Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Earther on February 05, 2019, 05:06:13 PM
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[MOD CLARIFICATION]
Please note that this thread was originally opened by a person not affiliated with Empress Miniatures and thus did not require the "COMMERCIAL" tag. Since Empress were kind enough to continue using this thread to post pre-release pics and infos plus release news, it changed somehow and was thus labelled "COMMERCIAL".
In another thread, I promised to post pics of the US marines once they started to appear on the intertubes. Empress Vietnam goodness from the very talented Paul Hicks. Borrowed from the Empress FB page.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ovx3hBS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lxG2GTy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SVtnv6K.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RBpG55j.jpg)
:-* :-* :-*
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That is a delightful mini
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I'm liking that a lot. I'd be most grateful if you wouldn't mind adding info here. If I ever had the money I wanted to commission a Paul Hicks' Vietnam range. Now it's actually happening! :D
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Very nice miniature! This range is going to be really interesting; too interesting... :D :D :D
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Nice. The M16 could do with some improvement. The fairly prominent cocking handle at the rear of the receiver appears to be absent, the stock appears too high and rather bulky and the foregrips could do with some work. The figure is of Mr Hick’s typical high standards but the weapon is rather crude. A little disappointing in light of his previous work on the Red Star/ FNG Indochina range.
Admittedly I’m more interested in seeing PAVN figures. Promising start but could be improved.
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I don't personally mind if the weapons are bulked out a little for robustness. As much as I like my Spectre miniatures, the firearms are very fragile. I'd rather have a little exaggeration and not have to worry about gluing stuff back on (although it is the stock you specifically referenced, which granted, is unlikely to fall off). Accuracy is great, but I'm not going to be put off if it's not an exact scale replica.
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I don't personally mind if the weapons are bulked out a little for robustness. As much as I like my Spectre miniatures, the firearms are very fragile. I'd rather have a little exaggeration and not have to worry about gluing stuff back on (although it is the stock you specifically referenced, which granted, is unlikely to fall off). Accuracy is great, but I'm not going to be put off if it's not an exact scale replica.
I’m with you on that Steve. I’m not keen on snapped barrels.
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I’m not keen on snapped barrels.
I do not think any of us are (I have written off all the Law Men from the Spectre starter set before they got painted).
I think what Carlos is describing is not the barrel, but have a look at the stock.
To borrow the M16A1 from the other thread.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=114631.0;attach=92074;image)
Compare it with the one in the photograph:
(https://i.imgur.com/RBpG55j.jpg)
Nice. The M16 could do with some improvement. The fairly prominent cocking handle at the rear of the receiver appears to be absent, the stock appears too high and rather bulky and the foregrips could do with some work.
The stock certainly looks rather high (the cocking handle has been eaten by the stock!).
The figure certainly looks good.
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I’m not talking about bulk. I think we all recognise the trade-off between scale accuracy and fragility. What I’m talking about is shape and detail. Recognisable features on the original. Perfectly possible to incorporate without diminishing the robustness of the model.
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I still dig the figure, but as pointed out the stock is to high and has swallowed the charging handle.
Good eye on catching that.
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Perfectly possible to capture in miniature.
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I have to agree with carlos marighela.
The stock is off, should be easy to fix.
Love the figure, down to the flak vest.
Man, I hated wearing them.
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wonderful figure indeed
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I think what Carlos is describing is not the barrel, but have a look at the stock.
Yes, I did point out that it was the stock that was being specifically referenced by Carol and that it was unlikely to break off (on this particular figure). It was more of a general comment regarding sacrificing a little accuracy for robustness with weapons. It is a fair point on the position of the stock. I hadn't actually noticed the missing charging handle until it was mentioned.
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I do not think any of us are (I have written off all the Law Men from the Spectre starter set before they got painted).
I think what Carlos is describing is not the barrel, but have a look at the stock.
To borrow the M16A1 from the other thread.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=114631.0;attach=92074;image)
Compare it with the one in the photograph:
(https://i.imgur.com/RBpG55j.jpg)The stock certainly looks rather high (the cocking handle has been eaten by the stock!).
The figure certainly looks good.
Ah right, gotcha (and Carlos) 8)
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Guys,
Thanks for the opinions. The pictures of the initial figure were released over the weekend and then adjusted as we noted details in kit and stance. This series of pictures is the second attempt and NOT a completed figure. Having been away all weekend at the York show as well as building a new web site in the background I really did not get my head into gear with this until yesterday when issues were noted.
One of the concerns was the M16, which is being revisited. In sculpting weapons its always a compromise with some types between exact scaled copies and the manufacturing / damage in the post issues. Thus on some weapons flimsy barrels have to be slightly beefed up. Thus some of the design issues on this one. WHICH ARE CURRENTLY BEING SORTED!
However its not the only issue as some of you have spotted. My personal beef is the butt line which is high and the sight/ handle which is low. However as was explained on our Facebook page this sculpt is NOT a finished figure but a prototype. We rarely, if ever show our work in progress as it gets negative comments which are unnecessary, especially from some people who have their own personal agendas.
The reason that we showed this was the huge, and unprecedented, barrage of customers who went wild when we announced this range a few months ago so we thought we would show them that something is happening. Just over 10 years ago Keith and I planned a Vietnam game, wrote some rules called Purple Haze, which we never used, and looked for some figures. After a few weeks searching we could not find a range that we wanted to spend our time or money on. All available were lacking in our humble opinion and the project died until the Empress Christine having got bored with our whining told us to make our own range. Thus Empress Miniatures was born .....and we did Zulu War. Don't ask? Its a wargamers butterfly mind thing. Well inspired once again to revisit this conflict about a year back and working with both Red Star and FNG as we did for many years which ended in us owning the FIC range it seemed logical to progress our own Vietnam range.
The reason I tell you this is that do you really think that over 10 years later with still no good Nam range on the market and a very big scratch that we have to itch as well as a significant reputation that we have built up with Empress for quality we would release something as iconic as the M16 in anything less than good?
Steady the Buffs and sit tight for the actual real release.
Cheers,
Paul
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I am sure that the team of Paul Hicks and Empress will produce the finest ever Vietnam range. :-*
I am also sure that I will buy some, and paint some, and probably even write a painting guide if I can find somebody to host it....
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Excellent news, very much looking forward to seeing this range come together. :)
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Glad to hear it’s all in hand. I’m looking forward to the range. Nice to see you responding to feed back. For the record I have no ‘personal agenda’. I like Mr Hicks’ works and have been an enthusiastic buyer of a number of Hicks sculpted Empress ranges via your Australian distributor.
You’re right there really isn’t much in the way of quality 28mm Vietnam ranges, so this and the Gringo line are keenly anticipated. It’s that keen anticipation and the quality of Paul’s work that has raised expectations of accuracy.
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Cheers Paul - brilliant news!
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Most excellent - thanks Empress for the update 8)
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Hear, hear! Thanks for responding. Happy to see it was already being sorted.
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Appreciate your input Paul, this is a very exciting range that I'll definitely be buying in to.
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Conincidentally, there’s a Don McCullin retrospective coming to the Tate.
It includes many of his Hue 68 photographs.
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/don-mccullin
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/feb/03/don-mccullin-giles-duley-photography-retrospective-tate-interview
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Yes I saw that. Hope to get along to it. Great photographer not only of Hue ;)
Thanks for all the support guys. We will not let you down. (No pressure in that statement :? ) The new M16 is already in the mould and should be with Paul by this weekend.
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Knowing this is a "work in progress" miniature, I am not worried about the M16, but I am very happy with the robustness of the weapons. Thanks a lot!
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Thanks Paul for the feed back.
That is what makes you guys and lady great.
You always put out top of the line figures.
I have been waiting for Marines at Hue for ever.
Can't wait to give you lots of my money. ;D
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Thanks for the update.
I echo Carlos' comment (well except for the Australian distributor ^__^).
I look forward to seeing how they turn out.
Now back to your Inter-war/Early War British that I have finally been able to undercoat...
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Will there be separate heads or separate head packs for the range like the French Indochina range? I’m looking for fairly regular looking PAVN as my main interest is 1975 and beyond so separate packs of pith helmets would be great.
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The figures will come with attached heads mostly although my plan is to have a couple of packs with separate heads. Then head sprues so that maximum flexibility can be achieved. No reason why the more skilled cannot amputate heads and attach new heads on the other fixed head figures. Its pretty easy.
Weapons wise there will also be a big variation and not just the usual AK47 so that earlier vintage and French weapons will make an appearance, especially with militia types.
Also a significant civilian / militia number of figures. Many of these will be designed to work with both this and the FIC range.
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This sounds very promising, thank you for sharing the information.
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f
The figures will come with attached heads mostly although my plan is to have a couple of packs with separate heads. Then head sprues so that maximum flexibility can be achieved. No reason why the more skilled cannot amputate heads and attach new heads on the other fixed head figures. Its pretty easy.
Weapons wise there will also be a big variation and not just the usual AK47 so that earlier vintage and French weapons will make an appearance, especially with militia types.
Also a significant civilian / militia number of figures. Many of these will be designed to work with both this and the FIC range.
Excellent news. If the intention is to provide a mix of weapons might I ask that some thought go into their distribution in packs, ie 4x AKM armed, 4x SKS armed or 4X various French and US rifles. Rather like what you did with your exquisite WW2 ranges. That gives both a desirable mix and also allows those of us who want some uniformity in equipment to purchase without having to buy multiples.
Any plans beyond PAVN, NLF, civvies and USMC? ARVN for instance. Hopefully one day you might contemplate Australians, admiitedly nowhere near Hue, save for a couple of members of AATV.
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Well shoot, between this and the new Pulp Minis ranges, I suspect my group will be doing some 28mm VietNam gaming in the near future. My wallet apparently was unable to get a service deferment...
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Bone spurs?
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Looking forward to this range and getting back to some 'Nam gaming.
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What’s the timeline for this range? This year?
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What’s the timeline for this range? This year?
Deffo this year;)
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Deffo this year;)
Excellent! Figs looking good so far, I am currently painting a reinforced platoon of your Empress Americans and am enjoying every fig. Looking forward to this release.
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Excellent jdp.
The first 16 figures of this range are being sculpted and the range planned for further releases. Had an amazing amount of interest at last weekends Hammerhead show, which surprised me somewhat, but all good for the future of the range. YEHAW!!!!
Cheers, Paul
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That's really encouraging that you've had such a positive response as it might mean you do more!
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This is a personal 'want' period of mine so the odds on we will do quite a lot ;)
As I have said elsewhere Empress was originally set up to do Vietnam and then like good wargamers we got distracted. Eleven years on we are now here.
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This is awesome :-* :-* :-*
Any chance you could share the spec on the first 16 miniatures?
16 M16 armed infantry or something else...
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There are a number of references in old LAF threads of me stating that my personal miniatures range would be a Paul Hicks sculpted Vietnam range. I'd have to have won the lottery though, so this way is much better lol
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8 x M16
3 x M60. Plus extra figure in support.
4 x Blooper.
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8 x M16
3 x M60. Plus extra figure in support.
4 x Blooper.
Hopefully some figures with the golf bag (spare barrel for the M-60). Apart from the barrel it carried the tools and the asbestos mitt required to change the barrel.
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8 x M16
3 x M60. Plus extra figure in support.
4 x Blooper.
Thanks! Great start with the basics, so that we can start building squads ;D
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The packs are best for this period as weapons based. I think Carlos also mentioned that before.
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Hopefully some figures with the golf bag (spare barrel for the M-60). Apart from the barrel it carried the tools and the asbestos mitt required to change the barrel.
Yep sure. Its planned for the two man team in the first release. Plus the C ration tin attachment on the M60 to help the bullets run easily. Have to admit not found a pic of a Marine at Hue with it but it appears all over the place so at least one must have used it lol
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I like the selection of weapons in your first figures.
Can't wait to see the figures.
A question if I may.
Are you planing to do a 1/50 PBR down the road?
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By PBR do you mean the new replacement for the Humvee? If so out of context here and we do not discuss future plans usually.
But yes!
We are looking at vehicles for the Vietnam conflict and will be covering those in 1/50. Just started working through them. The M113 I am told is nearly complete.
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By PBR do you mean the new replacement for the Humvee?
I'm thinking he might be referring to the Patrol Boat, River.
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I like the core packs, very useful for starting off. I'm guessing there will be command pack maybe? Perhaps an officer, Sgt, RTO and medic? That would be very useful. 81mm mortar team possibly? :D
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By PBR do you mean the new replacement for the Humvee?
I'm thinking he might be referring to the Patrol Boat, River.
In that case yes as well. So many secrets being told.
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I like the core packs, very useful for starting off. I'm guessing there will be command pack maybe? Perhaps an officer, Sgt, RTO and medic? That would be very useful. 81mm mortar team possibly? :D
Yep. This is only the very start. ;)
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Brilliant news!
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Yep. This is only the very start. ;)
Excellent news!
Really looking forward to this.
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First 4 packs are on the Empress Facebook page.
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First 16 figures to the range.
These are in the shop for pre release sales. Not done this ever before but we have had such a huge reaction to the range and with Salute coming up we thought it best to do. Details on the current site here.
http://www.empressminiatures.com/userimages/procart56.htm
We are also in the process of opening a new web site so links may suddenly stop linking. Its all go at Empress.
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Very nice indeed, I particularly like the crouching moving forward figures. :)
This is always how I imagine modern figures should look, keeping their heads down!
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Luvverly! :-* Those have come up a real treat! Hurry up and send them through to your Australian distributor please!
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Jolly Nice - very apt poses for street fighting too
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Very impressed. Love the way the clothes hang - very reminiscent of the period imagery 8)
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Love the figures.
Just ordered 8 packs.
Now just have to wait till April for them.
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Great to see the figures. I'd echo what others have said about the general appearance, it's just like you see in the photos. Very impressive.
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They look good.
So will you have them at Salute?
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Picked up 4 packs of rifles and 1 each of the special weapons to start. Echo the need for an HQ command pack. Anyone have a paint guide recommendation? Was the Marine uniform green different than the army green in this war?
Cheers and good luck!
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Picked up 4 packs of rifles and 1 each of the special weapons to start. Echo the need for an HQ command pack. Anyone have a paint guide recommendation? Was the Marine uniform green different than the army green in this war?
Cheers and good luck!
Pretty much the same green, with the major difference being how weathered and sun bleached do you want them to be? Also look up ERDL pattern camo. It was the early version of the BDU patterns used in the 80s up tell the mid 2000s.
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So excited! I bought the new late war brits then saw these! So much money being spent on the hobby at the moment! Will be busy for a few life times ;D. Well done Empress Gang! Finally a proper decent Vietnam range.
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Picked up 4 packs of rifles and 1 each of the special weapons to start. Echo the need for an HQ command pack. Anyone have a paint guide recommendation? Was the Marine uniform green different than the army green in this war?
Cheers and good luck!
No difference, except save as noted, the variations in fading. I had an old one which faded to a rather pleasant green. Naturally enough as items get replaced in the field there will be plenty of variation.
You can add a little more variation by painting one or two of the helmet covers in the old USMC spot pattern or the reverse ‘cloud’ pattern mixed in with the Mitchell pattern covers and naturally you can adorn them with graffiti if you fancy.
No doubt command packs will be forthcoming, Paul is something of a completist. Just give the chap some time For support weapons and extras, I’d rather see 60mm mortars over 81mm as those were what were carried at company level and really the only thing justifiable on a table with 28mm trooops. M20 3.5” rocket launchers, a sniper and some engineers with breaching charges would be good. Hue saw extensive mouseholing of buildings in the house to house fight. A dedicated ANGLICO or FO team would be nice.
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ANGLICO ?? :?
No difference, except save as noted, the variations in fading. I had an old one which faded to a rather pleasant green. Naturally enough as items get replaced in the field there will be plenty of variation.
You can add a little more variation by painting one or two of the helmet covers in the old USMC spot pattern or the reverse ‘cloud’ pattern mixed in with the Mitchell pattern covers and naturally you can adorn them with graffiti if you fancy.
No doubt command packs will be forthcoming, Paul is something of a completist. Just give the chap some time For support weapons and extras, I’d rather see 60mm mortars over 81mm as those were what were carried at company level and really the only thing justifiable on a table with 28mm trooops. M20 3.5” rocket launchers, a sniper and some engineers with breaching charges would be good. Hue saw extensive mouseholing of buildings in the house to house fight. A dedicated ANGLICO or FO team would be nice.
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ANGLICO are Air/Navy radio controllers. Call for fire and other support from Air, Ship, or ground based assists.
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Roger that, out.
ANGLICO are Air/Navy radio controllers. Call for fire and other support from Air, Ship, or ground based assists.
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So excited! I bought the new late war brits then saw these! So much money being spent on the hobby at the moment! Will be busy for a few life times ;D. Well done Empress Gang! Finally a proper decent Vietnam range.
In fairness the Force of Arms range is a lovely range of figures, they're just not readily available anymore.
It feels greedy asking for more already, especially when Empress have delivered these so quickly, but in addition to an HQ pack, an NCO type pack for squad leaders could be very useful too?
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In fairness, the FoA range weren’t marines, nor for that matter are TAG.
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I really like the poses on these guys. They look like they are in a firefight.
But I think there is something odd looking about the mags on those M16s they look tiny on the gun.
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They look good.
So will you have them at Salute?
Yes but we really advice that you e mail us a shopping list as sales are pretty extraordinary based upon the first 24 hours .
mail@empressminiatures.com
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Morning all. Many thanks for the kind words and comments. Really great encouragement for the entire Empress team, especially when releasing a new range. Also many thanks for your help and suggestions.
The range will develop extensively so please do not fear about investing in it and yes officers, radios, journalist, etc, etc will be covered along the way as well as other types such as Vietcong, NVA, ARVN etc, etc, then Aussies, Air Cav, Paratroops, and most importantly other periods and times in the conflict. When we were soldiers obviously needs so attention at some point. Huge amounts to do.
Special forces will obviously occur and lets not forget civilians which are already designed.
Vehicles are under way and the first nearly finished. All in 1/50 scale. This is our default Empress scale.
Just need a time machine to speed things along or clone Paul.
Once again many thanks for your supportive comments :-*
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All sounds great Paul. 8)
You probably have it in mind but can I also mention a couple of Corpsman poses (lots of stories from Hue about their bravery).
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on the list ;)
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Most excellent 8)
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:-* Wow, those are some seriously nice figures. Looking forward to seeing them at Salute (work permitting)
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Apologies if I've missed this somewhere already; are the new Hue figures comparable in size/scale etc to the French Indochina ones that Mr Hick's also sculpted? I have some of those so I can use them as a guide for comparison with my existing figures. Very much looking forward to seeing some painted examples.
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Morning all. Many thanks for the kind words and comments. Really great encouragement for the entire Empress team, especially when releasing a new range. Also many thanks for your help and suggestions.
The range will develop extensively so please do not fear about investing in it and yes officers, radios, journalist, etc, etc will be covered along the way as well as other types such as Vietcong, NVA, ARVN etc, etc, then Aussies, Air Cav, Paratroops, and most importantly other periods and times in the conflict. When we were soldiers obviously needs so attention at some point. Huge amounts to do.
Special forces will obviously occur and lets not forget civilians which are already designed.
Vehicles are under way and the first nearly finished. All in 1/50 scale. This is our default Empress scale.
Just need a time machine to speed things along or clone Paul.
Once again many thanks for your supportive comments :-*
That’s excellent news. It would be nice to see decently sculpted ARVN and Australians. Hopefully other eras might include the early part of the war with Marines in OG-107 fatigues toting M-14s. I have always wanted to do Operation Starlite, the early part of the war is an interesting period and gives the opportunity to use all kinds of fun toys like LVTP-5s.
Please, please get the Australians right (I’m sure you will), they aren’t just yanks in floppy hats. There are a number of folk on LAF who can give feedback on WIP.
By the by can I order some of the marines online and have them picked up at Salute? Nic has kindly offered to pick up some orders for me. Just wondering the best way to notify that they will be picked up not mailed.
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Apologies if I've missed this somewhere already; are the new Hue figures comparable in size/scale etc to the French Indochina ones that Mr Hick's also sculpted? I have some of those so I can use them as a guide for comparison with my existing figures. Very much looking forward to seeing some painted examples.
I’ve sculpted them on the same armature as the Indo-China figures. They will match.
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That's excellent, thank you for the reply.
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Wow these are amazing!
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That’s excellent news. It would be nice to see decently sculpted ARVN and Australians. Hopefully other eras might include the early part of the war with Marines in OG-107 fatigues toting M-14s. I have always wanted to do Operation Starlite, the early part of the war is an interesting period and gives the opportunity to use all kinds of fun toys like LVTP-5s.
Please, please get the Australians right (I’m sure you will), they aren’t just yanks in floppy hats. There are a number of folk on LAF who can give feedback on WIP.
By the by can I order some of the marines online and have them picked up at Salute? Nic has kindly offered to pick up some orders for me. Just wondering the best way to notify that they will be picked up not mailed.
Re the pre order please e mail us and we will get them ready to collect. If you want to pay before collection we will send a Paypal request. mail@empressminiatures.com
Don't worry the Australians will be very good. Now that's a statement I hope I do not regret. :? Weapons just being sculpted. Long Tan here we come.
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Wow, working on the Australians already! That makes me think there's a LOT going on behind the scenes. Looking forward to seeing what's next.
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Wow, working on the Australians already! That makes me think there's a LOT going on behind the scenes. Looking forward to seeing what's next.
There always is ;)
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The new packs have been cast and pre orders are now shipping out. ;)
If you do plan to pop along to Salute we advice that you send us a pre show shopping list to ensure we save you some packs. We are on stand TE05.
More sculpts being worked on as we speak.
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And being the sucker that I am for Paul' sculpts, I couldn't resist and put an order. Hopefully, they will arrive before Brexit and customs won't try to get its pound of flesh.
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Excellent. Motivation to do a bit more terrain this weekend. 8)
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Good news from Empress.
My order for Hue 1968 Marines have been shipped. :)
Was thinking that I would not get them until after Salute.
Thanks Empress, you are the best. :-*
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Holy Smoke! Mine are shipped too! I'm really excited to get underway. Thanks to the folks at Empress! :D
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Thanks guys, kind words for the Empress team indeed.
Next sculpts for the next batch of figures is about to start. More USMC.
Empress usually plays its cards close to its chest on what we do but as you guys have been so helpful we can let you know;
Immediately following on from the next batch of USMC we thought some civilians, both armed and unarmed. Then ARVN, then NVA. How does that sound?????? Let us know what you reckon? Note a lot of NVA were fighting in civvies as well as their best newly issued uniforms.
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Just a note to also praise the company
Ordered figures and was delighted to receive then 2 days after postage
One pack was missing so phoned and had numerous apologies and figures sent out immediately
Courteous professional and exceptional ser ice
Well done and thanks for providing such a great range of eras and quality of figures and service.
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I would love some civilians that could be replaced with armed ones. Both male and female ones. I am already dreaming of a scenario where marines patrol through a neighborhood or village not knowing if it is hostile or not. Or indeed who is hostile and who is not.
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I am down for some Civs. I need some for my French Indochina villages, so that works for me.
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Civilians and ARVN sounds great! There are few of those available in 28mm so that would be a welcome addition to the 28mm Vietnam scene. Regarding armed civilians it would be most welcome with some generic types that could both be used as low level VC as well as village militias organised by US\ South Vietnamese government. Preferably armed with outdated weaponry that could fit late WW2 and the French period. Ideally they would come with loose hands with weapons which would give a lot of flexibility.
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The civilians, armed and unarmed, are are brilliant idea and very welcome. No arguments from me about ARVN either. Excellent stuff from Empress.
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Looking forward to civvies as I just received 2 Printable Scenery jungle huts in 28mm.
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Lovely models! :-*
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Thanks guys, kind words for the Empress team indeed.
Next sculpts for the next batch of figures is about to start. More USMC.
Empress usually plays its cards close to its chest on what we do but as you guys have been so helpful we can let you know;
Immediately following on from the next batch of USMC we thought some civilians, both armed and unarmed. Then ARVN, then NVA. How does that sound?????? Let us know what you reckon? Note a lot of NVA were fighting in civvies as well as their best newly issued uniforms.
Sounds entirely sensible and civilians armed and unarmed is an excellent idea. Hopefully, given it’s Tet themed so far, we will get some that aren’t in sterotypical black pyjamas and nón lá.
Keen as I am to get the ARVN (please, not all in flack jackets, it limits their usefulness) I suspect it will be better for maintaining general customer enthusiasm if you release the NVA first. Most gamers will want some opposition for their marines. Hoping we will also get some more marine riflemen, in firing poses, to provide variety to the existing packs.
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By the by, if and when you do get around to doing VC in typical peasant dress, you might want to consider separate heads. If you were to do a pack of heads in Mao caps then that would allow folk to model Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao, extending the usefulness of the existing USMC, ARVN and PAVN troops.
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+1
Start with the bread and butter (NVA) before you move onto the more thematic special theater related stuff or ARVN. You want players to be able to do a fairly generic game using nothing but Empress models ASAP rather than having to come up with special rules or use models from other companies.
Also second more rifle marine poses
Ax
Sounds entirely sensible and civilians armed and unarmed is an excellent idea. Hopefully, given it’s Tet themed so far, we will get some that aren’t in sterotypical black pyjamas and nón lá.
Keen as I am to get the ARVN (please, not all in flack jackets, it limits their usefulness) I suspect it will be better for maintaining general customer enthusiasm if you release the NVA first. Most gamers will want some opposition for their marines. Hoping we will also get some more marine riflemen, in firing poses, to provide variety to the existing packs.
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Agreed with NVA/VC being the first in line. A mix of civilian and military clothes would be top.
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Thanks guys, kind words for the Empress team indeed.
Next sculpts for the next batch of figures is about to start. More USMC.
Empress usually plays its cards close to its chest on what we do but as you guys have been so helpful we can let you know;
Immediately following on from the next batch of USMC we thought some civilians, both armed and unarmed. Then ARVN, then NVA. How does that sound?????? Let us know what you reckon? Note a lot of NVA were fighting in civvies as well as their best newly issued uniforms.
Cannot wait for the ARVN, both early and later versions.
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I have to agree with Carlos et al, having two opposing forces (even if limited) from the start is probably better than completing one side. It might make production sense (both for the sculptor and the painter) but makes putting forces on the table more more difficult. That, at least I think, keeps the enthusiasm going and seeing them on the table (in person or photographs) prompts interest.
I know you have the VM from the French Indochina range.
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Enjoying this ;)
Will respond properly tomorrow when more have expressed an opinion but on board with the comments so far. Got to cut the grass now for the first time this year :o Real life can really ruin a chaps holiday.
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Hrm, I second the notion of having basic models for both sides! I'd like that a lot. :D
But, some LRRP's would also be nice..... ::)
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I love the idea of civilians and ARVAN, but I won't be able to buy much of anything for the next few months. So maybe the NVA and VC might be the better option for those looking for a quick build of two opposing forces. :`
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I would like to see, beside US Marines firing, one of your excellent "characters" pack with medic, radio operator, etc. And some opponents, perhaps armed civilians. In the meantime, I am readying my Vietminh forces (something of an Old Guard by the Tet, I think...).
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My thinking is.
Marines, VC, ARVN, civilians, NVA.
That way you can collect and play quickly.
About 5 years ago I started on TAG figures.
Painted two squads of US then VC.
A few weeks later had doubled the forces.
I my case, being able to play quickly,
kept me painting.
In a few months I had painted about 150 figures.
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Just a note to also praise the company
Ordered figures and was delighted to receive then 2 days after postage
One pack was missing so phoned and had numerous apologies and figures sent out immediately
Courteous professional and exceptional ser ice
Well done and thanks for providing such a great range of eras and quality of figures and service.
Huge thanks for this praise. Really means a lot, shucks we are blushing :-*
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Not to be too demanding, but when can we hope to see some US Army?
If you're taking suggestions, I'd definitely encourage going with NVA before VC. VC was a common enemy for part of the war, but after Tet they ceased to be a real fighting force, meaning that the NVA was a far more prevalent enemy throughout the war.
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If the target is Hue... VC are down on the list.
I think that doing Marines, ARVN (and also VNMC) and Civilians first is a good approach, much better than a bit of everyone. Then do PAVN, then VC, then Australians. Not really understanding the need for armed civlians right now, actually more a need for US Army (or the 1st CAV units operating close to the city). All the AARs on Hue I have read made plenty of reference to well equipped PAVN troops, few VC, no armed civilians. The civilian clothes comments seems spurious to me, it was recently made by Bowden, but his book is not that great in my professional opinion. Other source indicated the PAVN troops entered the city during the truce in civilian dress and then changed. Toward the end of the battle fresh uniform must have been tattered and probably looking like civilian clothes.
There are plenty of ranges already out providing nice VC and PAVN, okay not Paul Hicks' sculpt, but they already provide the opposition.
You want players to be able to do a fairly generic game using nothing but Empress models ASAP rather than having to come up with special rules or use models from other companies.
very very GW/WG approach. Do not care for it. Also considering the range is marketed as Hue rather than generic the comment is quite 'contrarian'. On the other hand I prefer to have the ARVN done as as soon as possible or the Marines completed rather than having the so called 'basic poses.
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I suspect that gamers will be drawn to this Hue range by Bowden’s Hue book (and the forthcoming TV ‘version’ of it). As Bowden makes early reference to VC and to fighters in partial or complete civilian clothing, it might make commercial sense to prioritise them. By way of general example, p.51 of the 2018 paperback version gives descriptions that some gamers might expect to find in a range. :)
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I still really like the idea of armed and unarmed civilians as I'm not intending on solely playing games set in Hue. It will be impossible to keep everyone happy with the planned releases but ultimately it's got to be commercially viable if they want to return anything on the investment, and it is also the range that Empress wanted to do for themselves so I don't doubt that they'll get round to doing something for everyone anyway.
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This is a business person’s approach ;) If you want to equate good business and making money with GW then so be it. This range will not expand unless it makes money or the owners are willing to do it as a labor of love regardless of profits. Saying that we should use other manufacturer’s models to get the toys we want first or niche models is a gamers perspective and easy to say if you’re not flitting the bill. My suspicion is that using Bowden’s book as a free marketing tool and catering to the story it tells is better for business than catering to more individual academic perspectives. Just my 2 cents...
:)If the target is Hue... VC are down on the list.
I think that doing Marines, ARVN (and also VNMC) and Civilians first is a good approach, much better than a bit of everyone. Then do PAVN, then VC, then Australians. Not really understanding the need for armed civlians right now, actually more a need for US Army (or the 1st CAV units operating close to the city). All the AARs on Hue I have read made plenty of reference to well equipped PAVN troops, few VC, no armed civilians. The civilian clothes comments seems spurious to me, it was recently made by Bowden, but his book is not that great in my professional opinion. Other source indicated the PAVN troops entered the city during the truce in civilian dress and then changed. Toward the end of the battle fresh uniform must have been tattered and probably looking like civilian clothes.
There are plenty of ranges already out providing nice VC and PAVN, okay not Paul Hicks' sculpt, but they already provide the opposition.
very very GW/WG approach. Do not care for it. Also considering the range is marketed as Hue rather than generic the comment is quite 'contrarian'. On the other hand I prefer to have the ARVN done as as soon as possible or the Marines completed rather than having the so called 'basic poses.
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There are plenty of ranges already out providing nice VC and PAVN, okay not Paul Hicks' sculpt, but they already provide the opposition.
But will they be acceptable together, and if they are, why would you then buy the figures from Empress?
You want players to be able to do a fairly generic game using nothing but Empress models ASAP rather than having to come up with special rules or use models from other companies.
Also considering the range is marketed as Hue rather than generic the comment is quite 'contrarian'. On the other hand I prefer to have the ARVN done as as soon as possible or the Marines completed rather than having the so called 'basic poses.
I suppose it depends on your definition of generic, I had assumed generic troops (on both sides) at Hue rather than "characters" from Hue (medics, officers etc.).
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At the risk of upsetting people’s ‘professional opinions’ there were undoubtedly significant numbers of of PLAF/NLF (VC) troops deployed in the battle for Hue. They probably accounted for at least a third of the forces deployed and you don’t need to rely on Bowden to come up with that figure.
The only thing I can recall Bowden remarking on when it comes to attire is that the communist forces had been issued with new uniforms. Certainly there were local guides and a smallish number of students and locals joined the fray. Presumably they were not issued with uniforms.
Yes, the PAVN (NVA) formed the core of the US-ARVN opposition and on a personal note I would like to see them sooner but I recognise that the sculpter in any project needs to be given latitude to do what appeals to them. That way the project moves forward and you get the best work from them.
That there is significant enthusiasm for this range should not need saying. Personally, I’ve always found the existing ranges somewhat lacking, I’m sure I’m not alone. The fact that a first rate sculptor is tackling what potentially is a huge subject has clearly inspired a lot of customers and potential ones.
It won’t mean that we won’t adapt or use existing figures where suited to our tastes, I’m already in the process of converting some figures, while I wait for the Empress range.
I say let’s give ‘em their head and be very grateful they are doing this.
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But will they be acceptable together, and if they are, why would you then buy the figures from Empress?
considering we are mixing figures together from the dawn of the hobby, especially in different units... I suspect plenty this habit is not dying soon despite the pearl of wisdom some business expert is throwing to pigs like me...
I buy figures from Empress because:
a) they fit in my collection
b) I like the sculpts and the attention to the detail
c) I like the chaps and chapesses (no I did not invent this... it came from Professor Brian Holden Reid... I just got brainwashed into using it) running the company!
I think a much bigger show stopper is the fact that there are plenty of ranges around (thanks god none from Empress...) that started giving you a couple of basic packs for the opposing sides and then got nowhere. The business' person approach that has been mentioned earlier is just one possibility. In countless forums the merit of bit and dribbles, vs fully fledged force for new ranges have been debated, and, knowing how different each one of us is, basically both sides could be right and wrong at the same time, without the need of being lectured about 'business' approaches.
As the so called 'characters': you need officers, you need RTO, you need medics in games from squad to company size...
And I am sufficiently old to remember posts here bemoaning the lack of decent and complete ARVN offerings in 28mm... in this same forum...
At the risk of upsetting people’s ‘professional opinions’ there were undoubtedly significant numbers of of PLAF/NLF (VC) troops deployed in the battle for Hue. They probably accounted for at least a third of the forces deployed and you don’t need to rely on Bowden to come up with that figure.
sources would be nice... not something I am expecting from the poster too...
<rant mode on>
and I reiterate... Bowden's book is historical crap, and I am not an isolated academic in saying this. I am not saying that all his books are bad, but this one is. Actually I find axabrax comments rather insulting and condescending, while I offered a simple professional opinion. While I can give him some recognition for having sprung some nice new miniatures, I sincerely hope that his arrogant pile of shit will not shape the range (of course not... we have been teased Australians!). Said that we have gamed Hue before Bowden garnered money from it, and probably there will be more gamer doing it without even knowing about the book or the TV... I also doubt the book narrative will be such a driving force in the sales of a new Vietnam range... if it is... well probably I have to reconsider my idea of the intelligence of the average wargamer and bow to 'common wisdom' about our category (yes I read some of the usual comments on wargamers again...).
<rant mode off>
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Ah, the Kevin Kiley school of argument is alive and well. Good oh!
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Man! Somebody woke up angry today!
Anyway, as long as the chaps at Empress do with the range the same they do with their Zulu War or ECW ranges, I will be perfectly happy. Besides I am a slow -very slow- painter, so I guess that NVA/VC will be released before I finish painting whatever US/ARVN is released first.
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Bowden's book is historical crap, and I am not an isolated academic in saying this. I am not saying that all his books are bad, but this one is.
To be honest I don't give a damn about the rest of your rant -it is personal with the other guy, so it's not my business- but this part of your comment got me curious. Why do you say that Bowden's book is crap? Would you point to a review that expands your criticism? I am not an expert in Vietnam War -read just a couple of books, besides Bowden's- so I am surely missing the problems in Bowden's book.
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“On 30 January, some of the enemy shock troops and sappers entered the city disguised as simple peasants . With their uniforms and weapons hidden in baggage , boxes, and under their street clothes, the Viet Cong and NVA mingled with the Tet holiday crowds .* Many donned ARVN uniforms and then took up predesignated positions that night to await the attack signal..”
US Marines in the Vietnam War, The Defining Year 1968, p166.
The USMC Official History.
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Knowing that I am not knowledgeable about the subject, I had to do a search on this site to find out who is this Bowden (his book is mentioned on the Gringos thread not this one).
"Knowledgeable Friend" warnings of course: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Bowden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Bowden)
As they always say, YMMV.
Will the TV series have music by Jan Hammer?
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I will not be mixing figures from the dawn of wargaming, my 30+ year old Platoon 20 figures are not much use ^___^.
Besides the Osprey Campaign book, I have read little on the subject (and I know this and admit it freely). I am more than happy to take into consideration any information anyone graciously offers me.
I bought the French paratroopers way back when they were released because I liked the figures (and bought them from Empress as I had liked their moderns). That (and the aforementioned Platoon 20) are probably the only figures I own over the this period.
So I will be looking for a range of figures that will interest me, and having one side makes it more likely that they will end up sitting in a box.
I understand the frustration in a purported range being advertised and not being delivered. I do wonder whether this has been due to interest fizzling out from the manufacturer or that they have not been financially viable.
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My goodness someone’s very intolerant of views other than his own and takes things very personally. I’ve been on this forum for more than a decade and have just as much right to express myself here as you. I also preordered a bunch of the miniatures. Did you, or are you just wishlisting? This was a pleasant thread until you decided that no one is allowed to disagree with you without it being an affront. I tell you what, I will leave and you can have the floor entirely to yourself and convince everyone that yours is the only right view. Sheesh!
considering we are mixing figures together from the dawn of the hobby, especially in different units... I suspect plenty this habit is not dying soon despite the pearl of wisdom some business expert is throwing to pigs like me...
I buy figures from Empress because:
a) they fit in my collection
b) I like the sculpts and the attention to the detail
c) I like the chaps and chapesses (no I did not invent this... it came from Professor Brian Holden Reid... I just got brainwashed into using it) running the company!
I think a much bigger show stopper is the fact that there are plenty of ranges around (thanks god none from Empress...) that started giving you a couple of basic packs for the opposing sides and then got nowhere. The business' person approach that has been mentioned earlier is just one possibility. In countless forums the merit of bit and dribbles, vs fully fledged force for new ranges have been debated, and, knowing how different each one of us is, basically both sides could be right and wrong at the same time, without the need of being lectured about 'business' approaches.
As the so called 'characters': you need officers, you need RTO, you need medics in games from squad to company size...
And I am sufficiently old to remember posts here bemoaning the lack of decent and complete ARVN offerings in 28mm... in this same forum...
sources would be nice... not something I am expecting from the poster too...
<rant mode on>
and I reiterate... Bowden's book is historical crap, and I am not an isolated academic in saying this. I am not saying that all his books are bad, but this one is. Actually I find axabrax comments rather insulting and condescending, while I offered a simple professional opinion. While I can give him some recognition for having sprung some nice new miniatures, I sincerely hope that his arrogant pile of shit will not shape the range (of course not... we have been teased Australians!). Said that we have gamed Hue before Bowden garnered money from it, and probably there will be more gamer doing it without even knowing about the book or the TV... I also doubt the book narrative will be such a driving force in the sales of a new Vietnam range... if it is... well probably I have to reconsider my idea of the intelligence of the average wargamer and bow to 'common wisdom' about our category (yes I read some of the usual comments on wargamers again...).
<rant mode off>
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To be honest I don't give a damn about the rest of your rant -it is personal with the other guy, so it's not my business- but this part of your comment got me curious. Why do you say that Bowden's book is crap? Would you point to a review that expands your criticism? I am not an expert in Vietnam War -read just a couple of books, besides Bowden's- so I am surely missing the problems in Bowden's book.
Bowden makes the occasional error of detail and there is a definite and unsurprising journalistic approach to the subject. He is far more critical of some of the senior and not so senior leaders in the battle such as Tolson, LaHue, Westmoreland and battalion commanders like Gravel. It's by no means a definitive account but then one doesn't exist and likely never will. What you discern of his agenda or politics, if any, I will leave up to you.
That said it is a very readable account and if only because of its timing, he holds the advantage of having accessed some Vietnamese participants. Something notably absent in Nolan's Hue 1968 or the official publications. Actually, it's a far better book than Nolan's effort, which IMO isn't as well written and is largely uncritical of any decision making by the marines.
YMMV.
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Hi all
I’m, sadly, in no position to argue whether the Bowden book was good or bad (not knowing enough about the subject.... yet) , and it would make a really interesting seperate thread, but can we keep to the subject of the range? From what I have read this thankfully looks like it’s covering a lot more than just Hue (eg Australians?) so why not just let Empress have your wish list for the war? (A vote for Air Cav and NVA from me please!).
Can I just add, Empress + Paul Hicks = fantastic long term project for me. Thanks to all involved! Hell - you bring them out in whatever order you want... just keep ‘em coming!
“Happiness is a cool LZ”!
Cheers all!
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Aaand, just like that I am drawn to a period of history that I have never showed any interest in gaming before.
Even bought the Bowden book.
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Hi all
I’m, sadly, in no position to argue whether the Bowden book was good or bad (not knowing enough about the subject.... yet) , and it would make a really interesting seperate thread, but can we keep to the subject of the range? From what I have read this thankfully looks like it’s covering a lot more than just Hue (eg Australians?) so why not just let Empress have your wish list for the war? (A vote for Air Cav and NVA from me please!).
Can I just add, Empress + Paul Hicks = fantastic long term project for me. Thanks to all involved! Hell - you bring them out in whatever order you want... just keep ‘em coming!
“Happiness is a cool LZ”!
Cheers all!
Hear! Hear!
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This isn't a board I look after, but in the interests of keeping this thread about the miniatures from Empress and with my moderator's hat on, please do not turn it into an argument about personal opinions on Bowden's book, etc, etc. If you want to take it up on pm or some other way, that's up to you.
Let's get back to the figures.
Thank you
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Returning to the trail...
Thank you a lot, Empress Miniatures and Paul Hicks, for these really nice miniatures. Now, to buy, paint and play with them. :)
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Just received an email from Empress, that my minis are on their way!
I need to find them a spot in my painting schedule. As they are not that many, I think that I will stop my other projects for a couple of weeks and paint the US Marines. Thus, I will be ready for the next release.
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WOW :o This got exciting lol
I very much enjoyed Bowdens book and look forward to the planned TV series. If it lives up to Band of Brothers I will be very happy.
HOWEVER o_o
The research for this range is not limited to one book or its impending TV series (if it actually happens.) The book is a very good read but is written to be readable to a wider audience than military historians. Its a real page turner. This is usually concerning as it means that the writer 'may' make his most important priority selling copies rather than writing the truth, which may be a little boring. I an not suggesting that this is what the writer did but the greatest complain that I have about the book is what is not mentioned much. That's the part the ARVN played in the battle. Was this because the writer believed his US audience would not be so interested? We can only guess. I like reading Stephen Ambrose books but they are clearly written in a popularist way. Nothing wrong with that but its always in the back of my mind when I read the books.
Please note that the range is not based upon the book but it has been inspirational.
The range is currently Hue. As time goes by it will be other areas of the conflict. If you look back in a few years I would hope that Hue would be a chapter within a large book (range)
However back to the question I asked and the many great ideas.
We are currently sculpting another 30 plus USMC. Next main section will be...................roll of drums............civvies/ armed civvies Fireworks please. 8) These will be carrying older weapons so that they also work for FIC. These will be in a mix of town and country clothes.
Because of the way we work and to stop sculptors getting bored, we will be continuing USMC at the same time.
After that its whether its ARVN or NVA. ???
Lastly please do not fall out but play nice. As a company Empress walked away from most forums because of all of the unnecessary attitude. This thread is us coming back for another go. Lets keep it fun Love you all :) :-*
Cheers, Paul
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WOW :o This got exciting lol
I very much enjoyed Bowdens book and look forward to the planned TV series. If it lives up to Band of Brothers I will be very happy.
HOWEVER o_o
The research for this range is not limited to one book or its impending TV series (if it actually happens.) The book is a very good read but is written to be readable to a wider audience than military historians. Its a real page turner. This is usually concerning as it means that the writer 'may' make his most important priority selling copies rather than writing the truth, which may be a little boring. I an not suggesting that this is what the writer did but the greatest complain that I have about the book is what is not mentioned much. That's the part the ARVN played in the battle. Was this because the writer believed his US audience would not be so interested? We can only guess. I like reading Stephen Ambrose books but they are clearly written in a popularist way. Nothing wrong with that but its always in the back of my mind when I read the books.
Please note that the range is not based upon the book but it has been inspirational.
The range is currently Hue. As time goes by it will be other areas of the conflict. If you look back in a few years I would hope that Hue would be a chapter within a large book (range)
However back to the question I asked and the many great ideas.
We are currently sculpting another 30 plus USMC. Next main section will be...................roll of drums............civvies/ armed civvies Fireworks please. 8) These will be carrying older weapons so that they also work for FIC. These will be in a mix of town and country clothes.
Because of the way we work and to stop sculptors getting bored, we will be continuing USMC at the same time.
After that its whether its ARVN or NVA. ???
Lastly please do not fall out but play nice. As a company Empress walked away from most forums because of all of the unnecessary attitude. This thread is us coming back for another go. Lets keep it fun Love you all :) :-*
Cheers, Paul
Thanks for the heads up. Paul.
It looks like the range will be comprehensive. As you are focusing on Hue, will you plan including vehicles too? I am thinking Ontos, to be precise.
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Excellent post Paul
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Yes, thanks for the information.
I can understand how it can be exasperating to watch a thread disappear down a fiery rabbit hole. We will try and behave.
I look forward to seeing how this range progresses.
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I have just bought a secondhand copy of "Ambush Valley: Vietnam 1965-1975 (Force on Force)" so that I can work out some army lists.
...then I will place an order.
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Anyone with TAG Nam figures and the new Empress marines fancy doing a comparison photo?
Really like the look of those marines but only if they look ok next to my NVA/VC
Cheers
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@Steders
"Really like the look of those marines but only if they look ok next to my NVA/VC"
When you game with them, they will usually be at least a foot (30cm) apart, so I am sure that the difference in sculpting style will not be a huge problem.
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ARVN miniatures are the real missing in action in the market.
and a good patton tank model
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I have just bought a secondhand copy of "Ambush Valley: Vietnam 1965-1975 (Force on Force)" so that I can work out some army lists.
...then I will place an order.
Just be aware that while the authors were on fairly firm ground with the US forces, everything else should be taken with large grains of salt.
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Just be aware that while the authors were on fairly firm ground with the US forces, everything else should be taken with large grains of salt.
AGREED. ;)
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Just be aware that while the authors were on fairly firm ground with the US forces, everything else should be taken with large grains of salt.
I will make a note of that. I am thinking of it as a good starter to the period as I already know the rules.
