_GOTOBOTTOM
Dioramas: Vietnam
For Vietnam diorama subjects or techniques.
Hosted by Darren Baker
USMC Sniper team, Vietnam 1/35
ReconTL3-1
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: June 07, 2006
KitMaker: 726 posts
Armorama: 687 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 07:48 PM UTC
This turned out quite well, Venelin. The added vegetation and the camo on the face really added to the diorama.

In regards to ERDL being worn by the Marine Corps in Vietnam, as early as mid-1968 it was being phased in for issue to all Marine Corps units, not just Recon. At first until there were enough complete sets of the uniforms to issue complete sets, some Marines could be seen wearing a shirt or trousers in ERDL while the other part of the uniform was OG-107. Once there were adequate supplies of the ERDL uniforms, full sets were issued first to field units, then to all in country by the time the Marine Corps departed Vietnam.

ERDL uniforms were still in use when I joined the Marine Corps in 1988. We got issued the woodland camouflage utilities at boot camp, but once I got to my unit which was a line company in a Recon Battalion, my company was issued three sets of the green dominant ERDL uniforms since my company's AO for deployments was in Central and South America.

Sorry about getting a bit off topic. I greatly enjoyed watching the progress of your diorama, Venelin. Great work!

Cheers,
James
Venko555
Visit this Community
Bulgaria
Joined: December 07, 2013
KitMaker: 908 posts
Armorama: 698 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 08:17 PM UTC

Quoted Text

This turned out quite well, Venelin. The added vegetation and the camo on the face really added to the diorama.

In regards to ERDL being worn by the Marine Corps in Vietnam, as early as mid-1968 it was being phased in for issue to all Marine Corps units, not just Recon. At first until there were enough complete sets of the uniforms to issue complete sets, some Marines could be seen wearing a shirt or trousers in ERDL while the other part of the uniform was OG-107. Once there were adequate supplies of the ERDL uniforms, full sets were issued first to field units, then to all in country by the time the Marine Corps departed Vietnam.

ERDL uniforms were still in use when I joined the Marine Corps in 1988. We got issued the woodland camouflage utilities at boot camp, but once I got to my unit which was a line company in a Recon Battalion, my company was issued three sets of the green dominant ERDL uniforms since my company's AO for deployments was in Central and South America.

Sorry about getting a bit off topic. I greatly enjoyed watching the progress of your diorama, Venelin. Great work!

Cheers,
James


James, thank you for the explanation! So, combo of ERDL and OG is possible indeed.

I also enjoyed the build, many lessons for making water and vegetation learned. Last but not least-the excellent figures from Vladi/Bravo-6.

Regards,

TotemWolf
Visit this Community
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: February 11, 2013
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 196 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 11:14 PM UTC
I like what you have done with this. I understand why the team is not under better cover. If they were it would not be much of a diorama, would it? However as a sniper myself one thing does stick out. The camo on the face should include the ears and forehead. Think of it as reverse highlights. Anything that is prominent should be shaded to make it fade away.

Oh and either glove or camo the hands also.

Just my 2 cents. Take it of leave. Either way it's still outstanding.
Venko555
Visit this Community
Bulgaria
Joined: December 07, 2013
KitMaker: 908 posts
Armorama: 698 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 - 11:55 AM UTC
Thank you, Robert!

I think this is the right amount of vegetation, I wanted the figures to be partly visible, for showing purpose

The whole head and the hands are camouflaged-I will take better pictures, the ears I have to touch up a bit though. And I'm waiting for the rifle slings to arrive, then the diorama will be complete.

Regards,
Venelin
Venko555
Visit this Community
Bulgaria
Joined: December 07, 2013
KitMaker: 908 posts
Armorama: 698 posts
Posted: Monday, October 09, 2017 - 03:13 PM UTC
Just received the Voyager PE set for rifle straps and buckles, it looks very nice. You have three frets with enough slings for several figures, also bayonets and different buckles. What I like most are the helmet straps, two per fret, which means 6 overall. Straps are textured, but if you want smooth ones, they can easily be made from foil and use the buckles from the set 







Regards,
Venko555
Visit this Community
Bulgaria
Joined: December 07, 2013
KitMaker: 908 posts
Armorama: 698 posts
Posted: Friday, October 13, 2017 - 05:43 PM UTC
The PE straps were fragile, so I've used the buckles from the set and made the straps from foil. The helmet straps I did that way, to not hinder the aiming of the sniper











Venelin

ReconTL3-1
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: June 07, 2006
KitMaker: 726 posts
Armorama: 687 posts
Posted: Friday, October 13, 2017 - 07:38 PM UTC
That sling looks pretty nice.

Cheers,
James
Venko555
Visit this Community
Bulgaria
Joined: December 07, 2013
KitMaker: 908 posts
Armorama: 698 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 14, 2017 - 07:48 PM UTC
Finished

I didn't add rifle sling to the spotter's M14, because I've seen photos, in which soldiers are carrying rifles without slings. I wanted to make some variation







Cheers!
TotemWolf
Visit this Community
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: February 11, 2013
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 196 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 14, 2017 - 10:20 PM UTC
Shooter's choice.

My spotter swore by the sling. He used as part of his brace. I never used one.
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 15, 2017 - 08:39 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Venelin, I don't think USMC wore camo pants in Vietnam. As far as I know, ERDL camo was issued to Recon and Spec Ops operatives only.

Mario


We ,all branches,wore either the olive drab jungle fatigues or the "cammies " I was USAF in Da Nang and i was issued
both `My eyes arent as good as they used to be but they look standard issue.


most definitely standard jungle fatigues. Even tiger stripes had a different cut to them. Marines wore a different style a few years earlier, and used a different flak jacket. Rifle & scope date you to 1967 and later. But there is one other clue. The web gear says 1967 or 1968, and not much later than June 69.

Just as important DaNang Warrior! Welcome home brother, and grettings from the Que Son Valley.
gary
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 15, 2017 - 08:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Finished

I didn't add rifle sling to the spotter's M14, because I've seen photos, in which soldiers are carrying rifles without slings. I wanted to make some variation







Cheers!


you often see photos of kids carrying a rifle with a sling, but if you do your home work it's almost always close to the rear or a bunch of guys from the rear. Slings make noise and hang up on wait a minutes vines. Noise is like giving a greetings to the other guys. On the otherhand, a sniper might use a sling as a shooting aid. I unhooked my sling within the first minute I stepped on the ground, and tucked it in one of my bottom pockets. Lazy people don't last long playing the game.

S.F. sniper teams would lay out empty sand bags in front of them to prevent any dust from being kicked up. There were some other little tricks I saw them use that just looked odd.
gary
 _GOTOTOP