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Grasshoppers and Elephants

Grasshoppers and Elephants

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Project Blog by thebelon Cult of Games Member

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About the Project

This project is my way of trying to compile and complete my growing collection of models from Vietnams resistance war against America era miniatures, rather than having a box of dusty lead it will be rather cool to have a box of painted miniatures. This project has been ongoing on and off for a few years now. It started off as a collection of books on my Kindle about the vietnam war then i got into 15mm with battlefronts tour of duty that i first tried playing at a demo game at the grumpy gamers convention at wayland games. Then i started collecting 20 mm vietnam miniatures for use in FNG, force on force ambush valley and the lard's charlie don't surf rule set. i found the 20 mm miniatures by chance wandering round salute i came across the grubby tanks stall they have a huge range of us and NVA and VC in metal as well as a very swish resin firebase and resin huts, This project will cover mainly my 28mm collection and maybe dip into my 15mm and 20mm collections at some point. I plan to collect and paint as many of the Gringo 40s range of figures that i can for both the Vietnamese and Free world forces. Im going to use the painting guide from the flames of war tour of duty book as much as possible as i am colour blind and brown and green can be awkward to work out. This can lead two some interesting colour choices.

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20mm pavn from East front miniatures

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20mm pavn from East front miniatures

These models are from East front miniatures and are great quality and full of detail for the size and needed very little if any clean up.

I decided on multibasing as ot makes it quicker to move on the tabletop and can look quite imposing in game.

I have found with smaller miniatures that going for brighter colours than I would use for larger equivalent models makes them show up much better on the table top.

 

Tiny tiger stripes

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I have been working on and off with an idea fir a solo miniatures/bord game set in vietnam focusing on the indigenous troops with Us special forces advisors.

the game will put you in the position of controlling your unit with a limited amount of orders to complete a primary and secondary objective in the time allocated.

The game needs a marker to show where the player deploys from and recieves reserves from so i thought it would be cool to create a diorama based on the hq unit which is technically who the player of the game would be.

these models are a mix of brittania miniatures special forces and platoon miniatures arvn.

the tree was made out if a broken resin tree and some bits of twig glued and green stuffed on to make twisty roots

Entry point token Entry point token
The grunt playing pieces are multibased with two dudes to a base and the command units are on single basesThe grunt playing pieces are multibased with two dudes to a base and the command units are on single bases
Tiny tiger stripe cammo was a bit of a challenge but i am pleased with the results Tiny tiger stripe cammo was a bit of a challenge but i am pleased with the results
This is the full recconaisance team and a supporting squad from a mobile guerrilla force rifle platoon This is the full recconaisance team and a supporting squad from a mobile guerrilla force rifle platoon

Rubicon Pavn

Tutoring 3
Skill 3
Idea 3
1 Comment
Bam 💥 Bam 💥

Picked up the rubicon Pavn set at salute.

kind of wanted to check out the models for a while.

the plastic kit is great and full of options but the models are quite a bit smaller than some if my other models so do not mix well.you get 30 models in the set with options for heads and rigles as well as support weapons command and radio operator.

Managed to build and paint them in a day and a bit, painted them up fast and sloppy with base colours followed by army painter strong tone then a bit of a high light.

pretty pleased with the results and should look swish on the tabletop.

Converting up a mobile guerilla force platoon

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After reading a few books about the mike force platoons and the covert blackjack missions during the war i had the idea of converting a mike force platoon made up of indigenous troops with us special forces advisors.

the platoon will be made using gringo40s arvn with some head swaps and removal of the unit badges.

the us special forces advisors will be from the gringo40s sog range.

the first model i have been working on is a point man for a reconnaissance team made up of a point man two us advisors and three riflemen.

Point man for the recon unitPoint man for the recon unit
Had a go at tiger stripe cammoHad a go at tiger stripe cammo

This model is a gringo40s arvn model with a head swap, the head is from warlord games and is german head with the cap filed down to form a baseball cap

US Army officer

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This is the Lieutenant for my US Army platoon. Really enjoying using the Ak paints on these figures the paints cover Really well even when watered down and are full of pigmentThis is the Lieutenant for my US Army platoon. Really enjoying using the Ak paints on these figures the paints cover Really well even when watered down and are full of pigment

US Army RTO

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Bam 💥 this dude is the Radio man for the platoon. The mini is from gringo 40s  I like the way the pose shows how awkward it must have been humping the extra weight of tge radio in the high temperatures. The radio did come with a metal antenna but I swapped it for a bit of a brush as it's less likely to get squished by my oaf fingersBam 💥 this dude is the Radio man for the platoon. The mini is from gringo 40s I like the way the pose shows how awkward it must have been humping the extra weight of tge radio in the high temperatures. The radio did come with a metal antenna but I swapped it for a bit of a brush as it's less likely to get squished by my oaf fingers

Should have checked their six

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Squads first game on the table and they spend most of the game supressed by sniper fire from the rear.Squads first game on the table and they spend most of the game supressed by sniper fire from the rear.