(actually, it will take me a while to get back into the game and all those reaction effects)
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Well, I have loved everything I've seen of this range so far so I'm sure the rest will be great too! I'd love to get painting on those infantry....they look so damn good. I know others have asked for command and medics for the USMC, which I second. I'd also like to see some more "disheveled" looking Marines. Like they've been at it a while. Shirts off, no helmets, pants over their boots, that sort of thing. Could help to lend variety to the infantry too....
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ARVN miniatures are the real missing in action in the market.
and a good patton tank model
Amen to that.
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Amen to that.
Yep.
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'dishevelled' is planned in the next batch. lol
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'dishevelled' is planned in the next batch. lol
There's no shortage of photos for inspiration. Really looking forward to seeing them.
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Thank you everyone for all the positive comments on the figures so far. Looking forward to getting to grips with the next phase. I’ve been watching PBS’ The Vietnam War documentary for primary source material for the battle of Hue to get the feel.
Thanks again
Pail
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Not read Bowden's book yet, but for those looking for great reads about the Vietnam War then I can highly recommend:
'A Rumor of War' by Philip Caputo, 'Chickenhawk' by Robert Mason & 'The 13th Valley' by John M. Del Vecchio
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Thank you everyone for all the positive comments on the figures so far. Looking forward to getting to grips with the next phase. I’ve been watching PBS’ The Vietnam War documentary for primary source material for the battle of Hue to get the feel.
Thanks again
Pail
Don‘t forget „Full metal jacket“ as a source for your figures
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phase line green was a pretty good book to about the battle of Hue.
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'dishevelled' is planned in the next batch. lol
Cool. 1000 yard stare and everything, hopefully.
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I've started watching the Ken Burns series from the start. It's on Netflix. I'm about half way through the Bowden book.
If Empress are looking outside of Hue too, then the 1965 Ia Drang encounters during the Pleiku campaign could be a good basis? Hal Moore's book is a gripping (and in places harrowing) read.
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I've started watching the Ken Burns series from the start. It's on Netflix.
I will have to look out for that.
I finally found my 1990 Osprey Campaign book on Tet. I suspect there have been a lot of changes since that was published.
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Alongside the Bowden book - which I enjoyed simply because it gives a lot space to the perspective and actions of the National Liberation Front - a good accompaniment was the Eric Hammel photo book “Marines in Hue City, A Portrait Of Urban Combat, Tet 1968”. I got the electronic version.
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I've started watching the Ken Burns series from the start. It's on Netflix. I'm about half way through the Bowden book.
If Empress are looking outside of Hue too, then the 1965 Ia Drang encounters during the Pleiku campaign could be a good basis? Hal Moore's book is a gripping (and in places harrowing) read.
Yes that's one of the earlier fights we have targeted.
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Yes that's one of the earlier fights we have targeted.
Excellent! There are so many moments and people in that book for inspiration. Battalion HQ in particular! What a pack that would make.
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Yeah. I love the sergeant major.
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Yeah. I love the sergeant major.
Yes! Basil Plumley, he'd be very distinctive.
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Received my parcel today, in real the figures look better. Wonderful and full of character. Great work from Paul again.
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Received my parcel today, in real the figures look better. Wonderful and full of character. Great work from Paul again.
Excellent news. ;)
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Placed an order ::)
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Me too :D
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Working on the next batch of 8 M16s!
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Working on the next batch of 8 M16s!
Excellent
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Working on the next batch of 8 M16s!
Brilliant!
Will be models with the M14 too?
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Brilliant!
Will be models with the M14 too?
Yes but for our earlier USMC range that will be done later.
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Yes but for our earlier USMC range that will be done later.
No problem. I am a very slow painter, thus I will have time to finish painting the chaps with M16s before the M14s are released. :-*
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Yes but for our earlier USMC range that will be done later.
I can die content at last! Early war, 1965 era marines has been a long held dream. Two for the price of one, you can use ‘em for the Dominican Republic.
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I can die content at last! Early war, 1965 era marines has been a long held dream. Two for the price of one, you can use ‘em for the Dominican Republic.
Yes! I knew are years of waiting would pay off!
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Order placed. :)
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Thanks guys. We have been pondering the idea that Empress Miniatures should branch away from its usual style of playing its cards completely close to its chest and write a mission statement (I hate that phrase o_o ) about where we plan to take the entire range.
We have a reputation for not doing things by half and we certainly plan to cover off a LOT of the conflict, which when linked to our French Indo China range will pretty much give customers huge options to fight the conflict over a very long period. Obviously many will not wish to dip more than a toe in the water and will wish to only concentrate on one section of the conflict, usually driven by external forces such as books, films, wargames club campaigns, etc. Whilst the megalomaniacs like me will want everything!!!!
Plus we must be commercial in what we do which when added to the time constraints can make things appear to the outsider to be quite slow. (From inside its controlled mayhem. lol )
It also allows customers to make their own commercial decisions as our range will be created to be stand alone. Obviously customers will/ may wish to mix manufacturers , as is their desire, but sometimes the simple fact will be that other companies products will just not work due to size issues. For example whilst sorting out vehicle options I am concerned that our traditional 1/50 scale vehicle scale may be just too big. 1/56th is too small so we are considering producing a range of vehicles to fit the figures. Probably somewhere in the middle of those scales. This concern came about when looking at the Corgi Patton which we expected to be perfect but is actually quite big. 1/48 scale will be huge to our mind.
What do you think?
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My opinion on vehicle scale is to stick with 1/50 scale, partly this is selfish on my part because some of the models I want for other periods and partly because I suspect other customers will also be of a similar mind.
I assume your existing WW2 jeep is 1/50 and that looks fine with your existing post war figures.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JswWk1244FI/WtTnKyatwPI/AAAAAAAADlg/wt2iiRq113covgGcr5D0PtcESOawcrupQCLcBGAs/s1600/empbritcrew2.png)
Your existing WW2 Jeep with your modern British vehicle crew.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ysIizthMphY/WtTnKw7__2I/AAAAAAAADlk/6fe6KjgBitoK7Mq7Ox3mSZ_EgMVnm4nNACLcBGAs/s1600/empbritcrew3.png)
Tanks are big and should dominate the table.
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Cleaned up and based my first squad last night. Gorgeous minis. Can't wait for more variety to fill out the platoon.
On vehicles I would agree with UVS - I would prefer 1/50th too :)
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I haven't a real opinion about that apart that 1:48 simply is too big for 28mm.
I've the corgi patton, is beatiful and gorgeous
(https://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56320442_641326286305501_7805961962214391808_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-mxp1-1.xx&oh=6ffc01b7da59eab6b048e7616bbbb14f&oe=5D3D3208)
but it simply doesn't fit to the scale (miniatures are tag's, baker's and some parfield's)
(https://scontent-mxp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56161749_641332689638194_3125004155731574784_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-mxp1-1.xx&oh=03b40652cb8b8edcd04391bb93f3fbff&oe=5D0AC0D3)
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I would also like 1/50 in order to be able to combine with other models. A properly based 28mm look perfect beside a 1/50 vehicle, even if the vehicle interior might be a bit spacious
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My two pennorth worth is stick to 1/50. It works well enough with 28mm figures and it has definite advantages from a commercial point of view. You already have an established range of vehicles in 1/50. Wargamers, being the gadflies that they are, will likely mix things from your Vietnam and modern ranges for other conflicts. You already do M-113s, M-106s etc.
Customers are also likely to mix with other ranges. Solido, TAG and the new Gringo 40 ranges are all in the 1/48-1/50 bracket. Going somewhere else seems a bit perverse. Gaining leverage from other ranges seems sensible.
Personally, I’m not wedded to any given scale, I freely mix ‘n’ match but that has more to do with availability than anything else. That said, given the choice I’d like to see a standardised scale and 1/50 seems to be the choice of most existing manufacturers.
Dunno whether the Corgi sits high on its suspension (a problem with at least one well known 1/35 kit) but it is worth pointing out that the M-48 is a honking big vehicle.
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As one whose vehicle collection for Nam is mostly Corgi, I would be disappointed to see you change scales for other vehicles. I have hunted high and low for their M-48, trucks and Gun trucks only to find that their M113s and Jeep/Mutts were 1/43 and did not match in any way.
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Please go with 1/50.
I have a large number of Corgi 1/50 scale.
I find they go well with my TAG figures.
But, it does not bother me if the scale is a little off.
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I’ll chime in as a contrarian without an existing NAM collection. I prefer smaller vehicles and so am unlikely to buy anything as ‘large’ as 1/50 (the civilian vehicles I’ve already acquired are 1/55). TBH as I’m concentrating on max-platoon level street fighting in Hue, for scene setting and street cover civilian vehicles are perhaps more important to me though if there was a Mule (preferably in recoilless and supply/casevac versions) and an Ontos in a scale that worked for me I’d almost certainly buy them.
As to where on the scale range the optimum market resides, I have no idea :D
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I shall be delivery another 8 M16 Rifleman to Empress Miniatures at Salute.
Paul
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There is so much scope for this that it could keep you going for years.
I'd be happy with 1:50 for the vehicles too.
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I shall be delivery another 8 M16 Rifleman to Empress Miniatures at Salute.
Paul
great news Paul
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I shall be delivery another 8 M16 Rifleman to Empress Miniatures at Salute.
Paul
Fantastic 😀
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Figures delivered. I think these are better than the first lot!
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Figures delivered. I think these are better than the first lot!
Pictures!!! Please.... ;D ;D ;D
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Figures delivered. I think these are better than the first lot!
8)
Can't wait to see them.
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I think the usual scale of 1/56 would be nice. Could bolster some stuff with Warlord vehicles as well. But just my opinion! ;)
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I picked up a couple of packs a Salute.
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Still in recovery mode from Salute, which was its usual bonkers madness :o
We will of course stick with 1/50th scale.
Got the next 8 Marines and the next 4 are finished and others being completed so the sausage machine is turning.
I will put pictures up of the new figures in a few days so enjoy the anticipation. ;D
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Looking forward to the next packs being available.
If you can say, how many packs of '68 marines are you looking at? Or to put it another way, how many duplicated poses should we expect in a full platoon? Debating whether to bite the bullet when the next set of packs come out and order enough to fill out the platoon, or buy a few packs at a time and work squad by squad?
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Looking forward to the next packs being available.
If you can say, how many packs of '68 marines are you looking at? Or to put it another way, how many duplicated poses should we expect in a full platoon? Debating whether to bite the bullet when the next set of packs come out and order enough to fill out the platoon, or buy a few packs at a time and work squad by squad?
Got another 16 x M16 , 4 x Bloopers, 4 x M60.
Plus other packs.
Lock and Load. Another sculpt and lots more to come.
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Mighty fine and the range is growing super quickly! :-*
I'm very tempted to get some of those, they have so much character and cool poses!
What does this imply for your other ranges though? I really hope to see a few more WW2 germans and brits ;D
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Mighty fine and the range is growing super quickly! :-*
I'm very tempted to get some of those, they have so much character and cool poses!
What does this imply for your other ranges though? I really hope to see a few more WW2 germans and brits ;D
No more Brits due in about a month and more German planned in the months to come. All the equipment for the figures now sculpted across the ranges so no hold ups apart from the usual time constraints etc.
So start buying lol
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No more Brits due in about a month and more German planned in the months to come.
Not sure I quite understand.
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I really like that figure. With the new batch there's plenty of options for a platoon. I sense some command / character packs soon? :D
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Nice figure.
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Not sure I quite understand.
I think it was "no, more Brits due in about a month", as in "no, we're no ignoring WWII, we will be on with more Brits in about a month".
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I think it was "no, more Brits due in about a month", as in "no, we're no ignoring WWII, we will be on with more Brits in about a month".
Phew!
Thanks.
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There were designated spaces for lots more Nam and LW WW2 in the Empress display cabinet at Salute.
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My Marines came in the mail a few days ago.
Lovely figures.
Really like the new figure posted.
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Got another 16 x M16 , 4 x Bloopers, 4 x M60.
Plus other packs.
Lock and Load. Another sculpt and lots more to come.
I do like that figure. ‘ With a twenty round magazine.... Load! Cock, tilt, look.........’
Hoping that the full range will bevin the hands of your Australian distributor in the not too distant future. I haven’t been this excited about a new range in a long while although I do hope it doesn’t prevent Paul sculpting some more Czechs for Emil.
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Excellent news, on both the USMC and late war Brits :D
Now, when can we expect some NVA and VC for them to face off against ;D :D ?
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Excellent news, on both the USMC and late war Brits :D
Now, when can we expect some NVA and VC for them to face off against ;D :D ?
NEWS UPDATE Just experimenting cloning Paul Hicks. The extra arms super glued onto him over the weekend did not work :'( lol
However here is another new Marine;
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I do like that figure. ‘ With a twenty round magazine.... Load! Cock, tilt, look.........’
Hoping that the full range will bevin the hands of your Australian distributor in the not too distant future. I haven’t been this excited about a new range in a long while although I do hope it doesn’t prevent Paul sculpting some more Czechs for Emil.
Wait. Who makes/sales WW2 Czechs?
And lovely new Devil Dogs. lol
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Wait. Who makes/sales WW2 Czechs?
PM'd horcata/Bohemia troops link so as not to disrupt thread tooo much :)
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It's getting better and better! Very dynamic and great little details! ;D
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Thanks guys lots more to come in the coming days. One figure per day as that seems to be the way these things are done. 8)
However I fear that actual release will be quicker than we can show the sculpts lol
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And another ;)
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The eight I have look great in the metal, the new ones look great.
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Some more great poses! Funnily enough I was watching the Ken Burns Vietnam series last night and think I may have spotted the inspiration for the helmet accoutrements of one figure in one particular scene in Hue - which is good as I couldn't work out from the figure what was going on there! :)
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these are more then tempting! Were would you get the helis like the Bell UH from? Which scale would you use?
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Search on Ebay for Corgi Helicopters, the ones for 28mm are 1/48 scale.
these are more then tempting! Were would you get the helis like the Bell UH from? Which scale would you use?
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And another.
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Some more great poses! Funnily enough I was watching the Ken Burns Vietnam series last night and think I may have spotted the inspiration for the helmet accoutrements of one figure in one particular scene in Hue - which is good as I couldn't work out from the figure what was going on there! :)
Bingo! Been pausing that episode a lot.
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Funny enough I was just watching the 1970 - 73 episode last night (2nd time) very political but incredibly interesting. Great documentary. Second only to his one on the ACW.
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these are more then tempting! Were would you get the helis like the Bell UH from? Which scale would you use?
Well for the marines, at least of this era you really want a CH-46 Seaknight. Luckily for you New Ray make one in 1/55. You’ll have to repaint it but it’s a decent toy. The marines did use the UH-1 E as a gunship and a C&C and general duties bird. It’s essentially an aluminium version of the UH-1B and C. Revell make the gunship in 1/48, Hobby Boss make the slick version of the UH-1C in the same scale. It’s a cheap option and a easy-build kit.
If you want earlier helos for when Empress do early war marines both Revell and Italeri make CH-34s as dies Academy IIRC. Academy also make the CH-46 but it ain’t cheap or a quick knock together kit. Best off going with the New Ray toy.
Back on track, those poses keep getting better and better. I love this range.
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WOW great information on Choppers lol Very useful.
We plan to do crew etc for them in a future section of the range - Air Cav.
Thanks for the supportive comments as well very much appreciated. :-*
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This is just getting better and better :-* :-* :-*
Will you also offer platoon deals?
Otherwise I could see myself subscribing to all new Vietnam releases. Back in the Dark ages Guernsey Foundry had such a scheme when Copplestone did all the Darkest Africa miniatures.... just a thought...(I still have a hundred or so unpainted models from those days :D )
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Ooorah!
(https://i.ibb.co/pxdRvx5/DDEEBA61-87-F8-4855-A5-D2-30-FC2-D09070-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JKHyRKg)
(https://i.ibb.co/wY6hdkL/BFA42768-EDB7-4301-AA24-BB28-B8534527.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b7d5603)
My first attempt but I’ve done some more already. I’ll open a new thread for my Nam project later and update it as and when.
Lovely figures 😎
Cheers
Andy
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Love it! Great work on him :-*
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Great work Andy. :-*
Are you going to do a painting guide with colour references?
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Great work Andy. :-*
Are you going to do a painting guide with colour references?
second that, I would really like to have the recipe. He look like the real thing :-*
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Great work Andy! Love to see the sculpts brought to life.
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Thanks all!
Love the sculpts, they really paint themselves.
I’ll do a little tutorial for them later. It is fairly simple to get them look this way.
(https://i.ibb.co/GHyNK1P/ED0-EE72-C-08-CF-4588-8716-2983-EB129131.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y0mwzKj)
Cheers
Andy
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Lovely work :-*
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Really liking those paint jobs. A tutorial would be much appreciated, even though I'm not going to be able to match your quality!
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Fantastic paintwork. I said it on fb and I'll say it again here :D
Can't wait to start painting my first squad tomorrow night!
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Nice figures again.
Nice paint job SP, I look forward to your thread.
Interesting about the choppers.
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Are you going to do a painting guide with colour references?
That would be helpful.
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Time for another sculpt preview. ;)
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Excellent again! The details like the ripped cloth cover on the helmet are so good!
I must say also that I really love the daily picture of a new mini! Really gets the excitement going :-* :-*
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The only thing that I don't like about this range is the way that the packs are put together.
From the scenarios in Force on Force book "Ambush Valley", it looks like a typical unit is a lot of men with M16, plus one M60 GPMG and one with M79.
However, NAM 3 has 3 x M60 and NAM 4 is 4 x M79 grenade launchers.
I only need one or two of each. A mixed weapons pack would be more convenient.
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The only thing that I don't like about this range is the way that the packs are put together.
From the scenarios in Force on Force book "Ambush Valley", it looks like a typical unit is a lot of men with M16, plus one M60 GPMG and one with M79.
However, NAM 3 has 3 x M60 and NAM 4 is 4 x M79 grenade launchers.
I only need one or two of each. A mixed weapons pack would be more convenient.
With WW2 and Nam we looked at the conflict and decided that doing the packs by weapon instead of fire teams enabled gamers to pick what they want. Few rules systems seem to adopt the same stats for units and we have had issues in other ranges, eg moderns, and SCW where rules sets demand huge numbers of a certain weapons, way above any historic evidence. This way the gamer just buys what he wants. He can discard a few of the figures but to be honest if you look at actual battle pictures its very common to see blooper teams or multiple M60's in action. Especially in Hue.
Also some gamers like to use certain weapons such as MG's set up in action and separate figures moving.
Currently under production will be another 16 M16 sculpts plus 4 more bloopers and 4 more M60 's.
There will then be officers, RTO, specialist weapons, LAWS, personalities etc. When the Marines are finished it will balance pretty well.
Empress's aim has always to give gamers as much choice as we can so that their units look realistic we believe that this way of doing things achieves that. Plus we had a few customers on here especially ask us to do it so we had no option lol
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Totally agree with that! I also like to have many different poses on.special weapons to avoid duplicates if I build a larger group.
Also these poses are often varied and it is nice to have a variety of poses to build little scenes (for LPL entries or blog posts).
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Agreed with Empress. I ordered 1 pack each M79s and M60s; with that I will have enough for a couple of platoons. Also, the spares come handy to depict scenarios where you want a reinforced platoon, or perhaps a firebase under attack, ecc. Better to have more than less
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I personally also like availability by weapon. The variation in rule organisation, etc makes it difficult to keep everyone happy otherwise.
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Multiple poses are good. It also means not having to buy the same pack multiple times for just one figure (mumble mumble early war, late war....).
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I don’t mind the weapons packs. There were, at TO&E paper strength, 3X M-79s in a USMC rifle platoon. Strictly speaking, there were no M-60s, these were attached from the company weapons platoon which held six, although, typically, they were parcelled out by pairs to each rifle platoon, two guns and crews to each of the three platoons.
If you want to field a full, TO&E, marine rifle platoon plus guns you are looking at around 55 figures by the time you add in the attached gun crews. With that in mind, having one extra M-79 and one extra M-60 hardly seems a great impost does it?
Having chaps firing LAWs/ SRAAWs is nice but I still think you would do well to sell an accessories pack or two with LAWS, extra water bottles, claymore bags and the like. Then folk can individualise the figures even further. No biggy if you don’t. There are existing sources for those of us that like doing conversions/ customisations.
Like the latest figure but one point, can we have less helmets with foliage bands? Photos of Hue and elsewhere do show them of course but typically, the Marines didn’t use them, another distinction vis a vis the US Army.
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I quite enjoy the foliage bands as they look so typical for Vietnam.
But indeed in many pictures taken during the battle of Hue are marines without them. I definitely would like a set or two of separate heads so one can customise. Pretty please :)
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I quite enjoy the foliage bands as they look so typical for Vietnam.
But indeed in many pictures taken during the battle of Hue are marines without them. I definitely would like a set or two of separate heads so one can customise. Pretty please :)
On it;) but not the separate heads.
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Attaboy!
8)
But pleeeeeaaaase do separate heads as well. Just a few bare ones, generic covered helmets and boonie hats... :-*
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Time for another sculpt.
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I quite enjoy the foliage bands as they look so typical for Vietnam.
But indeed in many pictures taken during the battle of Hue are marines without them. I definitely would like a set or two of separate heads so one can customise. Pretty please :)
I just assumed these sculpts were generic "grunts". Is there anything about them that makes them unauthentic for US Army?
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Someone more knowledgeable might correct me but IIRC, fragmentation vests and respirator cases are associated with the USMC in Hue.
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I’m not aware of army units wearing the M-1955 flak vest.
They had the M-1969 vest with the stand up collar later but I’m not sure army units would have been issued body armour as standard at this stage.
But I’m sure there are more qualified people here to answer your question ;)
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On the subject of respirators, will there be heads with respirators? Osprey's Campaign 4 mentions the use of CS grenades during Hue and hence the requirement to be wearing the masks.
Of course YMMV.
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Someone more knowledgeable might correct me but IIRC, fragmentation vests and respirator cases are associated with the USMC in Hue.
They are but only in the sense that they are associated with the marines, whose use of body army was widespread, near universal, for the whole war. There were instances of the marines not using body armour but for the most part they wore it, even in the face of the higher risk of heat casualties.
The army didn’t wear the M-1955 vest for the simple reason that it was a USMC specific item. They did wear the not dissimilar M-1952 but far less frequently than the marines.
Respirator cases as a standard item seems less common from photographic evidence. That said the case could be used for carrying other kit, in the same way as used claymore bags could. As an aside I have an old claymore bag I used to use as a man bag.
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Just thinking about when Paul will start on the VC.....I understand they used armbands to identify themselves to the civilians of Hue. It would be great if you could sculpt these so that we don’t need to attach them, it is really fiddly work ;)....
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MJ6qD4m/245-F11-E0-1922-4-FA5-9556-8911-D1-D32-F5-E.png) (https://postimg.cc/47HLDNbq)
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They are but only in the sense that they are associated with the marines, whose use of body army was widespread, near universal, for the whole war. There were instances of the marines not using body armour but for the most part they wore it, even in the face of the higher risk of heat casualties.
The army didn’t wear the M-1955 vest for the simple reason that it was a USMC specific item. They did wear the not dissimilar M-1952 but far less frequently than the marines.
Respirator cases as a standard item seems less common from photographic evidence. That said the case could be used for carrying other kit, in the same way as used claymore bags could. As an aside I have an old claymore bag I used to use as a man bag.
Thanks Carlos, for the correction/clarification and extra info
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Just thinking about when Paul will start on the VC.....I understand they used armbands to identify themselves to the civilians of Hue. It would be great if you could sculpt these so that we don’t need to attach them, it is really fiddly work ;)....
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MJ6qD4m/245-F11-E0-1922-4-FA5-9556-8911-D1-D32-F5-E.png) (https://postimg.cc/47HLDNbq)
Most seem to have used small coloured cloth strips pinned or sewn to their upper sleeve. The Catherine Leroy photos in Life Magazine bear this out. Three twists of greenstuff, three fine bits of lead foil or just paint. Bing, bang, bosh!
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To answer a few questions and no doubt miss some. :?
The NVA used coloured ribbons as Carlos says. In the scene in Full Metal Jacket there is a NVA corpse in a chair. If you look at his shoulder he has the ribbons stitched on.
Gas masks. The CS Gas was initially used in an unplanned way as a Marine officer found a CS gas mortar in a crate and thought it would be useful in house clearance. When he asked the assembled Marines if they had their gas masks only a few said yes. However it worked and they developed the usage. We thought about a simple head sprue of Gas mask heads. Saves on painting faces lol
Helmet head bands were against Marine regs however there a lot of pictures of Marines with them on. The next sculpted batch will be without to balance the ratio....... however they do look cool.
Figure of the day;
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Brilliant range of figures!
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Thanks for the clarifications. Bing, bang, bosh, I like that :D
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Thanks for the clarifications. Bing, bang, bosh, I like that :D
I agree completely
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In the early 1970's we had headbands for our helmets.
In fact in 1972 I found a black one inch rubber band
that I wore for about a year.
No one told me not to wear it.
In fact a number of officers wanted one.
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Yes, thanks for the clarification.
Head sprues will be useful.
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I second the need for head sprues :)
Bare, helmets, boonie hats.
Please!
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I second the need for head sprues :)
Bare, helmets, boonie hats.
Please!
You would;)
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And another ;D
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Some 'action' pictures.
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Very cool
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Please can we have some more pictures of the buildings - they look very good and I want to make some. ;)
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Great photos.
I was just wondering if there are there any plans for a huey crew? A pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and gunner would be good for scenarios and tabletop flavour.
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Excellent photos.
Love the new figures.
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Excellent photos.
Love the new figures.
Yes!
Are the buildings off the shelf, bespoke or a future range?
Are the fences Renedra?
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The fences are Empress.
One of the buildings is sarissa but heavily changed. The rest are scratch built. I had planned to do a range in resin for French Indo China but never did. They would be in resin not MDF though.
Yes plans for Chopper crews. Probably when we get to Air Cav.
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Yes, that would make sense to include the helo crew in the air cav releases.
Thanks for the reply.
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Please can we have some more pictures of the buildings - they look very good and I want to make some. ;)
some pictures of a game taken a few years ago that include the buildings plus others.
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Thanks for the info.
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Thank-you for the pictures
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Chopper crew would be fantastic!
But do we get actual choppers as well or do we need to source them independently? 1/48 scale models?
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looking excellent. Great pics
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I think I found a ride for my Marines
(https://i.ibb.co/9YsRpYk/9-FE01-FAB-43-BB-4161-A17-B-4-B4-DF3-BC4-EFF.jpg) (https://ibb.co/886Fm8L)
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I think I found a ride for my Marines
(https://i.ibb.co/9YsRpYk/9-FE01-FAB-43-BB-4161-A17-B-4-B4-DF3-BC4-EFF.jpg) (https://ibb.co/886Fm8L)
good kit, I have 3 of them.
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I think I found a ride for my Marines
(https://i.ibb.co/9YsRpYk/9-FE01-FAB-43-BB-4161-A17-B-4-B4-DF3-BC4-EFF.jpg) (https://ibb.co/886Fm8L)
Is that really trying to side lift a Mercury capsule?
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No, it’s trying to drown Gus Grissom. :)
H-34s were indeed what they used for recovering the Mercury capsules. The capsule was at the absolute limit of lift capacity, so when Grissom’s capsule started filling with water it all nearly ended in tears.
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lol
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I agree that separate heads would be an advantage and allow you to "customise" the figures
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I agree that separate heads would be an advantage and allow you to "customise" the figures
Hear hear :D
As bare headed alternatives the Spanish Civil War Range has some pretty good ones.
A bit hippy but that’s 1968 for ya!
(https://i.ibb.co/55HNc2f/2-FD28437-54-E9-4987-9-C27-7-A7-CEC05-C77-F.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
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Well the next 16 figures are nearly finished so that's a total of 40 figures in the range so far. Time for some specials after these. ;)
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A command pack please 8)
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Command pack would be good.
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Will these figures be available at the shows?
I will visit Carronade in Falkirk on 11th May.
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Well the next 16 figures are nearly finished so that's a total of 40 figures in the range so far. Time for some specials after these. ;)
Well I have my TO&E drawn up (platoon plus two M60 crews) and am filling in the slots .... definitely need more riflemen and more M60 support crew plus the command bits :D
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Well I have my TO&E drawn up (platoon plus two M60 crews) and am filling in the slots .... definitely need more riflemen and more M60 support crew plus the command bits :D
I have a feeling you will be happy.
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I have a feeling you will be happy.
:D
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Very. ;)
Well we are anyway. I am particularly lol
Huge thanks to those who have supported the range so far. Never seen any Empress Miniatures range go so huge so quickly. :-*
Cheers, Paul
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:D
Regarding the pack composition that was debated earlier, my own take on is that it works. Of the 16 figures I have received, 14 have made it into my platoon: one M60 gunner was surplus and as I don’t use prone minis he’s gone off to a friend who does, while I’ve kept back a blooper to convert or for parts.
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Very. ;)
Well we are anyway. I am particularly lol
Huge thanks to those who have supported the range so far. Never seen any Empress Miniatures range go so huge so quickly. :-*
Cheers, Paul
Never seen your Australian distributor stock a new range so quickly, so I sense that this will be a very popular range, which on the basis of the sculpts so far, it richly deserves to be.
Funnily enough, had I held off and waited for Elite to stock them rather than arranging a pick up at Salute, I would have had them in my hands earlier. lol
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Never seen your Australian distributor stock a new range so quickly, so I sense that this will be a very popular range, which on the basis of the sculpts so far, it richly deserves to be.
Funnily enough, had I held off and waited for Elite to stock them rather than arranging a pick up at Salute, I would have had them in my hands earlier. lol
That's funny I wondered if you had got them yet :?
The sad thing is that we were pretty slow in sending him the stock as we just got slammed for the stuff. Some of our international distributors got let down with short orders, which is so embarrassing. However we just stocked up .......and I have had to start another order immediately. Oh well its a good problem to have and will certainly help support the range. Paul is buried in research from me bless him. Especially on getting the personalities right which is always a concern. ;D
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Can’t wait to see the personalities. Judging by the Steiner figure set we should be in for a real treat :-*
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Can’t wait to see the personalities. Judging by the Steiner figure set we should be in for a real treat :-*
Oh they will be. ;)
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Time for a couple of the new sculpts.
This time an M60 team on the move.
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I cant take it much longer. No new projects! lol beautiful sculpts
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Lovely touch with the Thompson - very “Hue”! Gives a really individualistic feel to the figures!
Keep ‘em coming please! My wallet can take it..... honest!
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These are very nice figures!!!
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Very nice sculpts.
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Bags of character. Can't wait to see what he does with the command types!
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Cracking stuff. Bit of a bugger though, I hadn’t really planned on two platoons worth of gyrenes. :)
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Some great new figures.
Looking forward to seeing the command guys.
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Gosh..the advancing M60 team is soo cool :-*
I.Can’t. Wait.
Cheers
Andy
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Thanks for the encouragement chaps. This batch will have less helmet bands and a bit more campaign to balance the ratios.
We will have more M60's and Bloopers in this batch to add variety. Its an Empress thing that we like to offer variations to the customer as a lot of ours buy them for model making and simply collecting. Its a detail thing.
Plus we like nice toys here ;)
So best show a new sculpt today then; Difficult to choose but lets go with this guy;
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I cant take it much longer. No new projects! lol beautiful sculpts
Don't fight the urge lol
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WOW
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That's a belter.
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Hmmm. My memory might be failing but I’m pretty sure you can’t break open an M-79 to that extent, unless you are disassembling it. The foregrip wouldn’t be able to get past the receiver. Nice sculpt but Paul might want to throttle back on the angle. Otherwise another lovely bit of work.
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Hmmm. My memory might be failing but I’m pretty sure you can’t break open an M-79 to that extent, unless you are disassembling it. The foregrip wouldn’t be able to get past the receiver. Nice sculpt but Paul might want to throttle back on the angle. Otherwise another lovely bit of work.
You are correct sir which is why I have dropped the picture off. We will change the figure easily but unfortunatly we have had a number of sock puppet issues on our FB from a certain quarter and its detracting from the pleasure of releasing the range so do not wish to gift certain pathetic individuals who seem to lack professional standards an opportunity to make pathetic comments. :?
As said we will change this chap and I will put anothe figure from the stack we have to show later 8)
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Fantastuc miniatures once again! Really love the character of these miniatures and their gritty look!
Also good that the Community helps with insights regarding gear and equipment! Keep on going this really is a great range!
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You are correct sir which is why I have dropped the picture off. We will change the figure easily but unfortunatly we have had a number of sock puppet issues on our FB from a certain quarter and its detracting from the pleasure of releasing the range so do not wish to gift certain pathetic individuals who seem to lack professional standards an opportunity to make pathetic comments. :?
As said we will change this chap and I will put anothe figure from the stack we have to show later 8)
Ignore the idiots - it’s very clear to most of us you are bringing the long awaited “touchstone” Vietnam range to market - keep going. The ars*hole sock puppets making such stupid comments clearly have their own sad little agenda. Ignore them. This range is simply amazing - pat yourself on the back and keep bringing them out - we’ll keep buying! Thanks for all you’re doing!
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Indeed, this really looks like being the benchmark range. I feel I miss nothing by having no social media presence save for a great deal more aggravation than I need.
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Indeed, this really looks like being the benchmark range. I feel I miss nothing by having no social media presence save for a great deal more aggravation than I need.
Very much agreed! ;)
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The pros of the internet is that every one gets to have their say. And this is also the biggest con of the internet. Try not to sweat the critics, your doing a great job with this range.
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Hmmm. My memory might be failing but I’m pretty sure you can’t break open an M-79 to that extent, unless you are disassembling it. The foregrip wouldn’t be able to get past the receiver. Nice sculpt but Paul might want to throttle back on the angle. Otherwise another lovely bit of work.
Thanks for the heads up! Actually would have been easier to sculpt at the 45 degree than what I went for. I just thought it looked more dynamic!:). Thank you all for the positive comments. Planning to rectify the figure today.
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Cracking stuff. Bit of a bugger though, I hadn’t really planned on two platoons worth of gyrenes. :)
I find myself in the same situation >:D
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Indeed, this really looks like being the benchmark range. I feel I miss nothing by having no social media presence save for a great deal more aggravation than I need.
Thanks Carlos. The support means a lot to the team. Its not the guys on here who have all been super supportive its the fact that its trade links acting openly as sock puppets that pretty sad. Oh well you think you know someone but then the truth will out.
Thanks also to Sparrow and Commissarmoody for all of their support over the years.
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So time for another picture of an impending release.
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Nice. I can hear him shouting "Pull!" ^__^.
I suppose using an M576 round would be cheating.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M576_40mm_grenade (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M576_40mm_grenade)
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This is both a general and a specific range question.
What have they got tucked into the bands round their helmets?
My guess (from minimal research) is a radio of some sort, flask, cigarettes, or a wound dressing (or combinations of the above).
Also, to add to the wishlist, please can we have some spare helmets as well as the separate heads? First for when converting to a bare headed figure, and second for adding to vehicles. Thanks.
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Very cool pose once again! I really like the little ammo pouches everywhere as well!
What also would be great would be slightly wounded guys (bandaged heads, arms etc.) and medics (this would also be really really lovely for the WW2 ranges)!
Really looking forward to the next releases to finally place an order o_o lol
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Really like the new M-79 guy.
@Ultravanillasmurt
What was carried in the helmet bands?
Cigarettes, bug juice, gun lube,P-38s (Small can opener).
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@Marine0846: Thanks.
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Some of the best 28mm Nam miniatures I have seen :-*
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Thanks for the heads up! Actually would have been easier to sculpt at the 45 degree than what I went for. I just thought it looked more dynamic!:). Thank you all for the positive comments. Planning to rectify the figure today.
All sorted;)
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Great job on sculpting those 40mm bandoliers
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And here is the changed figure.
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Looks spot on now! Great pose!
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Perfect!
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Perfect!
Seconded; looks spot on. Well played.
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That was a very quick rework and it looks great.
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Thanks guys and well done to Mr Hicks. :-*
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Thanks guys and well done to Mr Hicks. :-*
Absolutely, that's quick work and a great figure.
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Fantastic figure now!!! This second batch is really tempting.
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Just chiming in to say that I absolutely love what Mr. Hicks and you are doing with this range! Can’t wait to see more. ;)
And can’t wait to see the miniatures in the flesh, I just placed an order. :D
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Nice figure.
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That is a super figure-it really captures a moment.
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Thanks guys. Lots more new figures to show and we have just started the first personality.
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Semper Fi.
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Thanks guys. Lots more new figures to show and we have just started the first personality.
Marines have personalities? Who knew? I thought they beat it out of them at Parris Island. :)
Latest figure is another cracker. Finally worked out what I am going to do with all the duplicates. Paint them in ERDL camo to mix with the rest for late 1968 and beyond.
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Finally, I am in!!!
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Finally, I am in!!!
Excellent. You will not regret it dear sir.
Empress currently have about another 13 figures sculpted we have not shown, but will. I have also seen the first personality which is nearly finished and to die for. USMC will continue rolling off the production line and will be joined in about a month or so by civilians for both town and country and almost immediately by armed civilians....Vietcong. Then either NVA or ARVN and of course vehicles. You can of course wait but to be honest if you are waiting for a finish to this range it will be a VERY long time coming. lol
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Those look great...
How many USMC figure packs will you have in total? I saw 4 packs on the website.
Oh man, i have 10mm and 20mm Nam, but I feel a third scale coming in.
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It is good to know there is a plan, and a long term one at that ^__^.
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Those look great...
How many USMC figure packs will you have in total? I saw 4 packs on the website.
Oh man, i have 10mm and 20mm Nam, but I feel a third scale coming in.
I have delivered a further 24 USMC for Empress. They are in the moulding process. That will be an initial 10 packs to start with. 6 M16 and 2 each of Blooper and M60s.
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Cracking looking figures.....I feel a new period coming on. ::)
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Not my period but fantastic none-the-less :-*
But looking at your range, I can't but help think that you need an awfully big marine called Camouflage :o
If you know the song I'm refering too, again lovely stuff
Glen
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And he needs to be wielding a palm tree.
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Any clues on the character figures? There's no shortage of inspiration.
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And he needs to be wielding a palm tree.
Swatting those Charlie's with it! 👍
Glen
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Swatting those Charlie's with it! 👍
Glen
Things are never quite the way they seem...
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Todays Marine is ;D
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Also they have released the first taster for a new film coming out on Long Tan. Called Danger Close, obviously copied from our rule set don't you know lol
Looks good with some excellent attention to detail such as the rubber plantation and the small huts. It will be interesting to see how they cope with in the film with the incredibly heavy rain experienced during the battle.
Also have M16's mixed in with the SLR's plus an Owen SMG which is authentic. Excellent and we have them all made for our ANZAC range coming out in time for the films release if not earlier. Currently deep in research for this range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2eZzKxTWcljl7x-SPmiqkIVAUsBHCYuN-XnMNFyM1eASDrnuc1aPQH6RA&v=AyUqZLwOo2Y&app=desktop
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Todays Marine is ;D
He aint messin about! Even git a hole in his trousers :D
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Also they have released the first taster for a new film coming out on Long Tan. Called Danger Close, obviously copied from our rule set don't you know lol
Looks good with some excellent attention to detail such as the rubber plantation and the small huts. It will be interesting to see how they cope with in the film with the incredibly heavy rain experienced during the battle.
Also have M16's mixed in with the SLR's plus an Owen SMG which is authentic. Excellent and we have them all made for our ANZAC range coming out in time for the films release if not earlier. Currently deep in research for this range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2eZzKxTWcljl7x-SPmiqkIVAUsBHCYuN-XnMNFyM1eASDrnuc1aPQH6RA&v=AyUqZLwOo2Y&app=desktop
Mind if I send you a PM on the topic of research ? It’s a subject close to my heart. I know you will do the best job available, sadly those that have started Australian ranges in the past have buggered things up.
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Yes please. ;)
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I’ll collect my thoughts and pen you a missive.
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Best in e mail.
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I only got three more figures to paint gentlemen and am in need of reinforcements :D
The next batch looks delicious and I can’t wait to get my grubby mittens on them. Tell me when!!
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On there way never fear. Slight delay caused by Easter holidays and sickness but all coming through the never ending production process ;)
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In order to take stock of exactly where we are, mainly because I now have so many sculpts going through the system I have got slightly lost so here is what we have on the latest batch so far.
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More of the current batch shown so far.
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So to clarify there will be a release in a couple of weeks of 24 figures with more coming through at the moment.
Another new sculpt for you to review.
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Exciting
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Sweet :-* :-* :-*
Any chance you will sell separate weapons (M16, M60, M79))?
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Fabulous stuff. :-* Rush consignment to Elite Australia please!
Picking up my first lot tomorrow.
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You will finally get them lol
Any issues give us a shout on mail@empressminiatures.com. We export packed them but its been a long time ;)
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Absolutely brilliant! These have so much character...the guy wih the Thompson is so cool!
Spar weapons, helmets and kit would be really cool to put on vehicles or dioramas etc.
Really exciting! :-*
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Fabulous stuff. :-* Rush consignment to Elite Australia please!
Picking up my first lot tomorrow.
The lads at Elite are fantastic! I live close enough that they walk it to my mailbox from the store ;)
In discussions now with the Minister for War and Finance to acquire funding approval for a new period.
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Nathan at Elite is a great guy. Empress are proud he is on our team.
Carlos's figures went a different route though ;)
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I am so disappointed to hear that; here I was thinking I'd stumbled upon another gamer in my vicinity! :(
Ah well. Back to the drawing board while I wait for Paul to sculpt some OpFor to occupy the USMC.
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You will finally get them lol
Any issues give us a shout on mail@empressminiatures.com. We export packed them but its been a long time ;)
Via Yorkshire and no doubt a few places in between as it happens. The way we went to Beachy Head by way of John o’ Groats. :D
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Their Marines they should travel, its their job lol
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Their Marines they should travel, its their job lol
From The Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of er... Scarborough? Ey up!
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From The Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of er... Scarborough? Ey up!
Mind, if they take a wrong turn at Doncaster, they could end up in Hull...
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Arrived today. Very happy, even nicer in the hand, can’t wait to to put brush to figures. Serendipitously, I just discovered what seems to be the ideal base coat for them. Vallejo Panzer Aces Splinter Strips. (348).
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Oh no... I ordered the first 4 packs and could not resist the waterbuffelo's aslo.
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So I'm being good. Going to be more restrained with my buying. Just purchased some Empress Zulu war as part of a new project. But this bloody thread just eats away. I have an idea. I happen to have the Giants in miniature Platoon figures. I will paint them up and all that olive drab will surely put me off. Just finished the two figures. Very pleased.
All four packs ordered as I knew I would. Sigh.
Two notes:- the Giants in miniature figure from Apocalypse Now is really a giant and if you haven't considered it the Games Workshop app is brilliant even if you don't use the paint's although they are very good for Vietnam type colours.
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Sorry me again. So here it is rather old, painted forever but never played. Can anyone recommend solo rules I have been looking at the new FNG and Charlie Don't Surf. Bearing in mind I'm am an empress junkie so what best suits.
Help appreciated
Frank
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Sorry me again. So here it is rather old, painted forever but never played. Can anyone recommend solo rules I have been looking at the new FNG and Charlie Don't Surf. Bearing in mind I'm am an empress junkie so what best suits.
Help appreciated
Frank
What size game are you looking for (eg how many “toys” on the table)? No expert on rules for Nam but have tried test games over the last 12 months with Force on Force (aka Ambush Alley), Danger Close and the unofficial Nam adaptation for Chain of Command and all gave fun (but different) games. Perhaps we need a Nam Rules thread?
Cheers
Ian
(PS like you I’m an Empress junkie - currently working through their Viet Minh - wonderful figures. Once these are done it’s forward 15 years to the USMC. Can”t wait to see what they do with NVA and Air Cav !)
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http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=115895.0
Here is the thread :)
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Thank you Juan I will read through the thread today and Sparrow in answer to your question I don't really know. There are 16 figures en route and at least another 24 promised then obviously some enemy. I think I want something that can grow with me as I understand the game more.
Regards
Frank
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http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=115895.0
Here is the thread :)
Cheers Juan - let’s move the discussion there.
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Any ideas for a good set of rules to go with this project?
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Jesús...
Perhaps this can be useful, DaveL:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=115895.0
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Arrived today. Very happy, even nicer in the hand, can’t wait to to put brush to figures. Serendipitously, I just discovered what seems to be the ideal base coat for them. Vallejo Panzer Aces Splinter Strips. (348).
excellent news.
Got the Aussie details and will have a good read with a cup of coffee. ;)
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Oh no... I ordered the first 4 packs and could not resist the waterbuffelo's aslo.
Its Nam. You needs lottsa buffalos. lol
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Thank you Juan I will read through the thread today and Sparrow in answer to your question I don't really know. There are 16 figures en route and at least another 24 promised then obviously some enemy. I think I want something that can grow with me as I understand the game more.
Regards
Frank
Trust me its gonna grow!!!!
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Todays model is Fred.
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Figures arrived today, and they look wonderful! :D
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Excellent. ;)
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Excellent once again! The rolled up bedroll / parka (?) on the side is such a great addition! Really liking the 'rag tag' look of these (something I would also like to see on some of the late war GIs o_o)
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Verily lifelike pose :-*
Is he out of ammo? I can see a magazine in his M16..
Which would explain the crouched position and the facial expression. Poor Fred. But no worries, I’ve got a few of your mates who will put down some suppressive fire..keep your head down and come over to me buddy! ;)
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Brilliant! That Mr Hicks is one talented bloke.
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Todays Marine is Henry. lol
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Awesome, I really can't wait for the next packs to be released!
That said the first 4 packs should arrive today - Can't wait for that either. ;)
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;)
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I have started to stockpile plastic plants in order to build jungle terrain. Just because of this thread. Once I have mu jungle built I immagine all of these marines have been released.
So thanks for that.. As if I don't have enough projects...
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Ahh yes, that bittersweet joy of looking at gorgeous miniatures that you know you really shouldnt buy because they dont fit into your existing projects, but know that you'll end up buying anyways.
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Ahh yes, that bittersweet joy of looking at gorgeous miniatures that you know you really shouldnt buy because they dont fit into your existing projects, but know that you'll end up buying anyways.
Know what you mean, but ive decided to sell off my two other projects to fund this one lol
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Know what you mean, but ive decided to sell off my two other projects to fund this one lol
That's what I like to hear lol
SHHHH don't tell anyone but I did that myself a couple of years ago to fund a non Empress obsession. Only done that once before in 50 years of collecting. But sometimes you just have to do it. ;)
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I have started to stockpile plastic plants in order to build jungle terrain. Just because of this thread. Once I have mu jungle built I immagine all of these marines have been released.
So thanks for that.. As if I don't have enough projects...
Did that about three years ago. Spent the summer months making jungle terrain. Forward planning :o
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Latest figures look great but any chance of some slightly more vanilla advancing or firing chaps to bulk out the platoon? The last couple are so distinctive, they’ll stand out as multiples. Thank gawd for the bits box.
