Hello all! Its been a long, long time since I've posted anything on here, but I've still been busy, so here's my latest on going build. The plan is too build a diorama of 3 M1151s on patrol with an ANA pickup stopping off at a village - not particularly action packed, but I'm hoping to convey the "hurry up and wait" nature of patrols.

I'm using 3 of the Academy M1151s and a Meng Pick-up. The Academy kit is well detailed and fits relatively well, but lacks detail in places, and rides very high in comparison to real vehicles. As the DEF/Windmark suspension kit is quite expensive, I've left the suspension alone, but added some extra details especially to the interior which was ultimately futile...oh well. Photos now!












The plan is to have the convoy parked on a sloped mountain road entering the village where the ANA and villagers are gathered. I'm using a few Legends figures for the M1151 crews and no ideas yet for the ANA and villagers, so if any of you have got suggestions they'd be appreciated!

I'll post photos of the figures and the pick up soon.
Cheers
Anirudh

I don't know if this is quite what your looking for?








You might even be able to use some of the meng middle eastern civilians set?
Paul

Hi Anirudh,
Just yesterday, I had a thought. ... Somebody should really create a diorama staged in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan. I recall seeing some interesting photos of US troops on patrol in the highlands a while back.

Good luck with your diorama!
--mike

Good idea for your diorama. I think you should add counter IED systems on all the humvee.

Cheers guys. Nice suggestions Paul, the Afghan man from Evolutions looks very tempting.
Thanks Mike, do you have any of the photos? They'd be really helpful.

Alex, I'm going to add Duke antennae to all 3 of them, is that enough, or would the lead one have a Rhino as well?

Here are pictures of the Pick-up. Its pretty much done, apart form a figure in the bed.





Cheers
Anirudh

Great project Anirudh! I look forward to seeing more.

Couldn't find them yet but I'm gonna' look on a back-up drive when I get home.

Meanwhile, I did some web-searching and turned-up a couple of interesting links which illustrate Afghanistan's terrain as well as village layouts.

Afghanistan from the Air:
Link: http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2011/05/10/captured-afghanistan-from-the-air/4450/

Stuck Convoys:
Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+convoys+stuck+in+Afghanistan&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=gSenU5vVI4KPyASzroKgAw&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=914

IED Road Damage:
Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=imhttps://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+post+ied+road+damage&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-SenU7SaE4KpyATIhIG4Dw&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=9148#q=images+of+ied+road+damage&rls=en&tbm=isch&imgdii=_

IED Road Crater:
Link: https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+ied+road+crater&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=lyynU4_UH42HyAT_poLYAg&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1680&bih=914

BTW: I think some road damage from an IED blast (huge or small) would be a great element in a diorama.

Hope this helps.
--mike

Hello Anirudh -

I'll be watching this build - I've been planning something similar, but looks like you're the first off the starting line!

Your trucks look great, and I'm looking forward to seeing how your layout etc comes together -

cheers

Nick

According photos I've seen there are several options but only one Duke antenna can be right.
And a vehicle equipped with a rhino is not necessarily at the head of convoy

Welcome back Anirudh As always - great idea, I like Your threads.

I've got a couple of tips for You:

- Pick-up: I would change it to be an usual civilian car. ANA uses pick-ups in diferent paint scheme and with markings:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8876091/Nine-members-of-one-family-killed-in-Afghanistan-roadside-bomb.html

- civilians: don't forget about this set:

http://www.meng-model.com/index2_new.php?id=186

Cheers guys, glad to have you on board. No big updates today, as all I managed to do was add the Duke antennae and add some water bottles and spent casings. I have a Rhino device which I've started for one of the humvees which I'll show post pics of soon.
Kuba, glad you're following this. I have a few photos of white pick-ups used by afghan militia so I guess its a militia vehicle rather than an ANA one.


Finally for tonight, does anyone know if the Echelon Humvee mirrors for the Bronco kit fit the Academy parts? I'm not happy with just painting them silver.

Cheers
Anirudh

Hi Anirudh,
Love your idea and looking forward to your progress.
The Meng figures are good and a much better price than resin.There are also some new MB sets that may work for you.
The Academy M1151 is a nice kit again at a reasonable price.
Not sure about the water bottle on the antenna. I thought that was a only a Canadian idea and got some sarcasm from one of our American members on the use of it.For the mirrors,you can always use tin foil.Superglue it to the mirror and use your blade to carefully cut to the perfect size.