The second part of the first squad

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5 soldiers armed with m16s they have a mixture of packs and equipment including one dude carrying a law strapped to his pack.

I’m still deciding what to do with the basing for this squad

M60 machine gunner and his loaderM60 machine gunner and his loader
Nco equipped with an m16 with a starlight scope fitted, this was an early form of night vision scope.Nco equipped with an m16 with a starlight scope fitted, this was an early form of night vision scope.

First half of US army rifle squad

Tutoring 8
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The point team for the first of two rifle squadsThe point team for the first of two rifle squads
Rifle man with m16Rifle man with m16
Infantryman with a Remington shotgunInfantryman with a Remington shotgun
Infantryman  with m16 with underslung m203 grenade launcher Infantryman with m16 with underslung m203 grenade launcher

Just finished painting some of the superb gringo40s US army sculpts.

The models a full of character as always with nice crisp defined details.

This unit is the first part of a rifle squad.

These men will form the point team which will be supported by 6 other dudes one carrying an m60 split off from the weapons platoon and another as his loader the rest will be rifle men.

I’m still trying to decide what to do with the bases I kind of want a red/brown  finish with some foliage, I have read about people using coffee grinds and tea leaves or mixed herbs but think i need to so some experiments.

Trying out some new paints first blood part 2

Tutoring 9
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Ooops got side tracked by my allegiance to the war master and shiny new heresy shenanigans.

I was not very happy with the pouches so I started them again this time mixing vallejo khaki with the Russian uniform as a base then highlighted with khaki and ak grey green flowed by ak grey green mixed with buff. I think this gives a better weather worn look.I was not very happy with the pouches so I started them again this time mixing vallejo khaki with the Russian uniform as a base then highlighted with khaki and ak grey green flowed by ak grey green mixed with buff. I think this gives a better weather worn look.
The next step was to paint the straps and helmet band with watered down ak dark green, these paints are full of pigment and water down nicely The next step was to paint the straps and helmet band with watered down ak dark green, these paints are full of pigment and water down nicely
Bam ?  time for a dapper cammo hat. I always struggle with cammo due to oaf hands and being colour blind. I think I have found a way to paint cammo that I am pleased with. The helmet should have a base green then a darker green and brown splodges, I find painting at this scale it can look a bit messy so I made it easier by choosing 2 greens in this case ak dark green and ak grey green and made three blobs of each on the helmet. Once that was dry I mixed the dark green with green grey and highlited the darker blobs then highlighted the grey green blobs and rim of the helmet with a mix of grey green and white. Once that dried I used the dark green to add some fine lines off the darker blobs till I was happy with the cammo effect. Sorry that was so long I even bored myself reading it backBam ? time for a dapper cammo hat. I always struggle with cammo due to oaf hands and being colour blind. I think I have found a way to paint cammo that I am pleased with. The helmet should have a base green then a darker green and brown splodges, I find painting at this scale it can look a bit messy so I made it easier by choosing 2 greens in this case ak dark green and ak grey green and made three blobs of each on the helmet. Once that was dry I mixed the dark green with green grey and highlited the darker blobs then highlighted the grey green blobs and rim of the helmet with a mix of grey green and white. Once that dried I used the dark green to add some fine lines off the darker blobs till I was happy with the cammo effect. Sorry that was so long I even bored myself reading it back
Adding some finishing touches, highlited the boots and m16 with a bit of light grey mixed with German grey, did some highlites on the face and hands with some wraithbone mixed with the flesh tone and added some agrax earthshade into the folds of the fabric and between the pouches on the webbing.Adding some finishing touches, highlited the boots and m16 with a bit of light grey mixed with German grey, did some highlites on the face and hands with some wraithbone mixed with the flesh tone and added some agrax earthshade into the folds of the fabric and between the pouches on the webbing.
Trying out some new paints first blood part 2

Trying out some new paints

Tutoring 10
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Thought I would try out the new vietnam us paint set from AK in the 3g acrylic range.

Generally I use vallejo paints but wanted a different look to my  us army rifle  platoon from the us marines.

Plus the ak paints I have used in the past have been great.

