introduction

With his untiring research, creativity and talent, Vladimir Demchenko always carry the banner on sculpting the most interesting Vietnam War figures. One of the latest releases of BRAVO-6 is B6-35082 depicting two Vietnam War U.S. Navy SEALs posing with a VC flag. One of the figures is modified B6-35081 kit with a different hat and reposed left arm.
Note that Vladi just sculpted another figure B6-35089 Viva SEAL that can be added to this scene behind the flag or next to the figures.

packing & casting

The figures comes well packed in standard light brown cardboard box . The front cover shows a photo of the assembled and painted figure. Back cover has an illustration with a tip to assembly the feed belt. Inside the box, parts are represented with easy to remove casting blocks. Figure body and other parts are seperately inserted in small plastic zip-lock bags.
Casting quality is good and details are crisp. No casting mistakes on review samples. There is no need for a correction or a serious cleanwork.

FIGURE-A

Showing a strong pose with his outward appreance and modified weapon, figure comes in 9 parts.

Body with head : Head is sculpted in nice facial details with a handlebar style moustache with tips twisted upwards. He wears a Tiger Stripe Camouflage Uniform of button-front jacket with two chest pockets with flap covers but no waist pockets and trousers with two rear, two bellows cargo pockets on both sides and a small pocket under the left side pocket -all with flap covers. Tiger Stripe was never an official US-issue item. It was developed for close-range use in dense jungle during jungle warfare by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces and adopted by US Special Forces during the Vietnam War. It features narrow stripes that look like brush-strokes of green and brown, and broader brush-strokes of black printed over a lighter shade of olive or khaki. The brush-strokes interlock rather than overlap.
Over his uniform, he carries a Horse Collar UDT Life Preserver Vest and a loose tie scarf on his neck. He has a M1956 pistol belt on his waist with an Ammo pouch on the right and a Compass Pouch on the left. As for the footgear, he has canvas-leather combined Vibram jungle boots. Uniform details, cloth folds, backpack harness and straps of life vest are well defined.

Right arm is posed to hold a modified M60 machine gun. It is Special Operations Group’s most impressive M60 modification - dubbed the Death Machine - was a 500-round ammo box from M23 Armament Subsystem fitted to the gunner’s backpack, connected to his gun with a 5-feet aircraft-type articulated feed belt. Cloth folds on uniform, M60 details and modifications like chopped buttstock, barrel shortened to gas tube length are well defined.

Left arm is posed to hold the VC flag.

Headgear : He wears a non-official, probably local produced Boonie hat in Duck hunter camo with high crown and wide brim.

M1956 one quart canteen will be attached to the left side of the belt.

KA-BAR knife will be attached to the right side.

Canister/Beer Can type grenade ; it will added to right side of ammo box and can be painted as M18 Smoke, M7 Riot or Incen TH as in reference photo.

Backpack : He carries a Metal Frame. M23 Armament Ammo Case used in Hueys is tied to the upper part of the frame with straps and a Flotation Bladder MK 1 MOD 0 is tied to the lower part. When fully inflated, it provides buoyancy varying from 110 lbs for a man to 12 lbs for average cargo. All details of the ammo box even the side latches and bladder like mouth inflation tube are very well defined.

Chute : Articulated type ammo belt. It should be placed in hot water before assemblying between ammo box and M60 feedway.

FIGURE-B

Standing with his grenade launcher and holding the flag, figure comes in 5 parts.

Body with head : Head shows nice facial details with moustache, long whiskers and headband. He has tropical jungle uniform of jacket and trousers in Lime Green dominant ERDL camo pattern. Over his uniform; he wears a modified SEAL Float jacket. It looks like a heavily modified bouyant, granedier type ammunition carrying coat. Jacket has been made into a vest cutting down the slevees and removing the collar. Two of the the shoulder magazine pouches have been hand sewn on the lower front and the pockets that are on the sleeve are sewn on the upper front. On the backside of vest, there are 3 pockets on the waist part and a first aid pouch added to the center top. He carries a M1911A1 Colt in M3 Shoulder holster on his chest.

Left arm is posed to hold a China Lake which is a modified M79 pump-action four-shot 40x46mm grenade launcher. Cloth folds on arm and weapon details are well defined.

Right arm is posed to hold the VC flag.

M1956 one quart canteen in canvas cover to be added on the left back of the belt.

U.S. Navy Mk.2 Model Knife with a flare taped on scabbard.

Vietcong flag ; a horizontally red over blue flag with a yellow star in the center. Cloth folds are well defined and star is marked on both sides for easy painting.

conclusion

Another unique pair of figures with strong poses sculpted in crisp details and cast in high quality. Charismatic looks and modified special forces weapons make it very interesting . It can be displayed alone or can be combined with the new kit 35089 Viva SEAL.