1/35 vietnam figures

CapnMac82 wrote:

Never could quite afford NM, either for drive-away price, or for my sorts of use in the field.  But, that's me; others differ.

I wouldn't use my NM rifles for regular planking or just ordinary use.  I do have other ARs and field grade M1A and M1 garands for regular use.  I built my NM rifles, so didn't cost as much as it would've cost me if I bought the entire thing from manufacturer. 

m1garand wrote:

I used M1 Garand National Match up until late '90s for my high power matches, and then used M1A (M14 in semi-auto) and now I use mostly Ar-15s (Stock Colt HBAR and Accurized national match version).

I'd really, really, really like to be able to compare a 416-format AR versus the AR-180B; so that it would not be recoil versus gas tube.  The stock fold on the 180, though, would be my choice for clambering in and out of vehicles.

Never could quite afford NM, either for drive-away price, or for my sorts of use in the field.  But, that's me; others differ.

CapnMac82 wrote:

For MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain), I happen to believe that there is still much to recommend the M1 Carbine--but, I'm biased, one too many room clearance drills.

That's why some Law Enforcement agencies used surplus M1 Carbines up until late 1980's. 

I used M1 Garand National Match up until late '90s for my high power matches, and then used M1A (M14 in semi-auto) and now I use mostly Ar-15s (Stock Colt HBAR and Accurized national match version). 

berserker wrote:

patton said the M1Garand was "the greatest battle implement ever devised" that means its the greatest rifle ever made

Well, that would be greatest in George S Patton, Jr's life. 

There is absolutely now doubt that the garand is a real weapon of wood an iron and guts.  I happen to like mine rather thoroughly.  Out in the woods afer the bad guys, though, I'm more likely going to grab my M14.  Which, as many have opined, is the 'perfected' Garand.

For MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain), I happen to believe that there is still much to recommend the M1 Carbine--but, I'm biased, one too many room clearance drills.

patton said the M1Garand was "the greatest battle implement ever devised" that means its the greatest rifle ever made

I've used these Tamiya figures on M2 (earlier version) Bradley IFV as if they are dismounting from the vehicle.  This kit included 4 figures, which you see two here and one was a soldier aiming his M16A2 as he is advancing forward and other one was carrying an Anti Tank weapon.  Not a bad kit, but figures look kind of very skinny. 

berserker wrote:

yeah allrigh theyre not NAM but what about the figures not the info about 'em

Well, the grenadier looks a little "unbalance," as if the figure ought be leaning a bit more "forward."  What might help would be a bit of drift wood, a rock, an empty ammo can, or the like, to make an "obstacle" to change the pace, which would change the pose.  An extra element, to make an odd number of "things" to see visually could help. 

Now, vignettes like this are their own thing; we have to use some artistic license.  That beign said, one of the first thoughts I had seeing the figures was "spread out!  y'r bunching up!"  But, that's a personal reflex--tough to show "protoypical" separations and not have a lot of boring "nothing" in a scene, too. 

Could be my monitor, and the way the digital format of the photos, but gloss is almost never a good finish for fabrics on figures. 

The weapons are bit dark; I like to use panzer or gunship gray as a base for parkerized/anodized metalic parts.  Oily Black is not bad for the early 'Nam era plastic furniture on M16s; Engine Black is not bad for newer.  M60s are about 50 different metalic grays, so, I, personally, like getting all my metalics out and highlighting different bits in various differnt colors.  But, that's me.

Oh, and scrounge your spares box for a middling random pouch for rhe grenadier, the issue vest has never carried enough grenades to keep any M203 operator I've met happy.  Or, you could "bash" up the fabric carrier for the M60 cardboard ammo box, which both figures could be carrying.  Off the top of my head, that box/pouch is about 2.5 x 4 x 5 tall on a 1.5-2 strap about 60" long end-to-end.

This is actually old Tamiya Modern infantry kit, which is more like representing late 80's to 90's.  Appropriate colors for uniform would be BDU for woodland or desert (earlier version).  FLAK vest is also PASGT system, not the vietnam version.

This is the one that your figures are wearing

And this one is M69 FLAK vest from Vietnam war era.