A good 'Nam wargaming website from one of the regulars at the "Fields of Fire" forums: Smitty
http://smitty14swargamingpage.weebly.com/
31 March 2008
29 March 2008
'Nam nose Art
on Helicopters - Slicks and Hogs
http://www.vhpamuseum.org/art/art.shtml
http://www.vhpamuseum.org/art/art.shtml
Thanks to Smitty at the "Fields of Fire" forums for the link
27 March 2008
Charlie is out there...
26 March 2008
Test NVA Squad completed
Here are the results of the first NVA rifle squad, completed as a colour test. Undercoated black (spray), drybrush khaki, Vallegio olive green webbing, brown boots, bronzed flesh with GW flesh wash. Rifles done with Ral Partha adobe brown woodwork and gunmetal highlights.
Overall they arent as detailed or as crisp as the USMC figs but overall they are quite OK and relatively easy to paint being on the chunkier side of 15mm. I think some cam foliage on the hats would go along way too
Now to find the time to paint the other 7 Rifle Squads waiting for attention...
And who could neglect the little red star on the helmets? - it may not be good camo but it sure is good Commie indoctrination!
These are grouped as per Flashpoint Vietnam basing- an RPG group of 4 men, an RPD Group of 4 men and a Squad HQ group of 2 men.
Overall they arent as detailed or as crisp as the USMC figs but overall they are quite OK and relatively easy to paint being on the chunkier side of 15mm. I think some cam foliage on the hats would go along way too
Now to find the time to paint the other 7 Rifle Squads waiting for attention...
25 March 2008
Modelling techniques
Some handy modelling articles covering some of the more advanced weathering techniques. I havent used pigments or powders before but they give a great effect
Secrets of Pigments
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw05.htm
Chipped Paint Fever
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw03.htm
Secrets of Pigments
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw05.htm
Chipped Paint Fever
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw03.htm
24 March 2008
Ben Tre
This village was source of one of the most famous quotes of the War on Feb 7 1968 when a US Officer was quoted as saying "'it became necessary to destroy the town to save it"
This and other famous Vietnam quotes are detailed here:
http://www.strike-the-root.com/3/herman/herman10.html
One of my favourite fictional quotes would have to be:
"Charlie didn't get much USO. He was dug in too deep or moving too fast. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat. He had only two ways home: death, or victory."
- Captain Benjamin L. Willard (played by Martin Sheen) in "Apocalypse Now".
This and other famous Vietnam quotes are detailed here:
http://www.strike-the-root.com/3/herman/herman10.html
One of my favourite fictional quotes would have to be:
"Charlie didn't get much USO. He was dug in too deep or moving too fast. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat. He had only two ways home: death, or victory."
- Captain Benjamin L. Willard (played by Martin Sheen) in "Apocalypse Now".
20 March 2008
Vietnam Air War Links
I dont want to tun this into a Blog filled of Links, but I found these quite useful in doing some research for the fast (and not so fast) movers for my gaming table:
Air Power in Vietnam:
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Air_Power/vietnam/AP40.htm
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Air_Power/vietnam/AP40.htm
Lists of Aircraft Used During the Vietnam War
http://www.farfromglory.com/aircraft.htm
http://www.farfromglory.com/aircraft.htm
Air War Vietnam
.
Flying Leathernecks - USMC Air Units (Fixed and Rotary Wing)
.
Air War over French Indochina
18 March 2008
Brown Water Enterprises
"Dedicated to bringing you the finest online resources for collecting militaria, riverine warfare, military modeling, and full scale military vehicle restorations. Inside you will find detailed information useful to the collector, historian, and military modeler covering subjects from World War II to the Vietnam War."
16 March 2008
Excellent Armour tutorial
"Mo" has posted a really good armour tutorial at the FoW forums, with a step-by-step of how he did his Panzer Platoon recently and got fantastic results like this:
See the tutorial here:
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=126&forumid=10&postid=184284&view=topic
See the tutorial here:
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=126&forumid=10&postid=184284&view=topic
15 March 2008
Indochina Links of Interest
French paras:
French COIN Aircraft
French Armour:
.
