Hiya guys. I bought a set of Trumpeter US Army in Iraq 2005 figures (00418). The scene I have in mind is in Europe though. And I wanted to do marines simply because their cammo pattern seems more interesting to me to paint. So are there any differences between Army and Marines uniforms and gear, apart from the cammo? For example do they use the same flak vests and do marines wear knee pads ect?

If there are (and I'm guessing there are) then I will simply paint them in army cammo, and I have a couple of questions in that regard;

Are there any differences in the gear the Army uses in Iraq compared to European deployment for it's infantrymen in 2005?

And what would be the appropriate colour for the fatigues and the flak vests?

I've looked at some photos and there seems to be quite a few variations, plus I don't know what year they are from. For example sometimes the flak vest is in the old fashioned woodland scheme, and sometimes it appears plain. Can someome tell me if the link below is correct, or even better point me to some good shots?

Many thanks.

http://www.kamouflage.net/camouflage/00199.php

Many thanks.

Those figures are good for Army or Marine figures in Europe through about April 2008. They are wearing the older BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) cut, depicted in 3-color Desert Camo. The same cut was also in Woodland Camo and would be appropriate for Europe. The gear would be the same.

Woodland Camo BDUs, US Soldiers in Kosovo, late '90s - early 2000s


The US Army currently has 2 uniforms.

Most wear the digital UCP (Universal Camo Pattern) ACU (Army Combat Uniform). UCP was first fielded in late '05. On Apr 30, 2008, only the UCP and Multi-cam ACU was authorized for wear by the US Army. All prior uniforms were no longer allowed.


The Multi-Cam ACU is used only in Afghanistan.


The USMC uses two MARPAT (MARine PATtern) digital uniforms that were fielded in the early 2000s.

One in a Desert Camo


The other in a Woodland Camo.

With the Marines the Interceptor body armor was either the Woodland (old style woodland not digi) or coyote tan, sometimes you had the woodland collar with the coyote vest, same deal with the throat and groin protectors, woodland with the coyote; the new vests are all coyote in color. The MOLLE pouches were generally the same woodland as the body armor, although you could find Marines sporting coyote pouches, especially if they were self procured items. My gear in '06 was a mix of coyote and woodland with the digi uniform and helmet cover, the ILBE gear was MARPAT woodland digi, but the medical bag I carried was coyote procured off the shelf, the MOLLE medical bag was out of the system and the ILBE was still in the process of being fielded. One thing we pretty much all carried (and is missing from most if not all the modern figures is a drop pouch for empty mags). This all makes things clear as mud I'm sure.

Thanks very much guys. I would like to paint the figures as the two kneeling marines in the last picture of Gino's post. I'd like to paint the body armour that khaki colour (presumably that's coyote tan that you mention John).

Can you tell me anything about the body armour itself, as well as other equipment? Do the Army and Marines use the same stuff, assuming they're wearing their appropriate digital camouflage?

It doesn't matter what year my scene is set, but I want them to be accurate and authentic in terms of uniform colour and equipment. I don't want to paint them as marines if they're wearing body armour that only the army uses (in a time period where they would have their appropriate digital camouflage), and if marines don't wear knee pads.

Gino, you mentioned the figures are wearing the BDU uniform. Is that appropriate for the marines MARPAT? The impression I got from your post is if I want to paint them for Europe they need to be the old fashioned woodland scheme.

And can I ask another question since there's obviously very knowledgeable people here? The scene I have in mind is the marines standing next to an abandoned ZSU Shilka. Is there a historical situation in which that might have been possible? Kosovo perhaps? Or does it have to be a hypothetical future war setting?

Thanks again guys. I'm learning a lot. I plan to enter this piece in a competition we have over here, and I don't want it to get marked down for innacuracy, that's why I'm so concerned about the colour and equipment. I was thinking about getting this Dragon set instead and painting them as in the bottom photo (of the two kneeling marines). That would be accurate right?

Thanks again.

The Interceptor vests were used by both Army and Marines although only the Marines used the coyote outer vest. The MOLLE pouches were also used by both, same with knee pads. A pretty good paint match for coyote tan is field drab. I have a picture from '03 of a burned out ZSU 23-4 on the outskirts of a town on RCT 5's route of march so you wouldn't be wrong in showing that. If you're going to do Marines, don't forget the K-Bars.

The cat's eyes (the thin band that wraps around the kevlar helmet with two glow in the dark spots in the rear) would not be present on USMC Infantry.

Dan

Thanks guys. So it looks like I can just go ahead and paint them as Marines in MARPAT. Cool.

John, was the RCT5 route you mention in Kosovo?

Actually, no, it would not be correct. They are wearing the older BDU cut uniforms. The USMC MARPAT also has a different cut as well. The most obvious difference are the added pockets on the upper arms. The cargo pockets on the sides of the legs are also different with a more slanted top opening. The Trumpeter figures have none of these features. There are other smaller differences that cannot really be seen in 1/35 scale.

It was in Iraq, IIRC any Marines in Kosovo were East Coast Marines for some reason I want to say they were from from the 8th Marines.

Ah, I was hoping the actual cut of the uniform would be so small a detail as to not be noticed. But it turns out now I've started construction I'm not all that happy with the figures, or the Dragon ones now I've seen a few shots of them. So I may look at another option.

I really appreciate all the help guys, thanks.

The DML Modern Marines figures are actually quite good for plastic figures. I have used them on many occasions and they can come out great. The Trumpeter ones suck.

Here are the Dragon Modern Marines built up.