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Latest figures look great but any chance of some slightly more vanilla advancing or firing chaps to bulk out the platoon? The last couple are so distinctive, they’ll stand out as multiples. Thank gawd for the bits box.
Yes they are already done.
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This one if Joe.
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That is a really nice figure....it's all getting too tempting
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Hey Joe, where are you going with that gun in your hand..
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Maybe it’s Country Joe?
And it’s one, two, three, what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn
Next stop is Vietnam.......
Be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box.
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And it's five, six, seven,
open up the pearly gates
ain't no time to wonder why,
whoopee we're all gonna die
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lol
As many vets said they had a difficult war but the best sound track.
However worth noting is;
"44 Years Ago Today The Vietnam War Officially Ended! Take A Moment to Remember the 58,220 Lost!" :'(
Note sure about that number as I have heard a lot higher figures for the US alone and it does not include the Vietnamese which is numbered in the millions nor I suspect the other allies. But still an interesting anniversary.
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That number could be right... IIRC, I’ve hear the US suffers around 60000 casualties during the war.
Another number that seems a "little low", is from Ken Burn’s Vietnam war documentary stating that "only" 20% of all US troops involved in the war where "combat units"...
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This is Tony the Marine
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Saw some in the flesh in bare metal and 1 painted up yesterday; luvverly.
When are the Viet Cong guerrillas turning up?
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Empress, I am really impressed. I ordered this weekend.
And today the miniatures allready arrived.
The usual order and shipping experiences I have from the UK to the Netherlands are at least 4 weeks. :o
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Loving this Your Daily Marine thing :-*
You can keep this up pretty much indefinitely :D
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spent all night reading all the pages and drooling over all the figures, now to buy them all and sneak them past the wife lol lol
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Just ordered a small group, start of the madness
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Just ordered a small group, start of the madness
You will not be sorry ;)
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Saw some in the flesh in bare metal and 1 painted up yesterday; luvverly.
When are the Viet Cong guerrillas turning up?
All the figures are designed and weapons made and ready to start sculpting soon when we have done some special Marines. so a few weeks for the start.
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Empress, I am really impressed. I ordered this weekend.
And today the miniatures allready arrived.
The usual order and shipping experiences I have from the UK to the Netherlands are at least 4 weeks. :o
I will pass on your thanks to the Empress Christine ;)
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Todays Marine is Gerald.
He is slightly fuzzy due to in action shot and nervous combat photographer.
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Nice! And sent an order last night for some of these Leather necks.... And a few Late War Scots. lol
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yeah saw that. ;) sent to you yesterday. You should have an e mail with tracking details?
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Got it!
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Nice but Gerald deserves a caption.
‘This might be an uncomfortable way to tote a link belt but the joke is on the gunner. Can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees all the crap I’ve dragged the belt through. Weapon firing, weapon stops. Carry out the IA. Repeat as necessary.’
:D
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lol
That's what happens when they make someone lump the heavy stuff round and people shoot at him.
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Damn it Paul, I’m selling my Vietnam stuff, but this range is making me want to buy it back again
;) lol
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Nice but Gerald deserves a caption.
‘This might be an uncomfortable way to tote a link belt but the joke is on the gunner. Can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees all the crap I’ve dragged the belt through. Weapon firing, weapon stops. Carry out the IA. Repeat as necessary.’
:D
Weapon fires, weapon stops! That takes me back ;)
Another fantastic Hicks sculpt. I'm really excited to see the VC sculpt when they come, but really I'm busting for diggers!
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Just started putting paint to lead. These are truly wonderful figures, some of Paul’s best work. Many thanks to all involved, I see hours of pleasure ahead, well given the usual demands of work, being the cook and dedicated chaffeur.
Now I must report a distinctly unpleasant experience. In between base coating the figures, I decided I should finally finish off my New Ray CH-46. It received a repaint last weekend and on Friday I received a set of 1/72 Print Scale decals. The bird being 1/55, for the most part they look about right. Farrrrrrrrkkkkkk. Applying decals is never my favourite hobby activity but these things were a royal pain. You only had to look at them to curl up. Applying them took me about two hours of precious painting time. Finally I got them all on bar a single buzz number that just imploded. Dried and a coat of varnish later and I’m pretty happy with the result but I doubt I’ll be buying Print Scale decals again. >:(
Hope the ones I’ve ordered for the Skyhawk are easier to work with.
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I received the first four packs on tuesday and I have to say these are truly wonderful! I love the attention to detail, especially the stuff some of these guys have tucked under the helmet bands - My favorite has to be the guy with what I (I hope correctly) interpreted as a "troll doll" strapped to the back of his helmet - Is there a reference photo of that? I'd love to see it! :D
Anyway, here goes:
(https://i.imgur.com/XGc7tya.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kq44BuE.jpg)
I am really looking forward to painting up the next pack - These are a joy to paint!
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I received the first four packs on tuesday and I have to say these are truly wonderful! I love the attention to detail, especially the stuff some of these guys have tucked under the helmet bands - My favorite has to be the guy with what I (I hope correctly) interpreted as a "troll doll" strapped to the back of his helmet - Is there a reference photo of that? I'd love to see it! :D
Anyway, here goes:
(https://i.imgur.com/XGc7tya.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kq44BuE.jpg)
I am really looking forward to painting up the next pack - These are a joy to paint!
Wondered about the same thing! So also interested to any reference there may be. :D
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Nice work.
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I received the first four packs on tuesday and I have to say these are truly wonderful! I love the attention to detail, especially the stuff some of these guys have tucked under the helmet bands - My favorite has to be the guy with what I (I hope correctly) interpreted as a "troll doll" strapped to the back of his helmet - Is there a reference photo of that? I'd love to see it! :D
Anyway, here goes:
(https://i.imgur.com/XGc7tya.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kq44BuE.jpg)
I am really looking forward to painting up the next pack - These are a joy to paint!
Superb work!
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Perfect look! :-* :-* :-*
Would you share the paint recipe?
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Great result, spot on colour choices.
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mrcleh - those are outstanding :-*
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Wonderful painting work!!!
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Fantastic painting on these! The different HUEs of green really make them shine! :-*
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Wonderful painting.
They look great.
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Excellent painting. I'd also be interested in your paint selection as it looks spot on.
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Looking good!
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They look great.
Did you file the casted bases really thin or cut them loose or something?
Your bases look so thin.
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Wow, thank all of you guys for your feedback, very much appreciated! :o
They look great.
Did you file the casted bases really thin or cut them loose or something?
Your bases look so thin.
That might be an optical illusion. :D I didn't file the bases down, I use "Extra Heavy Gel" by Vallejo to smoothen out the transition between the cast on base and the actualy base before I cover the whole base in "Stirland Mud" by Citadel.
Perfect look! :-* :-* :-*
Would you share the paint recipe?
Here are the paints I used:
Shirts and trousers:
1. Vallejo 893 "US Dark Green"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Highlight "US Dark Green"
Flak vests:
1. Citadel "Death World Forest"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Hightlight "Death World Forest"
Webbing, pouches, helmet band, fabric part of the boots:
1. Vallejo 887 "Brown Violet"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Highlight "Brown Violet"
Helmet cover:
1. Citadel "Straken Green"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Green camo spots Vallejo 894 "Camo Olive Green"
4. Broen camo spots Vallejo 983 "Flat Earth" (really just a few small patches, like 3 or so)
I hope that helps!
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Really useful, thank you.
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Excellent! Many thanks!
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Many thanks!
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Nice pjs!
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Thanks for the paint details.
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Here are the paints I used:
Shirts and trousers:
1. Vallejo 893 "US Dark Green"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Highlight "US Dark Green"
Flak vests:
1. Citadel "Death World Forest"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Hightlight "Death World Forest"
Webbing, pouches, helmet band, fabric part of the boots:
1. Vallejo 887 "Brown Violet"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Highlight "Brown Violet"
Helmet cover:
1. Citadel "Straken Green"
2. Wash with Citadel "Athonian Camoshade"
3. Green camo spots Vallejo 894 "Camo Olive Green"
4. Broen camo spots Vallejo 983 "Flat Earth" (really just a few small patches, like 3 or so)
I hope that helps!
Fantastic! These figures are really just Base/Wash/Highlight? They look like you've put significantly more effort into them than that. Well done :)
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Thanks! Yes, they really are just Base - Wash - Highlight. I find this approach works really well with these guys and to me it has the added benefit of actually getting stuff done in a reasonable amount of time. :D
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Fantasic looking figures, deff be stealing that paint scheme 😊😊
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mrcleh@
I found your "troll doll."
Was watching "the Vietnam War" by Ken Burns.
In part Six, "Things Fall Apart" at 43:50, there he is.
Marine firing an M-60 from the shoulder.
Paul Hicks may have taken it from there.
Got to love it, Number one in my book.
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mrcleh@
I found your "troll doll."
Was watching "the Vietnam War" by Ken Burns.
In part Six, "Things Fall Apart" at 43:50, there he is.
Marine firing an M-60 from the shoulder.
Paul Hicks may have taken it from there.
Got to love it, Number one in my book.
Thank you for the heads up and good find!
I watched it about a year ago and thought about watching it again last week when I received these figures. Now I’ll do it for sure!
EDIT:
Couldn’t wait and just had a look at that particular scene. I think that it is very likely Paul Hicks’ inspiration. So it’s not a “troll doll” but something locally made. I’ll have to repaint that part. :D
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Yep that’s where us was from. Paul at Empress asked me to do it on one of the Marines. I would have responded earlier. Figures look fantastic!
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Yep that’s where us was from. Paul at Empress asked me to do it on one of the Marines. I would have responded earlier. Figures look fantastic!
Any chance of some insight as to what's on your desk at the moment? :D
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Wondered about the same thing! So also interested to any reference there may be. :D
WOW wonderful job on these . :-*
Yes there is film of the chap with the doll in his helmet.
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Been a very busy weekend with one thing and another and did not get in from a concert in London until 2am this morning so kinda squidgy brained. :o
Here is todays Marines Dave and Bob.
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so nice.... man this range is gonna cost me a fortune ...
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Thanks for the clarification concerning the reference and your kind words Paul & Paul! :)
Todays Marines look awesome - As usual! :D
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Yes there is film of the chap with the doll in his helmet.
Is that a Landy in the background?
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Is that a Landy in the background?
Certainly looks like it.
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Is that a Landy in the background?
I checked back against wider shot from the footage..... it isn’t a Landy :'(
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... it isn’t a Landy :'(
Boo... so disappointed
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Boo... so disappointed
You guys are in luck - Same episode, just a little later:
(https://i.imgur.com/hwNL43P.jpg)
Now that is a Landy for sure!
EDIT:
You can't make this up - I am currently reading "Fire in the streets" by Eric Hammel during my commutes. Just now on the way home I discovered this:
(https://i.imgur.com/5Y85jgS.jpg)
That sure does look like a Landy in the background as well. :D
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Couple of great shots there; I can see this thread devolving into Landy porn... I just hope no Land Rovers were harmed during the hostilities.
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lol
Excellent observations - which mean I can add a Landy to my civilian fleet for hot-wiring by the Marines :D
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it isn’t a Landy :'(
Now that is a Landy for sure.
Not sure about Landy porn, but possibly Landy Pantomime.
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Oh no it isn’t .....
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Oh yes it is....
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It's behind you ...
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:D
In an attempt to get back on track, this pink flashlight appears soon after. I don’t recall if any of the minis have a flashlight but if not, then please do add to ‘the list ’ ;)
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:D
In an attempt to get back on track, this pink flashlight appears soon after. I don’t recall if any of the minis have a flashlight but if not, then please do add to ‘the list ’ ;)
lol lol lol
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Landy schmandy! After discovering that the old New Ray ‘City Cruiser’ line of diecasts are actually 1/48 not the advertised 1/43, I purchased a 1957 Pontiac Bonneville for the staggering price of $12.50 there are ‘66 model Pontiac and Fords out there too.
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@Silent Invader:
I noticed that pink flashlight as well. Would love a chance to paint that! :D
@Carlos:
Thanks for the heads up concerning New Ray. That might come in handy.
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:D
In an attempt to get back on track, this pink flashlight appears soon after. I don’t recall if any of the minis have a flashlight but if not, then please do add to ‘the list ’ ;)
This guy will be used as inspiration in the next wave.
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This guy will be used as inspiration in the next wave.
Most excellent to hear 8)
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Marine Charlie, known as Chaz to his friends because it get confused in a firefight when everyone is shouting Charlie!!!! lol
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Does he surf though? :D
Great one! Love the loads of extra gear on him and the determined pose!
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When does Marine Charlie and the others arrive in-country :)
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I like the rolled up trousers, lots of photo reference with that look.
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And another great looking marine
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Todays Marine is Paul.
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When does Marine Charlie and the others arrive in-country :)
Any day now. ;)
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Auto-portrait? lol
Really looking forward to ordering now...the credit card feels kinda full ;D
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Auto-portrait? lol
Really looking forward to ordering now...the credit card feels kinda full ;D
Yeah. Me hiding behind a wall with a really big gun trying to stay safe. lol
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I know I'm not going to need 8 M79 or 6 M60... But that's not going to stop me from going to the wall with the range ;)
I'm waiting for the next lot of sculpts to hit Australia before diving in. Got to space out the expenditure to keep the Minister for War and Finance happy!
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I know I'm not going to need 8 M79 or 6 M60... But that's not going to stop me from going to the wall with the range ;)
I'm waiting for the next lot of sculpts to hit Australia before diving in. Got to space out the expenditure to keep the Minister for War and Finance happy!
You poor sod! In the Vietnam era that would be Malcolm Fraser as your Minister for the Army and Billy McMahon as Treasurer. As I see it,you have two choices. Get their ears pinned back and learn to answer to Sonyaaaaaah or do a Harry Holt and bugger off in a Chinese submarine. I’d be searching Ali Express for the sub if I were you. :D
Still, as Mal said: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy”.
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I'm waiting for the next lot of sculpts to hit Australia before diving in. Got to space out the expenditure to keep the Minister for War and Finance happy!
I promised my “social events secretary” no new periods but I think I can safely classify Vietnam as “Moderns” :) Well, it is post WW2? That’s Modern isn’t it?
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I promised my “social events secretary” no new periods but I think I can safely classify Vietnam as “Moderns” :) Well, it is post WW2? That’s Modern isn’t it?
Sparrow, I like how you think. lol
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Placed an order for the M60 pack, just to have a taste...
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I promised my “social events secretary” no new periods but I think I can safely classify Vietnam as “Moderns” :) Well, it is post WW2? That’s Modern isn’t it?
Until we reach the long promised point where each of us has a jet backpack and a flying car I shall continue to regard the late 20th C as being the modern age.
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Well we had best release some figure I suppose ;)
The latest 6 packs are in the shop. This means that the range has 40 figures in it at this point in time and more on the way.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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And some more. 8)
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:-* Fabulous stuff! Paul has worked at a cracking pace to turn out that lot without any drop off in quality. Quite amazing really.
At the risk of sounding like some ungrateful tyke, when may we expect platoon command and company support weapons? I’m hoping to complete the platoon as quickly as I can.
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Order placed, to my great joy and the weeping sounds of my wallet. :D
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Oh come on give my wallet a break!
But on the other hand I did just finish the last order i received from you last friday...
When can we expect to see Charlie?
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:-* Fabulous stuff! Paul has worked at a cracking pace to turn out that lot without any drop off in quality. Quite amazing really.
At the risk of sounding like some ungrateful tyke, when may we expect platoon command and company support weapons? I’m hoping to complete the platoon as quickly as I can.
Command is currently being done and we will put some pictures up hopefully this week.
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When can we expect to see Charlie?
In a few months. First will be civilian types. NVA after that.
Check the Vietminh in the FIC range.
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Very nice - ordered more riflemen 8)
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stunning figures indeed
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Lovely figures.
I see an order coming for these guys around the first of the month.
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Lovely figures.
I see an order coming for these guys around the first of the month.
As do I.
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Nice.
I was going to holdout until Colours, but I feel my resolve weakening.
In a few months. First will be civilian types. NVA after that.
Will there be scooters and vehicle drivers?
Check the Vietminh in the FIC range.
I have a pack undercoated.
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In pack 10, what are the tubes for being carried on the back of 3rd figure from the right?
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In pack 10, what are the tubes for being carried on the back of 3rd figure from the right?
Mortar rounds .......possibly bazooka rounds.
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Ta
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another 3 more packs ordered for a range i was not going to buy :)
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Thanks for the great comments everyone. Glad you like them. Lots more to come ;)
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I'm nearly done with my first four blokes, they are really nice. Definitely ordering more.
Just out of interest what would have been the make up of a standard marine section & platoon?
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Great news. Payday on Monday. Also interested in the question posed by Ash. Although I intend to buy all of the figures as they are available so squad numbers here will depend. To a certain extent on Empress.
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I'm nearly done with my first four blokes, they are really nice. Definitely ordering more.
Just out of interest what would have been the make up of a standard marine section & platoon?
I think we did this before but for those at the back of the class and not paying attention paper strengths were
Platoon consists of a PHQ with an officer, platoon sergeant, RTO and a US Navy corpsman (medic).
Three squads, each of fourteen men, thirteen rifle armed, one with an M-79.
At Coy level there were six M-60s, six M-20 3.5”RLs as well as a mortar section of three 60mm mortars. The mortars usually stayed with the weapons platoon under the direction of the Coy Cmdr, the M-60s were almost invariably attached to the three rifle platoons, two to each platoon. The rocket launchers were also attached the rifle platoons, as and when required.
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I think we did this before but for those at the back of the class and not paying attention paper strengths were
Platoon consists of a PHQ with an officer, platoon sergeant, RTO and a US Navy corpsman (medic).
Three squads, each of fourteen men, thirteen rifle armed, one with an M-79.
At Coy level there were six M-60s, six M-20 3.5”RLs as well as a mortar section of three 60mm mortars. The mortars usually stayed with the weapons platoon under the direction of the Coy Cmdr, the M-60s were almost invariably attached to the three rifle platoons, two to each platoon. The rocket launchers were also attached the rifle platoons, as and when required.
Pretty much based on what you had said before plus some other reading*, I drew up the attached:
*Must admit the Platoon ‘Guide’ seemed an oddity to me, not being familiar with the workings of the USMC. Is it one to drop ‘in combat’?
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What weapon do the first and second marine from the left have in pack 6 ?
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@Jasper, looks like a Thompson with a stick magazine and a M60.
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@Silent Invader - would the squads be broken down into fireteams?
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According to the book they were. The Marines have been remarkably unchanged in terms of squad structure since the 1940s. Three fire teams. When they were M-14 armed one member of each team was provided with the modified M-14E1/ M-14A1 with the bipod and select fire capability to provide a base of fire for the team. The adoption of the M-16 made the distinction somewhat academic.
Like all such things, whether they actually operated as fire teams depended on squad numbers and tactical circumstance.
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@Silent Invader - would the squads be broken down into fireteams?
I don’t claim to know very much at all :D
I’m learning too ;)
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I found this page a not long ago while trying to talk myself out of starting a Hue collection:http://grunt-redux.atspace.eu/us_marines_forces1.htm (http://grunt-redux.atspace.eu/us_marines_forces1.htm)
It matches Silent Invaders very helpful chart, right down to mentioning that 2 M60s were often attached to a rifle squad.
Are there plans for corpsman, mortar and rocket launcher packs?
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Hi all, the empress m60's Come with an ammo belt. At one point it starts with a cylinder form.
I have not seen it in photo's. What is it for?
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I wondered about that too. Apparently these are field modifications to ensure proper feeding and reduce stoppages.
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You can see them in a lot of pictures of the period. They are cans fixed to the MG, as mrcleh has said, to reduce stoppages.
A great touch from Empress/Paul Hicks. I was thinking about to make them, if they were not included with the miniatures.
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You can see them in a lot of pictures of the period. They are cans fixed to the MG, as mrcleh has said, to reduce stoppages.
A great touch from Empress/Paul Hicks. I was thinking about to make them, if they were not included with the miniatures.
Actually true credit should go to Ian Armstrong who did the weapons for this range as he mentioned it to me. Stating the obvious if you do not want to have the field modification on just cut it off the belt.
A little story;
We have a secret advisor in a way. In the village that we live in on the edge of the glorious Cotswolds also lives an American chap who potters about and looks after the village war memorial for the village. All unpaid. Lovely guy. He chats to the Empress Christine when she is queuing up in the local post office. He was fascinated when she explained what was in all the boxes that she takes down every day and about 6 months ago he suggested we pop along to the village history group meeting as he was doing a talk on Vietnam. Intrigued we did and was welcomed by Pfc John Lindquist in his full Marine dress uniform. He then spent the evening talking about Tet and how he arrived at the very end and then did his tour in a firebase in the DMZ until he was bombed out then sent to recoup in logistics convoys of which he did over 100 journeys sitting in the lead vehicle. We now chat about the details of the conflict and he LOVES the figures. He especially liked the detail of the can on the ammo belt. He is currently checking out a special detail on the use of the 60mm mortar for us. Very useful contact and I am still stunned that we met in the village. Kismet? ;)
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What a great little story. Nice bit of serendipity.
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Nice story indeed!
And now you got me all curious as to that little detail you mentioned in connection with the 60mm mortar use. ;)
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I don’t claim to know very much at all :D
I’m learning too ;)
Well my base of knowledge is (if put politely) limited and is affected by films and the writings of a former enlisted interrogator (not writing about Vietnam) so on a good day nothing ^___^.
Carlos mentions doctrine being largely unchanged since the '40s, I asked as from limited (WW2) reading individual initiative amongst the rank and file was limited. British squads broke down into two commanded by an NCO.
Was it that the USMC were better trained and four marines could be left to command themselves? Or am I misunderstanding the term "fireteam"?
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@Empress - please thank him from us for his insights.
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@Empress - please thank him from us for his insight.
Don't worry he will be bought a few pints. ;)
He told us some very funny stories about his time out there. For example when he was sent to recuperate from his nervous twitch he was ordered onto the columns. The sergeant sent him to get into a vehicle and he asked which one as they were all green! The sergeant said it was the one with the red container on the back!!!
He actually took a picture of it. When he asked the driver what was in it the driver said we lead the column so its red so they can see it and its full of bread. "What money?" ......"no white bread." It was considered totally expendable as everything else was necessary such as ammunition so was at the front to either find mines or get shot at. Not sure how that helped his twitch. Tough love lol
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Actually true credit should go to Ian Armstrong who did the weapons for this range as he mentioned it to me. Stating the obvious if you do not want to have the field modification on just cut it off the belt.
A little story;
We have a secret advisor in a way. In the village that we live in on the edge of the glorious Cotswolds also lives an American chap who potters about and looks after the village war memorial for the village. All unpaid. Lovely guy. He chats to the Empress Christine when she is queuing up in the local post office. He was fascinated when she explained what was in all the boxes that she takes down every day and about 6 months ago he suggested we pop along to the village history group meeting as he was doing a talk on Vietnam. Intrigued we did and was welcomed by Pfc John Lindquist in his full Marine dress uniform. He then spent the evening talking about Tet and how he arrived at the very end and then did his tour in a firebase in the DMZ until he was bombed out then sent to recoup in logistics convoys of which he did over 100 journeys sitting in the lead vehicle. We now chat about the details of the conflict and he LOVES the figures. He especially liked the detail of the can on the ammo belt. He is currently checking out a special detail on the use of the 60mm mortar for us. Very useful contact and I am still stunned that we met in the village. Kismet? ;)
Small world! As I child I lived in Bourton on the Water. Perfect spot for gamers. Laurie Lee, the SCW veteran and noted author used to take his constitutionals along the Windrush, Peter Scott, the chap that designed the Western Approaches camouflage scheme lived in the village and of course there was the model village. Mind you, I’m not suggesting you upscale to 1/16 figures to fight your way through the model village. :)
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Well my base of knowledge is (if put politely) limited and is affected by films and the writings of a former enlisted interrogator (not writing about Vietnam) so on a good day nothing ^___^.
Carlos mentions doctrine being largely unchanged since the '40s, I asked as from limited (WW2) reading individual initiative amongst the rank and file was limited. British squads broke down into two commanded by an NCO.
Was it that the USMC were better trained and four marines could be left to command themselves? Or am I misunderstanding the term "fireteam"?
If I can find it when I get home I’ll dig out a paper on US Army squad organisation and the perambulations it took between the war and now. The central issue being span of control. Fireteams were in part something they picked up from the USMC but trial and error suggested that 12-13 man squads were too big for effective C&C.
On paper each of those USMC fireteams was headed up by a corporal (in the real world, what anyone else would call alance corporal). That’s not to say they were independent entities any more than the rifle, scout or gun group of a contemporary Australian section were. They were more convenient groupings that could act in concert to create fire and movement.
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Small world! As I child I lived in Bourton on the Water. Perfect spot for gamers. Laurie Lee, the SCW veteran and noted author used to take his constitutionals along the Windrush, Peter Scott, the chap that designed the Western Approaches camouflage scheme lived in the village and of course there was the model village. Mind you, I’m not suggesting you upscale to 1/16 figures to fight your way through the model village. :)
How weird!!!
Bourton on the Water is a real tourist magnet so we rarely bother although it does have a good model train shop that sells terrain ;)
The model village is still there although the house prices have increased a little lol
The Windrush flows just below the bottom of our back garden.
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On paper each of those USMC fireteams was headed up by a corporal (in the real world, what anyone else would call alance corporal). That’s not to say they were independent entities any more than the rifle, scout or gun group of a contemporary Australian section were. They were more convenient groupings that could act in concert to create fire and movement.
Thanks, that makes sense.
So the four man fireteams would be given separate "orders" (covering fire, overwatch, move etc.), but would have to remain in shouting distance of their NCO.
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You can see them in a lot of pictures of the period. They are cans fixed to the MG, as mrcleh has said, to reduce stoppages.
A great touch from Empress/Paul Hicks. I was thinking about to make them, if they were not included with the miniatures.
They a great bit of detail
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Well spotted.
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Well here is the first of our command packs for the Vietnam, Tet offensive, Marines, with special emphasis on the battle of Hue 1968.
This pack includes, from left to right,
Lt Col. Cheatham who served as the CO of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marine regiment.
Dale Dye who became famous for his work in Hollywood epics such as Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and Last of the Mohicans etc.
Here are some interesting details of his service from Wikipedia (obviously its correct from that source! )
Dale Dye did three tours of duty.
He had hoped to attend Annapolis but after failing the entrance exam three times – "my math and science skills were weak, and my English skills were huge" – and having exhausted his family's meager funds getting through military academy, he enlisted in the USMC in January 1964. His unit was among the first to deploy to Vietnam in 1965. Officers in the unit noticed his keen observational skills and literary interest and encouraged him to reclassify as a combat correspondent. He became one of a very few Marine combat correspondents. He sent stories to military publications and to the home town newspapers of fellow Marines. As a correspondent, he saw more battle than many low-ranking infantrymen. Dye developed an immense respect for the grunts who took the brunt of any action.
Dye was wounded during the Tet Offensive in 1968. While recuperating in a rear area, the 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines, the unit he had traveled with, was preparing for Operation Ford. Dye persuaded the battalion commander to let him accompany the battalion as a war correspondent. During the next week, the battalion engaged in a number of fire fights with units of the North Vietnamese PAVN. On 18 March 1968, Dye replaced an assistant machine gunner who had been killed. The machine gun position was isolated forward of the remainder of the battalion. Although he was wounded, Dye exposed himself to "intense enemy fire" to retrieve ammunition for the machine gun to help hold off PAVN soldiers during an all-night firefight. During other engagements, he exposed himself to enemy fire in order to rescue several wounded Marines and a Navy corpsman. As a result of his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat V for heroism.
Captain Christmas. His unit captured the Citadel and lowered the famous and one off North Vietnamese unification flag and raised the Stars and Bars.
Next to him is Gunny Sergeant Frank Thomas who carried the Stars and Stripes and is seen getting it from inside his flak jacket.
We are also going to release two flag sheets for the Vietnam conflict that include these flags and some others. Details in the not to distant future.
I have also put up the reference pictures that we used.
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Awesome. Which weapon is Dale Dye carrying?
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M1 Carbine.
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M1 Carbine.
Nice. Loving all the details, in every figure. This was definitely a range worth waiting for, huge congrats to all involved.
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Very nice figures, with a lot of character in them!
Well, they are characters...
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Excellent!
This rather awesome fellow would make a great addition too.
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I agree with the masses the figures a brilliant and usually when I have an 'if only' the paint mojo takes me 100 years in a different direction. But if you want an idea how about Sean Flynn and Dana Stone on motor bikes. Always loved and admired that Sean lived the life for real that his dad played on screen.
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Damn! I wasn’t planning on buying battalion and company commanders but it looks like I will be buying every pack in the range. Oh well....
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Wonderful new figures.
Love them.
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Many thanks guys. ;)
Just doing the LAWS pack and two packs of Hollywood celebrities.
Then radios, mortar, engineers, and..........
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......Rocket Launchers. Need those, even more than off table assets like mortars. Sniper team would be nice too.
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My original plan was to NOT start this period. Then my resistance wore down and I figured I can do a smallish squad based skirmish game. Just for fun. Then I thought well if I do a squad I might as well do a platoon. Then I could sneak in some choppers.
At the rate my resistance is crumbling I’ll end up with an entire division before you are done releasing stuff.
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......Rocket Launchers. Need those, even more than off table assets like mortars. Sniper team would be nice too.
Sniper pack is planned.
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My original plan was to NOT start this period. Then my resistance wore down and I figured I can do a smallish squad based skirmish game. Just for fun. Then I thought well if I do a squad I might as well do a platoon. Then I could sneak in some choppers.
At the rate my resistance is crumbling I’ll end up with an entire division before you are done releasing stuff.
lol lol lol lol lol
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...two packs of Hollywood celebrities.
Does that include Sullivan Groff, Kingpin and Jayne?
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Possibly. Certainly Joker, Cowboy, Animal, 8 ball and a couple of special friends that will be a little surprise that I had to have done.
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Possibly. Certainly Joker, Cowboy, Animal, 8 ball and a couple of special friends that will be a little surprise but I had to have done.
That is most excellent news
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Possibly. Certainly Joker, Cowboy, Animal, 8 ball and a couple of special friends that will be a little surprise that I had to have done.
That is two out of the three....
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Who is the missing one?
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Sergeant Bilko
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Wrong period. lol
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Who is the missing one?
"So does this mean Ann Margret's not coming?"
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"So does this mean Ann Margret's not coming?"
lol lol lol
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Who is the missing one?
Kingpin.
Pros: he does the "Title Drop".
Cons: he does not go.
Possibly as a gunnery minion in PTs.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TitleDrop (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TitleDrop)
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So this range is really shaping up to be fantastic!
I can't wait to see some OpFor, or ANZACs ;)
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Pack 1-4 and buffalo's are based.
Pack 5-10 are ordered
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Well done.
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Pack 1-4 and buffalo's are based.
Pack 5-10 are ordered
Along with the Wargames Illustrated Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore and Barnes and Taylor. Nice! Had the same train of thought! :D :o
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Barnes and Noble? Aren’t they a bookshop chain? They appeared and rapidly went tits up in Australia.
As soon as these arrive in Oz, there will be a purchase of all the remaining codes, multiples of most.
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Along with the Wargames Illustrated Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore and Barnes and Taylor. Nice! Had the same train of thought! :D :o
:D
I also found this link: http://david.brubakers.us/Vietnam/index.html
Very useful information on all the gear.
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:D
I also found this link: http://david.brubakers.us/Vietnam/index.html
Very useful information on all the gear.
Oooggghhh good find. Everything in one place. Well done sir ;)
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Just beware that page is describing US Army items. Whilst the Marines by the late ‘60s were using quite a bit of kit from the US Army supply chain and certain items like uniforms were common to both services, many items, in particular rucksacks and flak vests, were not commonly used by the USMC.
When you get around to doing early war marines that extends to their web equipment, which was of a unique USMC pattern
This site has a more comprehensive overview of personal equipment used by both services.
http://www.vietnamgear.com/equipment.aspx?cat=8
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Were do I find OOBs for the US Marines and the 101st air cavalry ? I need to know the Platoon composition or a company composition so i can order accordingly. Any help appreciated !
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Carlos has covered OOB for USMC twice in this thread - not too far back :)
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Were do I find OOBs for the US Marines and the 101st air cavalry ? I need to know the Platoon composition or a company composition so i can order accordingly. Any help appreciated !
Presuming you to mean the 101st Airborne Division, the answer is a little complex. Do you want the platoon structure for the infantry battalions or the aero-rifle platoons of the divisional Air Cavalry Squadron? Both are different. By the by, the current range of USMC troops aren’t really suitable for depicting US Army troops so you will have to wait until Empress get around to the army.
For the platoons of infantry battalions, it’s worth noting that there were probably a couple of dozen if not more individual variations to the TO&E but the basic paper strength pattern is as follows:
PHQ consisting of a platoon commander, a platoon sergeant, a medic and an RTO.
3X Rifle Squads, each of ten men, nominally divided into two fireteams, each of five men, four of whom carried M-16s with the fifth being a grenadier. Included in the numbers were a squad leader (sergeant) and an assistant squad leader (corporal).
1X Weapons Squad of nominally eleven men consisting of a squad leader, 2X machine gun teams, each of two men, one or two M67 90mm RCL teams of two men and another pair of ammunition bearers for the M-60s. The weapons squad was where much of the variation, official and semi-official took place. The RCLs were rarely carried on patrol, so as often as not the spare bodies were utilised as extra ammo numbers for the machine guns, that’s when they weren’t used as a pool of replacements or used to man base defences.
Mechanised units had a slightly different TO&E.
All US Army divisions had an air cavalry squadron as a divisional asset. The ground component consisted of Aerorifle Platoons which were organised very differently to the structure above. Let me know if that was in fact what you meant. To confuse things further, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) had cavalry squadrons and troops and companies, organised as leg infantry as well as the Aerorifle platoons in its own Divisional Aircavalry Squadron.
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Army divisions had an air cavalry squadron as a divisional asset and thats what I am after indeed , my bad :(
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Were do I find OOBs for the US Marines and the 101st air cavalry ? I need to know the Platoon composition or a company composition so i can order accordingly. Any help appreciated !
Carlos has covered OOB for USMC twice in this thread - not too far back :)
Most recent items:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1464659#msg1464659 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1464659#msg1464659)
And here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1464662#msg1464662 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1464662#msg1464662)
Any chance of a sticky based on this type of information? I needed to find it again and I had read it before.
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Just beware that page is describing US Army items. Whilst the Marines by the late ‘60s were using quite a bit of kit from the US Army supply chain and certain items like uniforms were common to both services, many items, in particular rucksacks and flak vests, were not commonly used by the USMC.
When you get around to doing early war marines that extends to their web equipment, which was of a unique USMC pattern
This site has a more comprehensive overview of personal equipment used by both services.
http://www.vietnamgear.com/equipment.aspx?cat=8
Thank you Carlos ;)
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I also found this link: http://david.brubakers.us/Vietnam/index.html
Very useful information on all the gear.
Good link. Interesting to see just how different the 1960's M1 helmet was from it's WW2 counterpart, I'm surprised it didn't have an upgraded designation.`
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Just beware that page is describing US Army items. Whilst the Marines by the late ‘60s were using quite a bit of kit from the US Army supply chain and certain items like uniforms were common to both services, many items, in particular rucksacks and flak vests, were not commonly used by the USMC.
When you get around to doing early war marines that extends to their web equipment, which was of a unique USMC pattern
This site has a more comprehensive overview of personal equipment used by both services.
http://www.vietnamgear.com/equipment.aspx?cat=8
Just a thought; would the USMC have been using 1967 pattern webbing in Jan '68? Seems a tad too soon for it to be issued
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:D
I also found this link: http://david.brubakers.us/Vietnam/index.html
Very useful information on all the gear.
Just repeating the laudations, but very helpful link, thank you! lol :D
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Todays Marine is 'Cowboy'
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Very well done! Especially the face really looks like Cowboy!
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Will he be part of a character pack?
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Will he be part of a character pack?
Sure will. We have a tsunami of sculpts on their way from Paul H. (PH bet me to use the word tsunami lol )
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OK, I will wait for the next wave of new miniatures.
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Well after that there will be another torrent, then a flood, then a.......etc so my advice Mick is to just grab the stuff when you can as this tap is not going to be turned off anytime soon. Oh and don't forget the vehicles to come soon. ;)
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Have been following this thread with great interest. The figures as you’d expect are outstanding. I am looking forward to the direction it follows with its future releases...which leads me to a request if it hasn’t already been raised...could we get a Don McCullin press photographer figure...I think it will be a worthy addition to this range in recognition of his haunting images that he took during the siege?
For the future how about Larry Burrows and Tim Page?
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Todays Marine is 'Cowboy'
Outstanding
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Have been following this thread with great interest. The figures as you’d expect are outstanding. I am looking forward to the direction it follows with its future releases...which leads me to a request if it hasn’t already been raised...could we get a Don McCullin press photographer figure...I think it will be a worthy addition to this range in recognition of his haunting images that he took during the siege?
For the future how about Larry Burrows and Tim Page?
Yes there is a journalist pack on the list.
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Well after that there will be another torrent, then a flood, then a.......etc so my advice Mick is to just grab the stuff when you can as this tap is not going to be turned off anytime soon. Oh and don't forget the vehicles to come soon. ;)
Please excuse my question as it has probably been answered somewhere in this thread already, but:
What vehicles can we expect aside from M113s?
I am really hoping for a good M35 truck, as to my knowledge there is none in this scale. Might also work as a base for gun trucks, two of which, equipped with quad 50s, apparently featured quite heavily in the early part of the MACV relieve efforts in Hue.
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Yes there is a journalist pack on the list.
If it was a four piece pack, my 'fantasy-press-pack' would include: Don McCullin, Catherine Leroy (both at Hue), Larry Burrows & Horst Fass
(https://i.ibb.co/9h3nhkQ/Don-Mc-Cullin.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/2syTqb9/Catherine-Leroy.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/XpVTgkS/Larry-Burrows.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/PwfM28n/Horst.jpg)
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Please excuse my question as it has probably been answered somewhere in this thread already, but:
What vehicles can we expect aside from M113s?
I am really hoping for a good M35 truck, as to my knowledge there is none in this scale. Might also work as a base for gun trucks, two of which, equipped with quad 50s, apparently featured quite heavily in the early part of the MACV relieve efforts in Hue.
Not currently discussing vehicles although based on some of the chats at PARTIZAN this weekend some of you have already guessed what we are doing lol
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If it was a four piece pack, my 'fantasy-press-pack' would include: Don McCullin, Catherine Leroy (both at Hue), Larry Burrows & Horst Fass
Couldn't possibly comment ;D ;)
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How many figure will the whole Nam range be? Than i can plan how much i have to reserve for it ;D
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How many figure will the whole Nam range be? Than i can plan how much i have to reserve for it ;D
I seriously cannot even estimate. At the moment there are 40 Marines with nearly 10 more sculpted and more to come.
Then Vietnamese civilians then armed civilians then NVA then Australians then ARVN, then we start on another section within the conflict etc, etc, etc etc, etc, etc, etc
Did I mention vehicles?
This really is not going to be a small range......unless of course no one buys the stuff.......however as its the biggest sales release we have seen in the history of Empress (and we have experienced some biggies over the years) that's really doubtful lol
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Okay, that works enough, if you release them evenly through the year i think i can controle my hobby adhd and won't start to many other projects :D
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If you release them all at once, i can just have both Kidneys and a Liver out on the same day to pay for them. :)
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I seriously cannot even estimate. At the moment there are 40 Marines with nearly 10 more sculpted and more to come.
Then Vietnamese civilians then armed civilians then NVA then Australians then ARVN, then we start on another section within the conflict etc, etc, etc etc, etc, etc, etc
Did I mention vehicles?
This really is not going to be a small range......unless of course no one buys the stuff.......however as its the biggest sales release we have seen in the history of Empress (and we have experienced some biggies over the years) that's really doubtful lol
Plus US Army.
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Please excuse my question as it has probably been answered somewhere in this thread already, but:
What vehicles can we expect aside from M113s?
I am really hoping for a good M35 truck, as to my knowledge there is none in this scale. Might also work as a base for gun trucks, two of which, equipped with quad 50s, apparently featured quite heavily in the early part of the MACV relieve efforts in Hue.
Campaign 4 mentions two M42 SPAAGs were part of 'A' Company's convoy, plus M48A3s.
It also has an illustration of an M35A2 with the quad M2 turret.
Of course for that Full Metal Jacket look, M41s would be useful.
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Plus US Army.
Third section so next year. Spring time.
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Campaign 4 mentions two M42 SPAAGs were part of 'A' Company's convoy, plus M48A3s.
It also has an illustration of an M35A2 with the quad M2 turret.
Of course for that Full Metal Jacket look, M41s would be useful.
That is the convoy, Alpha 1-1. Apparently two Dusters of 1-44th and two quad 50s of G-65th accompanied them, plus the Pattons you mentioned they met on the way. Would be nice to recreate that in 28mm. :D
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That is the convoy, Alpha 1-1. Apparently two Dusters of 1-44th and two quad 50s of G-65th accompanied them, plus the Pattons you mentioned they met on the way. Would be nice to recreate that in 28mm. :D
This is worth a read, all the equipment (bar the M41 ^__^) gets a mention plus ARVN M24.
Just found this, could be of interest;
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD%20MCUP/HD%20Pubs/DeathInTheImperialCity.pdf?ver=2018-10-16-102102-263
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Todays Marine is 'Cowboy'
Reminds me of Hawkins in the 'Predator', must be those glasses! lol
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This is worth a read, all the equipment (bar the M41 ^__^) gets a mention plus ARVN M24.
That sounds very interesting, but the link isn't working for me. :(
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That sounds very interesting, but the link isn't working for me. :(
I just checked, and it worked for me.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD%20MCUP/HD%20Pubs/DeathInTheImperialCity.pdf?ver=2018-10-16-102102-263 (https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD%20MCUP/HD%20Pubs/DeathInTheImperialCity.pdf?ver=2018-10-16-102102-263)
You do need a pdf reader.
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I just checked, and it worked for me.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD%20MCUP/HD%20Pubs/DeathInTheImperialCity.pdf?ver=2018-10-16-102102-263 (https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD%20MCUP/HD%20Pubs/DeathInTheImperialCity.pdf?ver=2018-10-16-102102-263)
You do need a pdf reader.
Works for me, downloaded and printed it off at work, good read.
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Thanks, now it does indeed work! :)
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Thanks, now it does indeed work! :)
No Such Agency probably fixed for you....
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Another 14 USMC finished off along with back board for RTO’s. The 14 does include all the character figures, posted here plus a load more. Hopefully ‘Nam film buffs will be happy.
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Another 14 USMC finished off along with back board for RTO’s. The 14 does include all the character figures, posted here plus a load more. Hopefully ‘Nam film buffs will be happy.
Temptress!! LOL! lol
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I’m sure will be along soon to post the pictures.
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Another 14 USMC finished off along with back board for RTO’s. The 14 does include all the character figures, posted here plus a load more. Hopefully ‘Nam film buffs will be happy.
Snipers? M-20 Bazookas? Corpsmen? Please?
Slight tangent. Any chance of some Force Recon chaps?
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Snipers? M-20 Bazookas? Corpsmen? Please?
Slight tangent. Any chance of some Force Recon chaps?
All talked about.
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I’m sure will be along soon to post the pictures.
I’m sure they’ll appear and dent my bank balance further! Thanks for all you doing with this range, Paul. It’s turning into an amazing project for so many of us!
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Some more pictures of Cowboy and some pictures of Animal Mother.
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The M60 gunner is nice, but unlike Cowboy the face is not as recognisable.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/37/2031-020319211131.jpeg)
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I definitely want to paint this pack.
:-*
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I think Animal Mother would be more easily recognised if his bottom lip wasn’t turned up quite so much. But I’m zooming in on a tiny detail as it’s a great mini. 8)
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I think Animal Mother would be more easily recognised if his bottom lip wasn’t turned up quite so much. But I’m zooming in on a tiny detail as it’s a great mini. 8)
Thanks for the point. I’ve just looked over the lip and cut the offending bit. It’s tricky when you go over and over a figure. Thanks again for that! All positive comments are always gladly received.
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Thanks for the point. I’ve just looked over the lip and cut the offending bit. It’s tricky when you go over and over a figure. Thanks again for that! All positive comments are always gladly received.
Yeah and you should hear the swearing :o
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Thanks for the point. I’ve just looked over the lip and cut the offending bit. It’s tricky when you go over and over a figure. Thanks again for that! All positive comments are always gladly received.
You’re most very welcome Paul. You’re working wonders ..... 8)
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One of the things that I have really liked about following this ongoing, & most awesome project, is that Paul & Empress not only take on board feedback but act on it.
If something needs fixing and can be fixed, then fixed it will be. Well played all round.
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One of the things that I have really liked about following this ongoing, & most awesome project, is that Paul & Empress not only take on board feedback but act on it.
If something needs fixing and can be fixed, then fixed it will be. Well played all round.
Cheers for that. It depends what you guys ask lol
Changed figure;
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That’s pretty bloody marvellous :-*
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That’s pretty bloody marvellous :-*
It’s odd you can work on a ‘not’ figure for hours and not get it right. Then change the smallest feature and then Bingo! Thanks again
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Real time feedback and adjustment within minutes :o
This is amazing as a process and the results are brilliant. :-*
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Cheers for that. It depends what you guys ask lol
Changed figure;
:-* Spitting image! That’s really bloody impressive. Do we get the female sniper with the VC packs?
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:-* Spitting image! That’s really bloody impressive. Do we get the female sniper with the VC packs?
Kind of a must really ;)
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Groovy! Just remember she’s toting a vz.58 not an AK in the film.
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Just committed myself and ordered a few marines :)
Animal mother is really good :-*
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Are you Thomas RIEPE?
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That is brilliant.
@Silent Invader - it is easy to see what is wrong, being able to identify it is better. Good call.
@Paul (H) brilliant changes, thanks.
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Really impressed by this entire process. It's extremely good natured of Paul and Paul to involve people in it. The figures are something else, absolutely first rate.
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Really impressed by this entire process. It's extremely good natured of Paul and Paul to involve people in it. The figures are something else, abs ;)olutely first rate.
Shucks, very kind of you to say so ;)
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Cor blimey..Animal Mother!
Now I want Cowboy and Joker please :D
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Cor blimey..Animal Mother!
Now I want Cowboy and Joker please :D
Cowboy is here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1466195#msg1466195 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1466195#msg1466195)
With some more (and the first attempt at Adam Baldwin) here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1466811#msg1466811 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114897.msg1466811#msg1466811)
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I’m counting on a ‘Platoon’ of army grunts in due course as well now! Raaah!
Cowboy is my favourite so far I reckon..man I can’t wait to get my hands on those Full Metal Jacket Marines :-*
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Todays Marine is Joker.
