1/72 vietnam heli extraction

hi all, sorry it took so long to respond, i was on a holliday to belgium and got myself a couple of good shots of a firefly.

first of all, thanks for all your feedback and comments. i really appreciate them, en put all the good lessons mentioned above to the test in my coming dio's. i'm also considdering redoing this one, to get it right.. but first on the lookout for taller gras.

the holes, where indeed ment as bullet holes, but as stated they are on the large side, and don't look to accurate, i think i'll turn the chopper around so you won't see them. i'll also repaint the headbands from red to camo.. but red is what you see in the movies.

the camo on the figs, i leave this way, they are painted in tamiya j.n. green.

again, thanks all

Just to echo what G said, never have anyone near the tail rotor... Even PVT Gomer Snuffy from Bugtussel, Tennessee who just graduated from basic training and is on his first-ever helicopter ride in FT Hood gets that briefing (actually saw a guy walk into a tail-rotor once... You can't see it if it's spinning and you're behind on line with it).  You always approach the bird from an angle where you can see the pilot or peter-pilot.  If you can't see him, he can't see you.  Not to mention that if one gets hit, he  may kick the pedals and swing that boom right around into you and you go home in a bag as chunky salsa... Safety doesn't stop in a combat zone, besides, it's beat into your head from day one around helocopters..

Also, those holes... Three things.  First, always thin out the plastic from behind with a steel cutter or some such until you can see light through it, then punch the hole with the tip of your knife, with plastic going into entrance hole, out through exit holes. then after you paint, pick out some silver around the holes to show where the bullet knocked the paint off, esposing the metal underneath...  Second, alway be aware of what's behind the holes... The ones you have depecticted are headed straight into the Huey's fuel cell.  Third, machineguns and auto-rifles aren't sewing machines.  They fire in 3-9 round bursts and they're gonna punch holes in a group, rather than a straight or curved line...

Your diorama overall shows a sense of urgency, but not enough, even for a training excercise,  plus there's a big empty space in the lower right corner that needs filling.  A couple more figures would really fill it nicely, A crew chief frantically waving the troops onto the bird while a gunner is hosing the PZ would add to the overall drama and urgency.  Lastly, The helicopter should be the center of attention.  As it is, the story your telling is using the helo as a supporting factor, rather than the main focus.  Works in Hollywood becasue of limited camera-angles, and even in boxed dioramas, but not in dioramas where the viewer has a "God's Eye" view of your world... 

HeavyArty wrote:

Personally, I think 1/72 is too small for dios.  In my opinion, 1/72 figures rarely look good and usually look like nondescript blobs.

The days of "nondescript blobs" are through! I have done a lot of 1/72 dios, and tend to agree somewhat in terms of older figures, but the new ones are pretty detailed to be sure!

Great info about the Huey--you're an encyclopedia, man!

A little more on accuracy. 

The UH-1F (as your model is) was only used by the USAF and if it is Spec Ops, they were only used by the 20th SOS (Spec Ops Sqrn), known as the Green Hornets, which had a distinctive hornet marking on the tail.  The 20th SOS helos were all in a SEA (South East Asia) camo scheme of dark green, medium green, and dark tan with a white underside.  None were OD green and the other services did not use UH-1Fs. 

The base is not only too small, but needs a finished edge too.  Naked wood with paint and groundwork slops looks bad. 

On the figures, the colors of the uniforms are all off as well.  They look way too dark, almost black.  The bandanas have already been mentioned.  Looks like there are no pilots either.  You need at least one gunner too, w/an M60 MG.  The figures don't all go together well either.  Some look relaxed and some are in battle poses. Personally, I think 1/72 is too small for dios.  In my opinion, 1/72 figures rarely look good and usually look like nondescript blobs. 

Hey, I think it looks pretty cool, Robbio!

I agree that the size of the base looks just a tad small, but I can see how it would have been a PITA to use one to fit the whole chopper. I like the overall scene though; well done!  

First rule of diorama building: Always use a base big enough for the entire scene... For helicopters and airplanes, that includes space for the entire rotor disc or wingspan...

The base is the "Frame" for your picture, so you need everything inside that frame... Otherwise, it's a display base, not a diorama..