Tom

For the mirrors you can get a roll of metal mending tape in the automotive section in most hardware stores, you can get a roll for under about 5 bucks and it will last you pretty much forever in 1/35 scale. There is also a rearview mirror repair kit I've seen with similar material. You just have to trim it to fit, and it's easier to work with than foil.

Thanks guys, I'll try some of these ideas out on a spare mirror piece and see which is the best to go with.
Tom, I've seen the bottles on antennas on some Humvees, so I added it as an interesting detail. Here are some I've seen.




Cheers
Anirudh

Just some details I've added. These don't represent particular vehicles, just details I've seen and thought would be a cool addition.






The last image shows a set of headphones and a DSLR camera (both from Pro Art) and a roll of tape, which I still need to paint, but will be thrown in the back or in the turret of one of the vehicles.

Cheers!
Anirudh

Very interesting.I have never seen them on U.S.vehicles.

Tom

Yeah, they're not very common, in fact those are the only two photos I have actually, but at least there's proof!

One more photo for the night - the interior isn't done on this one as it still needs radios, headphones and all the comforts of home usually seen.

Thanks for looking!
Anirudh

Hi Anirudh,

Really great project and great care of details. I like your choice of figures as well. Thank you for posting.

Looking forward to see the progress of job.

Thanks Giovanni! I'm taking my time with the figures so I can get them right, but I'll post some photos of the state they're in this weekend. In the meantime here are the photos that provided the inspiration for this build and some of the details.





(I don't own these photos - credit to the original photographers/owners)

Hopefully I can build something along these lines. More updates soon. Cheers
Anirudh

I have a feeling this is going to come out looking great Anirudh.
There are rubber molds,I think by Woodland Scenics ,that I've used in the past that work quite well.You just fill them with Plaster of Paris,use a little dish soap on the mold to prevent any sticking to it.It may work for you going forward.

Tom

Hi Anirudh, I've got to echo Tom on both points! First, this is sounding better and better! Second, the rubber "stone" molds for hydrocal (like plaster but a bit harder when it sets up) are really nice - and pretty easy to use. You might check out some model railroad sites for various molds - I think (?) Bragdon enterprises (it's been a while, sorry!) who makes some nice ones. I have a few of them, but there's no brand name on them(?!?).

The woodland scenic's molds are good too, just a bit less variety...woodland scenic's also makes several products which are great for forming up and making terrain - you might want to check it out in any event.

A scene based on your second photo could be pretty cool !

Looking forward to your progress.

Cheers
Nick

Hi Anirudh,

great show so far!! Attention to detail is super!! I like that a lot!!

Super photos too!!! Highly inspirational!!

I am looking forward to seeing progress on the project!!!

Cheers

Romain

Dear Anirudh,

Very nice build, these vehicles.
Looking forward to see more of it soon!
Just keep in mind that vehicles out on patrol are loaded like mules.
I can recall my vehicles on missions cramped with water bottles, food rations, bergens with personal gear, ammo and alike. Whatever looked sense we took in our vehicles as long as it did not hamper our personal movement.
So, dive into the spare part box: if you can relate it to the mission, it might be found in one of the vehicles somewhere.

Enjoy the weekend,

P.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments and suggestions.
Tom/Nick, I've looked into rock moulds from Woodland Scenics and Bragdon, but they seem to be difficult to get outside of the US, so I bought a few Woodlands ones. I think I should be able to get a decent variety of using combinations of the various moulds.

Nick, I think the second photo would be a great scene to model, however I think I'll have to compromise for practicality's sake. For safety reasons, I guess vehicles stay a set distance apart so a bomb or rocket cannot damage all of them. This however lends itself to pretty massive dioramas, and I don't have the space, time of money to build something so large. With that in mind here is my compressed layout idea:




The display area measures 460 x 260mm and will set on a raised platform of styrofoam. The height will vary from 150mm to 100mm (left to right). In front of the curved road will be section of cliff face. The pick-up and majority of the figures will take their place behind the convoy. I want to build something that is interesting and can be viewed from any direction, rather than just from the front.

Paul, don't worry I plan on loading these 3 up fully! The one with the hatch open has been filled with packs, jerry cans and water, and I have a cooler to go in as well. I'm also going to have a few packs and cots tied down on top of the boot lids.



^ Sorry, but I really like the Meng decals - they're minor things but add a lot to a scene!

Cheers
Anirudh

Hi Anirudh - first, nice progress on the interiors!

Second, to establish that I am not out of my mind, I meant the Third reference picture (HMMWV entering village) in your images above. While the second image is very interesting (cliff side trail), it would certainly be a handful to build!!!

Ok - I feel better now! Looking forward to your next post !
Cheers
Nick