Hi all! I am just starting a new project that I have been wanting to do for a long time. I would like to achieve a very dramatic scene in Vietnam. Something that gives you a sense of movement. Let’s see how that works out!
Meet the cast:

The diorama will consist of 6 grunts: 2 dragging a wounded comrade; one laying down firing; and two running for dear life! A OH-6A Cayuse covering on top just above the tree tops. The main challenge is going to be the layout and the jungle vegetation, to make it believable.

Some pictures of the Cayuse cabin and some of the head in progress:

I am already experimenting with some natural leafs for palm trees and banana trees. Today I will try to post some pictures of the result so far.

Good luck on your project Marcos. But an observation, some of your figures have Marine Corps flak jackets, denoting they are Marines. The OH-6A (Loach) was not used by the Marine Corps, just the Army, and fas as Iknow also did not fly in support of Marine operations.

Thank you for the observation. But I will use all figures anyways. As I go along I will think of a plausible explaination to the historical context.

Hi Marcos,

For jungle scenes aquarium plants can go a long way.Pet stores are your best bet.They sell some in 12"x12" squares you can just pull from.I have some I've been using for years.

Tom

Hey Marcos, nice idea, I have a special love of V.N. dios as it was my time period. I like the story you are trying to portray. And as far as the OH-6A not flying support for the Marines, Walley is correct. But, if they were in or around the area operations, the area around the Marines who were in desporate trouble, they along with any other aircraft, Marine,Army or Navy, would be released to add support to the grunts on the ground. So your idea of a Marine unit in deep trouble being supported by an Army aircraft would be possable. There are a few books writen by Army aviators who support this type of situation, so have at it.

Experimenting with ficus leafs on a palm tree. Trunk is bamboo, tape, and tissue. All yet to be painted.

Experimenting with two varieties of ficus to make banana tree leafs: again, they still need painting. And I think that the thinner leaf variety wrinkles too much when it dries.

Working on the base and the structure to hold the helicopter:

Really nice concept you have going here.
J

This is going to be a really great dio! You made a nice 'start'; pilot figure and Loach compartment looking awesome! keep this up (and us posted) please!

Mark

Hey Marcos, if you add the mini gun pod to the loach, seeing as the grunts are fighting off the V.C. desperatly it seems, turn the loach to face the attacking enemy and hosing them down with suppression fire. Just above the grunts heads would show the loach attacking the enemy and low enough to drop down and take on the wounded. Just a thought.

This looks good.

Looking really good Marcos.
Looking forward to your progress.
It can be difficult to have a chopper in flight.

Tom

The branches filler is kitchen cleaning fiber aibrushed brown/khaki. the "leafs" are oregano. I still have to work on weathering the tree trunk.

working on the figures:

I have been wanting to do a Vietnam theme but as you see doing the vegetation is hard. I want to do a fob dio but not sure how it should look without it being inaccurate.

Yours is coming along nicely will be following closely.

Happy modeling

I like the way you handled the large leaves. Must be very time consuming though.
J

Almost done with the figures. Now I will concentrate more on the jungle scene. Sorry for the poor quality pics. Soon I will upload some with better quality.

You can tell the difference in quality of the verlinden and Kirin figures versus the Tamiya ones. I decided to include the Tamiya ones anyway.