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You know, you really should send a pack to each if the featured artistes. Sadly for them, it was pretty much the high water mark of their careers. Oh well, I suppose they are still basking in the glory of being the subjects if pub trivia questions like ‘What ever became of Matthew Modine?’ etc, etc. :)
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Painting the peace symbol button will be fun.
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My little brother is in FMJ so that's the resolve not to start anything new gone lol
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Very nice.
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Painting the peace symbol button will be fun.
Does anyone sell transfers? lol
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Joker has been given the ultimate seal of approval on Empress’ FB page.
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Joker has been given the ultimate seal of approval on Empress’ FB page.
:o :o :o
Now that is cool!
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Well you know your doing something right if it's been officially endorsed by the man himself! Well done Empress team and Mr Hicks.
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Joker has been given the ultimate seal of approval on Empress’ FB page.
???
( I don’t have FB) I’m guessing Matthew Modine likes the figure?
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???
( I don’t have FB) I’m guessing Matthew Modine likes the figure?
Yes, his Son has commented twice about it, says his dad loves it! :)
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That is pretty fucking cool!
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Yes, his Son has commented twice about it, says his dad loves it! :)
Brilliant.
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Got my first 10 packs today. Incredibly detailed and clean sculpts. Really impressive work by Paul and the Empress team!
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Got my first 10 packs today. Incredibly detailed and clean sculpts. Really impressive work by Paul and the Empress team!
Thank you!
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That is pretty fucking cool!
Yeah I thought that ;)
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Had a busy weekend and not had a chance to post a new Marine so you can be introduced to two this morning.
These chaps were only in the fist half of the film but both became iconic characters. We introduce to you Gny Sgt Hartman and Private Gomer Pyle as if they did survive basic training and got to Vietnam and Tet.
As usual Hartman is on Pyles case and Pyle is showing his manic war face. Scary stuff.
Hope you like. ;)
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The ‘not R Lee Ermey’ is an excellent likeness but the gunny should be wearing a tin hat.
Now, you really should slip in a real Gomer Pyle, maybe when you do early war marines.
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Hartman has his helmet hanging on his belt, naughty boy.
When doing these type of figures you have to go for a slightly arty look to get the 'look' and putting a helmet on him actually looses character. Of course he would be best in a lemon squeezer but that would be pushing it.
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"Of course he would be best in a lemon squeezer" lol
You could offer an additional head wearing the hat from the film.
This would save us all a lot of messing about with greenstuff. :o :o
By the way, these character sets are brilliant :-*
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In the cap is just how I imagine Hartman would go to war. After all, when he faces down ‘Pyle’ he does kind of act like he’s bulletproof. 8)
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"After all, when he faces down ‘Pyle’ he does kind of act like he’s bulletproof."
..but that didn't end well did it...
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If you squint and listen closely you can hear that figure asking “Did your parents have any children that lived?”
I have a sneaking suspicion that if Paul does chopper crew, we’ll see that face again. ;)
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Had a busy weekend and not had a chance to post a new Marine so you can be introduced to two this morning.
These chaps were only in the fist half of the film but both became iconic characters. We introduce to you Gny Sgt Hartman and Private Gomer Pyle as if they did survive basic training and got to Vietnam and Tet.
As usual Hartman is on Pyles case and Pyle is showing his manic war face. Scary stuff.
Hope you like. ;)
Well I just found someone to sick on the Predator creature in my jungle terrain. lol
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When do you expect to launch the Full Metal Jacket figures?
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Going into moulds now but I know our chap is on holiday so I suspect they will be released in about three weeks.
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If you squint and listen closely you can hear that figure asking “Did your parents have any children that lived?”
I have a sneaking suspicion that if Paul does chopper crew, we’ll see that face again. ;)
And perhaps again when Empress cover the US army as a sergeant major along the lines of Sgt Hafner in 'Siege of Firebase Gloria'? Though I seem to recall R Lee Emery played a USMC sgt on an army firebase?
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All looks very good and tempting - But I do wish the models would be sold in sets of two or singles!
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C’mon Ivan..that’s an excuse lol
You ALWAYS need parts for your various other projects and you like chopping up minis so bite the bullet and grab some!!! ;)
Cheers
Andy
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True... ;D
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And perhaps again when Empress cover the US army as a sergeant major along the lines of Sgt Hafner in 'Siege of Firebase Gloria'? Though I seem to recall R Lee Emery played a USMC sgt on an army firebase?
I got 15 minutes into that film before I could not take it anymore. lol
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I got 15 minutes into that film before I could not take it anymore. lol
I stuck with it and it was an interesting experience!
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Todays Marine is 8 Ball.
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Nice rendition.
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Excellent 8)
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Yup, like that one too.
Fuck, this is going to cost me an arm and a leg! lol
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Yup, like that one too.
Fuck, this is going to cost me an arm and a leg! lol
(https://2eu.funnyjunk.com/pictures/Lost+it+in+nom+source+reddit_96fce6_4900951.jpg)
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Very funny Treadheadz.
lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Started basing and priming the first pack I have a question about the kneeling figure in pack NAM1. He is wearing some kind of parka with a hood? Grateful if anyone could shed some light over this type of uniform jacket?
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M65 field jacket with the hood out?
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Started basing and priming the first pack I have a question about the kneeling figure in pack NAM1. He is wearing some kind of parka with a hood? Grateful if anyone could shed some light over this type of uniform jacket?
It's the nylon US Navy rain jacket.
(https://i.ibb.co/vcF4NX1/download.jpg)
A two part suit with the over trousers:
(https://i.ibb.co/2qhHTH2/vintage-s-navy-rain-parka-jacket-1-684d9ec2eb2ba92561b12aeed6700419-1.jpg)
Looks a lot darker in the photos:
(https://i.ibb.co/ZW4kh8f/21-Hue.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/gWTRKD6/67947fff2ce5f8db7d803088b88a01ee.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/HF8GkNh/9836939943-c6bec09995-b.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/pj4mczr/163435310405-1-0-1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/thxMspz/01-Hue.jpg)
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Excellent! Many thanks!
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Very useful, thanks.
There are an interesting selection of shades of green, even of the same pieces of equipment. One of the over-trousers looks nearly blue.
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Very useful, thanks.
There are an interesting selection of shades of green, even of the same pieces of equipment. One of the over-trousers looks nearly blue.
Just be careful of colour film pigments as they do change colour tone significantly.
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Just be careful of colour film pigments as they do change colour tone significantly.
Nevertheless, in the second last picture, the colour differences/similarities between flack jacket, shirt and trousers is interesting. Three different combinations on three different blokes yet only two colours.
NB, just noticed the chap in the middle has the parka showing instead of a shirt. Still, it is very similar in colour to the shirt and flack jacket on the right.
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What's the guy holding the plasma bottle got in his helmet. Looks like a rubber spider lol
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There are an interesting selection of shades of green, even of the same pieces of equipment. One of the over-trousers looks nearly blue.
Just be careful of colour film pigments as they do change colour tone significantly.
Yes, even with electronic cameras there is much variation depending on the lighting and processing.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/07/lead-legion-colours.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/07/lead-legion-colours.html)
There is a lake in Canada that caused a lot of problems when tourists got home and took their film in to be processed. The lake is a very unnatural looking blue (glacial water full of rock flour), and the developers would throw their hands up in horror because no matter what they did, the colours would look wrong.
I was referring to this photograph about the blue trousers.
(https://i.ibb.co/HF8GkNh/9836939943-c6bec09995-b.jpg)
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What's the guy holding the plasma bottle got in his helmet. Looks like a rubber spider lol
Good grief. You are right, or it is an escapee from a Black Sun...
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Good grief. You are right, or it is an escapee from a Black Sun...
Rubber octopus?
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Just be careful of colour film pigments as they do change colour tone significantly.
Yes, even with electronic cameras there is much variation depending on the lighting and processing.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/07/lead-legion-colours.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2017/07/lead-legion-colours.html)
There is a lake in Canada that caused a lot of problems when tourists got home and took their film in to be processed. The lake is a very unnatural looking blue (glacial water full of rock flour), and the developers would throw their hands up in horror because no matter what they did, the colours would look wrong.
I was referring to this photograph about the blue trousers.
(https://i.ibb.co/HF8GkNh/9836939943-c6bec09995-b.jpg)
Yeah they are blue. Is he a marine corpsman with navy trousers on?
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I'm wondering if that might be an image that was originally B&W and the colour has been added at a more recent date; there does seem to be a trend for doing this at the moment. Or as previously noted the film stocks of the day could provide quite a variety of results. Could have been shot on colour transparency film, or colour negative; could be from a 1960's print or from a later date when the film has been scanned digitally. A lot of the colour negatives from back then are lacking in tonal range compared to today and the colours are relatively flat.
Here's a good comparison:
B&W image by Don McCullin; the original prints were much darker, at some stage this has been tweeked.
(https://i.ibb.co/3kwSXV7/US-Soldiers-tormenting-a-civilian-in-the-old-city-of-Hue-during-the-offensive-Tet-Hue-1968.jpg)
Almost the same, at first I thought this was a coloured version of the B&W, but the angles are different, so could be another photographer next to McCullin shooting colour, or just a different frame that's been digitally coloured at a later date. I'm thinking the later.
(https://i.ibb.co/JxyFcCQ/528c6c0b3406062542639928a7594ba9.jpg)
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Todays Marine is Homer.
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Superb!
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Mildly concerned that the back blast will burn his shoulder off.
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My thoughts exactly. Never got to fire one when in but that was always the warning - keep clear of the backblast!
Mildly concerned that the back blast will burn his shoulder off.
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@Ash - I think they might be taken by the same cameraman, I would expect most photographers would have multiple cameras, the main black and white one for high Res use and one for colour slides (lower resolution). You would take shots with both, both as back up and for different uses.
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It's the nylon US Navy rain jacket.
(https://i.ibb.co/vcF4NX1/download.jpg)
A two part suit with the over trousers:
(https://i.ibb.co/2qhHTH2/vintage-s-navy-rain-parka-jacket-1-684d9ec2eb2ba92561b12aeed6700419-1.jpg)
Looks a lot darker in the photos:
(https://i.ibb.co/ZW4kh8f/21-Hue.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/gWTRKD6/67947fff2ce5f8db7d803088b88a01ee.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/HF8GkNh/9836939943-c6bec09995-b.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/pj4mczr/163435310405-1-0-1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/thxMspz/01-Hue.jpg)
"Unholster your calamaris NOW!"
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My thoughts exactly. Never got to fire one when in but that was always the warning - keep clear of the backblast!
He must be an FNG!
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My thoughts exactly. Never got to fire one when in but that was always the warning - keep clear of the backblast!
It needs to be set back a little, so the end of the tube is clear of the shoulder.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Law_ftbenning_1960_04.jpg)
From Wikipedia.
That looks "colourised" as well.
You also want to make sure the rifle is clear, the metal will be fine, but the sling and the foregrip will burn.
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When I was in the army. We had a guy who did not properly clear his backblast. We were lying down whilst shooting. He had burns all down his side and broke 3 ribs.
That warning label on them is not to be taken lightly.
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When I was in the army. We had a guy who did not properly clear his backblast. We were lying down whilst shooting. He had burns all down his side and broke 3 ribs.
That warning label on them is not to be taken lightly.
Firing prone directly forward?
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I am sure no one is actually interested, but it is Peyto Lake which is a particularly odd shade of blue.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyto_Lake (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyto_Lake)
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My thoughts exactly. Never got to fire one when in but that was always the warning - keep clear of the backblast!
You were, in fact, supposed to turn your head, survey the scene behind you and yell ‘BBDA clear!’ before firing. I had a rather harrowing afternoon as a safety officer once, supervising ARES officer cadets. A number decided that this part of the drill involved swinging not just their head but their upper torso around, thus pointing the tube and it’s contents at lil ole me in the process. Funnily enough I seem to recall that most of them managed to avoid this with the subcal firing device and waited till they had a live rocket. Not that it would make much difference, a 22mm hole through the chest will kill you just as well as a 66mm one. I was not best pleased.
My best mate at the time had an even hairier day. He got a hang-fire, had to do the wait and walk thing before the tube and rocket were blown in place.
Yes, the tube should be further back and Homer probably wants to remove/ move that rifle lest he get a nasty surprise.
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@Ash - I think they might be taken by the same cameraman, I would expect most photographers would have multiple cameras, the main black and white one for high Res use and one for colour slides (lower resolution). You would take shots with both, both as back up and for different uses.
I'd agree with them being from the same photographer. I'm thinking the second (coloured) version, is a second frame from the same moment. The photographer has either crouched down or gone down on one knee to frame straight at the prisoner from his head height.
As the B&W shot is a well known Don McCullin image, I doubt the colour frame was shot on colour film, looking at it closely each colour is a flat tone, all the highlight and shade is from the grey scale, most likely colour washes applied to B&W prints or maybe later digital manipulation.
Don McCullin shot exclusively in B&W, however the Sunday Times magazine of the day ran several of his pictures as colour toned images
(https://i.ibb.co/g46jwYD/19680324-3.jpg)
Resolution wasn't a thing with film, to improve image size you increased the format of kit you were using. Most of the press then were using 35mm, with different bodies for different focal length lenses.
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In regards to the LAW figure. I’ve decided to take on all your expert advise and resculpt him.
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That’s awesome Paul 8)
Although I obviously cannot make any helpful contribution I’m terms of weapons handling this process here makes it feel as if we all have taken part in the creation of those little master pieces.
Loving it :-*
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It is really awesome how good sports both mr. Hicks and Empress is about this whole range. And us nerdy buttoncounters. I don’t think I have experienced a range come to life in this way before. I had swallowed the bait already but this very open process where you show of work in progress and show such a willingness to take on board suggestions and make various tweaks. Really makes me even more excited about this range.
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You are probably right about that.
Resolution wasn't a thing with film, to improve image size you increased the format of kit you were using. Most of the press then were using 35mm, with different bodies for different focal length lenses.
New habits, sorry I meant film speed, which equates to resolution on chemical films (higher speed has bigger grain size so lower effective resolution).
I remember how grainy my first ASA 400 photographs were compared to the normal commercial ASA 100.
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Excellent news, thanks.
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It is really awesome how good sports both mr. Hicks and Empress is about this whole range. And us nerdy buttoncounters. I don’t think I have experienced a range come to life in this way before. I had swallowed the bait already but this very open process where you show of work in progress and show such a willingness to take on board suggestions and make various tweaks. Really makes me even more excited about this range.
Excellent sculpting aside, it’s one of the best aspects of this range. I’ve noticed that Rubicon, the maker of plastic tanks and the like take a very similar approach and it all shows in the quality of the product.
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In regards to the LAW figure. I’ve decided to take on all your expert advise and resculpt him.
Great work Paul in re-working the figure.
I removed my post on the subject matter when I saw your post later on.
Best regards,
Helen
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In stock at Elite! Just ordered a couple of each of the rest of the packs. Happy man :D
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In stock at Elite! Just ordered a couple of each of the rest of the packs. Happy man :D
as did I, thats gives me every pack so far.....this might turn into a large project at this rate...
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as did I, thats gives me every pack so far.....this might turn into a large project at this rate...
NASA will be able to find us from space with a gravity sensor ^___^.
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NASA will be able to find us from space with a gravity sensor ^___^.
Laughed out loud! Roll on the VC!
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Hope its OK to share first USMC I've painted.
Colours on the second picture are closest to actual models.
Simon.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47981488646_c0114c959b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g6XEVC)IMG_6304 (https://flic.kr/p/2g6XEVC) by simon chick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/181771357@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47981435962_1a437afcb1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g6Xpgh)IMG_6296 (https://flic.kr/p/2g6Xpgh) by simon chick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/181771357@N03/), on Flickr
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Those are super, love the faces.
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painterman those are lovely :-*
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@painterman - nice work.
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Tidy work dude!
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really nice
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Hope its OK to share first USMC I've painted.
Colours on the second picture are closest to actual models.
Simon.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47981488646_c0114c959b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g6XEVC)IMG_6304 (https://flic.kr/p/2g6XEVC) by simon chick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/181771357@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47981435962_1a437afcb1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g6Xpgh)IMG_6296 (https://flic.kr/p/2g6Xpgh) by simon chick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/181771357@N03/), on Flickr
Lovely brushwork!
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Hope its OK to share first USMC I've painted.
Colours on the second picture are closest to actual models.
Simon.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47981488646_c0114c959b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g6XEVC)IMG_6304 (https://flic.kr/p/2g6XEVC) by simon chick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/181771357@N03/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47981435962_1a437afcb1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g6Xpgh)IMG_6296 (https://flic.kr/p/2g6Xpgh) by simon chick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/181771357@N03/), on Flickr
Fantastic work. Its really great to see so many different painted versions of these figures. Really brings them to life. :-*
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Marine Homer failed basic training and has been replaced by Marine Bart.
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Rather like the look of 'Bart', great pose.
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Nice.
Willl there be a pack of M72s like there is of M60s and Mike?
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Yep.
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Yep.
Cool.
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Alas Bart also failed basic training as he has the rear sight behind his head. Of course he might be aiming at something very close, say ten feet away. In that case, let’s hope he remembers that the rocket has a minimum arming distance. ;)
This chap has the right idea.
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Someone might want to find some reference pics of the weapon in use for Paul ;)
But it is a fantastic sculpt none the less. I am really hanging out to see what you do with your Australian range.
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Alas Bart also failed basic training as he has the rear sight behind his head. Of course he might be aiming at something very close, say ten feet away. In that case, let’s hope he remembers that the rocket has a minimum arming distance. ;)
This chap has the right idea.
Easy fix
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Alas Bart also failed basic training as he has the rear sight behind his head. Of course he might be aiming at something very close, say ten feet away. In that case, let’s hope he remembers that the rocket has a minimum arming distance. ;)
He is using it as a portable flamethrower, and the target is (as they say in panto) "behind you".
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He is using it as a portable flamethrower, and the target is (as they say in panto) "behind you".
The sight is too far back on the rocket launcher model. Not the wrong way round? lol
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I always loved the fact that the device you pressed above the rocket assembly, if you wished to close the tube without firing the rocket, was known as the detente button. Let it not be said that the writers of military training pams have limited vocabulary or a sense of history.
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He is using it as a portable flamethrower, and the target is (as they say in panto) "behind you".
The sight is too far back on the rocket launcher model. Not the wrong way round? lol
I was thinking more"The Rim of the World" than "Commando" ^___^.
Hence the panto reference.
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The sight is too far back on the rocket launcher model. Not the wrong way round? lol
I was thinking more"The Rim of the World" than "Commando" ^___^.
Hence the panto reference.
Oh no you didn't!
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(audience) Oh yes he did!
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I have a sinking feeling that Paul’s first female sculpt for the range will now be a certain Widow Twankey. :D
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With and RPG 7. How did you know that?
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Julian Clary told me. Such a gossip!
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Just doing test sculpts for the VC to check size and stature etc. Here are some previews.
The comparison figures are a USMC and a Vietminh officer who works for NVA anyway.
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Fantastic! I'll take... *empties wallet on bench* However much 'this' will buy me.
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Very nice VC!!!
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Looking good!
One small request for when you get around to the PAVN/NVA. Don’t just reuse the pith helmets from the Viet Minh range, the NVA ones tended to be a different shape and are quite distinctive.
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My god this is brilliant :-* that range will be incredible :o
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seems to be spot on indeed.
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Its interesting because I am chatting to a customer who does not think that we should sculpt the different nationalities in their 'true ' sizes. Forget scale as that's irrelevant. Its the physical size comparison that's important. Now Empress always has tried to do things based on accuracy especially physical size and its clear that there is a size difference between westerners and Vietnamese.
What do you guys think?
For example;
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Brilliant !
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I think sculpting them as physically smaller makes sense, even taking into consideration the normal size variance of individuals. For me, if they match the Viet Minh, size wise, I’ll be happy enough.
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Well we will vary the Vietnamese so there is the odd tall one but its the average that's important.
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I think sculpting them as physically smaller makes sense, even taking into consideration the normal size variance of individuals. For me, if they match the Viet Minh, size wise, I’ll be happy enough.
Though I agree, the example above has about a head difference between the VC and the marine with the M79. Does that match the evidence?
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Another vote for smaller Vietnamese.
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Though I agree, the example above has about a head difference between the VC and the marine with the M79. Does that match the evidence?
Look at the pictures that I posted. There are huge amounts of picture evidence to show the size difference as well as medical average size comparisons.
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Look at the pictures that I posted. There are huge amounts of picture evidence to show the size difference as well as medical average size comparisons.
I have looked at the photographs, my problem is that the they look like children (except the one in uniform who is only half a head shorter). I am perfectly willing to believe this is the case (and probably caused additional psychological damage to the soldiers fighting them).
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I agree on smaller sizes...it really adds to realism and character and very very few ranges do that. Great to see more variety and more realistic sizes!
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Bonus points to anyone who can identify the Osprey books in the background.
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One of them on the left looks like the Osprey Elite on the International Brigades 1936-39? lol
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A few photos of US advisors next to Vietnamese personnel. I'm sure I've read a number of accounts about the height difference in various books, so it appears to have been noticeable.
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I think as long as you keep weapons and equipment in the same size as the Marines. It will be fine. Otherwise the Vietcong will just look like 25mm minis.
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I used to visit factories in Vietnam at least twice a year between 2001 and 2016.
Vietnamese men are noticeably smaller than Europeans and Americans, even now.
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I’ll go for smaller Vietnamese too… search for pictures of south vietnamese troops with Garand… their rifles are as big as they are… lol
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Another vote for smaller. There is a substantial amount of period and contemporary evidence to show the Vietnamese are generally smaller in stature than westerners.
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I’ll go for smaller Vietnamese too… search for pictures of south vietnamese troops with Garand… their rifles are as big as they are… lol
One of the reasons the US decided, at a relatively early stage, to arm the South Vietnamese with the M-16 and why many Vietnamese preferred the M-1 and M-2 carbine.
Improved living standards and diet have increased the height (and weight) of the average Vietnamese since the war both within Vietnam and in the diaspora. That said, my wife has Vietnamese friends, we have both visited Vietnam and even at only 5’10” I’m still notably taller than most Vietnamese I’ve encountered. I did the Cu Chi Tunnel tour when I was there and one thing was obvious about those tunnels was that they were definitely designed around smaller folk.
Of course, toy soldiers are just avatars, nobody expects them to be actual representations of the range of human variation. If they were, then Paul would be a very, very, busy sculptor. I reckon about a half a head average difference to the Yanks and Australians would be a good compromise for the Vietnamese. The South Vietnamese will probably look even smaller once you slap a tin hat on their bonces, so a moderate difference won’t hurt. Too small and people will be saying they escaped from the Perry WW2 range. :)
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To my mind a noticeable difference in height is essential for the right look. That said, it doesn’t need to be in proportion to the scale difference, just enough to provide the visual effect.
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"Too small and people will be saying they escaped from the Perry WW2 range" lol lol
Apparently, the new plastic Perry Mid War Americans are much bigger and match up quite well with Artizan, Bolt Action etc.
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"Too small and people will be saying they escaped from the Perry WW2 range" lol lol
Apparently, the new plastic Perry Mid War Americans are much bigger and match up quite well with Artizan, Bolt Action etc.
Carlos makes an entertaining point, but the Perry figures are taller than you think.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2014/04/perry-miniatures-eighth-army-comparison.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2014/04/perry-miniatures-eighth-army-comparison.html)
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Marines Stewie and Brian
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Carlos makes an entertaining point, but the Perry figures are taller than you think.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2014/04/perry-miniatures-eighth-army-comparison.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/2014/04/perry-miniatures-eighth-army-comparison.html)
Hmm, haven’t seen the new Yanks but I do know that the Perry 8th Army figures, both metal and plastic were titchy next to my Eureka Australians, which aren’t exactly huge. Did make them perfect to use as police in Borneo or HK though.
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Marines Stewie and Brian
Third time is the charm! Sigh, more things to paint.....* :)
*White people problems #358.
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The Perry GIs aren’t any bigger and fit as good or not in with other ranges.
@topic
They look pretty much spot on to me now 8)
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Third time is the charm! Sigh, more things to paint.....* :)
*White people problems #358.
At last! Now go and bother other sculptors! :D
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Nice.
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At last! No go and bother other sculptors! :D
lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Soz! Rodin was unavailable this week and I’ve given up on Henry fucking Moore. OK, conceptually his work is great but he really has no sense of scale and his attention to detail is notably poor.
:D
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Soz! Rodin was unavailable this week and I’ve given up on Henry fucking Moore. OK, conceptually his work is great but he really has no sense of scale and his attention to detail is notably poor.
:D
Or maybe they're ignoring your emails:)
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Not sure that Paul's latest special forces sculpts will pass muster with the critics on here?
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Could be. Contrary to the popular impression, dear old Auguste was never much of a thinker although his seminal work, ‘Man Sitting on the Lav Reading the Daily Mail’ has a witty quality to it.
Now get back to grafting away in your garret!
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We do our best. ;)
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Marine Smithers.
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Liking marine 'Smithers' (cough 'rear sight' cough), rather intrigued to see what marine 'Ralph' might be doing...
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Liking marine 'Smithers' (cough 'rear sight' cough), rather intrigued to see what marine 'Ralph' might be doing...
'Ralph' is censoring the mail.
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Looking fantastic. Can't wait to see all these figures replicated with M14 ;)
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@Splod
Nice one! I second the motion 8)
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Don't worry that's in the loop at some point although was thinking of all new sculpts and slightly earlier period.
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Oooh Early Marines with M14s would be very tasty!
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Oooh Early Marines with M14s would be very tasty!
Indeed! 8)
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Todays Marine is called Clark.
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You are obviously all bored with our releases now lol
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Just amazed that they keep coming! Another great figure.
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Just amazed that they keep coming! Another great figure.
54 individual figures so far!
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54 individual figures so far!
Wow, that's more than some ranges ever achieve!
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LOTS more to come .
We made it very clear that this would be a BIG range and THE Vietnam range to go to. So far and obviously not including the French Indo China range we have only done Tet based Marines. SOOOOO much more to do.
Vehicles close to being announced soon as well. And when I say announced I mean not just creating a wish list but either released or close to being released. ;)
Stay tuned.
Just letting Paul have a little rest to restore his artistic flare. lol
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Good times coming - It would seem!
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With so many Marines around, some Seabees with Thomson SMG, etc. would be nice...
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Your range looks incredible, only thing preventing me from buying some is that I want both sides and therefore need some VC/NVA. Any ETA for them?
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Todays Marine is called Clark.
Very nice!
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Your range looks incredible, only thing preventing me from buying some is that I want both sides and therefore need some VC/NVA. Any ETA for them?
All being sculpted and will start being released in the coming months.
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All being sculpted and will start being released in the coming months.
Excellent.
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They all look fantastic. I know next to nothing about Vietnam. would the miniatures shown so far be usable as Air Cav ?
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They all look fantastic. I know next to nothing about Vietnam. would the miniatures shown so far be usable as Air Cav ?
I would guess not as the US army and US Marines had different kit,
But I expect they are on the list.
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They all look fantastic. I know next to nothing about Vietnam. would the miniatures shown so far be usable as Air Cav ?
Air Cav are on the Empress list to do.
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Some new flag sheets for the Vietnam range.
These include a sheet for US forces. Great for hanging from buildings or vehicles.
A sheet for the ARVN to hang up.
And a sheet for the NVA to wave around including the special Hue flag.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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Great idea!
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Any chance of a pack of South Vietnamese Police ?
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Some new flag sheets for the Vietnam range.
These include a sheet for US forces. Great for hanging from buildings or vehicles.
A sheet for the ARVN to hang up.
And a sheet for the NVA to wave around including the special Hue flag.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
Nice, although technically speaking they aren’t North Vietnamese Army flags, they are NLF flags, including the special version for the occupation of Huế.
Might be worth your while, if you are making flags, to think about making some Vietnamese signage for folk to plaster on buildings.
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Any chance of a pack of South Vietnamese Police ?
I think Michael Herr mentions them in the Tet chapter of “Despatches”.
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Nice, although technically speaking they aren’t North Vietnamese Army flags, they are NLF flags, including the special version for the occupation of Huế.
Yes but we have to keep it slightly simple for many folk who are not as clued in as you.
Good idea on the signage. Got any any good examples? Military signage for both US and ARVN would be useful.
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I was thinking of advertising hoardings and signs along the lines of the stuff produced by these guys.
https://duplicata-productions.myshopify.com/collections/signs-road-store-ads/filter-by-conflict_vietnam?page=1
https://duplicata-productions.myshopify.com/collections/signs-road-store-ads/filter-by-conflict_vietnam?page=2
There are plenty of examples on the Saigoneer website and a few more examples here:
https://livingasean.com/explore/the-vietnam-experience/
I can’tfind it at the moment but I linked on one of the other threads to a page showing war era advertising signs. The chaps producing those signs have obviously seen the same sites.
Of course a walk through Springvale Road, along Victoria Street, Richmond or a wander through Footscray would produce a lifetime’s supply of Vietnamese signage.
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Found it.
https://saigoneer.com/saigon-infrastructure/1212-10-old-pictures-of-advertisements-in-saigon
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Yeah will have a look and see if we can do something.
Cheers, Paul
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Oh yes please!
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I was thinking of advertising hoardings and signs along the lines of the stuff produced by these guys.
https://duplicata-productions.myshopify.com/collections/signs-road-store-ads/filter-by-conflict_vietnam?page=1
https://duplicata-productions.myshopify.com/collections/signs-road-store-ads/filter-by-conflict_vietnam?page=2
There are plenty of examples on the Saigoneer website and a few more examples here:
https://livingasean.com/explore/the-vietnam-experience/
I can’tfind it at the moment but I linked on one of the other threads to a page showing war era advertising signs. The chaps producing those signs have obviously seen the same sites.
Of course a walk through Springvale Road, along Victoria Street, Richmond or a wander through Footscray would produce a lifetime’s supply of Vietnamese signage.
Love the Hazardous Noise Aria sign. lol
That US embassy should have been blown up simply because of its appearance. :o
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That US embassy should have been blown up simply because of its appearance. :o
In fairness, they did try in 1968!
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In fairness even the US State Department got the message, albeit thirty years afterwards, and tore it down. There’s a new consulate building next to where the old embassy stood.
The original embassy building still survives, the one that featured in the Tet attack was newly built in 1967. It survived a pretty major car bomb. How long it will continue to survive is another thing. Rampant capitalism has driven a massive construction drive, quite a lot of Vietnam era buildings have been torn down in very recent times. It’s a bit depressing for history buffs but I suppose that’s progress.
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“Progress” is a “wonderful” thing... :?
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Don't worry that's in the loop at some point although was thinking of all new sculpts and slightly earlier period.
Always loved the look of the early troops with M14s. :-* Loving the troops so far but those are the ones I really want!
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"INCOMING!!!!!"
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Just received a big order of all the rest of the releases. Happy dance!* :)
* Fucking post office didn’t send an advice slip so they’ve been sitting at the post office since last Friday. :-[
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"Come and get it!!!!"
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New Vietnam packs.
Laws operators.
Historic personalities, This pack includes, from left to right,
Dale Dye who became famous for his work in Hollywood epics such as Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and Last of the Mohicans etc.
Lt Col. Cheatham who served as the CO of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marine regiment.
Gunny Sergeant Frank Thomas who carried the Stars and Stripes and is seen getting it from inside his flak jacket.
Captain Christmas. His unit captured the Citadel and lowered the famous and one off North Vietnamese unification flag and raised the Stars and Stripes carried by Thomas.
Characters from Full Metal Jacket. If you have not seen the film then where have you been?
Left to right Joker, 8 Ball, Cowboy, Animal Mother.
Two more characters from Full Metal Jacket.
These chaps were only in the first half of the film but both became iconic characters. We introduce to you Gny Sgt Hartman and Private Gomer Pyle as if they did survive basic training and got to Vietnam and Tet.
As usual Hartman is on Pyles case and Pyle is showing his manic war face. Scary stuff.
All in the Vietnam room in the shop.
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Cracking work. The FMJ characters are my favourites.
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Outstanding.
Now bring on Charlie.
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I will place an order this week. :-*
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These look so cool, goes off to place an order...
1 little correction; Captain Christmas (OC H comp 2/5) didn't capture the Citadel that was the 1/5 under Major Bob Thompson. Christmas, Frank Thomas et al raised their flag over the provincial headquarters in the triangle on the south side of the Huong River.
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These look so cool, goes off to place an order...
1 little correction; Captain Christmas (OC H comp 2/5) didn't capture the Citadel that was the 1/5 under Major Bob Thompson. Christmas, Frank Thomas et al raised their flag over the provincial headquarters in the triangle on the south side of the Huong River.
Well corrected that man. ;)
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Nice,
I hope you are at Colours this year (though whether I have finished the batch I just ordered by then is anyone's guess).
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Lovely, just ordered new packs any idea when Radio Ops will be done ?
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Lovely, just ordered new packs any idea when Radio Ops will be done ?
I reckon they will be released in about three weeks.
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Will that be part of a platoon HQ pack? Officer, corpsman, Sgt and signaller?
Hopefully the heavy weapons, 3.5” rocket launcher and 106mm RCL will soon follow. As you already do the RCL (I have one) it just needs a ground mount and crew. Ernie Cheatham needs something to direct.
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Will that be part of a platoon HQ pack? Officer, corpsman, Sgt and signaller?
Hopefully the heavy weapons, 3.5” rocket launcher and 106mm RCL will soon follow. As you already do the RCL (I have one) it just needs a ground mount and crew. Ernie Cheatham needs something to direct.
Radios will be in a separate pack although there may be three radios and one officer as I have a good design.
3.5" will be in an assault pioneer type pack with a flame thrower and stuff.
106 will be possibly two packs one moving one firing plus the mule at some point.
Officer NCO pack
Medic and sniper pack.
plus some specials plus of course VC
Well that's a small part of our life planned for the next 6 months lol
Vehicles getting very close now so stay tuned.
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And a pack of Marines firing their M-16?
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And a pack of Marines firing their M-16?
Pardon?
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And a pack of Marines firing their M-16?
Already six packs of M-16 out...
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Pardon?
Nothing, I have discovered them in the shop... lol lol lol
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Really hoping vehicle crews will be available separately? ?
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Really hoping vehicle crews will be available separately? ?
Depends what vehicles you put them in? lol
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113 plus tanks😉
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113 plus tanks😉
Well the M113 is just on the way to us so hopefully we can slap some pictures up next week.
As for the other items perhaps we should do some announcements.
The Patton is nearly complete
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=116854.0
and the Gage Commando is not far behind.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117561.0
Just finishing some civilian buffalo wagons and more vehicles are in the pipe line.
Enjoy ;)
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Standing gunners for the .50 cal would be much appreciated!
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Excellent news.
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Brilliant news!
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Great AFV's.
Has anyone put up good comparison pictures of the two currentrangcs Empress and Gringo/
Once painted are they compatible?
JM
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Well the M113 is just on the way to us so hopefully we can slap some pictures up next week.
As for the other items perhaps we should do some announcements.
The Patton is nearly complete
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=116854.0
and the Gage Commando is not far behind.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117561.0
Just finishing some civilian buffalo wagons and more vehicles are in the pipe line.
Enjoy ;)
Fantastic! I've been trying to bully Rich into revealing who he was sculpting for ;)
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Oh man I so can’t wait for the Patton..
I bought a ton of Vietnam Earth pigment at Salute in preparation 8)
(https://i.ibb.co/Rvx8LhV/001-C845-C-CD2-B-4-D49-BC2-E-F07-D47-CDF743.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mDLpQvM)
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Great AFV's.
Has anyone put up good comparison pictures of the two currentrangcs Empress and Gringo/
Once painted are they compatible?
JM
Well Carlos started this thread:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117455.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117455.0)
I have seen some others, such as:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117078.msg1472312#msg1472312 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=117078.msg1472312#msg1472312)
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Can’t put pics up (although others have) but the Gringo figures are roughly 4-5 mm taller and chunkier. It comes down to what style floats your boat (aren’t we lucky to be getting two such ranges to choose from!) but, personally, I am very much going down the Empress route. Their current range is also more extensive plus they clearly have a lot of aspiration re how far they propose to take the range.
I should point out I am a little biased as I have worked with Empress extensively on their ECW range so appreciate just how much work they put into a range and getting it right (and how, when they say they are going to do something, they will deliver). The vehicles Rich C has been working on also look excellent- can’t wait to see them in the flesh (or, should that be “in the resin”?).
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Some superb painting of our recent character packs by Graham Green of Greygreen painters. Thanks Graham for allowing us to share these. ;)
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They're a bit gorgeous.
Strangely I feel the bases are a bit of a let-down however, especially when contrasted against the fantastic paint-jobs.
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Superb paint jobs. The painter has really brought Animal Mother to life.
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Outstanding!
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love them!!! Well done Graham!
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Very nice work.
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love them!!! Well done Graham!
Seconded! :D
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M113 has arrived in the shop.
This is the early 'basic' version of the ACAV defensive system. Used by all but especially ARVN. ARVN crew will follow on in the not too distant future. Then others.
The side M60's can be left off the build if you wish.
The more well known version with the 50cal 'turret' will follow on as well.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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That looks good (I would be concerned about the 0.50 shield support).
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That looks good (I would be concerned about the 0.50 shield support).
I had a small concern but have messed around with it and its very strong. The glue gave way before it broke. In short it did not break ;)
We use very expensive hi density resin. Not the cheap stuff you drop on the floor and shatters into a zillion pieces.......as I recently had happen to me when finishing a 20mm German bunker complex :'(
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Good to know.
Is it the same resin as the Puma?
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Good to know.
Is it the same resin as the Puma?
Yep.
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That looks very good indeed!!!! Can it be used together with the marines? Does anyone have an ORBAT of Marine units using these?
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I don't know if this was asked before. The M113 is in 1/50 scale. which scale helicopter models would you recommend? 1/48 or are you going to do gunships and sliks ?
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That looks very good indeed!!!! Can it be used together with the marines? Does anyone have an ORBAT of Marine units using these?
No, the Marines did not use them. That said IIRC the Marines did a number of joint ops with Army mechanised forces in I Corps in 1969 but properly speaking you need to wait for the US Army or ARVN releases.
I use mostly 1/48 choppers myself although I have a 1/55 CH-46 and a 1/72 CH-53. The latter is just too big to field in 1/48.
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No, the Marines did not use them. That said IIRC the Marines did a number of joint ops with Army mechanised forces in I Corps in 1969 but properly speaking you need to wait for the US Army or ARVN releases.
I use mostly 1/48 choppers myself although I have a 1/55 CH-46 and a 1/72 CH-53. The latter is just too big to field in 1/48.
Carlos,
You wouldn't have a photo of the CH-53 beside 28mm miniatures? It would be very interesting to see how that works
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Carlos,
You wouldn't have a photo of the CH-53 beside 28mm miniatures? It would be very interesting to see how that works
Once I’ve glued it together I might. :)
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Thanks!
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Once I’ve glued it together I might. :)
Thanks!
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I seem to recall reading somewhere that the USMC 3rd Tank Btn had some M113s, though I think they were part of btn HQ? I definitely don't recall hearing about them being used by regular marine units either though.
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As far as we can see there were a few used by the USMC but not in a front line roll.
Carlos has it bang on.
However ARVN troops used them and our first crew will be these guys.
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can't wait!!!
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I blame a former enlisted interrogator, but I am waiting for an armoured cavalry M48A3 and two matching M113 ACAVs.
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Sorry to bother again with another question. I read up a bit about the Marines in Vietnam now and I am wondering if the individual squads had a radio or not. In a few books describing action in Vietnam they write that the squats could get in touch with the platoon headquarter e.g. when moved up as point. Is that true and if so will there be radio operator miniatures in the future for the squads not only platoon?
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The marines did field a squad level radio that allowed squads to communicate with their PHQ. The Korean era AN/PRC 6 was a short range, FM band, ‘walkie-talkie’ type set. If they were issued at all, then they would have carried by the squad leader.
If the squad was going to operate at any distance from the platoon or company, then they would have been issued with a AN/PRC-25 or its replacement set, the AN/PRC 77.
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Lots of new stuff including radios just going into moulds. ;)
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Going to have to write all this down.
Thanks.
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super!!! So I will have enough figures to have two entire platoons then ;)
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Platoon. Hell we aint finished yet. Lets go for company lol
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Well, you already have a battalion commander in the line up, so why think small? lol
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Well, you already have a battalion commander in the line up, so why think small? lol
Haha. You're a bad influence old bean! lol
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Full Division it is then lol
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Got a lot of toys coming through the production system at the moment ranging from vehicles, to USMC, to NVA, to civilian carts, to well the list goes on. :o
Stay tuned early next week ;)
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Any chance of some engineers, snipers and some heavy weapons and crew? 60mm mortars, maybe a .50 cal? A specialist weapon pack with shotgun, sniper and spotter? Some casualties would be nice.
It sounds greedy, I know. You’ve been very generous with us so far but it’s hard not to want more. :)
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Any chance of some engineers, snipers and some heavy weapons and crew? 60mm mortars, maybe a .50 cal? A specialist weapon pack with shotgun, sniper and spotter? Some casualties would be nice.
It sounds greedy, I know. You’ve been very generous with us so far but it’s hard not to want more. :)
For what side, Marines?
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Yup, marines. I’m confident that the NVA will get their own dedicated sapper teams.
Mine detectors, maybe a chap with a bangalore, someone with a satchel charge,another prodding for mines for the Marines? Probably be the best place to put the flamethrower chap you mentioned
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Yes to all plus medics, vehicle crews, especially tanks.
NVA will have similar if not more variations as they are designed to work for all areas of the conflict.
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Excellent! :)
Hopefully, at some point, the PAVN will get vehicles of their own. A PT-76 and a Type 63/ K63 APC would fill some gaps for Vietnam and a few other conflicts as well.
While I’m at it, I don’t suppose there’s any chance of some US gun crew? Bare torso would see them work for both Army and Marines and I’m sure there will be folk wanting to build miniature fire bases.
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Bare heads or giggle hats would work as well and also suit those who want Aussie gun crews.
Excellent! :)
Hopefully, at some point, the PAVN will get vehicles of their own. A PT-76 and a Type 63/ K63 APC would fill some gaps for Vietnam and a few other conflicts as well.
While I’m at it, I don’t suppose there’s any chance of some US gun crew? Bare torso would see them work for both Army and Marines and I’m sure there will be folk wanting to build miniature fire bases.
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Excellent! :)
Hopefully, at some point, the PAVN will get vehicles of their own. A PT-76 and a Type 63/ K63 APC would fill some gaps for Vietnam and a few other conflicts as well.
While I’m at it, I don’t suppose there’s any chance of some US gun crew? Bare torso would see them work for both Army and Marines and I’m sure there will be folk wanting to build miniature fire bases.
Yes to the vehicles in the future. Lots to do old boy. ;) Yes to arty with crews. Again just the all consuming concept of time and not enough of it. :)
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Bare heads or giggle hats would work as well and also suit those who want Aussie gun crews.
We already do head sprues for bare heads. Check Andy Zecks work as he has used some.
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The Spanish Civil War heads work a treat imho!
(https://i.ibb.co/NrngFZz/8933-D496-70-BB-498-D-AAF2-FB056-FE933-C1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Vxp0L28)
(https://i.ibb.co/FYLDMr4/4-AF7-C280-D25-F-43-F3-8-D70-F1033-A08993-D.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GM45L6Q)
Cheers
Andy
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Looks good... shouldn't the glasses be black? Thick plastic glasses where really "in" in the 60s...
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In the book "Phase Line Green" by Lt Warr he recounts how one Marine had thick, bottom of coke bottle glasses. This chap could barely see and was sent into Hue?
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I am now wondering if I should paint a few of these guys up in EDRL for later (69-72) operations. :D
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I am now wondering if I should paint a few of these guys up in EDRL for later (69-72) operations. :D
That’s precisely what I’m doing. The ERDL seems not to have ever completely replaced the green uniforms, so it’s quite realistic to mix them. I bought some duplicate packs with just this in mind.
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That’s precisely what I’m doing. The ERDL seems not to have ever completely replaced the green uniforms, so it’s quite realistic to mix them. I bought some duplicate packs with just this in mind.
Great minds and all that! lol
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In the book "Phase Line Green" by Lt Warr he recounts how one Marine had thick, bottom of coke bottle glasses. This chap could barely see and was sent into Hue?
Fantastic book. Love the way the officer solved the problem by stamping on the glasses and having the Marine taken out of the front line for being blind. lol
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What a wonderful idea for a vignette!
Go on.... you know you want to!
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lol
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Glad you enjoyed the book Paul. Thought that it might provide some inspiration. Marine snipers hiding in the loft spaces! Maybe even a Lt Warr with his PRC25 staring at a dead dog!
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Just finished painting and basing some more Marines for my personal use and did a team picture. Still working through the personalities and just about to be hit by a lot more packs so not a true picture but does show the progress so far on the range. 64 figures to date and another load due to be released very soon plus the vehicles and some other stuff. Phew. Not bad for a range development in such a short time and only just scratched the surface.
VC sausage machine now turned on. lol
Many thanks to everyone on this thread for your support on this. :-*
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Can’t wait to get my hands on the Patton :-*
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That is one fine collection of miniatures. Quick question - will the Pattons come with stowage or will a seperate stowage pack be in the pipeline?
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That is one fine collection of miniatures. Quick question - will the Pattons come with stowage or will a seperate stowage pack be in the pipeline?
Not sure yet but there will be some unique stowage such track lengths with the vehicle. Other universal stowage will probably be sold separately as it can be used across the range for other things.
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Not sure yet but there will be some unique stowage such track lengths with the vehicle. Other universal stowage will probably be sold separately as it can be used across the range for other things.
Useful to know.
Looking good.
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Stowage would be very useful. The photos of the tanks at Hue seem to show lots of petrol cans and large square cans (not sure what they are). Its all good though. Keep em coming!
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Can't wait for the Patton either!!!
Storage would be very nice individually, like C-ration packs, Ammo boxes, water canteens, Ammo pouches etc
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I’m all for some separate bits of battlefield debris!
Ration boxes, ammo crates, Jerry cans, claymore mines etc.. 8)
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Just finished painting and basing some more Marines for my personal use and did a team picture. Still working through the personalities and just about to be hit by a lot more packs so not a true picture but does show the progress so far on the range. 64 figures to date and another load due to be released very soon plus the vehicles and some other stuff. Phew. Not bad for a range development in such a short time and only just scratched the surface.
VC sausage machine now turned on. lol
Many thanks to everyone on this thread for your support on this. :-*
Looking good and looking forward to the NVA/VC!
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Looking good and looking forward to the NVA/VC!
Just looking at them now. ;)
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Glad you enjoyed the book Paul. Thought that it might provide some inspiration. Marine snipers hiding in the loft spaces! Maybe even a Lt Warr with his PRC25 staring at a dead dog!
Yeah, with the spoon in the mouth 8)
Are you at Partizan so I can return your book? Huge thanks for letting me borrow it.
