looking for..............

Awwwwwwww, do we HAVE to share with those wingies and floaters? You're right, we would definately need to expand to ahve a nice sized group build.

And naturally open it up to air and naval models, too.  Get more participation and subject coverage that way.

Doesn't sounds like a half bad idea on that group build!  Im sure atleast a couple more would step out and join us too.  Could be fun.

Then you figure in that the SADF had its own webbing made, eventually.  Far as I can tell, there's no one else that ever used it, either.  I'm trying to figure out how to best replicate it - and am fortunate enough to have a real piece of it in my collection.

 

Hey, between Rudi's SADF, Ian's Somali Technical, and my Rhodesian projects, we need to work out a "Brushfire Wars" group-build!

 

I could do berets, but not alot of the units I am doing wore them in the field.  Mostly bush hats, for op's.  Berets in the field/garrison.  The problems with the figures is the time consuming job of getting the webbing right.  The SADF used many different variations to carry their gear, and even used civilian packs in some cases.  The Rhodesians used Brit, russian, and Chinese, webbibg and a mishmash of all of them.  This is references, and photos are a must.  I do heavy research on all my subjects before I even think of messing with the kits.  You take a part from this kit and that kit, and so on then get out the putty for the things you cant get a hold of and start.  All figures will be heavily modified by the end of the process, and hopefully be far from what the kit was intended to be.  This is only the beginning.  Then you have to match up paint for the webbing and cammo.  I think you get the idea.  Cheers!!!!!1 

Can't wait to see those figures you might be making, I'm working on a 1/35 diorama of a Somali Technical truck with some figures.  For figures I used the previously mentioned set of Modern African heads from warrior, and bodies mainly from ICM's Mujahideen figure set, plus maybe some of DML's viet cong if I can get ahold of them.  just some brain food for you, can't wait to see how your casting turns out!  What, other than the patrol caps do you ahve planned for headwear?  You've definately got options.  Some berets awould be cool, and probably not too hard.

Dont use the German cap.  Too much reworkng to do.  it is better to start from scratch.  Look at the pics, and invest in Citadel greenstuff.  If you need to know where to get it let me know.  It is great for making everything.  I will find the link and post it.  Alot of the troops cut the flap off.  Will post more later tonight.

Both, actually.  Looks like the Brit (and thus Rhodesian and SA) style is a much smaller brim than the Americans and Bundeswehr use.  The narrow brim - in the pics I've seen - tends to flop downward a lot more than the wider "American" style, giving you a much more "bucket" look.

 

Figured out how to do the patrol caps yet?    Those are likely to be a bugger!  My bud from the SADF has one that was an issue cap in Rhodesian camo - he called it some sort of police camo, tho.  Said *no one* *ever* wore the neck-flap unrolled!  It just was not "cool" to do so.  My guess on a place to start isgoing to be a German M43 cap w/ a reworked/reshaped bill and crest.

I think I have those figured out as well.  Will let you know.  Wide brim or small brim?  that is the question.

You know what I need - FALs and MAGs for sure.  Once I get things settled to where I have a workroom and a modeling-budget, I need to do this with boonie-hats!  Seems like everyone in the SADF, RLI et al, Belgians, and the Bundeswehr all wear bloody boonies!

Oedered the mold maker, and resin today.  Should start production next week if everything goes well.  Who needs what.  FN's, G3's, and FN MAG's are what I am starting with.  Then AK's and some figures.   Contact me to let me know.  No charge, just Shipping.  But dont go crazy.  Limited time only.  Like the first five or so.

Yes.  The R4 is a SADF copy of the Israeli Galil, which in turn is modeled off of the AK-47.  The R5 is the upgraded version of the R4.  The R1 is a copy of the FN FAL.  Certain units also used G3's and AK's.  South Africa used what it could get it's hands on.  Like Rhodesia, they were under an Arms embargo.  Stuff still managed to get through though.  Rhodesia towards the end even managed to get some M-16's, but those went to their Spec Forces.  Uzi's, Swedish K's, Enfield's, you name it, it has probably been used by the people in the Southern Parts of Africa.

 

Note: The R4/5 is made in South Africa, under liscence from Israel.  The R1 is also made in S.A. 

Didnt the SADF use Galils also? Or some sort of derivative called an R4(? )? I knew a former Recce guy once upon a time who would tell me about his time there and the toys they used. Said he used to carry a rechambered Bren(7.62 instead of .303)... it was 25+ years ago and I can only vaguely remember. 

Thank you!!!!!!!!!  After the first of the month, I will start the assembly line.  Main wpns will be FN's, Ak's and G3's.  Then if all goes well, I will do SADF figures, that I have been woking on.  Man this is going to be great!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! Thanks AgentG! I always assumed it was far more expensive and time consuming/difficult! Looks like all I need is some RTV rubber though and something to cast with.  Someone should bookmark this thread or something simlar so everyone know how to cast stuff.

 

EDIT-- How do you do the actual casting?  I've heard resin melts at MCH lower temperatures--how much is casting resin, how easy is it to melt? How lnog before it solidifies? etc....thanks!

Yeah!!!!!  What outlands said!  Okay question.  How do I make the molds?  Never have I done that before.  I have Rhodesian, Portugese, Biafran, and Congo, projects going along with my SADF stuff.  I need tons of these things!  Tell me how to make molds, and I will start with the few FN's and G3's I have now, and wont have to order any.

Yeah, and those of us inspired by Rudi's SADF thread to tackle the Rhodesian conflicts need them, too!!

Greetings,

     I heard Firestorm makes them. Not entirely sure though. Buy a couple and cast hundreds of them. It's probably not too ethical to copy someones hard work but, then again I dont think its ethical to charge 15$ for a couple of grams of plastic. Good luck!

SST