Hello All,

I've started modelling again after a 20+ year break, and have a project underway - Trumpeter Kit 0349, LAV-25, which I want to have with crew visible, set in the earlier part of OIF, ie when the crew would have been in MOPP gear. Idea is that the driver will be in his seat, only head visible, so can get away without MOPP probably, but the vehicle commander and loader will visible from the waist up, and I intend to have a scout or two visible (upper body) out of the back hatches.

I'm on a tight budget and figures in MOPP are few and far between anyway - I know of only the Mig Marine standing which is too expensive for a single figure that would need a lot of modification to be of use. What I have are the Trumpeter 0424 US Army Armor crew & Inf, and the (fairly poor) USMC figures that come with the LAV kit and are sold separately as Kit 0407.

So, what is the best way of representing MOPP using the figures available? From what I've read online the crew helmets are OK for OIF, and any inaccuracies in uniform will be hidden under the MOPP. I've considered a number of ways of doing it - (1) A layer of thinly-rolled milliput or similar, which will most likely exhaust my patience and be covered in fingerprints; (2) a layer of fine tissue paper fixed on with thinned PVA, which would make details like cuffs and creases possible; (3) painting on a layer of PVA which would obscure the uniform underneath but not allow finer detail.

Has anyone else had this challenge? Grateful for any advice. Doing this in small chunks, crazy 3-year old daughter keeps my free time and energy at a minimum.

Cheers

BMC

A few plastic figure sets have figures in JSLIST MOPP suits. Modern JSLIST MOPP gear has an integrated hood on it.

Trumpeter has a couple with what (I think) are supposed to be Gortex jackets, but will pass for JSLIST tops since they look pretty much the same. On the JSLIST hoods, the inside is black though.

The US Marines Iraq 2003 set (407) has one figure (standing, holding M16A2 rifle) in a JSLIST top (hood sticking out) under his IBA vests.



The US 101st Airborne Division Crew set (410) has two. The standing guy with hand up and the laying guy both have JSLIST tops (hood sticking out) on.


Dragon's older, Operation Desert Storm-era (ODS, '90-'91) US 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" set (3015) has three guys wearing old MOPP suits. One is in the older, green pickle MOPP suit, and the other two are in the newer (then) Woodland BDU pattern MOPP suits. The guy with the M203 and desert parka could be pretty much used as is with just a swap of the torso to one with an IBA on and a pocket added to his left upper sleeve to pass as JSLIST.



The Dragon BDU MOPP legs could be mated with the above Trumpeter JSLIST w/IBA torsos to make pretty convincing, modern (2003) guys in complete JSLIST MOPP suits. For the crew in hatches, the Trumpeter JSLIST upper torsos would be perfect.

That is the way I would go.

Gino,

many thanks - sounds like an easier way ahead than any of my ideas and I already have the US Marines Iraq 2003 set but didn't realise it had a figure with MOPP.

I'd better get googling.

Cheers

BMC

Gino, I don't think any of the Marines in the Trumpeter set are wearing MOPP suits. The standing Marine with the M16A2 is wearing the normal DCU coat and an IBA. I recently build the figures from that kit.

You are 100% correct regarding the 101st set though.

Sorry, you are right. The standing guy w/M16A2 from set 407 has a Camelbak. I thought he had the hood too, but was mistaken.

On the box art the camel-back does look like the hood of a MOPP suite.