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Paul unfortunately I'm not at Partizan as I'm on holiday :-[. No need to return the book though. Feel free to pass it on to any customer needing inspiration to recreate Hue! I'm still working on my Phase Line Green boards but really need to get some USMC painted up before the next set of releases! I can also recommend the History Channel film about Hue (on You Tube). Must have watched that dozens of times to try and gauge the height and layout of the Dong Ba tower! Fortunately I found a great aerial photo (its black and white) but it shows the housing nearby. What have you started Mr Eaglestone! lol
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Just painted the Full Metal Jacket characters - fantastic sculpts and part of my small-scale NAM skirmish project of next 12 months.
Keep 'em coming...
Simon
(https://i.imgur.com/qKxc1vi.jpg)
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Brilliant!
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Looking good Painterman.
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Magic! :-* :-* :-*
One question which I struggle with myself painting these beauties - rifle slings - what material and colour did they have?
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Magic! :-* :-* :-*
One question which I struggle with myself painting these beauties - rifle slings - what material and colour did they have?
Woven canvas, in a variety of olive green shades.
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Great, thanks!
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Magic! :-* :-* :-*
One question which I struggle with myself painting these beauties - rifle slings - what material and colour did they have?
Two types: canvas and later on nylon.
Vallejo colours: Russian uniform or a mix of olive drab & khaki, make a pretty good base.
(https://i.ibb.co/rbNwkJD/slings.jpg)
Canvas top, nylon bottom.
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Excellent! Many thanks
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Paul unfortunately I'm not at Partizan as I'm on holiday :-[. No need to return the book though. Feel free to pass it on to any customer needing inspiration to recreate Hue! I'm still working on my Phase Line Green boards but really need to get some USMC painted up before the next set of releases! I can also recommend the History Channel film about Hue (on You Tube). Must have watched that dozens of times to try and gauge the height and layout of the Dong Ba tower! Fortunately I found a great aerial photo (its black and white) but it shows the housing nearby. What have you started Mr Eaglestone! lol
OK mate. Have a great time on holiday and see you around. ;)
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Just painted the Full Metal Jacket characters - fantastic sculpts and part of my small-scale NAM skirmish project of next 12 months.
Keep 'em coming...
Simon
(https://i.imgur.com/qKxc1vi.jpg)
Fantastic work, as usual. :-*
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Well the weather is suitable for Vietnam so time for some releases.
This pack is RTO's with one officer based upon Capatin Chuck Meadows who commanded Golf Company 2/5. He led them in a futile attack on the Citadel in Hue.
The other figures are all based upon photographs as is the entire range.
As per usual in this range, and many others, sculpted by the highly gifted Paul Hicks.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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Very nice indeed!
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Superb... Now i need to decide whether to paint the NVA in green or khaki uniforms! What was worn in Hue?
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Superb... Now i need to decide whether to paint the NVA in green or khaki uniforms! What was worn in Hue?
Seems to have been green but some colour pictures show a mix. Problem is some of the pictures taken at Hue that say they are NVA I have always been a bit suspicious of because they look more VC main force. Mind you the average VC did not pose for Osprey book artists and even though there was a special uniform issue for Hue I suspect it was fairly mixed.
If the US had problems supplying kit the North Vietnamese were way behind.
The next question is what colour green ;)
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The first of the NVA.
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Wonderful figures.
Love them.
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Very nice indeed!
Cheers, ;)
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Wonderful figures.
Love them.
Many thanks. Credit to Paul Hicks for these.
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Very nice :-* :-* :-*
One question though in the pictures of the Radio operators, what weapon has the guy in the third photo, is that a thomson?
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The chap with the officer has a Thompson with the butt removed. See below.
The kneeling guy has a grease gun.
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Fantastic stuff once again! Good to see some Vietnamese!
What happened to the little guy shown here a few weekds ago? I hope he hasn't been scrapped with these size discussions....really liked the look of that one!
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Fantastic new figures!!!
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The level of detail on the RTO pack is superb! These could well be used to replicate the photo of an officer, radio man and marine on the citadel wall (they are crouched down with the Dong Ba tower in the background). One of the group is holding an AK (might make a nice figure :). Guess they would use captured weapons from the NVA? I think it is Sgt(?) Maurice Whitmer in the History Channel film who talks about running out of ammunition and having to throw bricks at the NVA (that would make another nice figure!) He also relates how the NVA popped up "like Prairee dogs" from the spider holes and tunnels built into the tower and the citadel walls.
Anyway, will wait for the M48 to be released before putting a vehicle order in but these need to be bought asap!
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Utterly brilliant!
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Gorgeous work! I'm still wavering between scales, but these NVA and that RTO pack might just be the deciding pieces ;)
Really excited for some ANZACs and local force ;)
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RTO pack is excellent. Very much liking the NVA too.
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Those RTO figures look good.
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The chap with the officer has a Thompson with the butt removed. See below.
And a bandaged hand. Nice detail.
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The NVA look good.
I will be interested to see how they compare with your Viet Minh (and your USMC of course).
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Loving the NVA. Pith helmeted versions next?
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Loving the NVA. Pith helmeted versions next?
On it!
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On it!
:) Lovely!
More in sandshoes/ canvas gym boots please. I have Presidential Palace gates to crush and Khmer Rouge to over run.
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Very nice additions indeed!!!! Like the NVA very much and the RTOs are stunning!!!!
A question I asked on Facebook already repeated here : how many radios in a platoon ? Did the sections/squads have a radio ,too?
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Fantastic stuff once again! Good to see some Vietnamese!
What happened to the little guy shown here a few weekds ago? I hope he hasn't been scrapped with these size discussions....really liked the look of that one!
Thanks for that. No he is still in the pile. We are doing NVA then moving to VC. He will no doubt pop up then. ;)
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Fantastic new figures!!!
Many thanks ;)
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The level of detail on the RTO pack is superb! These could well be used to replicate the photo of an officer, radio man and marine on the citadel wall (they are crouched down with the Dong Ba tower in the background). One of the group is holding an AK (might make a nice figure :). Guess they would use captured weapons from the NVA? I think it is Sgt(?) Maurice Whitmer in the History Channel film who talks about running out of ammunition and having to throw bricks at the NVA (that would make another nice figure!) He also relates how the NVA popped up "like Prairee dogs" from the spider holes and tunnels built into the tower and the citadel walls.
Anyway, will wait for the M48 to be released before putting a vehicle order in but these need to be bought asap!
Many thanks. Yes we have plans for some strange weapons / figures. Just working through the meat and potatoes so to speak. As I have said this range will be HUGE and will take time to get to where we/ I am happy.
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Gorgeous work! I'm still wavering between scales, but these NVA and that RTO pack might just be the deciding pieces ;)
Really excited for some ANZACs and local force ;)
Empress size 28mm is the way to go lol
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RTO pack is excellent. Very much liking the NVA too.
Cheers ;)
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The NVA look good.
I will be interested to see how they compare with your Viet Minh (and your USMC of course).
Cheers ;)
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:) Lovely!
More in sandshoes/ canvas gym boots please. I have Presidential Palace gates to crush and Khmer Rouge to over run.
being done as we type ;)
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RTO pack is wonderful! As is the NVA. I like the radioman having a cigarette the most! :D :o
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Since we’re in the subject of RTO’s - a little plea. I know AirCav are a long way off but one of my favourite characters in the film of “We Were Soldiers....” is the RTO with the thick rimmed specs.... not asking for commitment now but, hell, if you don’t ask - you don’t get! (I can dream can’t I?).
Hicks really is the master sculptor isn’t he?
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Is there anything wrong with using these figs as Aircav? I remember the Bowder book referencing an Aircav company or platoon being issued with flak jackets. I don't know enough about specific uniforms and kit of the war to know whether it would be heresy to use these as Army, Aircav etc?
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I am sure once you have painted them, they are "North American soldiers in Vietnam" for anyone but the most exquisite wargamer-historian...
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Is there anything wrong with using these figs as Aircav? I remember the Bowder book referencing an Aircav company or platoon being issued with flak jackets. I don't know enough about specific uniforms and kit of the war to know whether it would be heresy to use these as Army, Aircav etc?
Your table, your toys. For me, no. Different flak jackets btw.
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We do not care how you use them but would suggest/ advise that probably what you want will pop along at some point in the range so you may have to show patience until your bus arrives. ;)
Or just buy them all lol
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Or just buy them all lol
How have you discerned my plans? Going to have to update the security settings on all my mobile devices now.
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:-*
Well you know what coming later in the year ;)
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How have you discerned my plans? Going to have to update the security settings on all my mobile devices now.
Was there any doubt you would buy them all?
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I was thinking, which in itself is dangerous...
Sarissa Precision have been working with other miniatures companies to deliver appropriate terrain in support of new ranges (Warlord's WW2 range or Footsore's Roman range). Have Empress considered working with SP on a dedicated Hue range? There are already a few suitable buildings in their range and it would be great to see an easy one stop shop considering how many people have been asking here for terrain suggestions.
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I was thinking, which in itself is dangerous...
Sarissa Precision have been working with other miniatures companies to deliver appropriate terrain in support of new ranges (Warlord's WW2 range or Footsore's Roman range). Have Empress considered working with SP on a dedicated Hue range? There are already a few suitable buildings in their range and it would be great to see an easy one stop shop considering how many people have been asking here for terrain suggestions.
Its always complicated working with others and we have found that its just best to do your own thing. However we did discuss this with a company earlier in the year but they have seemingly done little. I do suspect that some building manufacturer will however jump on the band wagon pretty soon and we may even do some resin specials although the Citadel is pushing it lol
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Just found a new video, showing ROK forces in Vietnam. Its 25 mins long, and is just showing film clips with period music added to not make it to boreing. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvqPKOKsl54
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Good find. Will save that for later ;)
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You really get a since of the progression of the war. With uniform and arms changes over time.
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That's really is excellent :-*
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Ahead of the curve here. I had some Artizan WW2 GIs floating around for some long forgotten project that have been repurposed as ROK troops. They were handy for testing the colour palette fir the Marines.
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Look at you being an over achiever! lol
Looking forward to seeing them some day.
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Kinda like the early period with the Garand etc. Something different. What would you guys want?
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I like em both. But the early period could pull double duty for warm weather Korea War. I will have to check for the Army, but I know the ROK Marines used old USMC uniforms or at least of the same cut. Before switching over to the camo style after being in theater for a few years.
Don't know if they would pass for well kitted out ARVAN ether, that is before every one and his mother was running around with m16s that is. lol
So Yeah, I could see myself picking up the m1, m1 carbine, BAR, 30cal armed ROKS.
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Look at you being an over achiever! lol
Looking forward to seeing them some day.
Had to cut off their bases, file back the gaiters and lengthen the trousers on a couple with green stuff. The problem is, being beefy Artizan figures, they are pretty big for Koreans. That and the fact that I only have half a dozen of them. Not sure I can be bothered buying/ converting more.
Current projects involve converting creating crew for a 4.2 “ mortar and building a quad .50 cal on the M55 trailer.
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My toy soldiers so far. Still got to catch up on many as well as the new stuff that is coming through as we speak.
Lots of NVA and vehicles.
But is here is my own humble effort. We are too tight to pay professional painters at Empress lol
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The rest so far.
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You're too busy paying professional sculptors ;)
Fantastic work. I can't wait to seethe NVA with some paint on them.
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No need for professional painters, those are bloody lovely!
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They look good to me. :D
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Cheers guys that's very kind of you. :-*
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Very nice work.
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They look very fine to me. And they remind me I should better get my own guys sorted.
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Cheers, guys.
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really well painted miniatures ! Why don't you put them up on your website as example of painted miniatures?
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Why don't you put them up on your website as example of painted miniatures?
Seconded.
"Humble effort" be damned, those are very well painted.
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Nice job!
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They really are excellent Paul.
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Thanks guys you have been very kind.
We have a long standing policy of showing the figures washed so that you can see the detail of the sculpting. As we often say a good painter can make a fishing weight look good.
We do have some painted figures on the site especially in the gallery section. I will add some more. ;)
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Todays NVA is Charlie lol
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Oh yes.
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Charlie looks good. Question though: What’s with the all the tunics? The overwhelming number of photos I’ve seen show PAVN troops in shirts. I know the PAVN had a tunic but most combat shots seem to show shirts. Curious as to the thinking behind this.
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These are the first releases. The shirt ones follow on. Thus with Empress ranges its always best to stand back a little while before you see the plan we are working on. ;)
We a have a lot of NVA to get through. lol
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Cool for cats, as Chris Difford might have said. Just curious and you’ve filled in the blanks. Looking forward to the rest of ‘em.
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We prefer to be addressed as Mr. Charlie. :D
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Todays NVA is Binh, with a shirt.
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Looking great Paul. I look forward to seeing more releases.
You’ve probably been asked before but will you be releasing villagers?
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Looking great Paul. I look forward to seeing more releases.
You’ve probably been asked before but will you be releasing villagers?
Yeah all planned but the NVA pushed them back in the que. Blame the other posters on here lol
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Will we see VC before or after civilians?
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Yeah all planned but the NVA pushed them back in the que. Blame the other posters on here lol
Gives me plenty of time to work on my bamboo forests then.....
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Gives me plenty of time to work on my bamboo forests then.....
A couple of months ;)
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Yep, VC, NVA, ARVAN, civs, US army, LRRPS, ANZAC...etc
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Yep, VC, NVA, ARVAN, civs, US army, LRRPS, ANZAC...etc
Yes a veritable tsunami of releases to get through.
Todays NVA is Duc. I will leave you to make the obvious joke. ;)
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Nice!
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Liking the NVA releases. Such great sculpts. Happy days!
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Just brain storming ideas over here. But when you do the ARVAN, might want to do separate heads. That way you can do some in Berets (Worn the French way) boonie caps, M1 helmets, patrol caps, bare headed, Bandana's...Etc.
You can then also make some modern heads, with Kevlar's, ATCH's fast helmets, to represent modern troops, paramilitaries, and militias in the Philippians, Thailand and I am sure a few other nations. But hell I remember seeing videos and photo's of some Philippine troops using M1's in combat and one of the rebels setting up an ambush with a BAR, in their recent/current conflict in Mindanao. :D
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The separate head option sounds good.
I’d like to clarify “civs”......obviously Vietnamese civilians but will there be some armed western civs for agency/embassy types?
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Thanks. I mean, at the very least I think its a good option to give the range more options. While at the same time opening them up for ultra moderns.
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Thanks for the nice comments guys.
We would do some head sprues as we go along but the figures will have fixed heads in this range. You will need to snip, drill and glue. ;)
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The separate head option sounds good.
I’d like to clarify “civs”......obviously Vietnamese civilians but will there be some armed western civs for agency/embassy types?
Oh yes! Funny enough I was looking at those yesterday.
However I am just getting dragged into another part of this project at the moment, which if all goes well, you will see the results in two or three months muhahahahahaha lol
Figures and vehicles will continue pooring out the door in its usual volume. We don't do wave we just leave the taps on. ;)
So whats this then?
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Great, I have no problem snipping and pinning. I was more interested in the diffrent head options. I have plane's for my ARVAN. Big planes..Muha.....Muhahaha! lol
Civilians, armed or other wise is cool in my book and vechicals are always welcome.
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Oh! Oh! Is it a fish?
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Is that a tankers helmet Mr Empress??
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Is that a tankers helmet Mr Empress??
I thought a pilot's helmet.
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T-56 tankers hemet seen from the rear. Microphone on the left hand side. Australia used the same helmet, came with the M113. I used to play with some bucket heads. What a fucking shower they were.
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Thanks for the nice comments guys.
We would do some head sprues as we go along but the figures will have fixed heads in this range. You will need to snip, drill and glue. ;)
That’s fine by me. :)
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Is that a tankers helmet Mr Empress??
HUZZAH!
I photographed it the wrong way round to catch Carlos out lol
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Todays NVA is Hien.
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Every one say hi Hien!
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Oh yes! Funny enough I was looking at those yesterday.
However I am just getting dragged into another part of this project at the moment, which if all goes well, you will see the results in two or three months muhahahahahaha lol”
Hawaii style shirts and Swedish Ks?
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The snap, drill and glue bit isn't a problem! :D
And wonderful figures as always!
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HUZZAH!
I photographed it the wrong way round to catch Carlos out lol
:D
At the risk of sounding critical. The pith helmets don’t seem quite right. Most pictures and for that matter the one I have have a shallower bowl and deeper brim. Thusly. Of course it might just be the photos.
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Speaking of tankers, any news on the M48? I know I'm being impatient but my Vietnam mojo needs to be fed new releases otherwise it gets distracted by other shiny stuff lol
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Speaking of tankers, any news on the M48? I know I'm being impatient but my Vietnam mojo needs to be fed new releases otherwise it gets distracted by other shiny stuff lol
Vehicles due to arrive in a few days then into moulds and then released. Not long to wait.
Also got the M113 with full ACAV done so that arrives any day now as well.
Phew. :o
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Todays NVA is Hanh.
Carlos the hat is down to partly angle of the pictures partly perhaps about 2mm too tall, but that's a rough guess and conjectural. ;)
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Loving the NVA..... are the vehicles likely to be available at Partizana week Sunday?
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Really digging the NVA.
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Loving the NVA..... are the vehicles likely to be available at Partizana week Sunday?
Only the M113.
The rest will still be going through the moulding process.
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Todays NVA is Hanh.
Carlos the hat is down to partly angle of the pictures partly perhaps about 2mm too tall, but that's a rough guess and conjectural. ;)
I think the biggest problem is that the brim is too flat. They would look fine on Colonial French or Italians but they don’t really look convincing for Vietnam.
The brim on the original article is actually quite steeply angled, the crown and the panel seams tend not to be as prominent.
Sorry to carp but heavily invested in this and wanting the best available sculpts.
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While we are talking about the NVA. What colours should their uniforms be? I see pictures of then like above where they are green and others where they are Khaki.
Is it really a bit of a mix of both?
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They did use both. But if your going to Tet, try to keep the uniform the same for a Squad at least. Reason being is that many units were issued new uniforms for the offensive. :D
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I love the NVA figures, and as im investing very heavily in this, i love the NVA and their sculpting.
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Any idea on Vallejo paints for the NVA?
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I think the biggest problem is that the brim is too flat. They would look fine on Colonial French or Italians but they don’t really look convincing for Vietnam.
The brim on the original article is actually quite steeply angled, the crown and the panel seams tend not to be as prominent.
Sorry to carp but heavily invested in this and wanting the best available sculpts.
Well we had best check it and do a bit of reshaping. ;)
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Although the shape in real life is all over the place, which given the manufacturing methods and wear and tear is not surprising. However its sometimes difficult to discover what is authentic and what is not. eg
The obviously modern version is very wrong to the others.
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https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_pxdcXXpA8/UJVwb794hnI/AAAAAAAAH24/Y7mG7V9QXPw/s1600/Mercado-excedentes-guerra-de-Vietnam.JPG
Different types of NVA helmets currently on sale in Ho Chi Minh City, plus some US gear
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Any idea on Vallejo paints for the NVA?
Mix ‘n’ match your greens, just like the originals. To tie mine together I’ve been using the somewhat ironically titled (given the circumstances) ‘Gunship Green’ but ‘Olive Grey’, Yellow Green and all kinds of green have featured as contrasts. Panzer Colours reed green isn’t bad. Webbing seems to have been a total mix from pale, through mid khaki to some fairly brightish greens when new. They thing is just to provide a bit of contrast.
Funnily enough, given that uniforms personal equipment and webbing were often sourced from China and weapons from the Soviet Union or China, often the only things a PAVN soldier might be wearing that were Vietnamese made were the pith helmet and his Ho Chi Minh sandals.
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Well we had best check it and do a bit of reshaping. ;)
Good man!
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Good man!
So which shape do you like from the four pictures above. The very green one , third one down, looks correct to your pictures but the other three are actual originals and are all close to the sculpt although all slightly different in the angle of the brim.
Just want to get it right and stop Paul swearing at me lol
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I like the green one cos it actually does look like the majority of period photos that I’ve seen. Not saying there weren’t variations, quite obviously there were, but all of ‘em have more sharply downward angled brims than the sculpts appear to.
I’ll readily admit I want these for more than just facing off against US marines and the like. I’m interested in using them for 1972, ‘75 and the 1978/79 invasion of Cambodia. The more uniform, regular look obviously appeals.
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My 2 cents worth on the helmets.
The third picture of the group is what most helmets
I have seen look like.
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Agree to the third one down. just sculpting. ;)
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Agree to the third one down. just sculpting. ;)
Well played...
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Well played...
;)
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Empress Miniatures will you attend crisis this year?
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Empress Miniatures will you attend crisis this year?
Yes we are. ;)
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Latest hat.
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I like it!
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Looking good.... any new releases for Partizan this weekend?
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Probably not as holidays have delayed things slightly, plus changing the hat lol
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New hat looks perfect :-*
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Will come around at Crisis then . Is it possible to preorder later on for Crisis?
By the way the last helmet looks very good to me
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Will come around at Crisis then . Is it possible to preorder later on for Crisis?
By the way the last helmet looks very good to me
Yes send us a pre order or shopping list.
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Will do nearer to the event. To make sure to get all the new releases you'll probably have until then!
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The new hat looks great.
Great job.
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Latest hat.
Much improved, I’ll take three dozen or so. Unless the wife bankrupts me in Germany that is. :D
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Any chance of separate heads with the new hat - I've 4 packs of the first NVA releases and might need to do some beheading and replacing! I do think Mr Hicks has captured the shape of the helmet brilliantly this time. :)
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That's much better! Lovely work :o
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Planning my next order....when will the next release happen?
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Any chance of separate heads with the new hat - I've 4 packs of the first NVA releases and might need to do some beheading and replacing! I do think Mr Hicks has captured the shape of the helmet brilliantly this time. :)
Aren’t the first releases in a “floppy hat”? That said... head swaps add more variety!
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Thanks guys. Release is slightly delayed due to the hat swap however there will simply be more released as we are still sculpting other stuff in the background so two releases will possibly just become one large one. Depends on the timing. Not much in it.
Vehicles on their way as well. M113 with the full ACAV turret at the moulders and Patton, Commando, Ontos just about to be. More after that.
This autumn will see quite a large amount of releases as we move away from 1968 for some releases before Christmas. :o
Yes there will be head sprues at some point although the plan is that you will have enough NVA to satisfy the most megalomaniac gamers amongst us. (me) However some of the figures from the FIC range will work for VC with head swaps so useful for that.
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Todays NVA is Duong.
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Vehicles on their way as well. M113 with the full ACAV turret at the moulders and Patton, Commando, Ontos just about to be. More after that.
Excellent.
Hopefully in time for Colours.
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yeah pretty easily I hope.
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Hopefully in time for Colours.
yeah pretty easily I hope.
Going to need a bigger bag (possibly on wheels)...
^___^
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Bring a trolley ;)
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Just back from Vietnam and have to agree with Carlos. The previous hats were too "shallow" and the same hat is still worn by civvies and police, guards and the few military that I saw from Ho Chi Min City to Hanoi.
Great tour of the Cu Chi tunnels but a large portion of it has now collapsed and is unusable for tours. Afraid this old body wasn't able to bend sufficiently to go through the now slightly enlarged tunnels but some of our younger tour members did as did my partner but she is shorter and fitter than this old Buddha bellied bloke. Interesting to see the reactions at the firing range as some wealthy tourists used the AKs and 30 cals for a bit of fun. A lot of dead dirt on that range. Nice wrecked M-41 that ran over a mine in 1970.
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Yeah, Cu Chi has a bit of Disney-Vietnam feel to it. Interesting in parts but I found the shoot a gun for $$$$ somewhat bizarre. I’m only 5’10” and I found bending over in those tunnels a right bugger. I had a really nice guide but I had to giggle when we got to the try the food bit. He made a moue of distaste when they served up the boiled cassava. I happily tucked in and told him we eat it at home on a regular basis, it comes from Brazil and it’s called aipim.
Did you see the Canadian C15TA armoured truck near the entrance?
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No, missed that, bugger!
Yeah, Cu Chi has a bit of Disney-Vietnam feel to it. Interesting in parts but I found the shoot a gun for $$$$ somewhat bizarre. I’m only 5’10” and I found bending over in those tunnels a right bugger. I had a really nice guide but I had to giggle when we got to the try the food bit. He made a moue of distaste when they served up the boiled cassava. I happily tucked in and told him we eat it at home on a regular basis, it comes from Brazil and it’s called aipim.
Did you see the Canadian C15TA armoured truck near the entrance?
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He made a moue of distaste when they served up the boiled cassava. I happily tucked in and told him we eat it at home on a regular basis, it comes from Brazil and it’s called aipim.
What would he have against cassava? That stuff is tasty. lol
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Will you have a separate section on the website for NVA when there are more packs?
I glanced at the Vietnam section and did not originally realise that NVA packs were up, as they are on the end of the US - Vietnam section.
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Will you have a separate section on the website for NVA when there are more packs?
I glanced at the Vietnam section and did not originally realise that NVA packs were up, as they are on the end of the US - Vietnam section.
Wasn't going to but it is probably a good idea. Also a room for civilians and another for vehicles.
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Todays NVA is Danh.
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:-* nice indeed
Are you thinking about doing some US artillery to fit out firebases?
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Possibly o_o
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That would be grand!
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That would be grand!
Working on something special at the moment buts it my secret :o ;D
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You are a tease!
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indeed
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Todays NVA is Danh.
Dangerous Danh.
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Awesome additions to the range, and cracking work by Empress and Mr. Hicks! Like the change of the helmet. Top work! :D
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Awesome additions to the range, and cracking work by Empress and Mr. Hicks! Like the change of the helmet. Top work! :D
Many thanks ;)
Got a lot more NVA to show but all going through hat changes so best I do not show until they are in their new plumage.
Sorry to be a tease but walls have ears lol
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Many thanks ;)
Got a lot more NVA to show but all going through hat changes so best I do not show until they are in their new plumage.
Sorry to be a tease but walls have ears lol
Never let your mother in-law choose the wallpaper.
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Never let your mother in-law choose the wallpaper.
lol lol lol lol
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NVA with new hat.
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gorgeous!!!
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That looks more like what I have just seen in Vietnam.
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Beautiful!
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These are brilliant.
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When will these be available?
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quite soon ;)
It will mean that within a few weeks there will be over 30 NVA. ;)
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quite soon ;)
It will mean that within a few weeks there will be over 30 NVA. ;)
Cool! :D
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Rather like the new hat...
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Not sure if asked before. If one wanted to get a "slick" which scale would be ok with the vehicles Empress produces ? 1/48?
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Not sure if asked before. If one wanted to get a "slick" which scale would be ok with the vehicles Empress produces ? 1/48?
I use 1/48 scale aeroplanes. Infact been buying some. ;)
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OK, thanks have to get some Helicopters soon ;)
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OK, thanks have to get some Helicopters soon ;)
I received some great advice here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114930.0
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thanks traveller that helps!
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quite soon ;)
It will mean that within a few weeks there will be over 30 NVA. ;)
So when are these few weeks up? Some of us have run out of models to paint and have money to burn.
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Ssshhhhh some of us are on holiday. ;)
Back very soon then the beginning of a flow, gush, torrent, tseunami, of releases. lol
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Back very soon then the beginning of a flow, gush, torrent, tseunami, of releases. lol
Newbury.... Newbury... Newbury....
Enjoy your holiday.
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Cheers mate. ;)
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A couple of Buffalo wagon variants to populate your tables.
These are now in the shop. Stay tuned for a lot more releases in the coming days.
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The bits and bobs as well as hodge podge of kit on the cart is a nice touch. Very characterful. And perhaps even useful for other settings too. :D
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That driver looks very useful for other purposes(rivercrafts, villages etc) ...will he be available separately?
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Fantastic new set! I love the array of stuff on the cart and the general character of this sculpt :-*
Really looking forward to more civilian types for this range!
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Very cool, ill most likely put in an order once I see all the other goodies your going to spoil us with.
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Thanks Guys. May add the figures to a civilian pack when we get onto them.
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Painted by moi. NVA troops.
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and more.
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Very nice indeed . Started on my lot at the weekend . So pictures up soonish.
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Very nice indeed . Started on my lot at the weekend . So pictures up soonish.
Excellent.
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Those be lovely! Cracking paint jobs.
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Those be lovely! Cracking paint jobs.
Shucks :-*
Just packing the next packs of NVA to be released. ;)
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Well hurry up then. Some of us have itches that need itching. And Jungle battles to be fought.
(https://i.imgur.com/MIxyNGt.jpg)
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Well hurry up then. Some of us have itches that need itching. And Jungle battles to be fought.
(https://i.imgur.com/MIxyNGt.jpg)
Oooh nice. :-*
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"Come and get it!!!"
4 new packs of NVA just put in the shop. 8)
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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Outstanding!
Already ordered.
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The paintjob in green is cool! I might adopt that or go for a mix of khaki and green-ish tones like that. And the red scarf is a nice touch. :D
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Very nice - that’s 24 individual NVA now and you’ve only just started! Impressed! (Paul Hicks can’t be allowed much sleep these days, can he? lol)
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Great looking NVA.
Will be sending in an order soon.
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Fantastic! Great seeing the SKS packs as well; it wasn't all AK-47 ;)
Any rumours about some ANZAC troops? :D
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:-*
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Very nice additions to the NVA!! One suggestion could you do helmets with wire netting for adding camouflage to the helmet?
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Outstanding!
Already ordered.
Thanks mate ;)
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Great looking NVA.
Will be sending in an order soon.
That's what we want to hear lol
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Fantastic! Great seeing the SKS packs as well; it wasn't all AK-47 ;)
Any rumours about some ANZAC troops? :D
More than rumours. ;)
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Very nice additions to the NVA!! One suggestion could you do helmets with wire netting for adding camouflage to the helmet?
Sure ;)
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And please a few heavy weapons. As it stands the poor NVA are sorely outgunned by the Marines.
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They will not be soon lol
LMG figures just sculpted.
All the RPG's done.
Various MMG/HMG/Mortars all done.
Huge amount will be coming through. :D
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They will not be soon lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tHWXrmOCs0s&list=PLMMjXrEqB2idV1G8YGtueO1ypFxS7c9Lb&index=2&t=0s
This may take a loooooong time. :D
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This may take a loooooong time. :D
Best get on with it then. lol
New M113 with ACAV turret is now in the shop. This also features separate side skirts so you can leave them off if you want.
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That is so “cute”! Must get on with finishing French Indo-China so I can get motoring on with the next stage! So much to do!
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That is so “cute”! Must get on with finishing French Indo-China so I can get motoring on with the next stage! So much to do!
Tell me about it o_o
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gorgeous !!! now for some south vietnamese soldiers or US Army types to go with that beauty!
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Just ordered three of the older version of the M113 as I have no clue as to when the turret version was introduced? Really should do my research. However I figured I could use the older version for early battles and ARVIN encounters. Have ordered the new NVA as well. Just superb sculpts! Can't wait to see what else comes out for this line but a heavy MG would be most useful.
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Sure ;)
Yay! Makes for a diverse picture of gear!
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Very nice.
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Just ordered three of the older version of the M113 as I have no clue as to when the turret version was introduced? Really should do my research. However I figured I could use the older version for early battles and ARVIN encounters. Have ordered the new NVA as well. Just superb sculpts! Can't wait to see what else comes out for this line but a heavy MG would be most useful.
The side shields for the commander came in in 1966 with US forces.
Still more Marines to do including the support weapons.
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No rest for the wicked! :D
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No rest for the wicked! :D
We must be VERY wicked.
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If in doubt, buy both types! Can't go wrong lol
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If in doubt, buy both types! Can't go wrong lol
Good plan lol
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Best get on with it then. lol
New M113 with ACAV turret is now in the shop. This also features separate side skirts so you can leave them off if you want.
Missed this somehow.
On my list for Saturday.
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Any of you guys coming to Colours please introduce yourselves under your stage name used on here please. It will be interesting to put 'names' to faces :)
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The Ontos is now released and in the shop.
First come first served at Colours so form an orderly queue lol
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:-*
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Will do at Crisis!!
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Can I get an Ontos at Crisis?
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I’ll see your :-* and raise you :-* :-*
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lol lol lol lol lol
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Vietnam poker! Ive got a great hand waiting on the work bench just about to go off to Empress;)
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First come first served at Colours so form an orderly queue lol
Couldn't you do Border Reiver instead? ;)
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As soon as the M48 is released I think another order has to be made. The Ontos seemed to be just as lethal to anyone stood behind it as stood in front of it. That makes for an interesting piece of kit on the tabletop. Top notch stuff!
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Can I get an Ontos at Crisis?
Yes ;)
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Vietnam poker! Ive got a great hand waiting on the work bench just about to go off to Empress;)
He is not fibbing. I have seen the pictures. :-*
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As soon as the M48 is released I think another order has to be made. The Ontos seemed to be just as lethal to anyone stood behind it as stood in front of it. That makes for an interesting piece of kit on the tabletop. Top notch stuff!
Glad you like it. M48 should be next week.
Now also have parts for the Zippo so that will follow soon as well.
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The Ontos is now released and in the shop.
First come first served at Colours so form an orderly queue lol
A seriously impressive piece of kit - well done!
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How early can I get to the station....
Nice looking piece of kit.
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Man, I'm blown away by the one piece resin hull including detailed tracks and running gear? What sorcery is this?
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Track and turret are separate... well they were when I made them!
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How early can I get to the station....
Nice looking piece of kit.
Apparently early enough.
It was great talking to you.
Actually building the Ontos is on hold until I get the Osprey book, no one had it at the show. The T1E2 maybe the first vehicle built ^___^.
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Paul(s).... are vehicle crews fairly near the top of the To Do list?
Selfish request but I like to get things finished in one go rather than 'complete' them at a later date (and adding a gunner to an assembled, painted ACAV looks to a particular pig ;) )
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Apparently early enough.
It was great talking to you.
Actually building the Ontos is on hold until I get the Osprey book, no one had it at the show. The T1E2 maybe the first vehicle built ^___^.
Yes same here. Any issues just give us a shout. ;)
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Paul(s).... are vehicle crews fairly near the top of the To Do list?
Selfish request but I like to get things finished in one go rather than 'complete' them at a later date (and adding a gunner to an assembled, painted ACAV looks to a particular pig ;) )
A good question and a good point.
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Paul(s).... are vehicle crews fairly near the top of the To Do list?
Selfish request but I like to get things finished in one go rather than 'complete' them at a later date (and adding a gunner to an assembled, painted ACAV looks to a particular pig ;) )
Yes I am pushing them and pilots to the top.
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Top man
-
Yes I am pushing them and pilots to the top.
Excellent.
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Will there be more USMC riflemen?*
*I know there are lots already but before I start contemplating doubling up and doing conversions, I thought I’d ask 😁
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Will there be more USMC riflemen?*
*I know there are lots already but before I start contemplating doubling up and doing conversions, I thought I’d ask 😁
Not planning on any more. Could do a couple of head sprues. One for Marines and one for the VC.
Have got a few more packs of USMC to do which are special packs such as support weapons etc but not planning on any more basic infantry types.
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Heads would be nice indeed!!
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Not planning on any more. Could do a couple of head sprues. One for Marines and one for the VC.
Have got a few more packs of USMC to do which are special packs such as support weapons etc but not planning on any more basic infantry types.
Thanks for the info
Head sprues would certainly make converting easier.
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Will there be more USMC riflemen?*
*I know there are lots already but before I start contemplating doubling up and doing conversions, I thought I’d ask 😁
Knowing you, you won't be able to help yourself, you'll be converting them left right and centre ;) lol
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Thanks for the info
Head sprues would certainly make converting easier.
OK will add it to the quick list.
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Knowing you, you won't be able to help yourself, you'll be converting them left right and centre ;) lol
I’m afflicted :D
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OK will add it to the quick list.
Many thanks 8)
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Not planning on any more. Could do a couple of head sprues. One for Marines and one for the VC.
Have got a few more packs of USMC to do which are special packs such as support weapons etc but not planning on any more basic infantry types.
I'd also like to see separate head sprues for conversions - But also maybe some "spin-offs" namely MACVSOG - Could be fun way to branch out and include both US and Indig troopers.
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Thanks for the head sprues!
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I'd also like to see separate head sprues for conversions - But also maybe some "spin-offs" namely MACVSOG - Could be fun way to branch out and include both US and Indig troopers.
If you read the threads these troop types will all come in time. ;)
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We hinted earlier at a lot of releases coming through. Well strap in as here we go. YEHAW!!!
Todays NVA is Ngai. Yes it does come with a bipod.
28mm sculpted along with the rest of the range by Paul Hicks.
Simply the best.
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Cracking figure and much needed firepower for the NVA. Like it!
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Love it! :-* can't wait to see the rest of this set! :o
The will to resisit is withering...
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Love it!
-
Nice, finally some rpds! Possibly interesting for converting!
-
I like him as a model.
But I must say that from a wargaming perspective, prone models are a pain in the ar*e. Both because they require a bigger base and because you then have to imagine the models line of sight. But then again the bigger base allows you to build almost a mini diorama, so there is a silver lining I guess.
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Well as most soldiers spend a lot of their time prone its difficult to ignore them really. We have chosen to do this with the NVA and VC specifically due to the tactical style of their fighting ie ambush or defence in Hue and elsewhere.
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Todays NVA is Due.
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Well as most soldiers spend a lot of their time prone its difficult to ignore them really. We have chosen to do this with the NVA and VC specifically due to the tactical style of their fighting ie ambush or defence in Hue and elsewhere.
I completely get that. And it certainly wont stop me from getting him and anyone else lying about.
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really nice additions. I see a big order for collecting at Crisis coming up during late october!
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I completely get that. And it certainly wont stop me from getting him and anyone else lying about.
;)
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Todays NVA is Due.
Due in twenty minutes? Due Thursday? He seems to be in a hurry. :)
Very nice btw, as is the RPD gunner.
As for prone figures, well whilst they tend not to be the preference of gamers and for good, practical reasons, prone is the default position once contact is initiated and save for short rushes, tends to stay that way until the contact is over. Even the final assault may more often than not be fought forward ‘on yer guts’ by teams pepper potting.
My hope would be to see the Australians in mostly patrolling poses plus packs of prone firing positions.
Question. The ‘free world’ forces are getting armour. Any chance the PAVN will get some? I’d really like to see some Type 63/K-63/YW531 APCs
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My hope would be to see the Australians in mostly patrolling poses plus packs of prone firing positions.
Question. The ‘free world’ forces are getting armour. Any chance the PAVN will get some? I’d really like to see some Type 63/K-63/YW531 APCs
Yep to both TBH. First PAVN armour will be around Christmas time depending on various constraints (time) but it should give any Firebase a scare ;)
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Todays Empress Miniatures 28mm NVA is Quan.
Looks kinda mean. :`
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That Mr Hicks is really quite talented.
Git :D
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Todays Empress Miniatures 28mm NVA is Quan.
Looks kinda mean. :`
That is a superb sculpt! :-* Now the question must be Quan do, Quan do, Quan do, Quando?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=128LI6_4L-s
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That is a superb sculpt! :-* Now the question must be Quan do, Quan do, Quan do, Quando?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=128LI6_4L-s
You get worse ::)
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Oh come on, everyone loves Engelbert, he’s the Poundsaver version of Tom Jones. And even if you don’t you had those lovely lasses in gold lame to ogle.
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Poundsaver version of Tom Jones!
Thats a sad summing up to a career lol
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But quite accurate ;)
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Harsh, but fair...
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Oh come on, everyone loves Engelbert, he’s the Poundsaver version of Tom Jones. And even if you don’t you had those lovely lasses in gold lame to ogle.
My long departed Gran always had a special place in her heart for Engelbert. I'm glad to see someone else still remembers....
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As long as you do not want a figure of him.
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Todays NVA is Duong.
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As long as you do not want a figure of him.
Well if your asking :)
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Actually not a bad idea! Not Engelbert but a pack of USO entertainers at some point. Bob Hope, Ann Margaret etc, etc. Scenario objective.
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(https://i.imgur.com/xRNn2Da.jpg)
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Actually not a bad idea! Not Engelbert but a pack of USO entertainers at some point. Bob Hope, Ann Margaret etc, etc. Scenario objective.
Suzie Q!
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Todays NVA is Duong.
Looking good!
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Todays 28mm Paul Hicks sculpted NVA is Sang.
Something a bit special tomorrow.
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Todays 28mm Paul Hicks sculpted NVA is Sang.
Something a bit special tomorrow.
His father, Sang Froid, fought for the French did he not?
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Oh boy. It is hard to be excited about todays guy when you tease at something even better tomorrow.
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Used by both the army and USMC in Vietnam, most notably at the battle of Hue this 1/50 scale model compliments the extensive range of modern and ultra modern vehicles that Empress Miniatures sells.
This version comes with extra track armour to be placed where the customer wants as well as one road wheel to also act as extra armour.
The model also comes with two 50 cal HMG's that the customer can either use in place in the commanders turret or outside on a pintle mount as was often seen.
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Been waiting for this to be released. I'm a happy man! Order placed! This range just gets better and better.
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Result! Cheers Paul!
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Nice.
Something for my SELWG list (unless I manage to reduce my existing pile before then ^__^).
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Cool! :o
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Thanks guys.
Stay tuned still a lot to come ;)
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That’s a very nice looking tank. Definitely on the shopping list.
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Todays NVA is Dinh.
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“Dinh”! Love it! lol
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Very nice additions!!! The list to preorder for Salute gets longer and longer!
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sorry not Salute !!! Crisis of course! ;)
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You better bring big bags to carry everything. Phase 57 on route ::)
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I have the Corgi M48 Patton 1/50 scale tank, will yours match in size? looking to add a cheaper version (price not quality obviously!! )
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You better bring big bags to carry everything. Phase 57 on route ::)
Will do ;)
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I have the Corgi M48 Patton 1/50 scale tank, will yours match in size? looking to add a cheaper version (price not quality obviously!! )
Not sure as I do not have one. Technically they are both the same scale however Corgi scales are notoriously interesting to say the least. I have seen pictures and the model seems very tall with the mudguards above head height. It looks to me more 1/48 but I really cannot say. My advice is sell it and buy lots of ours lol
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Judge for yourselves. I picked the same poses as the photo with the Empress M48. Apols one isn’t complete.
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Thanks Carlos, its slightly bigger, but if i keep them apart not a problem.
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By the by, if UVS is reading this, my memory was shaky. I re-sprayed the Corgi M48 with Tamiya’s JGSDF green not NATO green, I just found the can.
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Thanks Carlos, its slightly bigger, but if i keep them apart not a problem.
Marginally and I do mean marginally taller would be my guess.
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Todays NVA is Ngoz.
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Three more like him and you can call ‘em Nsync. :D
Very nice btw. We must be edging towards RPG gunners next.
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Three more like him and you can call ‘em Nsync. :D
Very nice btw. We must be edging towards RPG gunners next.
Yeah next up plus a command pack. Got some seriously lovely support weapons to man as well. However tank crew must come first. Another special release tomorrow :-*
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Todays NVA is Ngoz.
I’m going to have to increase my order... 8)
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Oh go on then lol
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NEW RELEASE!!!!
CADILLAC GAGE COMMANDO 28mm (1/50 scale)
American amphibious armoured car used from 1963 by most US forces such as the USMC, Air Force and Military Police as well as allies such as ARVN.
Seen in many Tet Offensive photographs. Gradually retired from front line service in the 1990's.
This model comes with a choice of turret weaponry so that the 30. cal and 50 cal versions can be created. The customer has the option to make the 30. cal only or the 30/50 cal side by side version. Not seen a dual 50 cal version but it looked good and we do sell a lot of modern vehicles to the sci fi market. lol
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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Nice.
Are you going to do the Australian M113 with the turret?
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nice
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Amazing armoured car!
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Nice.
Are you going to do the Australian M113 with the turret?
It would seem silly not to. ;)
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Todays US tank crew is Frank. Frank in his tank.
28mm sculpted by Paul Hicks to fit in the Empress range of 1/50 scale vehicles.
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That tankie is a cracking sculpt! Very excited to see what other vehicle crew will follow. Bailed out crew maybe? Those M48s seemed to get a proper hammering from RPGs in the enclosed streets of the Citadel in Hue. Wounded USMC for the back deck area?
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Love the tank crewman.
Look forward to see the rest.
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Lovely!
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How very annoying. Just as I had almost convinced myself that I don’t need any tanks or armored vehicles as my gaming will be set I the jungle.
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Todays US tank crew is Frank. Frank in his tank.
28mm sculpted by Paul Hicks to fit in the Empress range of 1/50 scale vehicles.
Very nice.
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To quote a certain Mr Eno, “Blank Frank is the messenger of your doom and your destruction....”
Can’t wait to see the rest of the crew (crews?).
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Thanks all. Glad you like him. The rest are also sculpted for the main tank crews. Just doing ARVN M113 crew.
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Todays NVA is Giang.
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The PAVN did have a field cap type affair but there doesn’t seem to have been much evidence of it until the late 1970s in the field. In fact I can’t recall seeing a photo of one that dates much before the liberation of Cambodia and the Sino-Vietnamese war and those have tended to be the less fussy looking officer’s version and invariably in posed, non-combat, photos.
I’m sure some bugger must have worn one at some point but they seem to have been leery of being photographed. Might be better doing variations on the floppy hat or cam netted pith helmet if you crave variety. They are far more iconic. Some chaps with parachute silk capes and some with the cane camouflage loops on packs wouldn’t go astray.
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We are only planning on this one figure and wanted something different. The NVA were not very photogenic at the best of times until they started winning in the 70's so no reason to believe that it was not around in the 60's. However the range is for the US involvement so not an issue. ;)
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That’s cool, his cap will probably get a bit of surgery and he will join my Khmer Rouge.
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Funny enough, i was talking to a colleague of mine today, she had seen me reading Streets of Fire on Hue, and said her parents were from Vietnam, so it appears they are from Quang Ninh near Hanoi, and her Mother was deaf due to American Bombing on her village, and her dad was in the NVA and fought in the South, but they left on a Boat after reunification, as evidently the place was poor as hell, anyway seeing im probably going off topic, i asked he if she could ask her Dad what he wore etc, she then proceeded to show me one pic of him on her phone, in a almost white uniform and a i presume an american soft cap, he fought down south in the period we are interested in, so will try to find out more about uniforms etc, ran a chip shop here until the early 2000s funny from NVA to chip fryer.
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...ran a chip shop here until the early 2000s funny from NVA to chip fryer.
Well, I can see why he might have been sick of rice.
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Funny enough, i was talking to a colleague of mine today, she had seen me reading Streets of Fire on Hue, and said her parents were from Vietnam, so it appears they are from Quang Ninh near Hanoi, and her Mother was deaf due to American Bombing on her village, and her dad was in the NVA and fought in the South, but they left on a Boat after reunification, as evidently the place was poor as hell, anyway seeing im probably going off topic, i asked he if she could ask her Dad what he wore etc, she then proceeded to show me one pic of him on her phone, in a almost white uniform and a i presume an american soft cap, he fought down south in the period we are interested in, so will try to find out more about uniforms etc, ran a chip shop here until the early 2000s funny from NVA to chip fryer.
