Stunning scratch work and I loved the wood'in box.

TC/Sgt Smith figure done. It was a pain to get the hands, arms, and body all lined up. This is pretty much done with some minor tweaks to finish up. I may do some more streaking after I get it on the base. Some dusting will be done then also.

Looks great! The TC turned out nice.


cheers

Robert,

WOW. Just $#%#@^*& WOW.

Thanks guys. I forgot to mention that I will be putting a bunch of spent ammo on the roof when these items hit the market. Sgt Smith fired at least 300 rounds, and the guys before him fired many rounds too. So lots of spent rounds to show.
Once I do the dio I will show some used ammo cans on the ground nearby (Eduard) and a few water bottles or whatever. Spent shells on the ground too from rolling off the roof.

Bob

Work continues. Mike DelVecchio helped with the trailer and tarp. Saved me lots of time. Shipping labels are added along with clips for the tarp.


Pin wash.


Highlights. Later filters and washes will bring it all together.

Rob;
that looks really sweet. This is going to be a fitting tribute. Cheers.

Rob, Outstanding, simply outstanding. I've followed your entire build from the 1st post to the last. Your scratching building, painting,weathering, and attention to detailing is amazing.

The trailer, while simple compared to the M113A3, is yet another example of the high level of work you've achieved.

Looking forward to your vignette, and your next build.
Joel

Looks great Bob, those clips really spruce it up.


cheers

Thanks Joel. I hope to have this all wrapped up in a month or two. I will start two projects at once after this. A Blackhawk, superdetailed on the inside, dropping off some 101st guys during OIF1. I want to show the helo just beginning to take off after the infantry get out.

My other project is something I have mentioned elsewhere. I am heading up a large group build of over 25 models of the April 5 thunder run in Baghdad. I am doing Sgt Booker's Abrams. This will end up at the Ft Stewart Museum and will be over 40' long.

In watching the documentary last night about the two thunder runs, I would like to do that lead Abrams going over the concrete barrier that the Iraqis used to try and block the advance. The tank left the ground. I have read about that before but seeing it in the documentary inspired me. And it would have a plow on the front too. A cool dio that would be.

Bob

Trailer is finished except for some dusting that will be done when attached to the base.

Base started. I am doing a raised base so some info and imagery can be put on the sides.

Building the "black box." I have put a couple of coats of black paint on the panels. Later they will be glossed. The wall is primed. The groundwork is still drying. I will prime it and then paint it. There is a Bradley track in the sand to recall that there originally was a Bradley in the fight before it withdrew.

It looks great Bob. Awesome job.

Bob, Just an outstanding build as I've been here following along right from the start. It's been an amazing journey for us neophytes to follow your progress from start to finish.

The display box will be the perfect presentation. Are you making a clear cover for it, or will it be in a display case? I hate to think that it will just seat on a shelf gathering dust.

Joel

Thanks Gino. Here is another update. Basic colors blocked in for the base. I discovered that there was a three-wire run of barbed wire atop the wall, so I started making that last night. I used the method found here on Armorama when I typed in "how to make barbed wire." I did not want to use flat PE, and it is expensive anyway.

I will put more grass along the wall later. And then weeds with a combination of PE and camel hair grass.

Hi Joel, thanks for the encouragement. This was planned all along going to the 3rd ID Museum. They would put it in a case. I was given a link to the company that makes those museum cases and you would not believe how much they cost - they start at $500! Legs, stand, and crystal glass cover. Wow.

Anyway, the plan was for the musuem to take it to the occasional meeting that was pertinent to the subject and the case would be important for that too. The diorama is pretty basic for two reasons. 1) this is how it really looked. I could have shown some figures huddled around or near the track, but there is conflicting information as to when, or even if any soldiers were near the track when Sgt Smith was manning the MG. Besides, the point of the display is to focus on Smith 2) to include the tower which was one of the main targets he concenrated on as he fought, would have made the diorama much too large. So, the diorama focuses on the main subject, and thus the surroundings are pretty basic. Still, I think with the barbed wire wall and some of the debris that will be around, including about 100 spent shells and links, I think in the end it will be an interesting enough display.

Anyway, it will not gather dust.

Bob

The wire was out of scale, so I found some PE wire in my stash and used it. The posts were made with I beam and I used epoxy putty for the concrete bases. That still needs o be painted. DEF bottles were used. They have crushed ones included which is really nice. Iraq seems to be one big garbage dump and so I put some trash in some empty spots of the groundwork. I put a coat of paint on the grass. Later I will do some highlighting with greens and yellows.

The DCU blouse is a nod to the guys who were evacuated after the mortar strike. I will use some dark paint represent the spilled water around the fallen bottles near the blouse. I will also put a bandage nearby.

I will put weeds all along the bottom of the wall later.

Last I will be using Live Resin spent .50 cal shells and links when available.

The details you're adding to the base are really making it come alive. Looking forward to the final set of pictures.
Joel

The base is really looking great, Robert! All of the added details and debris are simple, but they make the base far more realistic and life-like.

Did they back the M113 into the position by the wall? Your track marks appear to make it look that way (at least from what I can see in the photos).

What about adding an IV bag near the DCU top? (assuming one was used).

Incredibly professional work.

Joel andJeff, thanks again for the feedback.

The track was backed into position (see below). An IV bag is a good idea, but I am going with the thought that the blouse and other stuff were dropped while them men egressed from the area.

A synopsis of real events:
A Bradley, an M113 w/ a few men in the back, and several dismounts try to repel an Iraqi attack into Sgt Smith's area of responsibility. The Bradley runs out of ammo and leaves for more. A mortar strikes the open driver's hatch and wounds everyone onboard. They are evacuated. Smith takes over the track and orders a Pvt Seaman to stay at the driver controls and pass up ammo from inside. Smith has the track back up to near a wall so he could more easily swing the .50 cal back and forth to the two main areas where the enemy were gaining ground - a tower and a gate. My dio depicts this time frame.

At some point after firing around 300 rounds Smith is hit and killed.

I have seen the real M113. There are no bullet strikes except one on a TC periscope guard and a possible ricochet to the left of the TC hatch. So you do not see bullet strikes on the track except the gouge left in the periscope guard. I will put a few pock marks in the wall though. The trailer will be at an odd angle since it is very difficult to back up with a trailer, and Seaman was not normally a driver.

When I get the Live Resin shells and links I will try to show the many rounds fired by both him and the TC before the TC was wounded.

Robert,

Are you going to bring this to the AMPS Nationals in April?

I'm planning to be there, so I'd love to see your dio in person.

I would really like to, or any other contest for that matter. But, the 3rd ID HQ in Afghanistan has requested it and as soon as I can get it there it will be on a plane with a runner. I guess it will be out of my hands in a week or two. After that it will be at the 3rd ID Museum at Ft Stewart.

Bob

Very, very close to being finished. I need the Live Resin spent shells and links still.

Rob;
looks amazing. Really nice on all fronts, especially the interior and all the little details. Amazing work for an amazing cause. Cheers.

Rob, the vignette turned out simply amazing. Just an outstanding build. You should really be proud of its final display home.
Joel