introduction

Inspired by a Vietnam War photo, Vladimir Demchenko sculpted another unique kit that can be used in jungle or urban scenes.

B6-35090 U.S.M.C. Sniper Team Tet ‘68 includes two figures - Sniper and Spotter, in typical Vietnam War US Marines uniforms, gear and distinctive weapons.

packing &casting

The figures come well packed in standard BRAVO-6 cardboard box labeled with a photo of the assembled and painted figures. Inside the box, parts are seperately inserted into plastic zip-lock bags and represented with easy to remove casting blocks. Rifle muzzles are fragile and may need some extra care.
As always, figures are sculpted in crisp details and cast clean in medium grey resin . No air bubbles, excess resin or any casting mistakes on the review samples. may be needed to remove the slightly seamlines on the arms.

figures

Heads : Shooter’s head is cast on the body part and shows nice facial details and hair. Spotter’s head is a seperate part with nice facial details of an Afro-American soldier. High cheek bones, large lips, curly hair and 8-point USMC cap are well represented.

Bodies : Both figures wear typical Vietnam War Marine Tropical Jungle Uniform consisting of Jacket with four flap cover pockets-two breast and two waist, Trousers with two rear and two cargo pockets and canvas-leather combined Vibram boots. Over the uniforms, they have M1955 Flak Vest Pattern I for protection against small arms fire, shrapnel, and flying debris. Ammo pouches are cast on the figure bodies. Cloth folds and wrinkles of the uniforms, vest details like zip front closure, integral cartridge belt holder and right shoulder rifle guard are well defined.

Arms : They are given as seperate parts with nice folds and buttons on sleeves . Hands are sculpted on the rifles, only the left arm of the spotter is sculpted with the hand. A wrist watch is added and he carries a M3 Binoculars.

Rifles : Sniper carries a single piece, all wooded stock Remington M40 with a standard Redfield 3-9x scope mounted over the receiver. Spotter has a M14 rifle. Details on both rifles are sculpted nice.

Personal gear : Ammo pouchs and canvas first aid kit pouch on backside of spotter are cast on the body parts, rest of equipment are given seperately. Four M-1956 one quart canteen, a KA-BAR knife and Binoculars case come in one sprue. Second sprue has two M1 Helmet with Mitchell pattern camo canvas cover, one with helmet strap and other with no strap. Another bonus sprue carries four canteens.

about the kit

A sniper team typically consists of a Shooter and a Spotter. Both members can perform either role and often rotate between the two. The sniper fires the shot while the spotter detects, observes, and assigns targets and watches for the results of the shot. He also provides the team security, therefore he is usually armed with an assault rifle.
The sniper's task usually include, but are not limited to, counter-sniping operations, killing enemy commanders, and demoralizing the enemy, killing their ability to wage war. In the dense and steamy jungle warfare present in the Vietnam war, the uses for a highly trained sniper were many.
At the start of the war in Vietnam, the United States had no snipers; by the end of the war, Army and Marine snipers had killed more than 10,000 NVA and VC soldiers-the equivalent of an entire division-at the cost of under 20,000 bullets, proving that long-range shooters still had a place in the battlefield.
Possibly America's most famous sniper of all time was in service as a Marine during the Vietnam conflict, Carlos Hathcock shot 93 Viet Cong fighters, often tracking them for days at a time in the jungle. He is reported to have sniped one enemy at an amazing 2,500 meters.

conclusion

Inspired by a real photo, Vladi’s extreme care on sculpting details, flawless cast and ease on assembly with less parts. Multiple use in Tet Offensive urban or jungle scenes.
This is a good addition to Marine figures of BRAVO-6.