In this FOW style picture, were tanks point at point blank range to each other as if coming from holes on the ground, you have the two missing Sheridans, 2/3 of the necessary M113 ACAVs (both types of models for the 11th ACR), a M42 Duster, just because it was on the stash, and the first few T-34 and T-54 for the NVA.
The ACAVs are Eskice, printed in Germany by Tom Hobby. I continue to be amazed by these resin 3d printed models as this, for instance, has two pieces, one being the 12,7mm HMG turret, with gun and figure, and the other, well, all the rest, including figures...
I already had some Eskice in the form of six German WW2 side-cars and enjoyed painting them a lot even if they have big heads which doesn´t make them good neighbors for most other brands, exceptuating the sort of the old Britannia metal figures.
With three more, the full ACAV numbers will be achieved for the 11th ACR.
Only a few jerrycans, antennas and some stowage was added.
I made a small raid into the box were I have the 1st group of 4D models. They are around 30 (some 1/72ish, others 1/87th scale) and, if I can remember well I could only use some 4-5 of them (heavily converted, though) as they are toys and not real models, with the bottom part, including wheels, being all the same throughout the collection. The M42 Duster is no exception. But by looking at a comparison on the web between the Altaya and the 4D M42 Duster, I realised the top part of the 4D model is quite reasonable.
What the 4D model mostly needs is some new wheels that came from derelict Hasegawa M24 Chaffees, glued against a piece of thin cardboard as they needed to be a bit far from the bottom part, which is the same on all 1st series 4D models. Then some crew, stowage, antennas and a HMG were added.
The Atlantic crew figures lost their heads as they were too small and were replaced by Hasegawa pilot´s.
The Sheridan to the left is Airfix and the other is Altaya. They got the same treatment as the first I made a few weeks ago. Now there is one per squadron for the 11th ACR, which is the intended number.
For painting all these vehicles I followed my first Altaya Vietnam models procedure: the Altaya Vietnam models (Gun Truck, M41 Bulldog and M48A3) came painted in olive brown with the usual sheen of Altaya vehicles; in order to break that sheen I slightly sprayed Krylon's Panama Khaki, which is something I continue to do with all models from other brands for this theater (the olive brown used is Vallejo). In period pictures, Vietnam models are many times covered in mud due to the rainy seasons. This in fact saves two moments of painting, the black wash (which needs a few hours here - days, in England, he,he) and the main color + white drybrushing.
Finally a few NVA tanks. The T-54 are 4D models and are a big improvement from the first batch they made, to which the M42 Duster belongs. I already made a few of these T-54 for the Angolans and knew how good and easy to build these models are. The T-34 is Polistil, and together with the Airfix Sheridan belong to a small batch of models found in the last month´s flea market at Tomar. Next week I plan to be there again for some extra old findings.
Next: wether Vietnam or WW2 aircraft. Guadalcanal is also close.