I base coated the rifleman with grey seer then blobbed on nuln oil so I can see the details then I drybrushed with grey seer and left it to dry before adding the base coloursI base coated the rifleman with grey seer then blobbed on nuln oil so I can see the details then I drybrushed with grey seer and left it to dry before adding the base colours
The uniform is painted with ak light green, I was going to use the ak field drab for the pack and straps but went with a mix of vallejo khaki and russion uniform I like doing this as you can adjust the mix for weatherworn/newer gear which is nice to break the units up a bit rather than being the same green. The skin was which ever flesh tone was closest to hand and the m16 and boots were painted with vallejo German grey leaving the canvas strips on the side ak light gree The uniform is painted with ak light green, I was going to use the ak field drab for the pack and straps but went with a mix of vallejo khaki and russion uniform I like doing this as you can adjust the mix for weatherworn/newer gear which is nice to break the units up a bit rather than being the same green. The skin was which ever flesh tone was closest to hand and the m16 and boots were painted with vallejo German grey leaving the canvas strips on the side ak light gree
Once the base layers were dry I washed the boots and m16 with nuln oil, the pack and pouches with diluted agrax earthshade and the uniform with nuln oil mixed with a small amount of dark green contrast paintOnce the base layers were dry I washed the boots and m16 with nuln oil, the pack and pouches with diluted agrax earthshade and the uniform with nuln oil mixed with a small amount of dark green contrast paint
Once the washes were dried I highlited the folds in the uniform with the ak light green and then mixed in larger amounts of ak grey green. The pack and pouches were highlited by a mix of vallejo russian uniform and buff once again adjusting the amount of highlites over the packs to simulate wear and tear.Once the washes were dried I highlited the folds in the uniform with the ak light green and then mixed in larger amounts of ak grey green. The pack and pouches were highlited by a mix of vallejo russian uniform and buff once again adjusting the amount of highlites over the packs to simulate wear and tear.

Bam ? completed fire base of doom all set for a game

Tutoring 8
Skill 9
Idea 9
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Bam ? completed fire base of doom all set for a game

Mud Time

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I painted the whole thing brown with cheap burnt umber acrylic I painted the whole thing brown with cheap burnt umber acrylic
Then added some bits and bobs like steps from match sticks and a few more sand bags.Then added some bits and bobs like steps from match sticks and a few more sand bags.
Mud Time

To paint the fire base I used a cheap burnt umber acrylic over everything.

The next step was to mix red into the base colour to make a clay like colour then splashed that everywhere.

Once that was fully dry I gave the whole model a Drybrush of zandri dust.

Then using Martian iron earth I painted blobs around the bases and to create paths down the hill connecting the bunkers.

Finally I gave everything a second Drybrush of zandri dust really focusing on the sand bags followed by a light brush of wraith bone.

The wood areas were then dabbed in with brown speed paint and the barrels were painted with vallejo russian uniform.

Once all that was dry I mixed contrast medium with a terracotta earth weathering powder and I worked that into the bunkers and around the sandbags removing any excess with a damp cotton bud.

Last but not least I drilled some little holes to poke the barbed wire into.

 

Building a firebase

Tutoring 9
Skill 9
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I thought it was about time that I started working on some more scenery.

Thought it would be cool to build the corner of a fire base for my 20mm US infantry platoon to defend.

Using up  some resin bunkers and dug outs I already had from Brittania miniatures, I started working out how I was going to place the separate areas.

The bunkers will hopefully look like they have been dug into a hill side with a protective burm with sandbags on top protecting the fire base.

The hilly part is built onto an 8″ by 8″ Cork mat with two 8″ by 4″ defensive berm sections and one corner section on a 4″ by 4″ tile.

My plan is to use up bits and bobs I have laying around, the hillside is airdry clay covered in kitchen towel and pva glue sprinkled with sand.

The sandbags are milliput and greenstuff and the defensive berms are the tops of some vacume moulded trench lines I had laying about.

To get the levels of the bunkers I balanced them on odds and ends that were the height I wanted then back filled with clay.

Getting the levels right Getting the levels right
Building a firebase
Clay and kitchen towel timeClay and kitchen towel time
Perimeter defences being sanded, bird grit is great for thisPerimeter defences being sanded, bird grit is great for this

Bill kilgore

Tutoring 7
Skill 9
Idea 9
3 Comments
I picked this dude up at the colours show a couple of years ago and has been sitting on the to paint pile for a while.I picked this dude up at the colours show a couple of years ago and has been sitting on the to paint pile for a while.

Bill kilgore

Tutoring 6
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I picked this dude up at the colours show a couple of years ago and has been sitting on the to paint pile for a while.I picked this dude up at the colours show a couple of years ago and has been sitting on the to paint pile for a while.

15 mm Viet Cong a mixture of Peter pig and battlefront

Tutoring 8
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Chieu Hoi Token bags

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I got a load of unissued Chieu Hoi bags at the war and peace show a couple of years ago.

They were made to go over ammo magazines keeping them waterproof.

They were part of the open arms program.

Once used they would be left on the floor and was supposed to  be used by a North Vietnamese fighter as a token of safe passage.

They also make superb token and dice holders.

An unused Chieu Hoi chitAn unused Chieu Hoi chit

Making tokens again

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Swish new tokensSwish new tokens

After watching a gerrycan about token making I thought I would give it a shot.

Ordered up a 1″ paper punch and some bottle top thingies and away I went to find my printer.

Switched it on to an array of flashing lites, so went into town to grab some ink.

Got home instaled the new ink and created more flashing lites and beeps so gave up and took the files I wanted printed to a shop in town.

To put the info on side b of the token I went old school with a stencil and a pen.

I’m pretty pleased with the results although I should have been more careful when stamping the tokens to get the star more central.

Punch and bottle cap thingiesPunch and bottle cap thingies

ARVN female officer from gringo40s

Tutoring 8
Skill 9
Idea 9
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ARVN female officer from gringo40s

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