That's a brilliant story. The fact that an ex NVA ran a chip shop in the UK is hilarious. Deserves a Hollywood movie. Scene three Rambo enters and orders Cod and Chips with mushy peas lol
Yes would be interested in kit and uniform details. I suspect they actually had very little in the field.
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That's a brilliant story. The fact that an ex NVA ran a chip shop in the UK is hilarious. Deserves a Hollywood movie. Scene three Rambo enters and orders Cod and Chips with mushy peas lol
Yes would be interested in kit and uniform details. I suspect they actually had very little in the field.
lol lol Lovely story!
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Wow :o
What a beautiful range, this has got to be the best looking post WWII range I have seen to date. There's nothing like a range of figures that really captures the feel of a period to re-kindle interest 8)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
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Funny enough, i was talking to a colleague of mine today, she had seen me reading Streets of Fire on Hue, and said her parents were from Vietnam, so it appears they are from Quang Ninh near Hanoi, and her Mother was deaf due to American Bombing on her village, and her dad was in the NVA and fought in the South, but they left on a Boat after reunification, as evidently the place was poor as hell, anyway seeing im probably going off topic, i asked he if she could ask her Dad what he wore etc, she then proceeded to show me one pic of him on her phone, in a almost white uniform and a i presume an american soft cap, he fought down south in the period we are interested in, so will try to find out more about uniforms etc, ran a chip shop here until the early 2000s funny from NVA to chip fryer.
Cool!
Of course on the other side of the world, it’s a little more common place. There’s hardly a bakery in Melb and probably much of the rest of the East coast that isn’t Vietnamese run or owned, an overwhelmingly good thing. If your wife or workmate gets their nails done, then there’s something like a 90% chance it happened in a Vietnamese run establishment and we have a number of suburbs where the population is largely Vietnamese migrants and their offspring , with nearly every shop Vietnamese owned.
The banh mi has pretty much become the national sandwich of choice and phở, the light lunch of choice. Vietnamese food, in case you haven’t tried, it is one of the great cuisines of the world. Infinite variety, flavour and subtlety. Whilst it was a shitty thing for those caught up in it, the fall of the South enriched this country no end.
Interestingly enough, few people realise that there were a significant number of NLF supporters, who ended up fleeing Vietnam post-reunification. The NLF always had a disparate base and many fell out with the Hanoi regime and its underlings in the South. A number ended up here. They tend to stay quiet about it as most of the older generation are still quite anti-communist.
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Right? We have a pretty big Viet population here on the west coast of the U.S.. I belive Vietnamese is the 3rd most spoken language in ether Washington or Oregon.
Got a decent population here in Vegas to. And one of the guys I was in the army with family moved to the U.S. after the war. His dad spent 3 years in a reeducation camp after the war.
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Wow :o
What a beautiful range, this has got to be the best looking post WWII range I have seen to date. There's nothing like a range of figures that really captures the feel of a period to re-kindle interest 8)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
Praise indeed. Thanks Lance :-*
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So, continuing my NVA Fish n Chip story, i met up with her Mum and Dad, both delightfully bonkers, her Mum certainly had a bee in her Bonnet about the Americans bombing her village (as you would) however the historian (me) asked her about defending her village, id seen pictures and film of all the villagers running out and shooting at the bombers, i think she thought i was mad, as she said they all ran to shelter when the planes came, so maybe its a bit of propaganda.
The Father didnt really want to talk about his time down South, and really all i could glean was, how the officers got all the good stuff, and he had the same uniform all war, and had to make and mend or wear captured stuff, and he was glad he was a radio man otherwise he would not be here.
He left Vietnam as the village was worse after the war, and the big men as he called them robbed them all the time, so thats it, but never thought id meet a NVA man in Manchester
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Todays NVA is Nguyen.
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Amazing! Also nice for conversions in case someone wants a belt fed RPD. :D
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Amazing! Also nice for conversions in case someone wants a belt fed RPD. :D
I think my 28mm Rhodesians will get some Selous Scouts out of these chaps...
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Spot on! Lovely figure.
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Cheers guys.
Lt Colonel Ernie Cheatham looking decidedly cheesed off.
Its a useful picture as it shows the Empress attention to scaling as we have made him taller than the other Marines to respect his 6'4" height.
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Sweet 😉
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Lt Colonel Ernie Cheatham looking decidedly cheesed off.
Its a useful picture as it shows the Empress attention to scaling as we have made him taller than the other Marines to respect his 6'4" height.
That's great :)
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I think my 28mm Rhodesians will get some Selous Scouts out of these chaps...
:D Useful!
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Cheers guys.
Lt Colonel Ernie Cheatham looking decidedly cheesed off.
Its a useful picture as it shows the Empress attention to scaling as we have made him taller than the other Marines to respect his 6'4" height.
Amazing attention to detail! :o
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Amazing attention to detail! :o
Thanks Freaky ;)
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Todays NVA's are the brothers Chi and Dinh.
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Chi is my favourite sculpt so far! Cracking figure.
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Very nice! Need to crack on and get some of this lot painted before another batch is released. Superb sculpts!
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Very nice! Need to crack on and get some of this lot painted before another batch is released. Superb sculpts!
Paint quickly lol
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very nice additions
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Chi is my favourite sculpt so far! Cracking figure.
Agreed, he’s a cracker!
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Man...
I keep wanting to convert some models into a MACVSOG unit with Indigs... But this line just gets better and better...
I'm getting really stoked to see whats is coming next - Love the on-going previews and response to feedback - Keep up the excellence Paul & Paul ;)
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Thanks guys.
Man...
I keep wanting to convert some models into a MACVSOG unit with Indigs... But this line just gets better and better...
I'm getting really stoked to see whats is coming next - Love the on-going previews and response to feedback - Keep up the excellence Paul & Paul ;)
Many thanks for that. As has been said previously this openness is a whole new style for us and is in many ways an experiment. Its actually hard work in keeping up with posts here and to a lesser degree elsewhere and its not without its concerns as the negative marketing 'politics' used by some has created a bad taste but we are very much sticking with this and its good to hear some encouragement and for this we thank you 8)
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Todays NVA are Long and Lanh.
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...As I was just saying - Line gets better and better (is that even possible at this point ;))
That Long fellow is perfect for an Indig MACVSOG scout - using enemy weapon to mask and confuse enemies at an ambush - A few US canteens and gear and some greenstuff on his feet.. Boom - Perfect!
@Empress Miniatures - I understand the perrils of on-going pre-views and the constant subject to possible critique - Fortunately on this platform, the critique seems constructive and out of friendly love for the hobby.
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Mostly lol
Actually its not been an issue on here as you all seem to play nice so a group hug for that.
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Some Water Buffalo to calm the nerves.
Waterboo!
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Nice animals and cart. Is it possible to get the driver as an individual figure? Would be useful in other settings.
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When we do the civilian packs properly we can add the figure.
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Really love the new additions to the range, the look of these is getting more and more interesting! Contrary to some fellows on FB I find it cool that Paul manages to convey so many different poses and characters based on these dollies.
Lovely work on the cart as well! Even though I'm not that much in to Vietnam as a conflict I might plop that one in my Christmas Basket for a small diorama :-*
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looking forward to the next NVA release as once my bases have arrived I'll have the last lot completed, cheers Pete https://jacobiteirish.blogspot.com/ (https://jacobiteirish.blogspot.com/)
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Thanks guys. New stuff to follow very soon. ;)
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The officer in the cameo is Captain Chuck Meadows who led Golf Company in a futile attack on the Citadel. However he works for any Marine officer of any rank really. Enjoyed painting this one.
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Cracking sculpts! The bandaged hand is a particularly nice detail that makes you want to get cracking on these figures. Brilliant!
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Nice painting.
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Cheers guys :-*
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Some new releases. To start with the next batch of NVA.
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Excellent stuff! Really hoping there will be some spare heads to mix and match these up. I have an ugly feeling I’m going to end up with a company’s worth.
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Already ordered.
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Ordered, i too am looking at a Company now!
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Some spare heads just being sculpted. ;)
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Thanks for the orders boys. Keep em coming lol :-*
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Order placed! Some spare helmeted NVA heads would be great. I'm also chuffed to bits with the stowage and the window shutters (for Hue buildings). You are giving me everything I need for this project. Just need more time and better painting skills lol
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Any chance we'll see an AAMG on tripod and crew for this range?
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Order placed! Some spare helmeted NVA heads would be great. I'm also chuffed to bits with the stowage and the window shutters (for Hue buildings). You are giving me everything I need for this project. Just need more time and better painting skills lol
Excellent news ;)
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Any chance we'll see an AAMG on tripod and crew for this range?
Every chance and hopefully quite soon. Weapons all made and waiting to be used.
Been reading a number of books about helicopter landings and am very surprised at the high volume of AA fire that they received so its a must.
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Better start on some helicopter crew then. :)
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Next in line.
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Every chance and hopefully quite soon. Weapons all made and waiting to be used.
Ooooh! Exciting!! :D
Next in line.
Oooooohhh! Exciting-er!
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Weird coincidence that. I had only just finished converting and assembling a PAVN Dushka and crew. Mine will be in steel helmets though. Next up a more generic one that I can use for VC or Khmer Rouge. I suppose a third, won’t hurt.
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Todays NVA is Thu.
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Once again a great mini. You guys seem determined to bleed me dry...
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Some heavy firepower, nice figure indeed!!! I second the need of Chopper crews either for placing in the chopper and on foot as objective marker maybe even some wounded ones after a crash?
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Great looking RPG! Seriously, these just get better and better. Will there be RPG-2/B-40s as well?
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Shhhh tomorrow but don't tell anyone.
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Secret is safe with me ;)
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Shhhh tomorrow but don't tell anyone.
Cool.
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Todays NVA is Thu.
Wow!
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+1 Wow :o
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As promised.
Todays 28mm NVA is Bao.
Armed with an RPG2
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Fantastic new poses :-*
So much incredible stuff coming from Empress (saw the LW Brits on Facebook) :o
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Fantastic new poses :-*
So much incredible stuff coming from Empress (saw the LW Brits on Facebook) :o
Thanks mate ;)
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Paul (Pauls!) - beautiful figures ... my bank manager hates you! Keep ‘em coming (please!) - Ian
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More nice.
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Thanks guys.
And another,
Todays 28mm NVA is Sang.
RPG7
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really nice!!!
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I really like that they have a secondary gun as well. Often RPG gunners are only modeled with their RPG.
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:-* Better and better and then better again!
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Praise indeed guys. Group hug. :-*
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What really amazes me is that I can see the trad pattern on the sole of the figure’s sandals. Incredible levels of detail.
Claymores? Groovy.
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What really amazes me is that I can see the trad pattern on the sole of the figure’s sandals. Incredible levels of detail.
Claymores? Groovy.
Yes but are they Dunlop or Pirelli?
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Todays 28mm NVA is Gia.
Firing an RPG2
Empress has some different Vietnam future releases and releases next week. Stay tuned.
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Well done. I like the NVA figures a lot. :-*
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They are bril. Any chance of seeing one side by side with one of the marines? I’ve been holding off until Elite Oz has more of the range and whilst I finish the USMC.
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Running out of superlatives - very impressive.
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Todays 28mm NVA is Gia.
Firing an RPG2
Empress has some different Vietnam future releases and releases next week. Stay tuned.
Fingers crossed for some ARVN.
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Yes but are they Dunlop or Pirelli?
Not sure, did Paul consult the calendar? ;)
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Absolutely brilliant! Lovely details! I love the way Paul Hicks sculpts folds in cloth such much ;D
One tiny suggestion: in all the backpacks there is always the full count of rockets...it would be nice to have some that had already fired a few (not full backback) or may one missing and being sold a part so that it can be laid on the base!
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Nice.
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Not sure, did Paul consult the calendar? ;)
He's not allowed the Pireli one it makes his hands shake. :o
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Fingers crossed for some ARVN.
Might be ::) ..........might not be ???
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Question. Will there be a recoilless rifle for the NVA/VC or do I need to get cracking on converting the Vietminh one?
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Yeah just got to decide what size with which force as we have all the versions to hand. ;)
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Might be ::) ..........might not be ???
What about Koreans? Specifically marines, who allegedly had "muscles in their $#~t". Now, that's what I call a sculpting challenge.
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What about Koreans? Specifically marines, who allegedly had "muscles in their $#~t". Now, that's what I call a sculpting challenge.
In time we hope to cover off the South Koreans but they are sadly a way down the line.
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Ok so I just placed my first small order for a few packs of US to get me in the zone. I had been aware of this a few years since Paul told me they were coming out.
I have been biding my time (moving house, other projects etc) but now I feel I can devote time to making the scenery I will want to play. I have a few village buildings to paint, some bamboo forests half complete. For me though, the challenge is to find a few scale hueys, VC and a plethora of villagers. Then I will escalate it.....
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Hi Digit.
Yeah about three years ago outside the AC. I remember that.
VC and villagers will be along in a few months.
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It was indeed!
Worth the wait though fella....these are lovely minis.
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It was indeed!
Worth the wait though fella....these are lovely minis.
:-*
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They are bril. Any chance of seeing one side by side with one of the marines? I’ve been holding off until Elite Oz has more of the range and whilst I finish the USMC.
The NVA has slightly bent legs whilst the USMC has straight legs but not you can see the difference. Same dollies as we did the FIC range.
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Paul, any chance the vehicle crew pack will be out for Warfare?
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Some future releases to our fast developing (over 100 figures and 7 vehicles in just a few months) 28mm Vietnam range.
ARVN crew for our M113's
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Paul, any chance the vehicle crew pack will be out for Warfare?
Yeah, stay tuned.
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Terrific sculpts! More like this please. Nothing says Vietnam more than infantry riding atop an M113. Looking forward to seeing some ARVN foot slogger. Keep em coming!
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Oh my my!!! :-*
This is incredible! Lovely poses which add so much to an already really cool vehicle!
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Looking good! ;)
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Fairplay top notch sculpts.👍👍👍
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Love the new ARVN figures.
Have been looking forward to ARVN troops for years.
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Thanks guys. Hopefully you will also like these chaps which are soon to be released.
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some more pictures.
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And a few more.
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Hopefully you will also like these chaps
Yep
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Definitely yep.
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Excellent sculpts!
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Very much yep.
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Brilliant....
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Cracking! :D
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Thanks for the great comments guys. Really spurs us on to create more great stuff :-*
New release later on to announce ;)
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The M67 was the last flamethrower tank deployed by US military forces. Entering service in the late 1950's and being withdrawn in 1974 the tank featured significantly in the Vietnam war, most notably in the Tet offensive and in the battle for Hue.
This model is designed for our 28mm range and is in the usual perfect scale of 1/50.
The model comes with spare tracks and road wheel to be used as extra armour options as seen in action.
Check our Vietnam room for a test drive
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Nice! Very nice! Will add one of these to the next order. There are photos of the M67 being used in the triangle south of the Perfume River in Hue. Would make an interesting addition to any Hue game.
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I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
If I repeat it often enough I might even keep my resolve.
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They did use tanks etc up country. ;)
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I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
I am focusing on jungle combat I don’t need armored vehicles.
If I repeat it often enough I might even keep my resolve.
I am focussing on urban combat...
With two M48s on my extended shopping list, not sure about another one....
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Just close your eyes and repeat the mantra ‘It’s not an M48, it’s an M67’ until the problem passes.
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Anyone popping along to SELWG this weekend can get their hands on some new toys we are releasing. 8)
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Anyone popping along to SELWG this weekend can get their hands on some new toys we are releasing. 8)
Oooooooooh!
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We have some new toys in the shop.
NVA with 2 x RPG2 and 2 x RPG7.
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ARVN M113 crew.
This pack also contains a sandbag and wooden planking base for the rear gunners to stand on.
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USMC armoured vehicle crew.
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Ordered! I'm hoping that there will be more ARVN to ride on the ACAVs and some dismounted/bailing out (?) US armour crew. Also, was there mention of seperate heads for USMC, for doing head swaps? Either way, the best Vietnam range out there. Well sculpted, detailed and characterful!
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I added the USMC crew to my shopping list for SELWG.
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I added the USMC crew to my shopping list for SELWG.
And bought the first one!
Good to talk to you again.
Now I have to hurry up and paint them ^___^.
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And bought the first one!
Good to talk to you again.
Only just lol always good to see you and by Warfare we should have some more toys. Something a little different ;)
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One day I will be an actor.
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:-*
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When do you release the boats to make Apocalypse now playable? ;)
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When do you release the boats to make Apocalypse now playable? ;)
Along with the spear- and arrow-armed natives (who will be a challenge, as never seen)? I'm not sure whether the inclusion of choppers has previously been discussed, but a crashed one in a tree would also be required for the range to tie in fully with the film, as would a stetson-wearing officer. I don't think Paul has ever stated that this is the aim, however.
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To heck with the chopper in the tree, I want the bomber crashed in the river.
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Ok, not forget the french family...
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Air Cav are down the sculpting line so stay tuned. ;)
However all idea are welcome incase we miss a good one.
Love the helicopter in a tree but cannot see us doing it as a release. lol
Just working on a load of stuff .....phase 120!!!! whatever it is, but want to concentrate on NVA and USMC for the moment otherwise it gets silly jumping all over the place. Long hall but its worth it. Perfection is worth waiting for.
Cheers, Paul
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Keep going!!! - so impressed with all the releases so far (and you know I’m gagging for AirCav! :D).
PS had your French Indochina stuff out last night - wow, Paul Hicks is a genius!
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PS had your French Indochina stuff out last night - wow, Paul Hicks is a genius!
Shhh he will want a pay increase!
Got some nice new stuff for French Indo China planned for the new year.
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You tease you! LOL!
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If it’s ideas you need I have a few civilians in mind....though I’m fairly sure you probably have most of these covered &#38;#38;#128515;
Womanwalking her bicycle
Woman holding child’s hand
Woman with baby
Woman with rice basket on her back tending crop
Woman with rice basket walking
Woman sitting working cooking pot
Woman sitting
Old woman sitting
Children playing
Child riding ox
Child chasing pig
Young girl holding baby sister
Man working paddy fields
Man scything grass
Man with machete
Man pleading (ie questioned about VC)
Man with hands tied behind back
A group huddled hiding in hole / pit
Man with firewood on back
Man sitting with child on lap
Man sitting talking
Man with bamboo punt pole to stand on boat
Woman doing same with child on back
Sitting passengers for boats
Man fishing (sitting with pole)
Man fishing casting net
Rice Baskets and cooking pots and any other suitable clutter to place around front of houses
Pigs (pot bellied of course), chickens etc
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Air Cav are down the sculpting line so stay tuned. ;)
However all idea are welcome incase we miss a good one.
Love the helicopter in a tree but cannot see us doing it as a release. lol
Just working on a load of stuff .....phase 120!!!! whatever it is, but want to concentrate on NVA and USMC for the moment otherwise it gets silly jumping all over the place. Long hall but its worth it. Perfection is worth waiting for.
Cheers, Paul
Good ideas with a focus on Marines and NVA?
USMC:
Company weapons, 60mm mortar and M20 Super Bazooka.
Sniper teams. Sniper and spotter, maybe one in helmets one in soft covers and/or boonie hats.
Engineers. Mine clearing team, mine detector and bloke probing for mines
Stingray teams (Marine Recon)
Gun crew, generic, bare torsos perhaps?
Gunnery Sgt Carlos Hathcock and his scoped .50 machine gun (longest confirmed sniper kill until Afghanistan)
A Mighty Mite jeep.
NVA/PAVN:
SG-43 Machine gun teams
Sappers in shorts, with an assortment of bangalores, satchel charges and wire cutters
Command team with officers, buglers etc.
More riflemen and more RPG gunners.
Correspondents.
Tim Page and Sean Flynn on motorbikes.
Just spitballing as our murrican cousins say, hopefully some it appeals.
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You all forgot Bob Hope ;)
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And Jane Fonda lol
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And Jane Fonda lol
lol
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Playmates?
Please?
Pretty please?
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Playmates?
Please?
Pretty please?
Paul's hand would shake to much when sculpting lol
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Ann-Margret ;D
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Jane Fonda manning an anti-aircraft emplacement...
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Robin Williams hollering into microphone would be cool.
But I'd prefer a Playmate.
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Good idea on the US gun crew.
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Got some nice new stuff for French Indo China planned for the new year.
Got something to look froward to in 2020 then.
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I mostly lurk here, but I wanted to share this. My older brother Steve volunteered for service the day he got out of high school in 1965. After boot camp, he volunteered for Airborne, and was assigned to the 82nd after Jump School, from which the 1st Air Cav drew replacement cadres. He served in C/2/8/1st Cav in Vietnam from June ‘66 to June ‘67. I was 12, and never prouder! He was first an assistant m60 gunner, then gunner, then squad leader, all through attrition. His platoon was the one depicted in the movie Casualties Of War. In fact it was in that firefight that his gunner was killed and he became the gunner. His squad was in the valley with the rest of the platoon, the “bad guy” (Sean Penn played him, IIRC) and his squad was up on the ridge line. Steve said he was a decent squad leader, but had gone native and worse after 2 tours in country and apparently just snapped. After the firefight and the Michael J. Fox guy (I forget the real guy’s name) told his tale of murder to the Platoon Leader, the PL brought the kid over to Steve and told Steve to guard him for the night, and to shoot anyone who tried to get to the kid. The kid told him the whole story that night. Steve spent quite a lot of time at Leavenworth after he got back, and even after he was discharged, testifying at various hearings and trials of the bad guy (I forget his name, too.) Steve told me that story one day in 1970. We’re we surprised—especially him of course—when a movie about it came out 17 or 18 years later!!!
Sorry, I got carried away, but wanted to give his credentials for the following: I emailed him about his recollection of NVA/VC uniform colors. He saw plenty up close and personal. Here’s his response:
“Little uniformity in [enemy] uniforms—black pjs, various shades of khaki. Khaki more often with NVA. Bush hats more than pith helmets. Web gear and leather belts and commie-style canteens and ammo pouches. I even have a Nazi three-pocket leather Mauser ammo holder that was filled with M-1rounds.”
Btw, Steve got me into war gaming of a sort when I was around 5; he made up rules for all our various Marx men. Then, in 1974, even though married and in law school, he turned me on to something called miniature wargaming. After his combat days and all, I thought he’d gone bonkers!
Final note, then back to Lurk mode: one of Steve’s best high school buddies was in Alpha/1/1 USMC...Roger rotated home in November 1967(!) after his year was up. When I talked to him last year about his time in Nam, his comment about Hue was that he knew many of the guys mentioned in the various books about the battle, but he was “sure glad I missed that mother****er! It had to be pure shit-show!”
Cheers!
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Wow, a fascinating read. Thank you so much for sharing! To hear this sort of thing from veterans is always humbling.
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mjkerner That's a staggering story :o
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Some posed fun. ;)
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Chopper crew please . Both on the ground with small arms ( after crash) and on board!
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Maybe a head sprue of Boonie hats? Save us the converting of Indochina Para heads? Please? lol
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Jane Fonda manning an anti-aircraft emplacement...
As Barbarella?
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I have to ask....how f***ing dense do you have to be to talked into sitting on a NVA anti aircraft gun in front of the cameras? Clearly not picked for film for her intellect....as evidenced by Barberella!
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How fucking dense do you have to be to commit to a land war in Asia?
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I have to ask....how f***ing dense do you have to be to talked into sitting on a NVA anti aircraft gun in front of the cameras? Clearly not picked for film for her intellect....as evidenced by Barberella!
Not sure she got the part of Barberella due to her intellect lol
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I’m sure she is just “misunderstood” ;) LOL!
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She clearly couldn't hear the criticism...
(https://i.ibb.co/6PsyZL7/5b5f242c89c8a12f008b4860.jpg)
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I have to ask....how f***ing dense do you have to be to talked into sitting on a NVA anti aircraft gun in front of the cameras? Clearly not picked for film for her intellect....as evidenced by Barberella!
I was 13 years old at the time. She could have sat on MY little anti aircraft gun, any time she wanted!!
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I preferred her in La Ronde with Roger Vadim. I seem to recall she was frequently naked in that.
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Back on topic......what’s the next release Paul?
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Back on topic......what’s the next release Paul?
Not saying at this moment but stay tuned ;)
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Not saying at this moment but stay tuned ;)
Go on, I need to know how many bags to take Reading.
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No new releases for Warfare but a lot coming through in the coming weeks. This will include figures and vehicles. ;)
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Future releases for the Nam project.
28mm Marine Recce troops for the Nam range.
Corpsman (Medic) armed with M1 carbine.
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28mm Nam Marine Recce grenadier armed with M16 and M79 sawn off grenade launcher.
Able to fire both HE and Buckshot rounds.
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These are beautiful minis guys!
When will they be available for sale?
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28mm Nam Marine Recce radio man.
Armed with M16
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These are beautiful minis guys!
When will they be available for sale?
Thanks mate. Should be before Christmas although we are just filling a mould with other stuff thats being finished. Some serious figures for the NVA ;)
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28mm Marine Recce for the Nam range.
Carrying a sawn off M14 with the auto on.
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28mm Marine Recce loading his M16 and carrying a sawn off Remington Pump Action shot gun.
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28mm Marine Recce ready to give support fire with his M16 assault rifle.
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(https://i.imgur.com/LxMJSgo.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/LxMJSgo.jpg)
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
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I think these are my new favorite figures. Know what I'm getting for me for Christmas..!
Querry question: Would it be possible to give this bloke a 30rd mag?
(https://i.ibb.co/ZSxKGPD/1b-LR.jpg)
But not if it slows down getting him relesed...
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Sorry no as I want these guys to look Marine infantry specials rather than proper Special Forces which will come along soon.
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Will you be doing enough for an eight man team?
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absolutely stunning! 8 man team would be grand!
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Hey Paul as you said on the "Otter" thread to repeat wishes for new models here, I will just do that now.
can we have period cars with were used in Hue/Vietnam please and bike riders ?
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The teams seem to have operated in small teams of 5 or 6 so this will be a special 6 man pack.
If you look at the pack its based on historic unit missions with a balanced weapons and equipment load.
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I think these must be Paul Hicks best figures yet (and, if you’re reading this Paul H - I noted not a “dolly” in sight :D)
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They are lovely
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More great figures.
This range of figures is the best.
Love them.
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Thanks for the kind words guys, it really means a lot to us chaps and the Empress.
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Absolutely stunning work. I'd go as far as to suggest it's some of Paul's best work yet!
These give me confidence for the ANZACs when they make an appearance ;)
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I totally agree. Paulis responsible for a fine body of work but those figures really do stand out as some of his finest work.
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Thanks guys. Glad you like them ;)
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Really, really nice figures! Will definitely be putting an order in for some of these. What a cracking range.
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Thanks Mr C ;)
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Wow, they really are amazing figures. Very impressive sculpting.
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Thanks Elk101.
Stay tuned for some more impending releases later today. ;)
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Another preview of something coming out soon.
A female NVA crew with an Anti Aircraft DShK Heavy Machine Gun.
The spider sight and ammo can that goes on the left hand side will be included when released we just did not attach them for these pictures.
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Wonderful addition. :-*
Great poses.
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Thanks mate ;)
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At this point I am forced to the conclusion that Empress is out to bankrupt me.
Great work on that DShk! Will there be a ground version as well?
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Possibly tomorrow ;)
Thats for the ground mount and bankruptcy. lol
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Damn! :-* I don’t really need a third DshKm for my Vietnamese do I?
Need/ want not being remotely similar concepts here of course. :D
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You may need a 4th tomorrow. ;)
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Oh my!
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Will there be a PAVN SGM machine gun? That’s one of my most wanted items.
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Shhheeeiitteee that is nice! :o
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Cheers mate. ;)
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You may need a 4th tomorrow. ;)
Is it tomorrow yet? ;)
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Is it tomorrow yet? ;)
Definitely looks like tomorrow to me...
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Well here in the future it’s been today for quite some time, in fact it’s almost tomorrow again.
If anyone wants to know how the day pans out, lottery numbers etc, my usual fee is a flat £100 per consultation. ;)
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Oh go on then.
The ammo box on the side is not shown.
More next week.
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Beautiful ! (My bank manager hates you! :D)
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Good. That means he is in pain. Made my day ;)
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Ooooo I like that!
Is it next week yet? lol
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Good. That means he is in pain. Made my day ;)
Laughed out loud!!!
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Is it next week yet? lol
"The mists are parting... I see large scenic bases in your future, bases with heavy weapons..." (mine also)!
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Hmmmm.....you know me well enough mate.
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Very nice.
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Very nice. Although I'm hanging out for local force, and ANZACs ;)
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At this point I am forced to the conclusion that Empress is out to bankrupt me.
And me as well (however hard the deities of the card payment machine try to intervene ^___^).
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Very nice, hopefully I will have painted up the Viet Minh ones before I buy those...
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It's been a couple of tomorrows now. Is the AAMG female crew available yet?
How about now?
How about now?
::)
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Still going through the sausage machine so suspect it might be just before or just after Christmas.
However you can see the next set of NVA thats also going through the process. Just to tease you even more. lol
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Very cool.
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Ooh Christmas has come early or late, not sure which but those are lovely. :-* :-*
Will there be a shield for the SGM or need we make our own?
Anyway, I’ve got enough to keep me going up to the yuletide, the last bits of my one and a half platoon’s worth of marines and my first PAVN platoon. Hopefully the spare heads won’t be far away.
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If th3 shield was detachable ( assuming it was) it would be a lot easier to manoeuvre it through scrub and brush like that, and more concealable. That’s how I’d play it.
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The shield was detachable, in fact it was designed to be detached and used as a spade for the gun when used in anti-aircraft mode, which is why there is a forward facing tab-like protrusion on the shield.
I want a shield simply because of a couple of famous photos showing the SGM captured at Long Tan. Happy to add my own bullet dents or even model my own if I have to.
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We have done the detached shield option.
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Nice.
There is going to be plenty of HMGs...
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There is going to be plenty of HMGs...
Those poor Free World Forces. Going to have to call in some fire missions to allieviate that threat.
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Not for too long ;)
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Oh goody!
-
Any chance of platoon or bundle packs as well? I find myself looking at all the packs unable to make a decision, but somehow a single bundle seems to solve all my problems lol
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Hope Paul Hicks is doing the correct crew for the boat!!
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Maybe Paul could do two crews for the PBR.
One a normal crew you get with the boat.
Another one, the crew from Apocalypse Now.
That would be so cool.
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Hope Paul Hicks is doing the correct crew for the boat!!
I wonder what crew you mean?;)
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Apocalypse Now of course ;)
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Apocalypse Now crew would tip me over.
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Well the crew for Apocalypse Now are planned. Plus the possibility of a few more characters. Paul's skill means that they will actually look like the characters in the film so its an obvious choice.
However at the moment we are well backed up with stuff so the New Year is going to start with a huge bang over the first two months. lol
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That sounds good to me!
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Sweet! Perhaps a Col Kurtz as well...please...
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Bugger! There was I hoping the crew would be Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway and the rest of the McHale’s Navy cast. I would settle for Gilligan & Co.
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Well the crew for Apocalypse Now are planned. Plus the possibility of a few more characters. Paul's skill means that they will actually look like the characters in the film so its an obvious choice.
However at the moment we are well backed up with stuff so the New Year is going to start with a huge bang over the first two months. lol
I'm getting old - I'll have a huge hang over to start the new year... lol (and a 3 am wake up by the kiddo :( )
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Col. Kurtz would be the cost of two figures.
Marlon Brando was way over weight in the movie.
So he counts as two figures. ;)
I still want the Playboy bunnies. :D
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Col. Kurtz would be the cost of two figures.
Marlon Brando was way over weight in the movie.
So he counts as two figures. ;)
I still want the Playboy bunnies. :D
lol
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Bugger! There was I hoping the crew would be Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway and the rest of the McHale’s Navy cast. I would settle for Gilligan & Co.
What looking like this?
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Well if you are hankering to do a whole range based on characters played by Ernest, I can’t see why not. It’s quite a rich vein if you check his movie credits. Be warned though, I see a Marty figure being a slow seller, the gaming potential really isn’t there.
:)
Personally, I’m waiting for Paul’s take on Graham Kennedy in The Odd Angry Shot.
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However at the moment we are well backed up with stuff so the New Year is going to start with a huge bang over the first two months. lol
Do tell? :D
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Patience dear boy. Still trying to get Christmas orders out. Phew.
Will do a year plan announcement shortly although wary of saying too much and failing. Some of the planned stuff we started last year we never got released. Mind you released a lot more of other stuff that was only tentatively planned for. o_o
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WOW 100 pages of posts :o
I wonder what it will be by this time next year lol
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200?! I get my hat ;)
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Any chance of platoon or bundle packs as well? I find myself looking at all the packs unable to make a decision, but somehow a single bundle seems to solve all my problems lol
Empress, I think this question got missed in all the talk about PBR crew ;)
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Yeah the Pros and Cons of being successful. The more you make, the more we want. :D
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Empress, I think this question got missed in all the talk about PBR crew ;)
Sorry no.
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Still going through the sausage machine so suspect it might be just before or just after Christmas.
However you can see the next set of NVA thats also going through the process. Just to tease you even more. lol
What a great little set and the detail is amazing, right down to the tyre tread pattern on the sole of the rubber sandals.
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Paul, forgive this double query if it's been asked before (100 pages IS a lot to sift thru), but is there a villagers pack planned for your range?
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Paul, forgive this double query if it's been asked before (100 pages IS a lot to sift thru), but is there a villagers pack planned for your range?
Villagers have been mentioned, they even have their own section on the Empress website (the USMC and NVA have to share a section...).
https://www.empressminiatures.com/dan-sur---civillians-107-c.asp (https://www.empressminiatures.com/dan-sur---civillians-107-c.asp)
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I've seen the carts and the livestock. Just wondering if it was going to be added to with a villagers pack or two. Thanks for confirming.
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Hopefully soon ? ::)
Hoping they will come out so I can model the rest of my paddy fields....
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Some of the planned stuff we started last year we never got released. Mind you released a lot more of other stuff that was only tentatively planned for. o_o
lol lol lol lol
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Well, I’m good for now for a corpsman, I’ve completed my marine platoon and have enough for about another half platoon in ERDL camo. PAVN being painted now. Hoping there will be some corpsmen and some more PAVN riflemen in pith helmets or just some heads for conversions.
One bit of feedback. The RPD barrels are a bit frail and gluing the bipods on a bit of a pain. Fortunately only one snapped. If any more RPDs are forthcoming, could we have them with bipods folded up, unless prone please?
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What a great little set and the detail is amazing, right down to the tyre tread pattern on the sole of the rubber sandals.
Thanks muchly ;)
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I've seen the carts and the livestock. Just wondering if it was going to be added to with a villagers pack or two. Thanks for confirming.
Yes as previously stated there will be a lot of civilians both rural and urban. All planned and we had hoped to have them out by now but they keep getting pushed back due to other customer demands. Every civilian will be duplicated armed as well as about their business.
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One bit of feedback. The RPD barrels are a bit frail and gluing the bipods on a bit of a pain. Fortunately only one snapped. If any more RPDs are forthcoming, could we have them with bipods folded up, unless prone please?
Sadly one of the problems with doing things to scale. The existing open bipods can be bent into a closed position and then attached and although thin we havn't broken any yet nor had anyone else say its an issue and there are a LOT of people out there with the figures. However I will have a look into it.
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Well, I’m good for now for a corpsman, I’ve completed my marine platoon and have enough for about another half platoon in ERDL camo. PAVN being painted now. Hoping there will be some corpsmen and some more PAVN riflemen in pith helmets or just some heads for conversions.
Yes still lots to do including a corpsman pack. Busy busy busy ;)
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USMC RECCE. now available in the shop.
This pack represents a standard recce Marine unit. Number of men varied depending on the operation but 6 was a good sized unit covering off the various talents necessary as well as a good weapons and equipment mix.
Figure in the pack contain a leader, scout, corpsman, radio, with a mix of weapons M16, Sawn off shotgun, M14 and Grenade launcher. M1 carbine. as well as side arms and personal weapons and equipment. Perfect unit for early operations scouting out enemy positions before the main landings or advance. However beware of ambushes.
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Ok I'll bite.
But these will be the last miniatures I buy from you this year!
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Absolutely fantastic release! The variety of poses and equipment really sets them apart :-*
What a year? How many packs did you release only in 2019? It's incredible!
Really looking forward to what 2020 brings (and crossing my fingers there's the odd late WW2 in it too!)
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Absolutely fantastic release! The variety of poses and equipment really sets them apart :-*
What a year? How many packs did you release only in 2019? It's incredible!
Really looking forward to what 2020 brings (and crossing my fingers there's the odd late WW2 in it too!)
Since the first release in March / April we released
30 packs which included 100 figures.
Also,
Patton
Zippo
Ontos
Gage Commando,
M113 Early
M113 ACAV
2 x wagons.
We have three NVA packs to release next week. Plus 5 more vehicles during January.
Two or three more vehicles will arrive as well in January.
Not bad for a new range if I do say so myself. ;)
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Ok I'll bite.
But these will be the last miniatures I buy from you this year!
Boom tish! He will be here for the rest of the year...
Anyone in next year yet?
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Well I have promised myself - no armor.
But that is this year. Who knows what happens next year.
-
Looking forward to seeing what's coming next 8)
As everyone else appears to be making requests I'm going to have a go too...
A pack of reporters please - in gaming terms useful for protecting and rescuing scenarios - Don McCullin (my absolute hero) and Catherine Leroy would be must haves.....
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Couldn’t wait until next year.....ordered!
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Next year? Already next year here. One of the drawbacks to living in the future.
Don’t sweat the RPDs, I can be a clumsy sod. Actually my biggest problem is painting the black and white check scarves. So much for ‘any colour you want as long as it’s green’. :)
Thirty packs is amazing, Paul must be sculpting and you must be dispatching with bloody stumps for fingers.
Anyway a Happy New Year to all concerned. Looking forward to what 2020 brings.
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Not bad for a new range if I do say so myself.
Uuuuhhh..... heck yeah!!
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Since the first release in March / April we released
30 packs which included 100 figures.
Not bad at all! Truly impressive suits it better ;)
Happe New Year!
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Can't wait to see what comes out in 2020.
Love this range of figures.
Thank you for such lovely figures.
Happy New Year to all. :)
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Happy New Year.
I must finish at least some more of your figures before I order anything else (though the Centurion will trump that...).
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I too am looking forward to what else is on your list... lol
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Happy New Year “Empress” and thanks for all the Vietnam releases in 2019. The 2020 releases shaping up really nicely (even if my wallet is bleating lol).
Can’t wait to see what you do with the Anzacs later in the year!
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very nice additions!!!!
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28mm Marine Recce for the Nam range.
Carrying a sawn off M14 with the auto on.
I can't tell if he is wearing a round Army or Navy/Marine 8 point cover.
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I can't tell if he is wearing a round Army or Navy/Marine 8 point cover.
Eight point - Check page 95 for WIP pictures
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I love Empress minis. I've been consistently impressed. They do a great job balancing true scale and proportions with not being too fragile. That's a really fine balance. Great job, guys!
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Thanks for all of the kind comments and we wish you all a very stunning New Year. :-*
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Paul, is there a rough timeline for the release of the all female AAMG crew?
-
They will be released this week.
Two reasons. Firstly we are properly back in the business tomorrow. We did go back earlier than planned due to the sheer build up of orders that had come in during the holidays. This week will be a busy catch week and further new releases will just add to that and may lead to the dissapointment if a few customers due to delays. This led to the second reason.
I am not confident that the stock levels we have will cover initial orders based upon recent demands, especially for this range, so we have more due at the end of this week.
Thus the slight delay us a planned one to control frustration rather than create it ;)
We also have a stack of vehicles and terrain pieces to release.
-
Terrain pieces? Colour me intrigued. Any clues?
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Thanks Paul. All fully understandable. I'll keep my eye on the shop.
Terrain pieces? Colour me intrigued. Any clues?
+1 to that
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Thanks Paul. All fully understandable. I'll keep my eye on the shop.
+1 to that
Cheers
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Terrain pieces? Colour me intrigued. Any clues?
Not yet although some buildings that we are releasing may work for Nam. I need to have a look and see but they will be released towards the end of the week. Time permitting.
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Feel free to tease us with pre-release pics of upcoming stuff. We don't mind at all. ::)
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First releases of 2020
In the shop now.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-vietnam-18-c.asp
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Golly they’re nice 8)
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Golly they’re nice 8)
X2
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Which gun is that the NVA guys are pulling?
-
Which gun is that the NVA guys are pulling?
Soviet Goryunov 7.62mm
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Excellent! Ordered. :) Thanks Paul
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Excellent! Ordered. :) Thanks Paul
Our pleasure. ;)
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these are really stunning indeed
-
Sweet looking figures.
Love them.
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Thanks guys :-*
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Nice.
I hope there is going to be plenty of ammo boxes.
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That gun in the AA mode is one of the best pieces of animation I have seen in 28mm.
Well done Mr Hicks !
Jonathan
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Very cool. Once I get my WW2 project completed, I will go all in on doing the Nam.
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That gun in the AA mode is one of the best pieces of animation I have seen in 28mm.
Well done Mr Hicks !
Jonathan
Cheers for that :-*
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Very cool. Once I get my WW2 project completed, I will go all in on doing the Nam.
Hurry up you are missing the fun. lol
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Seems logical, well to me, that the relevant threads involved in developing the Empress range should all be linked into here so I will post a link to the vehicles Rich H has done.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=116854.0
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Keith, a director of Empress Miniatures, has painted a couple of our Nam USMC for an article he has written for Wargames Illustrated. Due out in a month or two.
The article is an how to paint our Empress Marines, although obviously works for any Marines of the period.
Stay tuned for the release date.
You may also be interested in the February edition as it contains an incredibly good article on Vietnam through the eyes of the Marines. Also some colour piccies of our range. Written by a little known literary talent, me.
Cheers, Paul
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Wowzers :o 8)
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That has to be some of the best painting I've seen in a long time. The detail (like the peace symbol on the helmet). Blown away! It also provides great motivation to pick the brushes up again and makes me want to put an order in for more figures (very cunning trick from Empress ;)
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Lovely painting :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
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Well done, Keith, they look brilliant!
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Very nice painting.
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Reaaaaally fantastic painting on these :-* brings the life to these already fantastic sculpts!
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Gorgeous paint.
Equal parts making me inspired and depressed; wanting to burn brushes cos I know I'll never be able to colour in that good lol
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Gorgeous paint.
Equal parts making me inspired and depressed; wanting to burn brushes cos I know I'll never be able to volour in that good lol
Nah,don't do that,you've just got a different style.
Lovely painting on those chaps.
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Equal parts making me inspired and depressed; wanting to burn brushes cos I know I'll never be able to colour in that good lol
True, and moreso for me. ^__^.
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That is unbelievable good painting and the detail, the ace of spades card :-* absolutely stunning!!!
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Gorgeous paint.
Equal parts making me inspired and depressed; wanting to burn brushes cos I know I'll never be able to colour in that good lol
Don't worry I cannot paint like that either lol
But its bloody inspiring and pushes us all just a little bit more which cannot be bad surely ;)
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Absolutely 8)
And looking forward to reading the tute.
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Very nice.
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Some artwork. ;)
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That looks nice indeed
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Looking good!
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Very nice.
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Just read the article in WI. Hats off Paul, top job 8)
(Complete disclosure: I did send them some images that were included but otherwise had nowt to do with it and even had to pay for the mag!)
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Read the article, too. Really recommended!
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Thanks guys. Glad you found the article useful. The first article I ever got published was in Wargame Illustrated (although it was Miniature Wargames then before the split) issue number 13 so you can see it take s a long time to work up to these things lol
Sorry about the lack of credit for the guys who provided pictures. I did send the details ::)
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You’ll be selling signed copies soon! lol
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Pour it on.
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nice pictures indeed
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Love the photos.
Well staged and painted.
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Many thanks guys. ;)
Getting close to some more new release information, hopefully next week. ;)
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Getting close to some more new release information, hopefully next week. ;)
Cool.
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can't wait!!
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It is mostly distinct next week now.
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Patience good people. Stacking up the goodies as we speak ;)
Will post some pictures later in the week.
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Patience good people. Stacking up the goodies as we speak ;)
Will post some pictures later in the week.
TOTALLY read that as "...Stacking up the bodies..." lol
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Patience good people.
Have you ever known us show patience?
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Have you ever known us show patience?
That sound like an exchange between Westy and LBJ.
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That sound like an exchange between Westy and LBJ.
lol lol lol lol lol
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Show us the bodycount!
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Nearly there.
Any of you who have read my Wargames Illustrated article will have seen reference to the release of ANZACS. infact I am surprised no one has asked yet. Well the next releases will not be these chaps. We are stacking those up in the background until we get a decent pile of figures to release. Will not be long though.
So the next releases by the end of the week are more and different chaps.
How exciting is that :o
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Nearly there.
Any of you who have read my Wargames Illustrated article will have seen reference to the release of ANZACS. infact I am surprised no one has asked yet. Well the next releases will not be these chaps. We are stacking those up in the background until we get a decent pile of figures to release. Will not be long though.
So the next releases by the end of the week are more and different chaps.
How exciting is that :o
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I was about to put my sheckles on the new Titanicus starter, but I think ANZACS might just take the cake :-* :-* :-*
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very exciting indeed. Any flying personal (chopper crew) by any chance in this release?
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Marvin the ARVN demands respect. As do his advisors.
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Nearly there.
Any of you who have read my Wargames Illustrated article will have seen reference to the release of ANZACS. infact I am surprised no one has asked yet. Well the next releases will not be these chaps. We are stacking those up in the background until we get a decent pile of figures to release. Will not be long though.
So the next releases by the end of the week are more and different chaps.
How exciting is that :o
Now that I have built a bunch of jungle terrain (for Malaya 1942) , my resistance to these is wavering, I suspect the ANZACS will be what tips it over the edge.
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Paul at Empress is set to receive tomorrow more ‘Nam sculpts. One of which I think is possibly the best figure I’ve ever sculpted.
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Brilliant news! (You do realise you’re only setting the bar higher for the next sculpts you do?).
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Paul at Empress is set to receive tomorrow more ‘Nam sculpts. One of which I think is possibly the best figure I’ve ever sculpted.
Now that is something to look forward to.
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That's some might big talk. :D
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Paul, good news indeed!!!
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That's some might big talk. :D
But can he walk the walk?
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In no particular order I will show you some of the sculpts that will be released in the coming weeks.
First up is a female NVA medic/ doctor.
Carrying Soviet medical bag and looking important. The cloak is a cut down US cammo parachute, although could be anything you desire really.
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Love the medic.
:-*
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Very nice
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That is SO characterful :D
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Lovely sculpt! :-*
“Get back to bed Mr Nguyen and stop bothering the nurses at the night station”.
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Nice.
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really nice indeed :-*
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Nice!
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Brilliant sculpt! Best Vietnam range on the market.
