"Mayhem in the Hood" wip 9-21 (humvee question)

I agree... keep the doors OPEN.  It will make us think that the soldiers had to get out FAST... only idiots would bother to close the door.

EEeeewww ...  open doors are a BIG no no. Great for modeling, but not for accuracy. At a minimum, if you want to stay accurate, there needs to be a gunner and a driver in the truck with the doors closed. Once someone gets out of the truck, there's no way that someone else, unless outside the truck also, is going to close that door for him. An open door leaves the crew and ultimately the truck very vulnerable.

However, if you wanted to keep a door open IOT build in some detail to the interior, keep an armed figure right outside the door. Maybe give him a smoke .... but that will depend on the mood you give the dio.

Just IMO.

deafpanzer wrote:

I agree... keep the doors OPEN.  It will make us think that the soldiers had to get out FAST... only idiots would bother to close the door.

Easy there DP ... doing things the RIGHT way, no matter how much time it adds to your mission, isn't idiotic. Try walking your @ss back to base when your truck and crew are scrapped ... all b/c you were an "idiot" and didn't close your door.

Personally, I forgot once .... but the first time a Private reams your @ss (and I'm and Officer) b/c he wants to go home on R&R in two weeks and see his girl and kids, and he doesn't want to get killed just b/c you're a dumb*** ... well, you tend not to forget again.

In my book, there's no excuse for being lazy or unsafe.

..... ... ok, so there it is .... my bad!

Camo, I was reading back through the thread and thought I'd caution you before you went too much further ... I think that you should really nail down the "mood" of your dio. I think that you'll save yourself some headache if you know where you're headed. For example your figures will look very different if they are in a firefight vs patrolling and talking with people (with hidden insurgents..)

Ok, I'm going to get building on my next one. Idle fingers type too much! ....

deafpanzer wrote:

AHHHH!  Now it makes sense to me... always learning how things work out there.  Thanks for telling me about this.

Its cool brother ..... really .... no harm done.

modelchasm wrote:

Ok, I'm going to get building on my next one. Idle fingers type too much! ....

That's awesome camo .... taking the harder road is always more fun anyway!

May I make a suggestion then .... action scenes are very hard to model ... why to you think all the sculpters make figures that just stand there? Maybe add in (and I'm not trying to firce the issue like the HMMWV) an insurgent on the balcony, crouched down and hiding. Then have all the US Troops, some covering the balcony, some covering other avenues, but have them acting like "where did that shot come from?"

When looking at doing dios, and thinking about an action scene, I try to come up with a split second of time that could easily be frozen .... that pause moment. (i.e. you're not going to see the bullet flying through the air, but you will see for a split second, the target's reaction when he takes the hit .... or that brief moment just before a stack hits a door, the original thought behind "midnight raid".)

Just thought I share a thought .... Will be watching this one in anticipation!!!

I guess I missed the time line here .... so you're modeling this in '91 (DS era)? That's cool. I think that the chip pattern should be fairly stragiht forward .... you won't have to deal with those greens! Just tan, burnt sienna/ rust, off-white dots, and black chips around the dots .... Straight forward, right!?! HAHAHA!!!!

Glad that we could help with the idea flow.

As far as the "closing the door" issue. Remember too that you've got a massive gun system up top to help suppress while dismounts exit. And obviously, if you're taking fire from your side ... don't open the damn door. When you're in the middle of something like that, it all happens so quickly, and you've been ingrained to close the door, its more like a muscle twitch when it happens. Just like putting your rifle on target .... in the end all you really see is that black silhouette of the target.

Can't wait to see this one ..... it'll be good.

I'm retarded .... nevermind ... Iraqi soldier = chip pattern; US in 3-tone ..... modern times ....

Drrrr......

*List of things to do today*

1) make coffee

2) drink coffee (made in step 1)

3) pull head out

4) make new list...

modelchasm wrote:

deafpanzer wrote: I agree... keep the doors OPEN.  It will make us think that the soldiers had to get out FAST... only idiots would bother to close the door. Easy there DP ... doing things the RIGHT way, no matter how much time it adds to your mission, isn't idiotic. Try walking your @ss back to base when your truck and crew are scrapped ... all b/c you were an "idiot" and didn't close your door.

