"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967 COMPLETED

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Here's the LT primed and ready to paint.

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

And here is the progress on the kneeling Soldier which will be at the far edge of the base. I added his head and worked on his left arm which is from the LT & RTO set from the Platoon Series of figures from Bravo 6. I cut off the XM177 (CAR-15) butt stock and barrel and replaced them with an M16 barrel with triangle handguards and the M16 butt stock. This was a time consuming and tedious task, but I think it will be well worth the effort when the figure is completed. First I had glued on the new butt stock, but when I was getting the barrel into position, I broke off the butt stock and it just hasn't gone back on like it had when I originally put it on. Hopefully it will be strong enough once thoroughly cured. I need to fix the thumb and index finger as there was an air bubble that damaged them.

One I got that done, I sculpted in the claymore bag and while the putty was still pliable, I pressed the arm into place so it would be resting against the claymore bag. You can see the imprints of the rifle and forearm on the bag.

And here is how the arm and rifle will match up against the claymore bag...

Now to get the rest of this guy done.

Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James

 

[Frank]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Excellent work James.
Frank

 

[Gator]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Beautiful work.

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Thanks, Guys!

I had to find a right arm for the kneeling guy and found one that will work. He can either be pointing if someone is behind him looking in the same direction or he can be taking his helmet off to cool his head off or to be able to listen better like pictured. The helmet is a new offering from Armand Bayardi that has 5 Vietnam era helmets with the interior.

Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James

 

[Duke Maddog]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Great work, ever think of casting and selling your pieces?

*snip* I have thought about casting copies of the flak jackets that I have made for my various M113 models and selling those as an accessory set. I will work on that after I complete this diorama.

Cheers,
James

Here's a challenge: sculpt them in 1/72 scale! :drinks I'd buy them in bulk! :yipee

Seriously though, your work is tremendous! Brilliant attention to detail with the adjustment to the claymore bag for the soldier's arm. It is always a thrill watching your magic!

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Thanks, Mark. I wish I was talented enough to sculpt something in 1/72 scale. I'd be able to make scenes covering a larger area that way.

Cheers,
James

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

The Kneeling guy is just about ready for priming. I just have to add his knife and smooth out some places where the putty dried weird, but this is how he will be looking. The helmet will be added after painting.

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

I got the shoulder straps to the rucksack frame sculpted on. I still need to add the rest of the strap where you pull to tighten. These will be hanging down when I install them. I still have a way to go with this one.

Now back to work!

Cheers,
James

 

[moon puppy]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

I worked on the RTO figure quite a bit this weekend. This has been one of the more time consuming figures I have converted, but it is probably due to the extra things I had to do to it because of the pose and the equipment. The arms are now in place, the right which will be holding an M16 by the barrel and the left supporting some of the weight while bent over. I added a claymore bag to the bottom of the frame and on top of that are three pop-flares strapped to the bottom of the center rung of the frame. The accessory bag was glued and a gap filled on the left side. I then took the handset and cord from the First Legion RTO and glued that to the front of the figure. Since there wasn't enough resin cord to reach the radio, I used some thin gauge black coated copper wire for the rest of the cord going from the radio to under the left arm. The wire was pretty rigid and was hard to bend into the shapes I wanted, so this is as close as I could get. Now all I have to do is find some smoke grenades to add to the strap holding the radio to the rucksack frame and I can get this primed for painting.

I will add the short whip antenna and the M16 after the figure has been painted.

Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James

 

[lupanzer]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Great job so far, James

Luiz.

 

[moon puppy]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

 

[Piet]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

It's coming along nicely

 

[Duke Maddog]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Excellent progress James. Beautifully done!

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Thanks, Guys.

After working on some of the vegetation, I started slinging paint onto the figures. The first one is the LT. I tried to make him look fairly new with a dark uniform both from it's newness as well as the sweat from the heat. His gear is looking a bit newer than the other figures will when they are painted. I still need to do the helmet which I might complete tonight or tomorrow. I will wait until I do the groundwork for the diorama to dirty up the uniform a bit so it matches the groundwork.

Now to get that helmet done and move on to the next figure.

Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James

 

[moon puppy]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

Looks outstanding. James can I suggest a little more light on the subject, looks a bit dark.

 

[JamesOLeary]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

The pictures looked lighter on my computer. I will make the pictures lighter when I take more photos of him once I add his weapon and helmet.

Cheers,
James

 

[Brokeneagle]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

B) great figures James, exceptional detail and realistic posing.


Ian.

 

[bob letterman]

"Let me see your map, LT!" Vietnam 1967

B) great figures James, exceptional detail and realistic posing.


Ian.

What Ian said!

They look great!

Bob