A combined US/ARVN force is caught crossing the paddy fields by a low flying Mig-21. Fortunately, for the allies this Mig model has no auto-cannon, only the Atoll AA missiles, if not many mothers would have received the visit of the priest and officers all carried in a olive green car... sorry, this is the consequency of watching too many times Saving Private Ryan.
This is a four company battalion (post 1967) of US infantry from Esci. Still missing are the HMGs, the 107mm mortar and the recoiless rifles.
The 81mm mortars came from StreletsR and the crew are all conversions from Esci. The M-60 stand has figures with new heads as the Esci set had plenty of helmetless figures maybe inspired on the movie Apocalipse Now.
This is the 2nd M48A3 converted from a M48A2c , following the Altaya one. In fact I still have another four in the stash but all need some level of conversion as they are Israeli or German versions, missing the 90mm gun and the funny little cupola. Another problem is the fact the chassis of the M48 is one of the most time consuming of the Esci range so this group of six will be slow to build.
The cupola came from a PzI extra turret by Minairons and luckily I have a number of them for the other missing M48s. The figure is Atlantic.
These Hasegawa M24 Chaffee were mostly used by the ARVN as shown here. They are painted in a two-tone of green but the mud spray ruined most of it. The figures are again Atlantic and aircraft pilots.
The Mig-21 PF is one of the main and best models of the North Vietnamese fighter squadrons credited with many USAF aircraft, even if both sides present conflicting numbers. This model is Altaya and was minutes from being silver sprayed as many of them were but a last minute find of North Vietnamese Mig-21PF in this kind of four tone camouflage saved me from extra trouble. Like this only the markings were repainted.
This rice field was made from a base of plywood and small walls of BlueBoard. The water part was painted with two coats of gloss varnish. The result is OK and this type of paddy field will be made in larger numbers as most of the Vietnam scenarios needs them.
Next: The Vietnamese VC.
The speed with which you are cranking these out is nothing short of astonishing — I'm sure you'll have a Japanese army by the time Christmas comes around.
ReplyDeleteThose paddy fields look top-notch, the placement of the trees and flock being evidence of an uncommon intelligence.
Thanks Veroo. With such compliments you became easily my No1 follower :)
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