JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Hello All,
At the Fort Sill, OK Air Defense Artillery Museum, we are preparing an exhibit concerning the use of the CRAM in combat. Jon Berstein, the museum's director, is making the C-RAM weapon system on the trailer that is being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. I will be making the figures. Unfortunately, we are on a short time schedule, so I am not able to take the same amount of time I usually spend on figures.
Since these systems are being utilized for defending a base or position against incoming rockets and mortar rounds, the Soldiers manning and maintaining the system tend not to wear the normal gear associated with today's Soldiers overseas. Since they are not wearing gear in the pictures we have of them, the current OIF/OEF figures have limited use for this project. Since I needed Soldiers without all their gear on, I ended up using figures from Bravo 6 and changing them from Vietnam to Modern day Soldiers. I hated doing this since I am primarily a Vietnam Modeler, but it is necessary for this project.
The first figure for this project is of a Specialist who is holding a bottle of water and has his weapon slung across his body. The body is from the GI from the Bravo 6 kit of a GI with a prostitute, arms from Masterbox, head from Hornet, and patrol cap from Dragon's US Special Forces figure kit. I scraped away the Vietnam Jungle Fatigue details and sculpted in ACU-cut uniform details. I even included the gussett back to the shirt.
In these pictures, I have not put the hands on the figure yet and the rifle still needs to be prepared. I have more in-progress photos than these, but to show them all would take up too much space.
To paint the Multicam pattern, I took one of my Multicam uniforms and used it as a reference for colors, etc. When painting ERDL or Woodland camo patterns, I usually use one of my uniforms and copy the pattern exactly. Since I am on a time constraint and the multicam colors gradually blend into one another, I am just trying to get close. I hope the effect works out.
The patches are an impression of the American Flag on the right shoulder pocket flap, name and US Army tapes on chest, ISAF patch on left shoulder pocket flap, Unit patch on left shoulder pocket, SPC rank insignia in center of chest and on front of patrol cap, and a name tape on the back of the patrol cap.
Next pictures will have the Soldier with his hands, water bottle, and weapon.
Cheers,
James
At the Fort Sill, OK Air Defense Artillery Museum, we are preparing an exhibit concerning the use of the CRAM in combat. Jon Berstein, the museum's director, is making the C-RAM weapon system on the trailer that is being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. I will be making the figures. Unfortunately, we are on a short time schedule, so I am not able to take the same amount of time I usually spend on figures.
Since these systems are being utilized for defending a base or position against incoming rockets and mortar rounds, the Soldiers manning and maintaining the system tend not to wear the normal gear associated with today's Soldiers overseas. Since they are not wearing gear in the pictures we have of them, the current OIF/OEF figures have limited use for this project. Since I needed Soldiers without all their gear on, I ended up using figures from Bravo 6 and changing them from Vietnam to Modern day Soldiers. I hated doing this since I am primarily a Vietnam Modeler, but it is necessary for this project.
The first figure for this project is of a Specialist who is holding a bottle of water and has his weapon slung across his body. The body is from the GI from the Bravo 6 kit of a GI with a prostitute, arms from Masterbox, head from Hornet, and patrol cap from Dragon's US Special Forces figure kit. I scraped away the Vietnam Jungle Fatigue details and sculpted in ACU-cut uniform details. I even included the gussett back to the shirt.
In these pictures, I have not put the hands on the figure yet and the rifle still needs to be prepared. I have more in-progress photos than these, but to show them all would take up too much space.
To paint the Multicam pattern, I took one of my Multicam uniforms and used it as a reference for colors, etc. When painting ERDL or Woodland camo patterns, I usually use one of my uniforms and copy the pattern exactly. Since I am on a time constraint and the multicam colors gradually blend into one another, I am just trying to get close. I hope the effect works out.
The patches are an impression of the American Flag on the right shoulder pocket flap, name and US Army tapes on chest, ISAF patch on left shoulder pocket flap, Unit patch on left shoulder pocket, SPC rank insignia in center of chest and on front of patrol cap, and a name tape on the back of the patrol cap.
Next pictures will have the Soldier with his hands, water bottle, and weapon.
Cheers,
James
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