1:35 Vietnam War MIKE Force Vol.3 (2 figures)

A war waged from isolated camps

The fighting in the border mountains was waged differently from that on the coastal lowlands. Small fortified camps lay far from the main bases and their occupants had to rely mainly on themselves. That is precisely why mobile reserves made up of local fighters came about, which on a call could set out for a threatened post and fight their way through to it across country no vehicle could pass. This pair belongs in exactly such a setting.

The character of the figures

The equipment of these men was a mixture of whatever could be got hold of. The packs and the belts came from American production, the footwear often from local sources, and the headgear tended to be soft, because a helmet in the heat and the dense growth was more of a hindrance. A modeler therefore has room for setting colors apart: every piece of equipment can have a different degree of fading and soiling, which gives the figures a credibility a uniform finish never has.

What to do with the pair

Two figures are enough for a scene of their own. Place them on a narrow board, put a few stalks of tall grass and one twisted torso of a trunk between them, and the scene is finished. Anyone building a larger whole can join the set with further packages of the same subject and put a whole patrol together. Before painting, wash the castings, fill the joints and let them harden thoroughly. A base in a light gray shade will help reveal shortcomings before you set about the colors.

What gives a scene the last drop

Damp. Mountain jungle is wet almost all the time, and that can be suggested with very little effort: a spot application of gloss varnish on the boots, on the lower hem of the trousers and on the metal buckles. The contrast between matte cloth and a few glossy points works reliably and costs a few minutes of work.