After Vietnam War Helicopter Pilots and Door Gunners figures posed to sit inside the helicopter, BRAVO-6 added some more Vietnam War Army Aviation figures to be used outside or next to a helicopter. One of them is B6-35097 depicting an U.S. Air Cavalry Officer.

packing & casting

The figure comes well packed in standard light brown cardboard box labeled with a photo of the assembled and painted figure by Vladimir Demchenko, also the sculptor. Inside the box, body and other parts like head and arms are served in two small plastic zip-lock bags.

Parts are represented with easy to remove casting blocks. Casting quality is good and details are crisp. No casting mistakes or air bubbles on review samples. There will be a need to clean a few seamlines on the legs.

parts

Head : Sculpted in nice facial details, he shows a great alikeness to Warrant Officer Malcolm Robert Doremus aka Mal, Air Cavalry, at Khe Sanh, 1971. He was said to be the model for Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" character, Col. Kilgore played by Robert Duvall. On his head, he has a Stetson Cavalry hat with cattleman type high crown, wide brim and yellow acorn band. The tradition of the Cav Hat began in the early days before the Vietnam War. The 11th Air Assault Division cavalry scout pilots were looking to distinguish themselves from other troops when they adopted the Model 1876 campaign hat for wear. They felt a need to return to the traditions of the Cavalry so long forgotten. Commander LTC John B. Stockton is given credit for establishing the tradition of wearing the Cavalry Stetson. By the time the 11th Air Assault Division was redesignated the 1st Cavalry Division and Stockton transferred the Cav Hat tradition to the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. By the end of the Vietnam War, many air and ground units were wearing the hat. The tradition was continued after Vietnam and has become the standard for all cavalry units in the Army.

Body : Showing a strong standing pose, he wears a two-piece Nomex Flight Suit consisting of Hip Length Shirt and Trousers. The uniform was made of flame resistant Nomex nylon in Olive Green Army Shade 106 color. Shirt has long sleeves, fold down collar, zip fastened fly front, two breast pockets with concealed button flap closure and cuffs with velcro adjustable fastening pads. These pockets were designed to allow easy access when sitting down and when encumbered with body armour and straps. A small pocket with a vertical zipper slotted for pens is sewn on the upper left arm. Trousers has zipper fly, front and back button flap pockets, two large Velcro secured pockets with vertical openings on the front of the thighs for large maps and smaller pockets on the sides of the calves. Trousers are designed to be worn with high combat boots and trotters are closed with Velcro tabs.
On his neck; he has a yellow scarf traditionally used by Cavalry units since Indian Wars. He carries a leather gunbelt having cartridge loops on the back and a right sided drop loop holster with a Smith Wesson Model 10.
Uniform details, cloth folds, name and insignia tags, belt details are well defined.
He has Tanker boots. Aviators prefered all leather boots rather than jungle boots because nylon-reinforced canvas uppers were more prone to catching fire, metal eyelets transfered heat to burn the ankles.These leather tanker boots lacked eyelets and laces and were secured with a wraparound buckled leather strap to be more fire protective.

Arms : Posed to put his fists on his waist, arms are sculpted with upfolded sleeves and a wrist watch is added to left side.

conclusion

Another unique figure with a strong pose sculpted in crisp details and cast in high quality which can be used as a real Vietnam character or as a movie character with small changes on his face.