Hello folks,
I read in a magazine article, albeit late last year that US Forces in Afghan were trialling Multicam uniform. Unit in question was the 2nd Battalion, 508th PIR.
Question is, has it been adopted?
I'm asking as I have got hold of a Legend vehicle crew #1 figure and he would look good in Multicam.

Thanks in advance.

Des

Hey Desmond

Im not sure how many units have been issued multicam on deployment. However these units have been using multicam in afghanistan:
173rd Airborne Brigade
2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Charlie Company
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Some US Special Forces units

So it would be feasible to paint the Legends figure in Multicam. However I think that the cut of Multicam uniforms is different to the current ACU. Im not sure how noticeable the differences are in 1/35th, but you may want to compare the two to see if you need to make any modifications.

HTH
Anirudh

Apologies,
The magazine I was referring to was the April 2010 issue of Combat and Survival, and the unit in question was Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 12 Infantry Regiment.
The 2nd Battalion 508th PIR were trialling UCP Delta cam pattern.
Is the term ACU a generic term for Army Combat Uniform or does it refer to a specific cut/design?
It states in the article that the unit was issued with ACU in Crye Multicam pattern.
At a glance it looks the same cut to an untrained eye so may well do the job I have in mind.

Des

Just had a look on Wikipedia. Quote below;

Soldiers operating in Afghanistan (beginning with the 173rd Airborne Brigade) will soon be issued a more appropriate "MultiCam" pattern.[6] Starting in August 2010, some deployed troops to Afghanistan will start integrating MultiCam into their ACU's. Later in 2010, established soldiers will begin utilizing MultiCam in their uniforms.[7] The first Brigade Combat Team to be fully fielded the Multicam uniform was the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

I think I may well have answered my own question. At least the answer or part of, is here if anyone else needs the info.

Des

ACU stands for Army Comab Uniform and I have heard a couple of guys round here mention that it does have a different cut to the Multicam uniform but I guess its not a huge difference.
It looks like it would be ok for you to paint the figure in multicam without it being innaccurate.

Good luck, and post photos when your done!

Anirudh

ACU is the nomenclature for the Army Combat Uniform, which uses the UCP ( Universal Camoflage Pattern). Recent research has indicated that the UCP needed to be altered to actually work in desert environments and actually STOOD OUT ( ask me how I know ) in most environments. ALL units that are being sent to Afghan are being fielded with MULTICAM because they have found that it works better in most environments than UCP. There is a move afoot to add brown to the 4 shades of grey that is the current scheme. It Is called UDP Delta I believe. Military.com will have tons of info on it.

To clear up a few acronyms.

ACU stands for Army Combat Uniform and is the cut of the uniform with slanted breast pockets, pockets on the upper sleeves and lower calves, velcro pads for ubit (left) and combat (right) patches, etc. It is not the camo pattern.

The grey digital camo pattern is called UCU (Universal Camouflage Uniform). It looks like below. It is usually what everyone refers to as ACUs though.



Multi -Cam is being used in A'stan since about late '08- early '09. It looks similar to the older Woodland Camo used on BDUs, but has more light brown and sand. The cut of the Multi-Cam is in the ACU pattern. The original Crye Multi-Cam was not accepted by the US Military and they went with the ACU pattern instead.


Multi-Cam as used in A'stan can be painted on a figure intended to have ACU (UCU) camo on it. So yes, the Legend vehicle crew #1 figure would be fine in Multi-Cam.

Legend vehicle crew #1 wears IBA.Because IBA was replaced by deployed units few years ago , so this figure can not wear multicam uniform .

The IBA and the IOTV look enough alike to be usable, especially once you add all the gear on top of them..

Well , it all depends how much one cares about accuracy,

Yes, and the fact that there are no figures yet with IOTVs that I know of. You are not really left with any other options.

Thanks guys.

In relation to the UCP Delta, there is also an article in the same magazine regarding the trialling of that particular pattern.

With regard to the accuracy issue, it would be accurate enough for me as an amateur modeller that doesn't get enough time to pursue his hobby to the fullest. It does have the slanted pockets and the pockets/patches on the arms though which do stand out when compared with a a standard figure in normal BDU.

I just wanted to have a go at the Multicam pattern but wanted a figure that would look acceptable wearing it.

Thanks for the imput guys. As always very much appreciated.

Des

In that case you then need to model the Gen 2 IOTV instead of the Gen 1. When I left Afghanistan earlier this year units were just showing up with the new gear. In addition many units are not even wearing IOTV's, but instead the Army's plate carrier and to further confuse the issue, many of us didn't even wear that opting instead to buy our own plate carriers that didn't rub holes through our skin and actually held the side plates in a way that would properly protect us and not wear out in 2 months. If you are THAT concerned about accuracy, track down exactly what unit you want, find their pictures, and build each specific person at each specific point of deployment. My kit changed constantly dependent upon mission. Also keep in mind that FRACU's are the standard, not ACU's, and flyers top and bottoms are also issues which have their own different cut. Let's not the forget the ACS (Army Combat Shirt) either. Best of luck to you Sir, you think that's a challenge, try modeling a Polish Army Soldier from their ISAF contingent, talk about mix and match...

Back to reality. Get whatever you can find for a torso with body armor. Add magazine shingles, an IFAK, some frag pouches and MBITR and a camelback or hydration carrier and call it a day. Good luck on the Multi-Cam.

The technical terms they are using these days are as follows.
ACU = Army Combat Uniform, the cut of the uniform
UCP- Universal Camoflauge pattern (the grey acu pattern)
FR-ACU = Flame Resistant ACU uniform
OEF FR-ACU = Multicam flame resistant ACU's for use in Afghanistan only on a general issued scale
ACS = Army Combat Shirt, sort of a flame resistant under armor torso with UCP patterned sleeves for better breath ability and comfort under body armor.

Confused yet? OP, if you need some pictures of any of the uniform items, let me know. If I have it I'll do what I can to help.

You are talking about something extreme .Diference betwen gen2 and gen1 iotv is minimal and now one is able to make such detailed figures in 1/35 to show that diference .Hobby Fan and i guess Nato in Miniatures make figures in IOTV so there is a choice.

That is incorrect, the Gen 2 IOTV is clearly identifiable from the Gen 1 when it has the proprietary modules added, and without the buckle attachments are still there. As Gino said, add some appropriate pouches (old 3 mag ALICE pouches are NOT appropriate) and you're good to go until someone makes appropriate modern figures. Even then with the level of aftermarket accessories and pouches Joe buys it's still going to be a crap shoot. Just go with what you can make look mostly correct.

Well if that's your real motive, you could do SF in Iraq, circa 2007, with multi cam and Marine Corps MTV. Some of our guys purchased it on their own and wore it. Throw in DCU and UCP, and your Jundis wearing the chocolate chip, and you have quite the interesting dio.
How would I model the MTV? I'd just paint what comes on the figure in Coyote tan and call it a day. The whole cumbersome belt system is generally covered with kit.

You could also do Slovenian SF with multi-cam, Pro-techs and interestingly enough, MTV.

Indeed, ODA guys are always interesting. Your other option could be Polish Army from TF White Eagle from 2009 to the present. They had an allowance to buy uniforms/equipment prior to deployment so you find a lot of guys in privately purchased Multi Cam of various cuts, and UCP IBA vests with PASGT style helmets.

Steve

Friend of my based at Ft. Lewis is in Afghanistan right now and they are all equipped with mulit cam. Not going to post his unit. Cheers.

i got some pictures i will post for ya. i have been taking pics of them as units showed up with multi cam last november.