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Thanks guys. Love you lots :-* lol
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Come on Paul show them another!
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You have no patience Hicksy. >:D
Another sculpt heading into a mould for our 28mm Vietnam range. This time from a USMC bailed out tank crew pack. More to come.
"He ain't heavy he's my brother."
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Oh wow! That is a very nice sculpt. :-*
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Fantastically characterful :-* what an absolutely brilliant miniature!
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Very cool. Great for narrative play, love it!
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Think that is the best sculpt I've seen for a very long time 8)
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That is one very cool sculpt... but come on, where are the ANZACs? I want ones of Bob Buick and Adrian Roberts for Long Tan. If you do Harry Smith, make sure you get the sun shining out of his arse.
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That is one very cool sculpt... but come on, where are the ANZACs? I want ones of Bob Buick and Adrian Roberts for Long Tan. If you do Harry Smith, make sure you get the sun shining out of his arse.
I don’t think you’ll be upset by the ANZACs
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I don’t think you’ll be upset by the ANZACs
Our bank managers might....
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That is one very cool sculpt... but come on, where are the ANZACs? I want ones of Bob Buick and Adrian Roberts for Long Tan. If you do Harry Smith, make sure you get the sun shining out of his arse.
As said a few posts back we are stacking up the Aussies to do large release in about a month.
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As said a few posts back we are stacking up the Aussies to do large release in about a month.
I am happy to wait until Salute...
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As much as I like the Aussies,
I would like to see ARVN figures first.
Would be great to fight the battle in Hue.
And there are few figures out there for them.
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Don't worry ARVN are very much on the list.
Got lots if sexy research collected now. Including an interesting personality.
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that is a gorgeous sculpt indeed!!!!
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Thanks Tom. ;)
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A pre release view of Vietnam USMC 60mm mortar.
Firing team. Moving team pictures to follow.
In the pack will be the bipod which fits easily onto the front.
Marines often fired the mortar without the bipod so the customer does have to option to trim the bipod connections and sights from the barrel with some subtle filing to show this.
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Like the M-61 ammo pouch, nice touch.
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Luverly! :-* Been waiting for this.
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Freaking nice!
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Sweet!
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Great job again.... and hopefully the first of more from the weapons platoon
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very nice indeed . That will be a big bag at Salute. Hopefully not more then 8 kg, as thats the allowance for cabin baggage. ;)
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very nice indeed . That will be a big bag at Salute. Hopefully not more then 8 kg, as thats the allowance for cabin baggage. ;)
Thankfully there is no weight limit on the trains (I think it used to be a proper ton in the guards van).
Nice work.
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Thanks everyone for the nice supportive comments. :-*
More previews to come. I just cannot decide what to show first lol
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More previews to come. I just cannot decide what to show first lol
All the things! ;D
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All the things! ;D
Yes please, total indulgence...
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No you will all just get spoilt which just won't do so it will be drip fed for a few weeks lol
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Todays preview sculpt is another USMC bailed out tank crew chap.
Armed with a Grease Gun and covering his mates as they roll out of the tank blown up by RPG2/RPG7/Mine, Booby Trap, suicide bomber, petrol bomb, or whatever you choose.
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very nice indeed!!!! A bailed out chopper crew would be nice to have.
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Fantastic sculpt and just what is needed in a game. You don't see enough bailed out crew for when the RPGs start flying!
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Nice.
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No you will all just get spoilt which just won't do so it will be drip fed for a few weeks lol
You do realize that I we will run out of ways to heap praise on your awesome sculpts that way. :D
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You do realize that I we will run out of ways to heap praise on your awesome sculpts that way. :D
Well I am definitely repeating myself.
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Well I am definitely repeating myself.
That's useing your head.
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Thanks chaps. :-*
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First Otter cast in resin and all good. Due for release soon.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=121166.0
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Groovy!
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Now I did not know this but the PAK40 was used in tiny numbers by the NVA.
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Heck, a little bit of everything got used in that conflict.
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Now I did not know this but the PAK40 was used in tiny numbers by the NVA.
But only up North, mostly for training and IIRC coastal defence. Actually, early on, they were the recipient of a shitload of ex-Wehrmacht kit, warehoused by the Soviets. Mauser K98s, MG-34s, the odd MP-40 etc. German small arms turned up with such frequency in captured NLF caches, that the US included them in intel and training briefs.
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I have not found a reference for the MG42, only the MG34. :-[
Anyone know different?
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It’s possible but all the photos I have seen show MG-34s and there are quite a few out there. Even Stg-44/MP-44 showed up in Vietnam.
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That lorry looks interesting.
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Just when I thought I had enough NVA I am now going to want/need some with WW2 German kit.. I’ve said it before... my Bank Manager hates you lol
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Todays preview sculpt is a team. NVA Officer with female radio mule. This group can work for unit command, artillery support or just listening into US forces radio comms.
Carrying a basket back pack to transport the American radio.
These figures when released will come with the handset cable and radio antenna.
Yet mote Paul Hicks 28mm lovliness to be added to our Vietnam range.
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Ok these are now the tipping point for me... lol I resisted so long...I never planned do do anything Vietnam, but these sculpts just have tons and tons of character ;D
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Outstanding! As usual.
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Brilliant sculpt! Can't wait for this lot to be released. Just putting the M48 Patton together and then I'll start on the NVA. Such a great range!
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More excellent sculpts.
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Eventually that lass will realise that connecting the aerial will give better reception than lifting the whole bloody thing over her head. :D
Very nice sculpts btw.
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Ok these are now the tipping point for me... lol I resisted so long...I never planned do do anything Vietnam, but these sculpts just have tons and tons of character ;D
Still more pre releases to show next week and beyond ;)
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So, any ETA on those ANZACs?
And how many sculpts do you expect to launch with?
I need to plan, damn it! :D
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So, any ETA on those ANZACs?
Before the heat death of the universe and hopefully before CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN.
And how many sculpts do you expect to launch with?
More than I will paint (I will still buy them).
I need to plan, damn it! :D
Good luck with that.
^___^
My keyboard is possessed!
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So, any ETA on those ANZACs?
And how many sculpts do you expect to launch with?
I need to plan, damn it! :D
first release will be in the 20 figure zone and we will show stuff soon and release in about a month...…...or so.
Or we could release what we have and drip feed the drugs, sorry figures :?
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Hold up! I’ve still got the VC AA, MMGs and Marine tanks and recon on their way to me. You are drowning me in lead!
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That's what a few customers have said so we will stick to plan A and hold back.
May have to move onto other periods to let you all catch your breath and stack up the cash lol
Then again ;)
On a personal note I am behind with most of the NVA and some Marines plus all the vehicles so a way to go but then I have got pulled onto a couple of other projects over the last two months. One not even Empress based. March 1st Vietnam here I come so strap your selves in and pre pare for bankruptcy lol
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Paul,
Will we see the PBR in the March
dump of Viet Nam stuff? :)
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Yeah should do. I just have to change a small bit for the mould then it should be all go. However crew may sneak into April.
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Yeah somebody got carried away with the undercut on the cabin combing... :P
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Another preview sculpt of a 28mm NVA radio man carrying a captured US radio.
All radios come with antennae and hand set cords.
You can also see what the finished pack will contain.
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Fantastic new additions :-* :-* :-*
Really looking forward to whats coming o_o
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Thanks mate ;)
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Deleted
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Australian, impatient, really lol
Not long. Some other previews to come first ;)
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Great additions !!! Needing a radio operator for my HQ!
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Chopper crew by any chance?
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Deleted
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Probably a Queenslander. They get an hour’s less daylight for painting than everyone else and those bananas don’t just bend themselves you know. ;)
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Deleted
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Probably a Queenslander. They get an hour’s less daylight for painting than everyone else and those bananas don’t just bend themselves you know. ;)
lol lol lol lol lol
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Hmmmm. Posts removed.
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Pfft... I'm a Queenslander, and I am impatient for some quality Australian toys for Vietnam! ;)
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Hmmmm. Posts removed.
Whats that about then? ???
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Comrade Beria will know but he’s not answering his phone.
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Comrade Beria will know but he’s not answering his phone.
What posts? Who said anything about deleteing post? Not I. If your smart you'll forget all about this conversation. ;D
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Last one of the US bailed out Nam USMC armoured vehicle crew and the set.
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:-* :-* :-*
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Nice.
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Nice!
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Makes one wonder if corpsmen are coming soon.
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very nice indeed
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Team Empress thank you. :-*
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The next previews of Nam figures. In this case the two guys carrying the 60mm mortar.
Next previews will be the start of the ANZACS for Vietnam.
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Outstanding!
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They really do look great.
I cannot wait for the ANZACs to start comming out. Mostly because I have a hard time keeping up and I have no great need for them, so they might give me some respite to get my backlog caught up. :D
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Lovely! Your weapons teams are always particularly good and full of character. Each is a small vignette of their own :-*
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Cheers chaps ;)
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That is a must have indeed!!!
I will wait until the end of march and then place an order for collection at Salute. Another shoebox full of goodies I suppose ;)
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Looking great, The long wait for ARVN continues.
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The long wait for corpsmen and 3.5” bazookas continues too but I am a patient man.* Confident that ARVN will come in the goodness of time.
* well mostly :D
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Don't worry chaps your special requirements will be catered for in due course ;) lol
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That mortar team is maybe my second favourite release of the range so far. Second behind only the grunt with Thompson!
Also, I'm really just waiting for ANZACs ;)
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Mortar team is superb - great to see you carrying on doing the firing and moving combo we've seen before in other Empress ranges; properly useful 8)
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I am a patient man.
Who are you, and what have you done with Carlos?
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The mortar crew look great.
Moving and firing teams are useful, they help indicate that the mortar is set up or on the move.
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Who are you, and what have you done with Carlos?
Apologies to Bezerra da Silva...
Sequestraram meu Carlinhos, bem feito pro sequestrador
Ao invés de pagar o resgate, foi ele quem me pagou......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdND2qjjzx4
Actually living in a country bereft of toilet paper due to panic buying over Covid-19 teaches you much patience. ;)
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Actually living in a country bereft of toilet paper due to panic buying over Covid-19 teaches you much patience. ;)
Man, we bought a 24 pack last week as part of our normal shop and I'm glad we did! Not a single store in Townsville currently has any stock. This is getting beyond ridiculous!
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Never underestimate the proportion of the population that are fucking morons. Toilet paper, rice, pasta and bottles of pasta sauce. I wonder what these geniuses are planning on? ::)
I often wonder how we managed to be on the winning side in two world wars.
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Yeah same here, water and toilet paper shelf's are bare. Dry goods, soup, juice, fruit, vegetables and vitamin supplements are gathering dust. :`
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Shouldn't this be posted in the Zombie Apocalypse room o_o lol lol lol
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We just thought we’d run with the Apocalypse Now theme in honour of yer little boat and associated crew. :)
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We just thought we’d run with the Apocalypse Now theme in honour of yer little boat and associated crew. :)
lol lol lol lol
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Eventually got hold of a copy of the Long Tan film yesterday so thanks to Bekky for that 😉
Empress are about to release there 28mm early Nam ANZACS so here are some sculpting previews to get you ready.
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I rather like that. ;)
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That's excellent, looks like I'll be adding Aussies.
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Meh.
.....
;)
I'll take them all. Thank you.
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Excellent sculpt. Nice pose. Can't wait to see the rest.
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Brilliant stuff Paul - I know I said I wasn’t going to do Aussies .... but I didn’t mean it lol
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very nice sculpt
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Love the new Aussie figure.
Just watched "Danger Close" last week.
An excellent movie.
Enjoyed it.
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Would American non combatant be included in the range? IIRC in Ken Burns documentary they stated that only 20% of the troops deployed in Vietnam were combat units. Some ambassy personnels, MPs and "not-CIA" types would be fun :D
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That's excellent, looks like I'll be adding Aussies.
Was there any doubt?
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Was there any doubt?
Just reading Bob Grandin's book 'Danger Close'.
This is worth watching; Battle of Long Tan Documentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gUSq7pxux4&list=PLWaKHwX3MV35sL7yPVy_zUap1jnZHEbAR&index=56&t=0s
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Eventually got hold of a copy of the Long Tan film yesterday so thanks to Bekky for that 😉
Empress are about to release there 28mm early Nam ANZACS so here are some sculpting previews to get you ready.
Jeez mate, that's a bloody ripper. Strewth. Looks a bit committed for 'The Odd Angry Shot' :)
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Thanks guys. Glad you like him. More to come but something different.
We have the first casts back of some vehicles so a preview.
First off the Mighty Mite. it comes with a trailer and crew. Just sorting a problem on the trailer and we need to sculpt the crew.
The vehicle plan is for it to come with the M60 which you can leave off or not. Crew of three. Driver, NCO/Officer, passenger in the back .
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=121047.0
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nice little vehicle
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Ahhhh.. sweet!
Love it ;)
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I do like it. Will look great with crew and whatever stowage can be fit in.
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I reckon Noddy and Big Ears for the crew. ;)
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And Ted on the 60!
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I reckon Noddy and Big Ears for the crew. ;)
They would go well with the Crooked Dice Fruit Loops.
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That's a nice little truck.
But I'll be after Landrovers for my ANZACs before anything else ;)
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Very nice but surely it’s crying out for an “active” crew - gunner on the m60, hunched driver and a bloke firing an m16 or similar?
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But I'll be after Landrovers for my ANZACs before anything else ;)
Ooh, I had not thought of that. I assume they are soft tops?
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Very nice but surely it’s crying out for an “active” crew - gunner on the m60, hunched driver and a bloke firing an m16 or similar?
Not sure its really the kinda vehicle that you would do an SAS raid in. As a fighting platform its akin to a bumper car. The M60 seems more of a movable static defence MG.
Now the Ford Mutt is far more useful in the way you describes. ;)
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Ford Mutt.
This will be crewed and come in a number of packs and crews and weapons.
Shown is the 50 cal but we can also have the 30 cal and M60.
We can also add the Grenade Launcher although I have no evidence that was ever used in this way.
The 106mm Recoilless Rifle is a good one.
Military police when we get to those.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=122037.0
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Nice! :-*
106RCL version requires a bit of change to the rear compartment but I suspect Rich already knows that. Looking forward to the various crews, especially the MPs. Hopefully the ARVN will get crews as well.
Might be a bit outside of your remit but decals for the MP helmets and their ARVN counterparts (QC) would be nice. Arse pains to paint by hand ( I know I recently tried it) Thinking further ahead, when you do the ARVN, decals for their distinctive helmet designs would also be appreciated.
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Nice! :-*
106RCL version requires a bit of change to the rear compartment but I suspect Rich already knows that. Looking forward to the various crews, especially the MPs. Hopefully the ARVN will get crews as well.
Might be a bit outside of your remit but decals for the MP helmets and their ARVN counterparts (QC) would be nice. Arse pains to paint by hand ( I know I recently tried it) Thinking further ahead, when you do the ARVN, decals for their distinctive helmet designs would also be appreciated.
Not a bad idea. I know that it will be hell to paint a ARVN ranger star and Panther. Or a Cap Dai eye of God on a helmet. lol
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Not sure its really the kinda vehicle that you would do an SAS raid in. As a fighting platform its akin to a bumper car. The M60 seems more of a movable static defence MG.
But they might be fighting their way out of ambushes.
Who would be using it?
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Decals are worth thinking about, but I have no idea on the costs.
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Nice! :-*
106RCL version requires a bit of change to the rear compartment but I suspect Rich already knows that. Looking forward to the various crews, especially the MPs. Hopefully the ARVN will get crews as well.
Might be a bit outside of your remit but decals for the MP helmets and their ARVN counterparts (QC) would be nice. Arse pains to paint by hand ( I know I recently tried it) Thinking further ahead, when you do the ARVN, decals for their distinctive helmet designs would also be appreciated.
We have the 106 with ground base as you will see soon but yes need to change the back of the Mutt to accommodate.
Yes to transfers. We now need a huge amount for our stuff. Just never found anyone who does good ones. I need to spend some time looking. ;)
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Another vote for decals/transfers. Got the M48 sprayed up but I'm struggling to get the transfers for it. I know somebody mentioned Rubicon and there are others but I'd prefer to have decals designed to fit the model. Still a great range and can't wait to see the crew the Mutt etc.
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Back when this thread started I convinced myself I am not doing Vietnam. Then I thought well maybe a small project. A small jungle patrol perhaps. Now I have a full strength Platoon+ for both USMC and NVA and enough jungle to fill a 6x4' table. Then you start to bring out armour and vehicles!
It makes it really hard to contain this conflict to just a small jungle skrirmish.
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Back when this thread started I convinced myself I am not doing Vietnam. Then I thought well maybe a small project. A small jungle patrol perhaps. Now I have a full strength Platoon+ for both USMC and NVA and enough jungle to fill a 6x4' table. Then you start to bring out armour and vehicles!
It makes it really hard to contain this conflict to just a small jungle skrirmish.
Just wait until the B52 is released!!!! That will really ramp it up lol lol lol lol lol
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Really cool new additions to this already very impressive range! Looking forward to the crews on these :o
:-*
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106RCL version requires a bit of change to the rear compartment but I suspect Rich already knows that. Looking forward to the various crews, especially the MPs. Hopefully the ARVN will get crews as well.
Al over it ;) Just need to finish the sort of extra platform thing in the back around the gun mount.
I tried to make use of the same base vehicle but it was too much change.
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Not sure its really the kinda vehicle that you would do an SAS raid in. As a fighting platform its akin to a bumper car. The M60 seems more of a movable static defence MG.
Now the Ford Mutt is far more useful in the way you describes. ;)
A fair point but in gaming terms you have a really nice vehicle with a cracking M60; give the crew some action poses....
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Just wait until the B52 is released!!!! That will really ramp it up lol lol lol lol lol
I can imagine Rich H's eyes lighting up on that idea.
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Alas, someone has beaten him to the punch. A snip at only €775. Of course you’ll be wanting an aftermarket kit to backdate it to a D model and probably a steel RSJ and steel cable to hang the thing from your ceiling. Still, you do get the full bomb load with the kit.
http://www.hphmodels.cz/hph/b-52-stratofortress/?lang=en
For those who want something a bit more manageable, size and price wise, there’s the old Monogram 1/72 B-52D, if you can find one. Of course it’s still over 2 foot long and about 2 1/2 feet wide. Imagine the size of the flight stand you’d need for that. :D
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Alas, someone has beaten him to the punch. A snip at only €775. Of course you’ll be wanting an aftermarket kit to backdate it to a D model and probably a steel RSJ and steel cable to hang the thing from your ceiling. Still, you do get the full bomb load with the kit.
http://www.hphmodels.cz/hph/b-52-stratofortress/?lang=en
For those who want something a bit more manageable, size and price wise, there’s the old Monogram 1/72 B-52D, if you can find one. Of course it’s still over 2 foot long and about 2 1/2 feet wide. Imagine the size of the flight stand you’d need for that. :D
That's insane. Mind you it would make a good man shed if you put it in the garden.
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That's insane
Bet you’re thinking about it though ;)
lol
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Just no lol
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One's not much use, is it? Finger five as a minimum, I'd say.
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Bet you’re thinking about it though ;)
lol
I think Christine would finally say no to my meglamania. ;D
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Just no lol
You know you want to....
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Just a quick question , will there be any more new releases for Salute? Asking as I woul
d like to fire of a preorder.
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Just a quick question , will there be any more new releases for Salute? Asking as I woul
d like to fire of a preorder.
Yeah there will be. All those previewed should make the cut for Salute plus some others yet to be shown. You could just do a pre order and then keep adding stuff as its released.
Or post me your credit card and I will sort out any payments from a bar in Brazil lol
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Ok will vote for the first option lol
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I'm presuming that there will be no new releases to pick up at Hammerhead this weekend? I'm just weighing up the need to fend off coronavirus with my need for shiny new stuff? Hate to say but the sensible part of my brain is saying not to go :'(
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Well we are going, sensible or not, so may see you there.
No new releases for Hammerhead. Lots soon. ;)
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I'll be there too 8)
If everyone is sensible, i.e. check your hygiene (might be the best smelling gaming show ever ;) ) and follow the advice about coughs and sneezes it should be, as usual a fun day without any issues 8)
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Bugger that. Me and Christine have full NBC suits. Cheap on E bay.only worn once.
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No new ANZAC preview on LAF Paul?
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No saving them ;)
Must not spoil the troops ;)
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Bugger that. Me and Christine have full NBC suits. Cheap on E bay.only worn once.
lol
I'm going to cough on the time wasters ;)
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Bugger that. Me and Christine have full NBC suits. Cheap on E bay.only worn once.
Remember not to sneeze while wearing them.
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No new ANZAC preview on LAF Paul?
Nothing for it Mr Hicks. Time to go rogue and give the people what they want.
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Todays ANZAC is called Bert.
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Noice! :-*
I think I know that bloke.
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Bert doens't look utterly fussed about this whole thing...
Very nice miniature once again ;D
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Love the little details, like the coiled rope under the R/side ammo pouch.
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Toggle rope.
Love the little details, like the coiled rope under the R/side ammo pouch.
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Nice.
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Bert doens't look utterly fussed about this whole thing...
Very nice miniature once again ;D
Bert's a professional ;)
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Bert is great. It's actually hard to remember, seeing the picture, that this is like 5 times actual size. Terrific work.
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So, how does Australian uniform colours vary from US uniform colours?
Or after a period, are they all a similar shade of green?
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Back in the eighties I had a number of Vietnam era shirts and trousers for bush wear. They were simply more comfortable than the then issued polyester mix items, with their stiff collars and the ridiculous map pocket placement on the thigh. Most were as new issue. Colour wise they varied from a mid olive, through a sort of greyish green to a sort of faded pea green colour. Buttons were darkish olive plastic.
Webbing had a similar diversity although was notably less brownish than the US issue and items had the Australian broad arrow marking stamped on them. A lot of Vietnam era diggers used the Australian ‘Bren pouch’ as an additional or substitute item on their webbing. It had a bigger capacity than the standard basic pouches. These tended to be either a khaki tan or a pea green colour. Paul has correctly modelled these on some of the figures. Early on in the war ‘08/‘38 pattern packs were the norm.
GP boots were black leather. The early toggle ropes could be natural hemp rope but most were green nylon. Bayonet scabbards, if worn, were black and the frog web coloured.
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Thanks Carlos.
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Todays ANZAC is called Charlie......that get confusing on patrol :o
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Superb... and a lovely pose.
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Cracking job. :D
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Thanks guys :-*
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Lovely figures so far. Promises to be another great extension to the Vietnam range. Got to say, love the SLR. So much so that I bought a deactivated one a while back. Its a proper looking bit of kit. Really need to be painting up my NVA but keep getting distracted. Can't wait for the Aussies though. SLRs and Centurians. Whats not to like!
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Nice.
So what is that strapped to the SLR?
Just so I do not repeat the doll debacle.
[Edit] damn you Autocorrect!
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wound dressing.
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wound dressing.
Thanks.
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Nice.
So what is that strapped to the SLR?
Just do I do not repeat the doll debacle.
WW2 era shell dressings were still in use in Vietnam. If you're not familiar with them, they're a wad of gauze roughly the size of a bar of soap attached to a cotton bandage. They are particularly useful for ad hoc treatment of shrapnel or GSW to limbs as the gauze can be held against the wound site and the bandage easily fixed around the limb.
Similar dressings are still in use with modern militaries today.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1233608 (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1233608)
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Todays ANZAC preview is called Bruce....... and so is his sister.
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Stunning work as always from the good Mr Hicks.
Although my one criticism is that Bruce's bush hat is looking a bit square? They tended to get very crushed.
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Perhaps he has tucked his Vegemite sandwiches under it?
Nice figures guys.
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Yeah that would be my only niggle as well. The cool way to wear the giggle hat was to pinch the band so that the crown was the same height as the band. Another popular style was to run hutchie cord (nylon cord for erecting a shelter half) through the foliage bands in diagonal or criss-cross fashion. That said, all kinds of shapes and styles show up. Whilst being a supremely practical bit of kit, handy for gathering water, holding a hot mess tin, gathering spent brass etc, etc, the old bush hat can’t really be described as a stylish bit of kit. Well, unless of course you compare it with those stupid fucking kepi and havelock affairs so popular with RAAC types in the ‘90s. That really was a c*** cap. Of course with armour types it takes remarkably little effort for them to appear like utter c***s. ;)
Greens themselves were never stylish. I have heard with my own ears the timeless expression from a Vietnam vet QM issuing greens “ Doesn’t matter if they are too big or too small, as long as they fit” and of course that favourite expression of WOs and SNCOs ‘you look like a bag of shit with a string tied round the middle’. :)
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Could these Australians be used for British Troops in Malaya or SAS at Mirbat?
To my uneducated eye, they look very similar.
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Depends on your level of obsession with detail. The webbing is wrong for the British Army in Borneo and beyond. No bum packs on British kit. For Malaya, up until about 1959 the troops would have have been equipped with ‘44 or even ‘37 pattern webbing and would have carried Mk 5 or MkIV Enfields and/ or M1 carbines, Stens and Owens. You would be better off with the Warlord Korean Brits, although it’s rumoured that Studio Miniatures might be doing a range of post war British.
For the Brunei Revolt, Confrontation and the Middle East, Eureka’s Aden British range would be the way to go. Mix those in with some elected items from their Rhodesian range and you’ll be able to make fair SAS proxies for Mirbat.
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Thank-you
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Perhaps he has tucked his Vegemite sandwiches under it?
Nice figures guys.
Never tried Vegemite. One for the bucket list perhaps. then again :-X
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WW2 era shell dressings were still in use in Vietnam. If you're not familiar with them, they're a wad of gauze roughly the size of a bar of soap attached to a cotton bandage. They are particularly useful for ad hoc treatment of shrapnel or GSW to limbs as the gauze can be held against the wound site and the bandage easily fixed around the limb.
Similar dressings are still in use with modern militaries today.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1233608 (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1233608)
Thanks.
Their use is still covered in first aid training today.
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Something like each one holds 2 pints so you don't need a fourth... :o
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Never tried Vegemite. One for the bucket list perhaps. then again :-X
Its properties are remarkably similar to a better known modelling material with a similar name:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CwhZjKnThg
Sculpting with it is something of a challenge, however.
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I should bring you a tube or small jar next time I visit the UK. Might drop by as I drive from Edinburgh to the Forest of Dean.
Never tried Vegemite. One for the bucket list perhaps. then again :-X
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Its properties are remarkably similar to a better known modelling material with a similar name:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CwhZjKnThg
Sculpting with it is something of a challenge, however.
Now that's clever. ;)
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I should bring you a tube or small jar next time I visit the UK. Might drop by as I drive from Edinburgh to the Forest of Dean.
Weirdly I found it in a shop yesterday. Funny enough it was one of the few things left on the shelf. I showed it to the Empress Christine who loves Marmite and she ran away screaming so I did not buy a pot. :-X
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Probably wise!
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That has to be the most arse about face waste of time I've seen in a long while.
He actually lost time and added in pointless steps .Thats literally a twenty minutes paint job from under coat to finished toy. No need to mask at all.Let alone mask with food.
We spend half our time worrying about food oil and finger oil knackering painted figures why add it to the process ?.
Your best tool for speed is a hairdryer. That whale could have been super fast .spray white underside only,spray grey on top only .theres the two tone straight away .Dab on white paint.Hairdryer each stage for speed drying.
Or if you did want to use your air brush under coat the whole thing white .spray the top then add white dots. It'll use the same time as painting on food but won't require you to spend more time washing food off your toy hoping you've de greased it at the same time.
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That has to be the most arse about face waste of time I've seen in a long while.
He actually lost time and added in pointless steps .Thats literally a twenty minutes paint job from under coat to finished toy. No need to mask at all.Let alone mask with food.
We spend half our time worrying about food oil and finger oil knackering painted figures why add it to the process ?.
Your best tool for speed is a hairdryer. That whale could have been super fast .spray white underside only,spray grey on top only .theres the two tone straight away .Dab on white paint.Hairdryer each stage for speed drying.
Or if you did want to use your air brush under coat the whole thing white .spray the top then add white dots. It'll use the same time as painting on food but won't require you to spend more time washing food off your toy hoping you've de greased it at the same time.
You are missing the point. If you use Vegimite for this you don't have to eat the bloody stuff lol
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Paul,
It shouldn't be wasted everyone knows it's an effective zombie repellent.
No ones ever comes back and said it didn't work.
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Paul,
It shouldn't be wasted everyone knows it's an effective zombie repellent.
No ones ever comes back and said it didn't work.
lol lol lol
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The full horror of Vegemite has little to do with its taste, it’s the advertising jingle that will ward off zombies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBepaxrleAE
To be honest I quite like the stuff, in moderation.
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The full horror of Vegemite has little to do with its taste, it’s the advertising jingle that will ward off zombies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBepaxrleAE
To be honest I quite like the stuff, in moderation.
So which one are you ???
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Well, we in West Oz only have meth Zombies according to our Leader of the Opposition but I should imagine she will claim they are Covid-19 Zombies soon.
Carlos, how could you? Destroying the very cornerstone of our lifestyle.
Paul, if I enter your premises (and I have before) with a spatula of Vegemite, would I be considered armed?
The full horror of Vegemite has little to do with its taste, it’s the advertising jingle that will ward off zombies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBepaxrleAE
To be honest I quite like the stuff, in moderation.
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To be honest I quite like the stuff, in moderation.
I was wondering how it differs from Marmite, which it is supposedly impossible to 'quite like', and is unknown to moderation in any form. There must be an ingredient which allows equivocation and / or indifference. Not the most vital scientific discovery in the present climate, perhaps, but worth knowing nonetheless.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBepaxrleAE
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Paul, if I enter your premises (and I have before) with a spatula of Vegemite, would I be considered armed?
At the moment yes lol
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Todays preview is Harry.
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Trade mark Hisksy porn star 'tashe 😎
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Yeah. He even has one. Part time job I suppose? ::)
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Ladies and Gentlemen we proudly announce the Otter 1/50 scale USMC forward supply, and on occasion troop carrier.
So cute you just have to have one.
In the shop now.
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Ladies and Gentlemen we proudly announce the Otter 1/50 scale USMC forward supply, and on occasion, troop carrier.
So cute you just have to have one.
In the shop now.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=121166.0
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Trade mark Hisksy porn star 'tashe 😎
As an aside, a local barber advertises an "SAS haircut".
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That Otter is cute.
Might double for some Whiteout adventures.
The metal Jerry can is a good idea, I do wish I had removed the resin one from the Ontos.
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Yeah. He even has one. Part time job I suppose? ::)
Midget porn?
(I'll stop now before your thread gets completely derailed ;) )
And the Otter is a must have for several reasons 8)
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The Otter came out a treat. :-*
I see see my order getting larger.
Am waiting for the PBR, or two?
Paul will break me then. :o
But what away to go. lol
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"Can't have one without the otter...."
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"Can't have one without the otter...."
lol
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It won’t just be squaddies suffering from Otterburn then.
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The local Indian take-away now does Chicken Tarka.
It is a bit like Chicken Tika, but it's a little 'otter.
I'll get my coat.
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I'll get my coat.
I’ll pass it to you lol
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I’ll pass it to you lol
Hope it's not an Otta fur coat😉
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Git otter here!
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Frivolity aside, I have a technical question, what are the large boxes/tanks on the rear side? Are they the fuel tanks?
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The otter balloon goes up, bang goes my 'disciplined approach'.
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The otter balloon goes up, bang goes my 'disciplined approach'.
My disciplined approach is to buy at shows (physical carrying capacity ^__^), but with Salute off the table this year....
Waiting for the Centurion though....
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Frivolity aside, I have a technical question, what are the large boxes/tanks on the rear side? Are they the fuel tanks?
Yes, fuel tanks.... these were in no way combat vehicles!!
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Yes, fuel tanks.... these were in no way combat vehicles!!
Were they diesel or petrol engined?
I was listening to "Thirteen Minutes to the Moon" podcast about the Apollo project, and someone mentioned you could have poked a hole through the lander pressure hull with a pen.
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Also available in 1:1 scale:
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/news/vietnam-3.html
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So, when are the Aussies expected to be released, Paul? Hint: Now's a good time! ;)
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Were they diesel or petrol engined?
Honestly no idea. It could be either as there were both types of fuel about.
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Were they diesel or petrol engined?
Honestly no idea. It could be either as there were both types of fuel about.
This article https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/US/amphibious-cargo-carrier-m76-otter/ (https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/US/amphibious-cargo-carrier-m76-otter/) says that it was powered by a former aero engine (Continental AIO-268), so probably petrol.
More scary.
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The Otter is really nice indeed . Will you do crew figures?
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The Otter is really nice indeed . Will you do crew figures?
I'm thinking of sawing a spare grenadier in half and using that.....
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The Otter is really nice indeed . Will you do crew figures?
The roof hatches all open so I'd think so.
I didn't open the side or rear doors as this would be less likely to be useful.
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Yes, fuel tanks.... these were in no way combat vehicles!!
But were used in combat on occasion. For example Used in 1968 in the Battle of Dai Do in the Dong Ha sector when Captain Jay R. Vargas earned the Medal of Honour. The external fuel tanks are quite sensible and the post war M113 adopted the practise. If you are at risk of the fuel going up if you are hit better to have it outside rather than inside.
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The Otter is really nice indeed . Will you do crew figures?
Yes we will. We have to do crews for the various jeep type vehicles which we sell in separate packs so they will be designed to fit the various vehicles. ;)
Just about to get into the sculpting of these...…..before the Zombies get us :o
As for Marines to fit into the back section you can utilise figures from the exiting packs. ;)
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Latest release is the NVA version of the PT 76.
Perfect if you want to re enact the Lang Vei camp battle or others. Makes a change to give the NVA the armour.
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Nice, indeed
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Nice, indeed
Cheers muchly.
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Looking good!
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Very nice PT 76, will work with my little FAPLA unit as well.
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Loving the PT-76! Crew?
I know it would add weight, lose detail and drive costs up but is there any prospect of casting the tracks in metal as an option? My M48 arrived with a number of the delicate track extenders missing.
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The external fuel tanks are quite sensible and the post war M113 adopted the practise. If you are at risk of the fuel going up if you are hit better to have it outside rather than inside.
The original M113 had internal tanks, and the later external tanks (A2) had as good or better armour (and probably contained diesel - A1+ variants), but you do make a good point.
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Loving the PT-76! Crew?
I know it would add weight, lose detail and drive costs up but is there any prospect of casting the tracks in metal as an option? My M48 arrived with a number of the delicate track extenders missing.
Yes we have on the list NVA vehicle crews.
Weirdly metal is cheaper than resin and easier to manufacture but you do lose some detail on intricate parts and because of the size of the track sections its not always sensible to put them onto moulds as the balance creates moulding problems. The PT 76 tracks are quite simple so should be fine in resin.
The Centurion tracks have been a real bitch but we have now sorted it and the vehicle will be released soon.
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NEW RELEASES IN THE SHOP!!!!
Painting done by Dags for a customer of his. :-*
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Nice new releases.
I placed an order at the weekend and I am looking forward to painting some of this range.
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Looking nice!
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I was very lucky to get my hands on the mortar set early 8)
It's a very little thing but the separate arm on the loader has THE BEST fit I've ever known... such a refreshing change 8)
Unfortunately they have to go back to the customer :'(
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Nice.
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I was very lucky to get my hands on the mortar set early 8)
It's a very little thing but the separate arm on the loader has THE BEST fit I've ever known... such a refreshing change 8)
Unfortunately they have to go back to the customer :'(
Those painted figures are just stunning. Made my day.
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Any word on when the Aussies will be up on your site?
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Stunning new releases!!! Will be added to my future order!
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Today's release is a bit disappointing for us. We had planned to release 24 ANZACS in one release so that the gamer had the option of two sections of a platoon plus command and medic with casualty. This was all timed for Salute. However as the virus has pulled the wheels of everyone's life this will not now be possible.
However we thought that we would show you the sculpts as they are all done and we have been constantly asked to release the two packs which are now in the shop today.
The ANZACS are an interesting force as they had a superb reputation in their areas of operation as well as going through weapons changes over a short period of time. Initially the old WW2 vintage Owen SMG was used and much loved by the old hands. This was used by NCO's and scouts within a section. The riflemen used the British SLR. Once arriving in Vietnam the American M16 was introduced and started to replace the Owen. The M60 became the section LMG. Then came the introduction of the Blooper grenade launcher. Thus the weapons make for an interesting mix. Radios were the US AN/PRC-25 (AKA “Prick-25”)
Kit was a mix of ANZAC, British, and US kit with some in theatre modifications. One of the most obvious looks to the ANZAC soldier was the Jungle hat. These hats were from three specific sources. British, Australian and New Zealand as well as ones produced locally in theatre. They looked pretty much the same but were different. They also got 'changed' by the wearer as well as looking different depending on how the wearer wore it or the wearers head. If you look at original pictures soldiers in the same unit can be seen wearing the same hat but they are all shapes ad sizes. Then the brim gets folded up, or cut down. Or the top of the hat gets stitched down to show a shallow version. I happen to have an original British one from the period (which I use for gardening) and trust me it never looks the same each time I wear it.Thus we have modelled our guys to all look individual as we felt that was not only accurate but showed the true character of the ANZAC soldier.
The pictures below show the released figures in metal and those awaiting their chance to go into a mould in a few weeks or so.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the Empress Miniatures 28mm Vietnam ANZACS.
Cheers, Paul
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These are now in the shop.
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Nice! :D
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Bloody ripper!*
*More or less ancient, vernacular, Orstrayan for excellent. Most often used these days in a knowing, post-modern and ironic fashion (except in Queensland and other less cultured parts) but here used in it’s original meaning and in the spirit of the times.
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These are truely superb, Mr Hicks just keeps uping the bar. Dare I say even surpassing the USMC (force recon team still my favorite...).
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Very nice.
Is that a torch strapped to the M79?
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These are absolutely brilliant! So much charater, such wonderful poses :-* :-* :-* :-*
I swear when this is over I gonne splurge so much ;D
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Can't wait to get my fingers or paintbrush, on them when cast up! Superb sculpting!!!
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Brilliant.... utterly brilliant
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Not too shabby at all :)
Interesting little fact; my uncle (deceased about 10 years ago) was a Lt. Colonel in the 1st RAR, his name was Herbert Victor Dobinson,known as 'Vic'. He was a lieutenant in Korea, and left the army in the early seventies...he spent 9 days in Vietnam, I presume for administrative reasons before he left.
If anyone has better resources (I know barely anything about his army days) please let me know
Cheero
Guy
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Very nice.
Is that a torch strapped to the M79?
If you mean the item on the top of the barrel, its the foresight.
I'm looking forward to see an Odd Angry Shot set of troops. With an angry Corporal Alf Stewart as a Range NCO!
https://youtu.be/liPbdkgLdJc (https://youtu.be/liPbdkgLdJc)
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Is that a torch strapped to the M79?
If you mean the item on the top of the barrel, its the foresight.
D'oh!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Foj_Kwcj-2k/Xf5xJFSvsMI/AAAAAAAAF_A/V_B5qu7R-boUxD9TPNliZH9RDGXeMc0jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/m79-1.png)
Thanks.
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The Odd Angry Shot is a brilliant movie. Looking forward to seeing Danger Close too.
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The Odd Angry Shot is a brilliant movie. Looking forward to seeing Danger Close too.
I wouldn’t get too excited about Danger Close. It’s rubbish. The doco the same production team is far better and it’s on Youtube.
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Well, that's a nice surprise to wake up to.
I'll wait for it to be in stock with the Australian distributor (his place is 5 mins walk from mine), but I am definitely going all in :D
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The Odd Angry Shot is a brilliant movie. Looking forward to seeing Danger Close too.
Danger Close is on Amazon Prime (at least here in Australia) if you have that.
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Thanks guys and girls for the good comments.
However I have just ordered a copy of Odd Angry Shot which from memory was pretty average so I blame you lot lol
More new releases and previews next week.
Stay safe. ;)
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Read the book it’s very good(‘tis on Kindle) :)
Well I’ve ordered the Australians and also have a Huey coming from BNA models in Australia (it’s the Kittyhawk Models kit) :D
You’ll probably release some more straight away lol
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Does anyone know were to get more civilian miniatures for Vietnam. I need to populate my village. Porters, women, children, farmers etc would be nice .
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Ask Paul.... I’ll be amazed if he doesn’t he doesn’t have some planned! lol
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Yeah they are the next section of the range.
Obviously difficult to say when as production is halted but sculpting will continue so at least you can see them ;)
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thats grand!!!!
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These look great!!!!
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Got my first batch of Aussies, the USMC mortar crew and the NVA command today. Bloody great sculpts. Can't wait to get some paint on them having just finished an NVA section (oddly enough social isolation is doing wonders for my painting mojo). Top notch figures!
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I received the 2 Full Metal Jacket packs and 3 packs of NVA on Monday. They are really nice figures.
I have some Landskneckts on my painting table so when they are finished Vietnam comes next.
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Excellent guys. Glad they arrived safely and love the figures. ;)
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Todays release.......and we only have a few so get in quick.
Centurion Tank =1/50 SCALE RESIN WITH SMALL METAL PARTS.
This vehicle represents a Centurion used by ANZAC forces in the VIETNAM WAR. The model comes with elements of stowage such as 30 cal MG ammo cans and fuel cans. A typical mix of Nato and US cans. It also comes with examples of the shells used.
It also comes with the spot light which can either be fixed into operational position or stowed in the rear stowage cage as shown.
The front section of the mudguards were very often removed as can these. Also not no side skirts.
In the shop now. Check the Vietnam room.
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Nice, clean looking model. I like that a lot. :-*
Now do I order direct or wait for Matt to get one in stock? Hmm, decisions decisions.
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We have low stock as the production facility is shut for the duration (always wanted to use that WW2 phrase but NEVER thought I would be able) so if you want one do it now or be prepared to wait. ;)
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Love the new tank.
Well done.
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Very nice.
Those tracks must have been a right PITA to cast
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For those interested, 'Jungle Tracks' is a very good account of Aussie Centurions in 'Nam.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0042JSOZS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
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Love it! Quality! A brilliant addition to the range!
(Now.. you know what I’m going to say next... M48, Centurion, T54/55.... all useable with adaption for Arab Israeli..... ???... I know,... I’ll get me coat lol).
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Nice.
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I noted on the web page that it comes with MG ammo cans (very useful).
Any chance of some 0.50" HMG cans for the M48 etc?
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Very nice.
Those tracks must have been a right PITA to cast
Ugh... Don't go there... >:(
Tis the cost of quality ;)
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Love it! Quality! A brilliant addition to the range!
(Now.. you know what I’m going to say next... M48, Centurion, T54/55.... all useable with adaption for Arab Israeli..... ???... I know,... I’ll get me coat lol).
.
PT76? How about a BTR50?
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I noted on the web page that it comes with MG ammo cans (very useful).
Any chance of some 0.50" HMG cans for the M48 etc?
The 30cal tins are in a big block of them on the turret roof with a radio jammed between them. Was part of the Aussie fit.
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Arrgh! Sold out methinks .
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The 30cal tins are in a big block of them on the turret roof with a radio jammed between them. Was part of the Aussie fit.
The NVG book has a number of photographs of M48A3s in Vietnam with 0.50" ammo boxes along the track guards, I was just asking if ammo boxes could be in the next stowage set.
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Unfortunately we are now sold out of the Centurions. Bit stunned at how fast as we had quite a big batch so sorry for that :'(
Huge hugs and kisses for the nice comments :-*
We can look at the 50 cal ammo box as I think we may need another stowage set moving forward.
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Unfortunately we are now sold out of the Centurions. Bit stunned at how fast as we had quite a big batch so sorry for that :'(
Boo.....
We can look at the 50 cal ammo box as I think we may need another stowage set moving forward.
Hooray!
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Oh well.... something else to add to my post virus shopping list! Great to hear how popular they’ve been... ;)
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I might let you all see some more previews next week if you are all good and stay at home. ;)
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To give you something to keep you occupied whilst Mr Teasey slow drips the previews of tye Australians, have a read of some thematic material courtesy of the Australian Defence Force.
The last one is post-Vietnam but almost nothing had changed in the interim.
Lessons learned in Vietnam
https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/tib_69_infantry_battalion_lessons_from_vietnam_1965-71_0.pdf?acsf_files_redirect
Pocketbook on South Vietnam:
https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/pocketbook_south_vietnam_1967_0.pdf?acsf_files_redirect
VC mines and booby traps:
https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/min_bay_do_viet_cong_mines_and_booby_traps_used_by_the_viet_cong_1965.pdf?acsf_files_redirect
The Rifle Platoon 1986. (Essentially the same as its 1960s predecessor)
https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/mlw_2-1-2_the_rifle_platoon_1986_full_obsolete_0.pdf?acsf_files_redirect
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PS the most significant change was the adoption of a sniper section in the support company in the early ‘80s. No dedicated snipers in Vietnam.
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Thanks Carlos.
The platoon organisation is very useful.
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Carlos, did that Sniper Section have a name/title?
PS the most significant change was the adoption of a sniper section in the support company in the early ‘80s. No dedicated snipers in Vietnam.
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Carlos - many thanks for the info on the Australians. Just the information I needed. Going to need some more Empress figures to make a platoon up!
On a separate note, the film 'Danger Close' is being released tomorrow. Hoping it will provide some inspiration. Reviews seem to be mixed though?
Also, Mr Eaglestone, if you do get round to doing decals for your lovely Vietnam stuff can I request decals for 'Mad Harlot' the M48 pictured moving next to the Citadel wall at Hue (approaching Dong Ba tower). Also, did the Australians name their Centurions and can we see some decals for them as well! Not asking for much :D
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Is there anything in the "Odd Angry Shot"
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Had a look at a clip of 'The Odd Angry Shot' last night and it looked like a load of toss! The clip of Danger Close looked good. As others have said on this thread, there are some great videos on YouTube about the Long Tan battle. One explained the troop movements really well!
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PS the most significant change was the adoption of a sniper section in the support company in the early ‘80s. No dedicated snipers in Vietnam.
I don't know what battalion you served back then but in the late seventies we had snipers in our support company.
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Had a look at a clip of 'The Odd Angry Shot' last night and it looked like a load of toss! The clip of Danger Close looked good. As others have said on this thread, there are some great videos on YouTube about the Long Tan battle. One explained the troop movements really well!
The Odd Angry Shot is a very good low budget film, however it is not a shoot 'em up film,it is more about mateship,loss,and how men can get along under trying circumstances. I urge you to read the novel .
Danger Close is a deeply flawed though broadly accurate film,watch the ABC doco,and read the many books about the action.
Anyone interested in the SAS in Vietnam should read Sleeping With Your Eyes Open by G. McKay a reasonably unbiased account.
Cheero
Guy
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The Odd Angry Shot is a very good low budget film, however it is not a shoot 'em up film,it is more about mateship,loss,and how men can get along under trying circumstances. I urge you to read the novel .
Danger Close is a deeply flawed though broadly accurate film,watch the ABC doco,and read the many books about the action.
