‘Nam - USMC top up

 Another collection gets some love this winter is the ‘Nam. I have made a little hole in the lead pile by completing the outstanding fire support for the Marines . There isn’t that  much left in the lead pile box for this now - until Gringos tempts me with yet more stuff! 

3 M60 teams , 3 81mm Mortars , a 50 cal , and a spare couple of guys I found already undercoated . All by Gringo40s as usual.

Sandbags for the 50 cal base are hand made from milliput.

So here is the completed fire support stuff for the collection 

 

The box is now full - so for now I guess that will have to do ! 

‘Nam - M274 mule and recoiless rifle

 Well that is the festive period out of the way. I have had to replace my paint desk due to the old one finally falling apart -it never did like being moved the last time and the drawers finally fell out and the top was loose . I took advantage of the sales to get a new one . The winter painting stash is now all sorted and ready for production again .

I am clearing up the Nam (yes more !) vehicle stuff at the moment . This next one is the Mule and recoiless rifle set from Gringo40s. 

  

Some VC vehicle related stuff next before going back to some 10mm stuff . 

‘Nam - Tanks and Mutt.

The latest additions for the Nam collection sees the addition of some heavy armour units . While often associated with infantry and choppers there is a role for the armoured units providing support and beefing up firebases , escorting convoys etc . 

So first up a pair of M48A3 Patton tanks for the Marine units . This was a resin and metal kit . As ever at this kind of scale a modicum of modelmaking skill is required . I went a bit further adding brass rod replacements for turret rail and the basket as I thought these resin bits might not stand long term contact with Wargamers . Other than that it was a base paint job and weathering using various AK and Vallejo pigments.

 

The kit is resin and metal with the tracks being metal as well as the cupola , gun and a bag of stowage. Other than adding the brass work it went together really well . 

 

I picked up a set of decals from Star in Sweden that let me do two tanks from the same unit . They were 1’72 nominally but were a good match 

 

I have also completed the M151 Mutt by Gringos . I’ve added a spare 50cal I had in the bits box , as well as a whip aerial and a windshield made from a transparent yoghurt pit . 

 

Next was a top up for my Anzac units with a Centurion V with a dozer blade. It’s a resin kit from Full  Metal Miniatures , 

This is mostiy resin bar the gun, dozer blade and stowage 

Decals were again sourced from Stat . 

I really enjoyed doing these . Surprisingly, once built and given a base rattle can green undercoat these didn’t take very long to complete.

I have picked up a few other AK and Vallejo pigments that were used on these and I think they are great 

This sheet comes with the decals fir info 

Nam - adding some new bits

 After a summer of house project work I have finally been able to get the paint desk cleared and get on with some of the pain table lurkers . With an upcoming game at Partizan in October I wanted clear out a few bits . 

First up was a die cast Huey Cobra. It’s had two crew figures added from Full Metal Miniatures and Gringo40s.  The ground crew is by Gringo40s- a great figure . The helicopter-pad is made from A4 MDF and some 10mm XPS with some sandbags picked up from Pendrakem. 

The Cobra has had some highlights added as the paint job was a bit too dark to my eye 

Next up a Marine Corps sniper team , M60 team be a 50 cal crew .

I have also added in a set of NVA Sappers from Gringo40s. 

 

And finally a set of civilians from Empress , plus some pigs picked up from Pendraken . 

A fairly productive couple of days. 

‘Nam 68 - Viet Cong

 Only a little progress the last few weeks as I have injured my paining hand and it’s only slowly recovering. 

I went for the classic black look for this group , but will do a little more colour for the next lot.

I am waiting for the new rule set Bohica to turn up from Empress and we will give them a try out later in the month . 

 

These are by Gringos40. I have another 20 on the go at the moment. 

‘Nam68 - NVA platoon

 Still more coming off the production line for the Nam project. This time a full platoon of NVA infantry in early Khaki colour. They are armed with AK47s, RPGs, RPD , a few snipers , a couple of mortars and flamethrower . This should give the US forces some extra things to worry about. There will be a second one along with green uniforms in due course . 

I have buildings and civilians to come along shortly. The lead mountain has been topped with extra additional pieces from Gringos , Empress , Full Metal and The Assault Group . There are some great figures to choose from , 

‘Nam 68 - Marine Squad #2 , and “Up Country” table build

 The second marine squad is completed . Gaming bud Scotty has been knocking out the jungle and trees etc - it now fills  a 35 litre RUB . I reckon we want the same again for a really cluttered table . That will then spread out easily for the really large table we plan on doing in the future . 

   

The progress on the 8x4 so far 

  

And some sandbag positions completed - Scotty has a Fire Support Base in the planning too 

Things are coming along nicely 

NAM ‘68 . Support and commander.

 There will be a few of these posts coming up as the USMC roll off the production line. I have done two mortar teams, an M60 team , Corpsman and casualty and the RTO and commander .

 

All Gringo40s . Loving painting them 

Nam ‘68 - Marine squad #1

 Work has been progressing on the US Marines for this project and they will be rolling off the  production line over the next week. I really enjoyed doing these.

The NVA units(Gringo40) have been base coated for starting them next . I have VC sourced (Gringo40)  , and just ordered the civilians (Empress). Terrain wise the jungle stuff is building up , my friend Scotty is doing all of that with a real range of stuff . Orders for village stuff are also on the way .  I am also planning for more urban and plains stuff too . 

I have copies of Charlie Don’t Surf , and The Nam - the way it was . I played through a few turns of The Nam and liked the feel . Also the customisable elements so it will be up for a proper field trial shortly . Just need to get my NVA painted .

Really enjoying doing the whole new project thing . It has the creative juices going , and I have that end vision in mind to help the what I want it to look like when it’s finished. 

Nam 68 - first test paint

 I had some time today to work through the paint recipe for my USMC guys. It’s been a real treat looking at just a small number of detailed castings and deciding how to tackle them. So first up it the Lt.

 

Having worked out the recipe I will do these in small batches now I think.

NAM..- new side project .

 On the regular paint and chat over the last week a few of us had been chatting through gaming projects we do as a group . To make a change from the large scale ,large battle stuff we were looking at something a bit more skirmish . This diversion has taken Martin and I down the Vietnam route .  After next to no arm twisting at all I have ordered up the first bits . We might use commercial rules or knock something up based  on our existing skirmish stuff.

Gringo40s US Marines were ordered (as in all of them , and a few multiples so 50 figures )  on Wednesday night and with a very swift turn around they were delivered on Friday.  I have started the prep work on them - which is next to nothing as casting is excellent . The figures are really characterful too . Once these are done  there will be NVA and VC to pick up 

My eyes are really struggling with 15mm stuff and smaller , so I am looking forward to doing these 28’s

First lot ready for primers.

                             And the first lot of base green done - Using Vallejo Russian Green Primer 

Various items of jungle type terrain construction pieces have been ordered from e bay etc . There will be be enough to be able to do a 12 x 6 table .next up some  village bits to order up shortly. 

Martin has a helicopter already.. well I couldn’t resist a bit of AirPower , so a 1/48th Skyraider fell in a shopping cart 

 

Well - I didn’t see this project coming , but sometimes that is no bad thing.