. Tomorrow I'll try to download the picture.
Troy

Please do Troy. Sounds like it was an amazing tour.

-Matt

Thanks for all the pics guys! I am going to make a trip out to the LHS today and see what I can dig up!

-Mike

I've loaded my pics. now. Just click on my photo file. It was a great trip. Business in Cinncicati during the week, Air Force Museum on Friday, and the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox on Saturday. It don't get any better then that.
Troy

GREAT PICS! Thanks for sharing. They were awesome. I am sure the trip was a great experience.

-Mike

The aircraft in question are IrAF Mig-25's and the location is Al Asad Airbase in al Anbar Province, south and west of the Euphrates River and south of Haditha. I was there for a few months back in '05. The MiG-25's, or what's left of them, are still there. Of note, the MiG-21bis' and Chengdu F-7's (Chinese MiG-21 copies) are all still parked out in the desert off the east and west ends of the runways.

It is a GREAT idea for a dio, and I agree with Gino, 1/32nd and 1/35th are close enough to use together in a dio. I have had one in the making for years with a "liberated" IrAf MiG-29 being inspected by Intel troops.

Ron

At this very instant, Randy McEvil realized there's no future in the sport of tank jumping.

i swear trhere is a film with this type o scene in it,
i would love to carry a dio like this our but im a whimp

In 03 the RAAF "Fighting Roos" stumbled across a buried mig. They dug it up, dismantled it and loaded it onto Australia bound cargo birds.. in essence they stole a fighter jet. They were quite proud of themselves as the told me what they had done. I thought it was funny as hell.