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"FNGs" Camp Bearcat, Vietnam 1967 (Completed)

Rhino said:
Joe wrote a book. Did you too? Your scale faces are absolutely outstanding!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Rhino. I haven't written a book yet, but I had been thinking about writing one about modeling Vietnam War subjects. Not sure if I will ever get around to it.
 
I got a little more done this evening. I started painting the figure of the clerk. His face is pretty much done. Because of the position of his arms, painting the front of his shirt is going to be a bit challenging compared to the rest of the figure.

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Today I worked on painting the uniform of the clerk for this diorama. The trousers were relatively easy to paint, but the shirt presented some challenges. Because of the clipboard being positioned in front of the torso, the breast pockets and entire chest area had to be approached in an indirect manner that included manipulating the figure at different angles throughout the process in order to get the brush where it needed to be. This was very time consuming. I will finish him in the next day or two as all I have left are the boots, skin of the arms, cap, patches, and clipboard to paint.
The effect I am going for is a set of jungle fatigues that are a bit faded to accentuate the darker new uniforms worn by the new guys. In the photos where I placed this figure with the two FNGs the difference is apparent.

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The clerk is just about completed. I still need to apply a few more coats of white for the paper and make some representations of typing on the paper, but everything else is done.

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Moving right along...
 

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After I got the clerk finished, I started painting the figure that was going to represent the squad leader. I was not happy with how the eyes and face turned out, so I decided to replace him with a figure I specifically converted for this diorama. The figure consists of legs from one of the figures from Bravo 6's Officer Briefing kit, torso with crossed arms from DEF models, and a Hornet head that had a German field cap that I carved away to form into a US hot weather cap. The face of the figure looks like one of my buddies who I served with in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The pose is one where the squad leader was positioned in front of the squared away SPC and turned his torso to face the new PVT who just said something stupid and is being spoken to by the clerk and has just caught the attention of his new squad leader. Not a good way to start off one's tour in Vietnam.

I wanted the figure to look lean and mean from a C-ration diet, enduring the tropical climate, and burning calories humping the boonie in contrast to the look of the two new guys.

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Two days ago I started painting the faces of the Platoon Sergeant and the Squad Leader. The intent is for their skin to show that they have been exposed to the elements by being darker than the white new guy.

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Yesterday I started painting the uniform of the Squad Leader. The intent is for the uniform to look faded and indicative of hard use in contrast to the new uniforms of the new guys and the garrison worn uniform of the clerk. I still have some more highlighting and shadowing to do along with completing the arms, hat, gear, and boots.

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Thanks, Guys.

I am gkad that it seems like what I am trying to accomplish with these figures seems to be working out so far.

Tonight I finished painting the Squad Leader. I may still do a bit of light weathering once I do the groundwork for the diorama, but I am calling him done for now. Next is the Platoon Sergeant and the accessories...

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Today I mixed the Flat Black and Ardennes Green and did a rough application of shadows. Once dry, I took some AK Interactive's Uniform Light Green and gradually added it to the Ardennes Green for multiple layers of highlights and fading. First I painted the right leg, then the left leg. I will try to paint the shirt tomorrow if I get the chance. This figure will take a little bit longer to paint than the others due to the slung weapon and the ERDL camo pattern that the boonie hat will be painted.

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This evening I painted the front of the shirt, the sleeves, nametag, US Army tape, a representation of a CIB, and the beginnings of a 9th Infantry Division patch.

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Something about the painting of the figures for this diorama that is out of the norm is that I haven't used any magnification while painting them. Most of the time I am not even wearing my glasses. I am actually surprised that they are turning out halfway decent.
 
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Last night while waiting for my grandson to arrive for a weekend visit I worked on the Platoon Sergeant figure a bit more. I painted the shadows and highlights of the back of the shirt, the 9th ID patch, the arms, and the black base coat for the leather parts of the boots. All that is left is the ERDL camo pattern for the boonie hat, the scuffing of the boots, and the rifle.

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About 30 minutes ago I completed the figure of the Platoon Sergeant. I think he turned out fairly well. I copied the shapes and colors of the ERDL camouflage pattern from a private purchase boonie hat that I have. It is pretty darn close. I thought that since the XM177E1 was already attached to the figure and access to it with a paint brush was partially obscured by the right arm it would be harder to paint, but it really wasn't that bad.

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And here are a few photos showing the positions of the figures and the contrast between the new guys and the NCOs. It is actually greater than what is in these photos. When I complete the diorama and photograph it in my portable photo booth thing from MicroMark hopefully it will look more true to how it really looks.

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Now to prepare the accessories.
 
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