I'm with mc on this one - you get out of the vehicle, you close the door.  Why?  Because most of the time, there is someone still in the vehicle - driver and gunner at the least.  Those doors protect them...  That is why we didn't put our windows down, even when it was 130 degrees...  The idiot is the guy who DOESN'T close his door...

Camo, I've been following along with your build but haven't posted too much yet.  I just wanted to share a few thoughts:

-As mc said, you'll need to have a couple of guys in the vehicle.  Even if they are taking fire (especially if they are taking fire) the driver and gunner will stay aboard.

-What time frame are you placing this in?  I ask because your HMMWV is looking a little 'stripped down' for my tastes.  I think that even at the earliest stages of the invasion there were shields mounted in front of the MGs on top.  In addition, by the time I got there (in '05), but before there were a lot of up-armored HMMWV, our trucks kinda looked like something out of Mad Max movies - we were putting all sorts of add-on armor all over.  I'd suggest you try to nail down your timeframe, then take a look at some vehicles from that time and see how they looked

-I think mc makes another good point about nailing down your storyline - that sniper team up on the roof, particularly with the .50-cal, suggests they have been there for a bit.  If they are in a firefight that whole time it is unlikely the guy in the street would be standing like he is....  Also, as I think has been pointed out, the orientation of the sniper team relative to the orientation of the vehicle also creates confusion in your scene.  I just don't get a feel for what is supposed to be going on here.

-I think it was HvH that suggested the roof might not be the best place to put that sniper team.  I'd agree, though in the limitations of your base that may be the only place they fit.  Are you convinced you want the snipers in there at all?

-I am really impressed with the height of your dio - I know a lot of people shy away from very tall bases, but the combination of the building and the palm tree work for me - I'll be interested to see how you 'bring it all together'

Boyd .... man I'm glad that you put your name at the end of your postings ... I was thinking ... well wondering why someone would use a screen name that looks an awful lot like "brown eye". My bad ...

Camo use these "experts" to your advantage. It might have been awhile since you were in, but getting this kind of information from the forum can make your dio ... well .... deadly accurate.

btw ... can I come swim later this afternoon? Promise I won't pee in the pool ... after the first time ...

first boyd, thanks for the input. 2nd, yes, i plan on removing the sniper team. most if not all vehicles in the invasion had zero protection...(from all the pics i have from my buddy). i also realize that the hummvee should probably be "uparmored"...i know they make kits...i'll look into it but seeing as how my $$$ situation is what it is (one of the millions laid off in this country)...it may just have to stay as is...even if that makes it inaccurate!! im sorry if that disappoints those that want everything "spot on". (no that's not a jab at ANYONE). nothing i can do about that.

considering the 3 tone camo i would say the time is shortly after the invasion seeing as how this is supposed to be in "baghdad"...i think our troops had a handle on the city by '04. again...im no expert...havent been there so...!! even though u cant see it based on the pics, the guy "standing there" actually is reloading his weapon...he has a mag in his hand...but i know its hard to see with the angles.  

as far as the pool model...you can swim all u want...the water is only about 40 degrees ()...but hey...knock yourself out!!! u forget...this aint texas buddy! we had two days so far where it was about 85 degrees...normally it is about that now, but this year, the cold just doesnt want to leave so its been on average 65 degrees. actually had frost the other morning!!!!

i appreciate everyone's comments...and i truely wish i could do them all really...my $$ just isnt there to make it that way! i will do all i can no doubt...i will also look but if anyone has a link to purchase an uparmored kit for the tamiya hummer let me know please. thanks guys

camo, the uparmor kits from MIG are expensive!!! I got two of them on a REALLY good deal, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. A lot of the early armor can be done with sheet styrene pretty easily.

As far as being accurate ... we keep coming back to the same conversation ... Build to your satisfaction! You be happy with your work ... we'll tell you if you did it right or not.

yeah, i just looked at mig's site. expensive they are! not only that...i only have one hummer kit...and its put together already...cant "undo it" to put an update set on!! besides i think im ok there with what i have given my time frame!!!

First off is that Mk. 19 gunner in the Cav?? He must be- what are those stirrups for?? lol jk.. I think (no really what are they for??)

