1:35 "Somewhere in Saigon" Vietnam War series

Figures from the setting of the Vietnam War, 1:35 scale

A plastic set of figures in 1:35 scale from the range with a Vietnam War subject, offered under the designation Somewhere in Saigon. The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted; the parts are polystyrene and are glued with ordinary modeling cement for plastics.

The subject

Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and its streets are among the most frequently worked subjects of the whole conflict. An urban setting gives a diorama something the jungle alone cannot offer: the contrast of military equipment and the everyday life around it. The exact make-up of the set and who the individual characters represent are stated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Building and painting tips

• Sand off the surplus material and the traces of manufacture before gluing, especially at the joints of the arms.
• Try the arrangement of the figures dry, and only then glue them to the base.
• Paint them separately from the vehicle and from the scene, otherwise the brush will not reach into the covered places.
• A primer coat unifies the surface and the paint holds on it considerably better than on bare plastic.
• Shade and highlight the tropical uniforms and the civilian clothing in layers, not with one opaque color.
• Leave the faces and the hands for last, when you are already holding the figure by a firm base.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build dioramas in 1:35 scale and want to add characters to a scene from Southeast Asia. Assembly is undemanding; painting the faces calls for calm, good light and a fine brush. The set also suits as a standalone exercise in painting figures.

The package holds figures. Paints, glue, a vehicle and a base are not included, unless stated otherwise.