French Ground Force Organizational Development for Counterrevolutionary Warfare between 1945 and 1962
http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=A436931&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=A436931&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
13 March 2008
HK Indochine gaming
11 March 2008
Radio Vietnam
More hits of the 'Nam era!
'This station is a dedicated to those who served during and fought in the Vietnam War.
A mix of pop, rock & R&B filled the airwaves in harmony along with a new heavier rock & roll just starting to take off and all sorts of poets protesting. It was the sounds that defined a nation during the Vietnam War. Sound clips from Good Morning Vietnam, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill, Adrian Cronauer, Presidents Nixon & Johnson speeches as well as AFVN announcements are part of the broadcast.'
A mix of pop, rock & R&B filled the airwaves in harmony along with a new heavier rock & roll just starting to take off and all sorts of poets protesting. It was the sounds that defined a nation during the Vietnam War. Sound clips from Good Morning Vietnam, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill, Adrian Cronauer, Presidents Nixon & Johnson speeches as well as AFVN announcements are part of the broadcast.'
10 March 2008
Flight of the Intruder
by Stephen Coonts
I just spent the weekend at the coast fishing and reading this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Obviously feauring A6s, the obligatory F4 Phantoms and my favourite the A-1 Skyraider also make appearances. While there is the necessary romatic interlude which intrudes upon the whole war story (though the descriptions of Olongopo City and its are highly accurate) it is a cracking story.
There is also a movie based on the novel which I've heard is OK, but the decriptions of the raids and the raid planning in the book are fantastic and hard to beat.
...and its added further impetus to my quest to find a 1:100 scale A-6 model for my 'Nam games!
06 March 2008
More Terrain
So Happy was I with my recently delivered terrain from Miniature World Maker, that Ive ordered more! 2 more large rice paddy sets (one with a road through it), a smaller paddy piece, and another pair of jungle terrain sections.
If you havent gone there yet, check out MWM: http://www.miniatureworldmaker.com.au/
04 March 2008
Speak Vietnamese
Official US Army phrases and terms including pronounciations
http://www.hardscrabblefarm.com/vn/vietnam-language-guide.html
I feel so misled my all those Nam movies...no mention of Buku or Di-di-mao here!
http://www.hardscrabblefarm.com/vn/vietnam-language-guide.html
I feel so misled my all those Nam movies...no mention of Buku or Di-di-mao here!
02 March 2008
Two Ontos join the Platoon
Presenting the two M50 Ontos I have just finished. They are 15mm scale and manufactured by QRF. The models themselves are crisply cast and have nice detail, including different versions of baggage already sculpted on. The model itself comes in 6 pieces - 2 treads, a hull, a turret with 4 barrels and 2 separate (lower) barrels - all of which quickly and easily fit together.
I was quite happy with these vehicle models, though note that these are wargaming vehicles, not diorama modelling vehicles - so the hatches etc don't open and are not posable. My only complaint is the very flexible barrels, but the use of vehicle bases should reduce their handling and bending.
I was quite happy with these vehicle models, though note that these are wargaming vehicles, not diorama modelling vehicles - so the hatches etc don't open and are not posable. My only complaint is the very flexible barrels, but the use of vehicle bases should reduce their handling and bending.
The models were prepared using the same techniques and colours as my recent M48s, though being less rugged than the Main Battle Tanks, I did less weathering to reflect less heavy off-road time. Upon reflection, it would have been easier to fit the turrets after everything had been detailed though. Once again the vehicle bases are by Battlefield Accessories.
As you can see, the Ontos is a very small vehicle (it was designed for airmobile ops and was air-transportable by Chinook) as these comparisons shots with an M-48 show.
Finally here are some shots of a Light Section of M-50 Ontos patrolling through some paddy fields, somewhere in I Corps Area of Operations (Paddy fields and Jungle sections by Miniature World Maker)
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