Just wondering if the VC used some sort of support beams in there tunnels and would there ladders be constructed of bamboo tied with rope.

Thanks PFC

The images I've seen go past on the history channel made it look like the tunnels were in very hard clay soil and did not seem to have wooden supports (ala The Great Escape) but were rounded at the top.

working from memory here.. and it's late.

Mike

PFC, I'll ask my ole man to dig thru his photo's from his tours over in nam an see if he's got any tunnel shots. 2 tours he was a TR round the Cu Chi area. Will see if I can't get you some photos that he took while ove there.

but from some of the stores he spoke about it seemed like the further into the mazes they did have support beams.. but I'll wait to see if I get some photo's to be sure on that though.

Rattler

thanks guys

Rattler hope can find some pics that is best source for dios.

PFC, I've got ya at least 1 photo (for ya now) that shows a brace work in the tunnel.

Rattler

The book, "The Tunnels of Cu Chi" by Tom Mangold and John Penycate has several photos taken inside the tunnels and few show anything but bare earth walls. One photo shows a relatively large room with finished walls and ceiling -- and beams in the corners apparently to hold up the walls.

Apparently the soil was a laterite clay and was relatively unaffected by moisture. Tree roots reinforced the soil like steel rebar reinforces concrete.

BTW, Rattler, my Old Man also served in the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi, 1968-1969. He has plenty of tunnel stories (on those rare occasions he feels like telling war stories) .

These sites should help.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/397644.asp

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/leuhusen/nam/poprats.htm

http://www.mishalov.com/Vietnam_Cu-Chi.html

Thanks Guys,
Here is reference picture thanks to Charles if any one wants to do a tunnel rat dio.

WHOPEEEE! Finally here it is. well it was were did it go.

Uhm...can't see it

Hey, I can see it now!

PFC, I think is was ADV, or Coree that did a tunnel set you might want to try them. Its been OOP for a while but it pops up on eBay every now and then.

I 2 am looking form some pics. of VC tunnels and will be sure the check the links you guys provided. BTW PFC, what are you going to make your tunnels with?

Mike

Hey Armor135. Im not real sure maybe styrofoam I thought I would glue this to the base of 1/4 plywood I will need something strong enough to support another peice of 1/4 plywood on top for the ground work if you or any body have any suggestion please let me have them.

PFC

PFC, thats what I was thinking as well. My diorama is going to be 2 in one. Its going to be taking place on An Khe Pass during a Convoy Ambush near the hair pin turn. Front view the foam would be maybee 3-4 in. at the top it would be maybee 2-3 ft. tall not sure yet. In the back iam going to straighten out the foam and carve into it from the back. Going to add some figures, weapons, supplies, food etc. Of course iam going to practice this first. The pics. provided and the links should really help out a lot.

Mike

You guys may find some ideas at these sites.

http://members.aol.com/mxs3/dc-con.htm

http://www.vietnamvetsmuseum.org/indoor.htm

Thanks Charles that dio at the vietnam muesum the villiage with the tunnel complex is what inspired me to want to do my own tunnel dio. Do you know any links to veitcong figures 1/35 I have the Dragon Vietnam series VeitCong just wondering if any more have been put out.

Thanks PFC

Try Great Models. If you enter '1/35 vietnam' into the database, you will get quite a few choices.

http://www.greatmodels.com/

PFC iam also looking for figs. if u find any let me know ok?

I was on eBay but nothing poped up. The Verlinden Vietnameese and Sampon (the boat) the figs. could be crouching in the tunnels mabee they could work?

Mike