When you paint your HMMWV camo, I’d paint the base of the vehicle NATO 3 tone and then the doors/gun mount system in the desert tan to make it look as if an old soft skinned door version was given the real doors and upgraded here and there. (I’m thinking like the HMMWV in the bottom left of that bottom picture you posted- that make sense?) Also it looks like some of the vehicles had that IR paneling, that you could probably do with the sheet styrene I’d think, might be a pain though.

kids ....

Mistakenly called "stirrups" (which at actually a part of the saddle), the Troopers silver spurs are a clear, key feature to show that he is the CAV. Possibly CAV Reconnaissance given the truck and the gun system. Being honored into the order of the spur holder is a big thing for the CAV. Depending on the unit ... there are some pretty tough obstacles to acheive before being awarded your silver spurs. All true Troopers will wear them in uniform at any given chance. Gold spurs are awarded to silver spur holders that see combat WITH a CAV unit (i.e. ... combat spurs.)

camo, I agree with psst on the using the multiple colors on the trucks. Even as late as 07, trucks would have some OD parts. I had a front end blown off and it was replaced with an all OD front end .... we started calling that truck "the buger". Just a big green buger out in the middle of the desert ... After awhile though, the OD parts would be heavily "tanned" with dirt. This could easily be replicated w/ a base coat of OD followed by massive DB'ing w tan.

Definitely I may be the 'idiot' for keeping the door open if I was under attack!  It makes sense to have it closed now after reading your responses.  I am afraid it would be difficult to remember this if you were under fire unless the boot camp trained you repeatedly to close the door every time!  I really enjoy following the forums and learning a great deal of stuff that not shared in the books or TV. 

Thanks for putting up with me... Idiot DeafPanzer

modelchasm wrote:

As far as being accurate ... we keep coming back to the same conversation ... Build to your satisfaction! You be happy with your work ... we'll tell you if you did it right or not.

I couldn't agree more.  Be as accurate as you can within the limitations that life puts on ya! 

modelchasm wrote:

Mistakenly called "stirrups" (which at actually a part of the saddle), the Troopers silver spurs

But yeah- even if you don't go with NATO 3 tone, it was my understanding (partially confirmed by model??) that when parts were damaged in country, if replaced, they’d be from parts fresh off the manufactures line? Or from a giant warehouse where they’d be stock? And are all painted in OD.

That was my line of thinking after one would see M1s with a few OD road wheels or an OD fender and I’d assume it was due to mine damage or the like, especially if it was a bunch of fenders in OD and then the closest tan fender looked a little discolored... I guess the tan camo paint was done somewhere else along the assembly line and replacement parts just skip that step? Anyway I think it’d be a cool touch for your dio.

camo junkie wrote:

Hey, based on this picture, I'd say you are good to go!

modelchasm wrote:

Boyd .... man I'm glad that you put your name at the end of your postings ... I was thinking ... well wondering why someone would use a screen name that looks an awful lot like "brown eye". My bad ...

Yeah, I think that trips up a lot of folks...

i cant possibly catch up to all these posting (not complaining)...lol. so in short i will say thanks, will do, thanks boyd, and whatever else i missed sorry.

yeah again, the pics came from my buddy during the invasion (the tip of the spear). he took some really cool, sick, & interesting pics!!! alot of knocked out t-72's there p.o.!! what makes me sick is that i posted (under a different name a few years ago) a few bradley action shots he took and people started using them as their own...in fact they made their way around the web so much that i recently saw them (i know it was my/his original pics...these were one of a kind) on msnbc news when they were talking about some soldiers story or something!!! i post the "lesser/not too interesting" pics now!!!

anyway, very interesting in regards to his spurs (stirrups....u crack me up p.o.LOL ). never knew that about them! i always looked at that pic too and though o.k. this guy is just a gung ho cowboy!! . i agree with you guys and will paint my hummer as such...3 tone woodland with desert doors. i think it will look good!

What's that stuff Armor guys use all the time to sim mud gunked up in the tracks? I should have done some research before I posted ... but you can use that same method to add in dried mud to the wheel wells and the bumpers, then wash that with tan.

I'm working on HMMWVs right now, and I'm planning on doing the same. I'll be watching this one to see how things go.