Anyone interested in the SAS in Vietnam should read Sleeping With Your Eyes Open by G. McKay a reasonably unbiased account.
Cheero
Guy
Total agreement with you re “Odd Angry Shot”. It’s is definitely not toss.
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In 'Odd Angry Shot' I liked two scenes best.
1) They are sneaking up on a suspected VC dump (at a ruined temple ?)
The tension mounts as they very carefully crawl through the tall grass,
then as they get very close... a US patrol ambles across their front with
Ghetto blasters blaring.
2) Back in Aus, in a bar. A local, seeing their uniforms, asks, 'Are you just back from Nam?'
'No' is the laconic reply, & they continue with their pints.
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What? Not the Padres scene?! lol
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I would be interested in confirming the snipers issue with the ANZACS in Vietnam. Not come across any reference to them which kinda surprised me and as Carlos and Helen are on the subject perhaps they could provide some information? ???
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I would be interested in confirming the snipers issue with the ANZACS in Vietnam.
Not really Vietnam related, but an interesting read about an Australian sniper during the Korean war.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/australias-deadliest-sniper-ian-robertson-never-did-the-arithmetic-20150121-12urq2.html
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Helen is correct. Snipers became part of the battalion establishment in the mid/ late seventies. There wasn’t such a thing within infantry battalions establishments in the 1960s and there was no central instruction cell until the 1970s. Bear in mind that the Australian Army’s focus since Korea had been fighting counter-insurgency wars in a tropical environment since the end of the Korean War. Malaya, Borneo/Malaysia and then Vietnam.
Sniping had been a thing in Korea, I had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Robbie Robertson on a number of occasions but even there IIRC it was done on an informal basis selecting, the battalion’s best marksmen. Of course the nature of the war and particularly the terrain made sniping a very useful art.
There were sometimes slight variations in establishment between battalions and Vietnam specific variations. The conversion of the AT platoon, or at least the dual purposing of such into tracker platoons, in some battalions being the best known but I have never read of any battalion utilising dedicated snipers.
On the other side of the ledger, the opposition in Phuoc Tuy was noted as frequently employing snipers, have a squiz at the Lessons Learned TIB I linked to. Whether that meant specially trained and/or equipped snipers or more likely better than average enemy marksmen, is probably a moot point, the local opposition was noted for its generally poor record of marksmanship.
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Thanks Carlos. Useful insight. ;)
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Presumably they simply placed telescopic sights onto SLR rather than were issued specific rifles?
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Preview of the PBR.
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Nice touch with the surf board!
Now I need a river.....
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Ghetto blaster too!
I might need to order some more green paint....
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Thanks Paul for the photos of the PBR.
Boy, have been waiting for this. :)
It looks great.
Love it. :-*
May I ask, when it will be in the store?
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Seems like I need to build a river and a beach that might or might not be safe to surf.
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Nice.
The ghetto blaster and the surf board are cool.
What is the story behind the German style Jerry cans?
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Nice.
The ghetto blaster and the surf board are cool.
What is the story behind the German style Jerry cans?
You mean you have never noticed them in the film? ;) best check it out 8)
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That PBR is super cool.
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PBR looks good, can't wait for the crew!
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That's very cool!
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Presumably they simply placed telescopic sights onto SLR rather than were issued specific rifles?
I wouldn't be surprised if they brought back the 303 rifle with scope during the war. That's what our battalion had in the seventies. I would not use a scope on the SLR, too many variables.
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This is really stunning . Need one of course! Am working on a bigger river already.
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Sent off an order to Nathan today, some diggers, the USMC mortar and an Ontos. Looking forward to getting stuck in next weekend hopefully.
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Thanks chaps.
muchas gracias Carlos lol
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Indeed. That PBR is superb. ;-)
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Indeed. That PBR is superb. ;-)
Many thanks ;)
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I wouldn't be surprised if they brought back the 303 rifle with scope during the war. That's what our battalion had in the seventies. I would not use a scope on the SLR, too many variables.
That makes sense as the BRITS were still using a sports version of it during that period. ;)
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I expect to see a lot of big river terrain in the near future
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You mean you have never noticed them in the film? ;) best check it out 8)
I knew there must have been a story, it is a very very long time since I last saw it.
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Something a bit unusual and even obscure being added to the Vietnam pot, as well as the French Indo China and WW2 pot.
CT15A. Both the recce and covered ambulance version.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=123657.0
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Something a bit unusual and even obscure being added to the Vietnam pot, as well as the French Indo China and WW2 pot.
CT15A. Both the recce and covered ambulance version.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=123657.0
Oh hell yeah! Got to finish up my FIC war figs. :D
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Nice! There’s a very rusty one of those near the entrance to the Cu Chi Tunnels museum. Of course now you will need to make Regional Force/Popular Force troops as those were their playthings by the time the septics got involved.
* Cu Chi Disney Experience museum. Right next to the bit where, for a sizeable amount of dong or $USD you can fire Vietnam era weapons. ::) My wife thought that I was mad for going there on a motorbike and then laughed at the place name, ‘cu’ in Portuguese being a part of the anatomy not mentioned in polite company and xixi being the infantile or semi-polite expression for wee. That I went somewhere that sounds like arse-wee was just too much for her. :D
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Yeah Ruff Puffs. :)
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Another preview of some impending releases, well as soon as our resin production gets back on its feet.
These are some of the Fire Base sections that we plan to release, more to be added, ASAP.
Oh and case you have not guessed yes we are still open and sending out orders like crazy. Based upon the many thanks from customers we now consider ourselves part of the mental health plan. ;)
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Lovely!
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All good 8)
Especially the tower... looks so much better than the burnt wood alternatives
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Nice.
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Love the firebase Paul.
Enjoying painting the ANZACS - missed the Centurion - it was sold out by the time I saw it was available :'(
Wonder if the M113 will get an Aussie upgrade???
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Those Anzacs look spectacular - well done :-*
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Wonder if the M113 will get an Aussie upgrade???
Well they have the turret.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9JRJdhhNIc/XpxI_UkQr2I/AAAAAAAAGfY/o3DhWQ8UKiY3VZ8HHrPu1nyc2BEgnHqwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-4.png)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JURuiA9b5Kc/XpxI-4ywpII/AAAAAAAAGfM/4tXsdviXm2Ug-Qc9H6MMg-PvZDqdjhFIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-1.png)
The commander's cupola will need to be removed and possibly the hole enlarged (or the turret plug reduced).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Qjul5_IAfw/XpxI-8UkG5I/AAAAAAAAGfU/cmPWyXmGu442o9AQESnwSgbvYzBpGDY6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-2.png)
This M113 (2 of 4) is probably going to be a Bundeswehr one, hence the filling of the smoke dischargers (the lights will have to come off as well).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hEjcVsDvwf8/XpxI-9B0ReI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/_Drr51iGWFs2LGZOEoIsmF0LEEoYLnc2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-3.png)
[Edit] I used a skirted example in the photographs above, the unskirted has the upper track present.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ8pB1LDAYk/Xp3WgaQqukI/AAAAAAAAGf0/EzJGfCeOB_oyKthiu8nfgNvd3Nhrt0BfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-5.png)
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@ Shanec: Those Aussies are excellent, love the uniform colour. Got any more pictures?
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Nice painting on the Aussies.
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Those Aussies look the business!
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@Shanec Those Aussies are perfect. Let me join the chorus asking for further pictures :D
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Those Aussies do look good!
Where’s the upper track run on that bucket? Hoping empress will treat us with both T50 turrets and M74C turrets for the Australian buckets. The M74C version covered much of 1967-68 including, I believe, the Ba Ria and Binh Ba engagements. If it came as an extra, item that could be swapped for other turret options it would be great. The Aussie M113 also needs a new cargo hatch. Australian versions had a boxy ventilation system mounted on the hatch.
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The firebase is very nice and the Aussies are outstanding. Which colors did you use?
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The upper track isn't present on the side skirted version, must be one of them.
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Needs to be visible on the non skirted version. The Aussies removed the skirts as they kept getting jammed up with jungle debris. Same with the Cents.
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(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JURuiA9b5Kc/XpxI-4ywpII/AAAAAAAAGfM/4tXsdviXm2Ug-Qc9H6MMg-PvZDqdjhFIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-1.png)
Where’s the upper track run on that bucket? Hoping empress will treat us with both T50 turrets and M74C turrets for the Australian buckets. The M74C version covered much of 1967-68 including, I believe, the Ba Ria and Binh Ba engagements. If it came as an extra, item that could be swapped for other turret options it would be great. The Aussie M113 also needs a new cargo hatch. Australian versions had a boxy ventilation system mounted on the hatch.
The upper track isn't present on the side skirted version, must be one of them.
to
Needs to be visible on the non skirted version. The Aussies removed the skirts as they kept getting jammed up with jungle debris. Same with the Cents.
In Empress's defence and a mea culpa, this is one of the original (as Rich states) skirted ones. The recent ones (ACAV) have the return track.
I have one, but not to hand.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ8pB1LDAYk/Xp3WgaQqukI/AAAAAAAAGf0/EzJGfCeOB_oyKthiu8nfgNvd3Nhrt0BfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-5.png)
Apologies.
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Centurion fans might enjoy a book I’ve discovered; Canister ! On! Fire! by Bruce Cameron,a hefty two volumes,a little more detailed than Jungle Tracks, it’s specifically about Centurions in Vietnam.
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(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JURuiA9b5Kc/XpxI-4ywpII/AAAAAAAAGfM/4tXsdviXm2Ug-Qc9H6MMg-PvZDqdjhFIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-1.png) toIn Empress's defence and a mea culpa, this is one of the original (as Rich states) skirted ones. The recent ones (ACAV) have the return track.
I have one, but not to hand.
Apologies.
Why in our defence? There is nothing wrong! This is the early M113 with side skirts. The later ACAV version does not have side skirts and so has a full track.
That version is the one that we are currently looking at to fit the two Aussie turrets.
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Love the firebase Paul.
Enjoying painting the ANZACS - missed the Centurion - it was sold out by the time I saw it was available :'(
Wonder if the M113 will get an Aussie upgrade???
I love these so much. Just rubs in the frustration of not being able to release the next large batch .............yet ;)
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Thanks for the comments on the ANZACs - they were a quick and easy paint, Mr Hicks at his best!.
Some pics of 4 figures from different angles as requested.
Paints used were:
Uniform base colour AK Interactive 3115 Green Uniform Lights (although Vallejo Panzer Aces 336 Afrika Korps Tank crew is very close).
Kit and pouches a mix of Vallejo 887 Brown Violet,924 Russian Uniform, 879 Green Brown and 819 Iraqui Sand.
Whole lot gets a wash of Agrax Earthshade.
Highlight with original base colour, sometimes with Vallejo Ivory mixed in.
Sometimes I'll wash uniform with diluted GW Athonian Camoshade to get a bit of variety. Also use this undiluted on webbing if more contrast needed.
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Damn - sent same one twice! Photo from the rear.
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Why in our defence? There is nothing wrong! This is the early M113 with side skirts. The later ACAV version does not have side skirts and so has a full track.
That version is the one that we are currently looking at to fit the two Aussie turrets.
Sorry badly phrased.
With skirts and without...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ8pB1LDAYk/Xp3WgaQqukI/AAAAAAAAGf0/EzJGfCeOB_oyKthiu8nfgNvd3Nhrt0BfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/aus-M113-test-5.png)
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Centurion fans might enjoy a book I’ve discovered; Canister ! On! Fire! by Bruce Cameron,a hefty two volumes,a little more detailed than Jungle Tracks, it’s specifically about Centurions in Vietnam.
Another great book covering all vehicles and artillery in Nam is "Mud and Blood: Australian Army Vehicles and Artillery in Vietnam", author is Michael K Cecil and published by Australian War Memorial/New Holland Publishers.
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Another great book covering all vehicles and artillery in Nam is "Mud and Blood: Australian Army Vehicles and Artillery in Vietnam", author is Michael K Cecil and published by Australian War Memorial/New Holland Publishers.
Excellent! Will have a look :)
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Mud and DUST!! Doh!
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Mud and DUST!! Doh!
That's the one ;)
I grabbed my copy for $10 when Angus & Robertson went under. It's a fantastic resource, and even details individual vehicle serial numbers and names in theatre.
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I am tempted to paint those Aussies "nutria" brown and call them SADF of the late 1970s. The web gear is not exactly right but it might look OK from 3 feet away.
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Thanks for the comments on the ANZACs - they were a quick and easy paint, Mr Hicks at his best!.
*snip*
Thanks heaps for the guide to how you painted them! I was putting off ordering until after the full range was released, but I think I'll have to go ahead and order regardless :)
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Yep, mud and dust is a great reference, grabbed that a couple of years back with birthday vouchers.
quote author=Shanec link=topic=114897.msg1561922#msg1561922 date=1587416526]
Mud and DUST!! Doh!
[/quote]
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Those Aussies have turned out well my only nit-pick would be that the bum bags should be the same colour as the rest of their webbing. Different coloured Bren pouches are correct but the bum packs were part of the standard webbing and issued in OG.
@Splod. I was thinking the same thing for planning and budgeting purposes but my willpower failed me and I ended up sending Matt a wad of $$$$.
On a vaguely related note, I've been re-reading Horner's Phantoms of the Jungle and I am really looking forward to some SAS.
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Oh and some more reading material:
https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/vietnam-vanguard
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Sleeping With Your Ears Open(SAS) by Gary McKay is worth a read,plenty of interviews etc
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As is In Good Company, his personal account of experience as a platoon commander with 4RAR. He won a Military Cross during his tour and the book is an excellent account of service in Vietnam. IIRC he wrote another tome on Vietnam but the title escapes me.
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Indeed,have it in my bookshelf. I think the other is Delta Four: Australian Riflemen in Vietnam.
Trackers by Peter Haran is good too,though if you’re a dog lover skip the last chapter...f.....g bureaucrats.
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Second Trackers, excellent read and "bureaucrats!!".
Indeed,have it in my bookshelf. I think the other is Delta Four: Australian Riflemen in Vietnam.
Trackers by Peter Haran is good too,though if you’re a dog lover skip the last chapter...f.....g bureaucrats.
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Trackers by Peter Haran is good too,though if you’re a dog lover skip the last chapter...f.....g bureaucrats.
I'm not sure I can read it now! :(
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I'm not sure I can read it now! :(
Yep mate. I’ve read it once,can’t bring myself to read it again( my girl,Cattledog/Bull Terrier is just having her dinner as I write).It is still a very worthwhile book.
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Do have a squizz at the 5RAR book I linked to. The whole thing is downloadable. Enough detail to provide with gaming scenarios for a month of Sundays.
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Do have a squizz at the 5RAR book I linked to. The whole thing is downloadable. Enough detail to provide with gaming scenarios for a month of Sundays.
Definitely,I’m looking forward to it. Cheers for the heads up :)
Just downloaded to my IPad :)
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Thanks for the background stuff.
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Oh and some more reading material:
https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/vietnam-vanguard
That' ;)s a brilliant resource Carlos. Huge thanks for that. Some very interesting photos as well.
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More piccies on the 5 RAR Association website and info on the battalion’s second tour (1969/70).
https://www.5rar.asn.au/contents.htm
Of course if you want the real mother lode of contact reports and scenarios, there’s an ADFA site I’ve linked to before but well worth repeating. Maps pretty much every contact and many mine incidents in Phuoc Tuy Province and beyond that 1ATF and 1 RAR were involved in. Plenty of other useful info including excellent topo maps. Some nice piccies too.
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/battlemap/
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More free reading material.
3RAR First Tour (‘67/68):
http://www.3rar.com.au/1sttourvietnam68/3RARVietnam6768Book.pdf
Making some urban terrain for Hue ? Get double use with A Coy 3RAR clearing Ba Ria, Phuoc Tuy’s provincial capital during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Exciting tales of derring do as individual platoons with APC support run missions to rescue Australian advisors and CIA agents.
Plus the epic battles of FSBs Coral and Balmoral.
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/the-real-story-first-battle-of-coral/
Enemy account here:
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/the-battle-of-coral-so-hoi-13-may-1968-the-141st-nva-regiment-account/
For Ba Ria see also:
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/the-tet-offensive/
and
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/baria-tet-68-province-senior-advisor-report-february-1968/
3RAR, second tour(1971) :
http://www.3rar.com.au/yours%20faithfully/Yours%20Faithfully.pdf
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Thanks Carlos.
It's amazing what you can find these days; a few days ago I read the diary of a Captain in the survey troop! Actually very interesting, soon as I get home I'll post up the title :)
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The Ba Ria one is very interesting, hadn't seen that before. Now to find a copy of when the Scorpion Stings! My unit was 2 Cav so a sister Regiment (rivals).
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Just need a CIA agent firing a Swedish K.
That account and others I have read vary a little in detail. Other accounts have the RPG entering the hatch and causing the fatal wounding to WO2 Antonio Parello. Parello was one of a number of Italian born servicemen to serve in Vietnam and did so with great credit. He received an MID at Ba Ria, saving the lives of a number of others and the only reason he didn’t get a bigger gong was the eligibility rules around posthumous awards. I believe he was the only Italian in the Australian Army to be killed in SVN.
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Right oh,Captain Bullen’s War by John Bullen,edited by Paul Ham.
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Just need a CIA agent firing a Swedish K.
I am sure we can oblige at some point.
As an update we are just sculpting the PBR crew. Then the vehicle crews for the gathering motor pool that is sitting here. Then some civilians and ........ well quite a lot really :o
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As an update we are just sculpting the PBR crew. Then the vehicle crews for the gathering motor pool that is sitting here. Then some civilians and ........ well quite a lot really :o
Cant wait!
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As an update we are just sculpting the PBR crew. Then the vehicle crews for the gathering motor pool that is sitting here. Then some civilians and ........ well quite a lot really :o
Cool, hopefully for the Jeep as well (sorry Hotchkiss M201).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_M201 (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_M201)
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Can't wait to see those! still enough to paint, though .
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Without being, hopefully, too much of a doom monger, I suspect there's going to be one hell of a backlog when things get back to 'normal' and Griffin reopen as many firms also use them.
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Dags i think you might be right there! But possible Griffin set time slots you might be able to books manufacturers at least know when it will be their turn to be served?! does that make sense?
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Without being, hopefully, too much of a doom monger, I suspect there's going to be one hell of a backlog when things get back to 'normal' and Griffin reopen as many firms also use them.
I really would not worry its all in hand with plan A,B and C plus a few others. We always lose time as sculptors hurry to keep up with our demands so this just means that we will have a ready made bus queue that will work its way through the system given time. Probably faster than even you paint. lol
At the moment we are stacking up toys ready for the production to come back on line. If its takes until Christmas then so be it. We ain't going no where. Onwards and Upwards. ;)
Just keep buying what we have ;)
Anyway Christine and I am planning a two week camping holiday down the bottom of the garden in the summer so that should be enough time to get things going lol
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lol 8)
Just didn't want to see the thread decend to the wargamers equivalent of "are we there yet"
We are all going to have to develop some patience when it comes to getting our toys.. .
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Anyway Christine and I am planning a two week camping holiday down the bottom of the garden in the summer
I’d caution against that if you have crates of empties stacked up in/covering the floor of the potting shed. At least prepare to affect surprise and loudly remark along the lines of ‘ Bloody cheek! It looks like tramps have been dossing in the shed!’. ;)
Patience is a virtue. One just needs to think of this as a purchasing Lent or Ramadan if you prefer.
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lol lol lol lol lol
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Time for another preview.
The crew from Apocalypse Now that fits into the PBR.
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Oh lordy, yes - the putty monkey done good
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Wow! Those are completely bril! :-* :-*
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Definitely want the boat and the crew.... :-*
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I seem to say 'these are the best yet' everytime new figures appear, but these really are the very best yet..!
I remember there was some mention that photojournalists may make an appearance somewhere down the line; I'd love to see Dennis Hopper's Apoc Now character get added to the ensemble (My fantasy four pack of photog figures would be: Hopper, Burrows, Leroy & McCullin)
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I seem to say 'these are the best yet' everytime new figures appear, but these really are the very best yet..!
I remember there was some mention that photjournalists may make an appearance somewhere down the line; I'd love to see Dennis Hopper's Apoc Now character get added to the ensemble (My fantasy four pack of photog figures would be:
Hopper, Burrows, Leroy & McCullin)
I am incredibly impressed because that's exactly what is planned. You could be burnt as a Witch. ;)
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I am incredibly impressed because that's exactly what is planned. You could be burnt as a Witch. ;)
'...Outstanding, get your case of beer for that!'
I was thinking about dropping subliminal comments all over FB, but it seems my work is done. I'll get my broom...
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Never leave the Boat! :o
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Indeed never leave the boat!!! Brilliant sculpting Mr Hicks!!!!!
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Mr Hicks has nailed it with the new figures,
Love them.
Any time line when the PBR and crew will be in the store?
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Are you doing a tiger as well? lol
Actually, I would like the Col Kurtz, Lt Col Bill Killgore and the photographer as a second character pack.
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Are you doing a tiger as well? lol
Actually, I would like the Col Kurtz, Lt Col Bill Killgore and the photographer as a second character pack.
Might do a Tiger as we need it for a new range being announced at the end of May ;)
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OK - that is intriguing - are you planning a zoo or a circus?
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This keeps getting better and better!
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Superb!
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And Jeremy Clarkson. We need him too :)
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Only if he comes with the USA flag, decal covered, monkey bike.
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I'd love to see some water skiers for the PBR. :-)
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Jeremy Clarkson should be in the Falklands War line of figures
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Might do a Tiger as we need it for a new range being announced at the end of May ;)
Oh no, not another miniatures company doing their own bespoke Netflix Tiger King range! :D
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And Jeremy Clarkson. We need him too :)
Nobody needs Jeremy Clarkson.
By the by is there any truth to the rumour that this year’s Salute freebie miniature was to have been Noel Edmonds?
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Probably faster than even you paint. lol
Glaciers paint faster than me....
^___^
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Jeremy Clarkson should be in the Falklands War line of figures
That’d be a pretty hefty figure using a lot of “lead”... lol
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Nobody needs Jeremy Clarkson.
His employer could get Clarkson to test some of his other products - Elon Musk put one of his cars into space, Bezos could put Clarkson into space.
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By the by is there any truth to the rumour that this year’s Salute freebie miniature was to have been Noel Edmonds?
I think you mis-heard. The cancellation of Salute will mean 'no lead mounds' :D
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I think you mis-heard. The cancellation of Salute will mean 'no lead mounds' :D
lol
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Glad I wasn't drinking when I read that! lol lol lol
I think you mis-heard. The cancellation of Salute will mean 'no lead mounds' :D
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I think you mis-heard. The cancellation of Salute will mean 'no lead mounds' :D
I’ll pay that. Got change for a sixpence?
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Oh lordy, yes - the putty monkey done good
lol lol
That was really funny Dags. I might have to use that. In a signature or something. With your permission of course.
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When are you planning to launch some South Vietnamese troops?
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Really cannot answer date stuff due to the virus. If all goes well not very long but we just cannot put a date on things.
That's a politicians answer I appreciate but its actually true. We just cannot say.
Near the top of the list though.
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I seem to say 'these are the best yet' everytime new figures appear, but these really are the very best yet..!
I remember there was some mention that photojournalists may make an appearance somewhere down the line; I'd love to see Dennis Hopper's Apoc Now character get added to the ensemble (My fantasy four pack of photog figures would be: Hopper, Burrows, Leroy & McCullin)
What about Tim Page? I once got offered his used set of web gear. My offer was about £4.5k short of the asking price.
And maybe Dickey Chapelle or Catherine Leroy.
A whole range of combat journalists maybe.
Love the film based sets, really great likeness.
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Well you could end up with loads of fantastic photographers, I went with four as it's a standard figure pack size. As side from particularly liking the work of two of them, each has an instantly recognizable look & two of them were also at the battle of Hue (Leroy already included).
I'd picture McCullin in USMC kit, flak jacket, M1 helmet (no helmet band) a brace of Nikon F bodies; Leroy in fatigues, head band/scarf or plats with a couple of Leicas and shorter than the others; Larry Burrows, again in fatigues and boots, with glasses, scarf and at least three cameras down the front and one over his shoulder. As for Dennis Hopper, just as he appears in Apoc Now, drapped in Nikons, but with the head scarf/bandana not the bush hat as he'll look to much like 'Chef'.
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Apocalypse Now PBR crew is spot on. I will definetly have a boat with them in it. Not to be too greedy but will, there be a more generic crew as well?
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Apocalypse Now PBR crew is spot on. I will definetly have a boat with them in it. Not to be too greedy but will, there be a more generic crew as well?
Yeah we will probably do a standard crew although looking at the pictures they look a similar bunch of pirates.
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All this messing around in boats plus Vietnam is no good. It’s got me teetering on the cusp of buying a 1/700 HMAS Perth, for which I really have no earthly use. I suppose I could plonk it at the end of the driveway as NGFS for my marines....
Can we have a ‘not Alan Partridge’ as an alternative crewman? I think Warlord do some dead cows and I’m sure there must be suitable irate farmers in miniature out there somewhere. :)
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The Dennis Hopper research, which Paul has not seen lol
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Yeah we will probably do a standard crew although looking at the pictures they look a similar bunch of pirates.
Will one of them be John Kerry?
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Will one of them be John Kerry?
lol lol
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That was a swift response!
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I imagine a lot of you will have seen these on Facebook, but I thought I'd put the up here. More of the lovely ANZACs
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Ok, I’ve been watching the outstanding drop rate of figures for this range with drooling interest and will without doubt be parting with my cash after our current real world crisis ends. However in the meantime I have an enquiry / figure request to Empress...(forgive me if it has already been raised)....any Chance of adding my all time favourites to the range namely MACV SOG or specifically at least one figure similar to this guy with a chopped down RPD?
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Nice idea Blindfool; but not before we get Aussie SAS lol
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Catherine Leroy was something else, yes please thank you :-*
https://medium.com/@aryonnawilloughby/giving-war-a-human-face-the-vietnam-war-through-the-lens-of-catherine-leroy-83216ec30eb[/img]
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The Dennis Hopper research, which Paul has not seen lol
There is a great documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now. Maybe this helps Paul. I think the daughter of Coppola made it.
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There is a great documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now. Maybe this helps Paul. I think the daughter of Coppola made it.
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. Started as behind the scences footage by Eleanor Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola's wife), grew into something even larger. Fantastic documentary
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There is a great documentary about the making of Apocalypse Now. Maybe this helps Paul. I think the daughter of Coppola made it.
Don’t worry I know ‘Heart if Darkness’. I bought it back in 1992 when it was first released on VHS.
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I had my first two packs of ANZACs hand delivered by Nathan of Elite Miniatures Australia.
They are absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait for the rest of the range to be released :)
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I had my first two packs of ANZACs hand delivered by Nathan of Elite Miniatures Australia.
They are absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait for the rest of the range to be released :)
Couldn’t agree more. Just finished painting the first 16. Nathan really does provide excellent service and seems like a really nice chap over the phone.
To vary mine I’ve filed the bush hats down on all the duplicates and mixed up the colour palette for them.
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Don’t worry I know ‘Heart if Darkness’. I bought it back in 1992 when it was first released on VHS.
Excellent flick. One of the best ‘making of’ documentaries around, second only to Les Blank’s Burden of Dreams on the making of Fitzcarraldo. If you haven’t seen it, then do yourself a favour and get hold of a copy. Who was nuttier? Werner Herzog or Klaus Kinski?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FggCkCuuBXw
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Couldn’t agree more. Just finished painting the first 16. Nathan really does provide excellent service and seems like a really nice chap over the phone.
To vary mine I’ve filed the bush hats down on all the duplicates and mixed up the colour palette for them.
I agree, excellent figures. Ordered the second pack last night, only bought the first one to have a go at painting it, might be leading to a bit more now, roll on the SAS figures.
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To vary mine I’ve filed the bush hats down on all the duplicates and mixed up the colour palette for them.
That's not a bad idea! Do you have any pics to share? I'm curious to see how you went about modifying the bush-hats.
I've noticed one of my figures had the flash suppressor break off in transit. I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience, and whether they had any luck fixing it? I was debating whether a brass rod replacement barrel would be worth the effort...
Worse comes to worst and I can't get it looking right, he'll be the first of my troopers for a SASR patrol :D
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Hopefully this gives you an idea.
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Nicely done Carlos :) Mine are finished,except for the basing,have to post a pic.
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Is that a Eureka Aden Brit at the back?
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Don’t worry I know ‘Heart if Darkness’. I bought it back in 1992 when it was first released on VHS.
So Empress-Paul made a bad joke... Next time no beer for Empress-Paul !!! ;)
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Is that a Eureka Aden Brit at the back?
Yep but with added Owen gun. Needed a test figure for colours.
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So Empress-Paul made a bad joke... Next time no beer for Empress-Paul !!! ;)
Wrong Paul ;)
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Those are looking good Carlos!
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Wrong Paul ;)
No beer for you, either, just because.... ;-)
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Nice job Carlos. Very cool :-*
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No beer for you, either, just because.... ;-)
:'(
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Catching up on some painting. USMC Recon unit.
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they look great!
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Excellent painting on the Marine Recon figures.
Love them.
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They’re really nice Paul.
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Cheers guys ;)
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Very nice painting
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The other half of the ANZACs
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Unless the M16s and 60s are released soon, Cpl Van Cleef fears he may be overrun!
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Don't worry reinforcements are quite close now.
Nice job by the way.
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Don't worry reinforcements are quite close now.
Nice job by the way.
Cheers Paul, he'll be relieved to hear that :)
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"Don't worry reinforcements are quite close now."
How close? Dangerously close?
lol
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Danger Close was a good movie. Those Aussies did a fine job, both in battle and making a film.
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I did some work on my NVA figures this weekend. I add the pictures of Full Metal Miniatures Catherine Leroy because, well, I really like how she turned out :)
(https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/97966242_3141838575854984_3964207810085912576_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_oc=AQnhcZoJoRIdB70_I_3FRwIHhaofnGwmhxIDK3LoSlp5RnyGsAAHFT2qieLCbZjYS8I&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=3e6f978254f04793aea602e5ca104a08&oe=5EE6D0B3)
(https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/98176497_3141838635854978_5499724675002925056_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_oc=AQnvW8TEUnB5TFNs87CsjeJY_JaubQXYGW-pHijcBeh-HF23SkTWqdgVxHV4XaA_e3w&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=430a521b93aec08be19a247eead25e3a&oe=5EE717DD)
(https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/98093600_3145120992193409_5514800551377764352_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_oc=AQm0YQ68_eaUVTcy6L7aQzxLX7dYidrRdDX8W-jM7wPwIjNG9ILIrOaOvxgpsY3jcwU&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.xx&oh=4cf18a7a9293d352962e38683713c1c1&oe=5EE8679E)
(https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/98361206_3145121658860009_6853616650101456896_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_oc=AQmgdmBMojpozql4U35TOHlquM2NVtZd4_3vXAXWo7FoS8akpjljb0yRv8Es2jgiUS8&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=c118a218d3f28fb28a63d1dad6ae0e3f&oe=5EE8E474)
(https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/98955783_3141838325855009_622824511946883072_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_oc=AQlybVnTqO69nff9dRD6VlTdvteSaiwladkh9aZYaCXiVrZZN2JQqggIrUpuptEh1a8&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=0c94db62c76b4926f82c4df6e063c67a&oe=5EE8F1EE)
(https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/97723451_3141838385855003_1421115007919194112_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_oc=AQkL4_fYzUU7K1lEGNm4SEnjeteUS65ef3Kn-9bQSAQNyUBKWKW7WGG5AzOwPV7-knc&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.xx&_nc_tp=6&oh=c03b4f4c5cb884136dc18a854ee88b66&oe=5EE84F1E)
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Nice work.
That Leroy figure looks quite good, which is a pleasant surprise, considering the iffy nature of some of their other figures. How does she scale up with the Empress range. I noticed that photos of other figures in that range are giants.
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I wouldn't worry as we have LeRoy on our to do list. Mind you we will probably be accused of underscale figures as she was quite short in real life at 5'. lol
Thats quite a good likeness of her and captures her inner Bardot. ;)
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Nice work.
That Leroy figure looks quite good, which is a pleasant surprise, considering the iffy nature of some of their other figures. How does she scale up with the Empress range. I noticed that photos of other figures in that range are giants.
She scales really well with Empress, admittedly disregarding the fact that she was indeed a very petite woman at about 1.52m. She is slightly shorter than an Empress US Marine. But you are correct with regard to the other figures. Sculpting styles differ wildly. I ordered their female Vietcong figure as well but she must have been the tallest woman in the Mekong Delta. She is almost a head taller than my Empress and TAG figures.
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She scales really well with Empress, admittedly disregarding the fact that she was indeed a very petite woman at about 1.52m. She is slightly shorter than an Empress US Marine. But you are correct with regard to the other figures. Sculpting styles differ wildly. I ordered their female Vietcong figure as well but she must have been the tallest woman in the Mekong Delta. She is almost a head taller than my Empress and TAG figures.
lol
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The Centurion is back in stock.
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The Leroy figure is great.
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Mentioning Bardot, inner or otherwise, should compel you to make a 28mm Serge Gainsbourg. Greatest Frenchman ever, period, full stop, amen.*
*Jaques Dutronc as a close second.
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I take it that you’ll be sending some to Nathan?
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I take it that you’ll be sending some to Nathan?
Beat me to the question ;)
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The Centurion is back in stock.
Missed that.
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The Centurion is back in stock.
And ordered.
And no dancing round the carpark required...
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Should have some interesting news tomorrow. ;)
Tease lol
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Perhaps I am going to post some pictures up tomorrow as well. lol lol lol lol lol lol
Jesus some people really need to grow up lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
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lol Couldn’t agree more!
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Perhaps I am going to post some pictures up tomorrow as well. lol lol lol lol lol lol
Jesus some people really need to grow up lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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And ordered.
And no dancing round the carpark required...
Should have some interesting news tomorrow. ;)
Of course you have....
Oh well.
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Should have some interesting news tomorrow. ;)
It's already "tomorrow" in some timezones!
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It's already "tomorrow" in some timezones!
That is usually Carlos...
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Hmm that makes me feel better. Obviously I am not the only fool to have bought a DeLorean. Still the knowledge that you own a car that inspired the look of 21st Century fridges is comfort in and of itself. :D
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Well, it is tomorrow 'here' ;)
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Won't be long. Everything checked and all good. Just got to do the washing and photography and set the shop up and then the surprise.
More teasing lol muhahahahahahahaha!!!! ;D
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Does you wife know you’ve booked a stripper to jump out of a cake?
S’a’right, we won’t tell.
*Well for a relatively modest sum we won’t. ;)
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Its OK I got a good deal.
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Come and get it lol
These are now in the shop ready for you to purchase.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vietnam-16-c.asp
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Brilliant stuff Paul :-*
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Superb!
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Great looking figures.
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Do you have any idea when the PBR will be available.
(Just wondering whether to order the new Australians or wait and order both)
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And ordered.
Come and get it lol
These are now in the shop ready for you to purchase.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vietnam-16-c.asp
Ho hum.
May be I will wait until I have painted the two ANZAC packs I just ordered...
At least it was not the T55.
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As you live in the UK it does cost anymore to order these :D
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Excellent! Been looking forward to these!
Now, purely for planning purposes, is that the Australians ‘done’ or may we expect, for example a pack of firing poses with M16 or more M79 armed chaps or Owen gun wielding diggers?
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Fantastic!
I feel like an echo od Carlos, but will we be seeing more ANZAC infantry? Another rifle pack wouldn't go astray, or some spare heads even? :)
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Spare heads would be nice, I like the figure but not sure I need more than one Chad Morgan per platoon.
Worse comes to worst I have some spare heads that will fit and a number of spare M79s to hang off riflemen.
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I'd just like to mention; if you're in Oz and order from Paul direct, it takes just over two weeks. Pretty good considering :)
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Another M60 figure patrolling would be good. Round out the platoon.
Alas, I suspect, I’ll keep feeding this habit until I have a full company. lol
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Another M60 figure patrolling would be good. Round out the platoon.
Alas, I suspect, I’ll keep feeding this habit until I have a full company. lol
So I guess you'll be getting a squadron of Centurions... lol
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I'd just like to mention; if you're in Oz and order from Paul direct, it takes just over two weeks. Pretty good considering :)
Unless you live in Townsville, in which case the package is hand delivered within 48 hours ;)
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I'm guessing though, Nathan hasn't got them yet :)
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So I guess you'll be getting a squadron of Centurions... lol
Hmm (thinks hard....) nah, maybe a troop. What I'm really hanging for are some Aussie M113A1s with all the bells and whistles.
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Oh yes,indeed! :)
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Hmm (thinks hard....) nah, maybe a troop. What I'm really hanging for are some Aussie M113A1s with all the bells and whistles.
I'm going to try and be realistic about what will actually hit my table.
I'll settle for two Centurions, as I'm only looking at platoon+ actions. Any more than two would be rude to the VC player ;)
And then three M113A1, plus an M113A1 FSV. That should be plenty of armour :)
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You'll need a couple of Bushrangers then ;)
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The Bushrangers weren't deployed until very late in the piece, so I can get away without them (I like '68 for my games) :D
I generally treat air support as off-table for games however, especially in 28mm where AAA are few and far between.
There's a good resource here about UH-1H and the development of the gunships: https://www.radschool.org.au/Books/Bushranger2.pdf (https://www.radschool.org.au/Books/Bushranger2.pdf)
And an article from Battlefront about converting them (albeit in 15mm): https://vietnam.team-yankee.com/5675/bushrangers-the-flying-kangaroo/ (https://vietnam.team-yankee.com/5675/bushrangers-the-flying-kangaroo/)
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Well the FSV saw even less use. Only in theatre for a few months in 1971 and not utilised very much outside of convoy escorts even then. Truth be told it was a bit of a dud but I suppose it’s kinda cool, so yeah I wouldn’t mind one.
I’ve looked into what would be required to make a Bushranger in 1/48. Lotsa $$$ and lotsa work. There was resin mod from someone called Hamilton Models but it seems to be OOP at present. It wasn’t cheap either.
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Maybe our kind benefactors/ crack dealers at Empress could be persuaded to make a mod for 1/48 Hueys? :)
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Yep,there is/ was another company that did Bushranger mods, Red Roo Models ? Anyway, a simple kit would be great,actually the ammo belts and associated bins are the trickiest bit,as they were carrying 4 M60s,plus the two miniguns.
Of course now I’ve ordered the new figures,I’m looking forward to the SAS :)
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Well the FSV saw even less use. Only in theatre for a few months in 1971 and not utilised very much outside of convoy escorts even then. Truth be told it was a bit of a dud but I suppose it’s kinda cool, so yeah I wouldn’t mind one.
Hmm, good point. Mud & Dust shows that they weren't deployed until 'mid 1971', so well outside my standard time-frame. That just means one less hull to worry about!
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Arrgh! Just bought a UH-34 for my Marine Recon. :) Well you have to.
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Excellent! Been looking forward to these!
Now, purely for planning purposes, is that the Australians ‘done’ or may we expect, for example a pack of firing poses with M16 or more M79 armed chaps or Owen gun wielding diggers?
No not done and I certainly agree we need another SLR pack.
We have some more Marines and NVA to do next to get the huge number of vehicles out first but we will return to the ANZACS ASAP. ;)
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Another M60 figure patrolling would be good. Round out the platoon.
Alas, I suspect, I’ll keep feeding this habit until I have a full company. lol
Yes I think we need to consider another section to make the full platoon so that no doubles are necessary. ;)
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Hmm (thinks hard....) nah, maybe a troop. What I'm really hanging for are some Aussie M113A1s with all the bells and whistles.
No Black Wolf is right you need a Squadron.
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Hmm (thinks hard....) nah, maybe a troop. What I'm really hanging for are some Aussie M113A1s with all the bells and whistles.
Being done.
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Maybe our kind benefactors/ crack dealers at Empress could be persuaded to make a mod for 1/48 Hueys? :)
Have to say that I have pretty much looked into this and its not attracting me much. Obviously we have to make decisions that are commercial although trust me our own passions get hold quite a lot and vanity projects occur. Look out for an impending WW1 vanity project as an example.
For helos they are big to start with and so printer size has to be considered. Secondly how to do the canopy/ cockpit. We could do it as a filled in section and you pain the windows on. Or, preferably we do the cockpit and the perspex sections. However clear resin is incredibly expensive. Thus the size and cost of materials may make the model very expensive. Then where do you stop. I want Marine Helos which are even bigger!!!!
So please discuss to nudge us in the right direction. lol
OK I think that I have caught up now and we have a silly busy wek ahead with new rules and a big announcement next week. Stay tuned. :)
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Paul,I think what Carlos means is an accessory kit to modify a slick into a Bushranger: that would be the miniguns ,rockets,ammo bins (unique to Bushrangers) and the twin M60s. I guess a combination of resin and metal would work :) We provide the kit :D
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Yes buts its making a spares kit for something we do not make.
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I wasn’t suggesting you do the choppers. Resin Hueys would be heavy, fragile and bloody expensive and there’s really no need, plenty exist in 1/48 plastic. Admittedly anyone wanting an accurate UH-1B will have to chop a couple of kits and kit-bash but otherwise, we’re pretty good. Marine helos are equally well served in plastic.
I have a resin Alouette somewhere, it’s half put together and unloved. Twas meant to be a companion for its diecast brother but I lost interest.
What I am suggesting is to do some weapons stations and weapons to retro-fit to existing plastic kits. M-60 Mounts, 2.75” rocket pods, maybe a minigun, if you are so inclined. The mounting points for a UH-1 C or E or an RAAF Bushranger could be easily done in a combination of white metal and/or resin. Make ‘em 1/48 and you will probably pick up the scale modelling crowd. The after-market parts world, whilst niche is probably as big as the gaming world.
I’d also suggest doing some crew, including some seated passengers and door gunners. 28mm would be fine but again if you scaled up a little, the modellers would be happy. Pitch them as after-market conversions for the Italeri/Kitty Hawk Huey and plug ‘em on Britmodeller or Finescale Modelling.
Worth thinking about.
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By the way the solution in the resin Alouette’s case was a vac formed cockpit. Much cheaper than clear resin. You got two, one as a spare/ practice item.
Of course if you ever do fancy making a chopper, do a Westland Scout to go with your Cold War Brits. The Fujimi Wasp is as rare as hen’s teeth and expensive if found. I live in hope that Airfix will one day make a 1/48 Scout along with a proper Westland Whirlwind.
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Oh and for the record TAG do gunners and crew, so presumably there’s a market of some sort. You could always ask Pete as to how well they sell.
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Crew are in the current sculpting batch being done now, ;)
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:o :o :o Crew :o :o :o
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So, with all these lovely ANZACs... Any word on Local Force VC? ;)
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Later in the year. Saving them up because they will be sooooo much fun to do. We have so many weapons stacked up for them to use its going to be crazy. Probably the biggest group in the entire range. ;)
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Well hopefully we will see some ARVN first. Any more Australians in the pipeline?
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Yes ARVN first and see my previous post regarding Aussies.
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Later in the year. Saving them up because they will be sooooo much fun to do. We have so many weapons stacked up for them to use its going to be crazy. Probably the biggest group in the entire range. ;)
Yes! These are what I'm waiting for 😁
Now I know they're coming I'll get cracking on the USMC 👍
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Where do the US army fit into the schedule? After the ARVN?
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Yes ARVN first and see my previous post regarding Aussies.
Sorry Paul, missed that the first time around. Now I’m very happy. :D
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Later in the year. Saving them up because they will be sooooo much fun to do. We have so many weapons stacked up for them to use its going to be crazy. Probably the biggest group in the entire range. ;)
I'll continue focusing on my ANZACs then. The NVA are a bit too regular for the patrol engagements I'm planning for my Diggers :D
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Where do the US army fit into the schedule? After the ARVN?
Probably this time next year. Although some Special Forces may make earlier appearances ;)
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They’re all special to their mothers.
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I'll continue focusing on my ANZACs then. The NVA are a bit too regular for the patrol engagements I'm planning for my Diggers :D
I was thinking the same mate, but looking through the range there's probably enough bare headed SKS and a few floppy hat figures to make up a small D445 force to be kicked out of a village or small meeting engagement, enough to keep me happy until the proper ones are released.
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I was thinking the same mate, but looking through the range there's probably enough bare headed SKS and a few floppy hat figures to make up a small D445 force to be kicked out of a village or small meeting engagement, enough to keep me happy until the proper ones are released.
Good thinking there. In my case the 'Minister for Home Affairs' keeps a pretty tight hold on the hobby funding. I have to prioritise what I get as funding approvals can be sporadic ;)
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“In my case the 'Minister for Home Affairs' keeps a pretty tight hold on the hobby funding...”
Look, I know that he’s ruggedly handsome with a razor like intellect, the sort you only find in Nobel Prize winners or Queensland coppers but admit it man, marrying Peter Dutton was probably a mistake. Still, I suppose there’s a saving on any customs duties payable. :D
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Good thinking there. In my case the 'Minister for Home Affairs' keeps a pretty tight hold on the hobby funding. I have to prioritise what I get as funding approvals can be sporadic ;)
My wife is happy about whatever I spend,as long as it's not another car (I have 3) :)
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Look, I know that he’s ruggedly handsome with a razor like intellect, the sort you only find in Nobel Prize winners or Queensland coppers but admit it man, marrying Peter Dutton was probably a mistake. Still, I suppose there’s a saving on any customs duties payable. :D
It's the uniforms, man. Jackboots and lanyards. Takes me back to my army days.
As previously discussed, I'm a Union man through and through. I caused no end of confusion to one of my organisers when I mentioned having to clear a request with the 'Minister for Home Affairs' (My agency is not Home Affairs).
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You guys are just strange lol lol lol
On the VC front what I forgot to mention is that civilians are the next big group and they will have armed conversions for each figure who will work for local militia or VC.
Time wise is difficult due tot eh bloody virus :-[ :-X :? but on their way.
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Get Paul H to pop up to Durham, the fresh air will do him good and if he is feeling any eye strain from his prodigious labours he could always do a side trip to Barnard Castle. They do free eye tests apparently. ;)
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You guys are just strange lol lol lol
On the VC front what I forgot to mention is that civilians are the next big group and they will have armed conversions for each figure who will work for local militia or VC.
Time wise is difficult due tot eh bloody virus :-[ :-X :? but on their way.
We are not strange,we are Australians lol
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We are not strange,we are Australians lol
Say no more. lol lol lol lol
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On the VC front what I forgot to mention is that civilians are the next big group and they will have armed conversions for each figure who will work for local militia or VC.
Time wise is difficult due tot eh bloody virus :-[ :-X :? but on their way.
Great piece of news, civilians are very useful in any game table!
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You guys are just strange lol lol lol
I'll consider that a compliment considering it's coming from a limey ;)
Good news about the armed villagers too! It'll be cool to be able to replace unarmed villagers with an armed counterpart as the patrol passes through.
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Are you planning to launch a T-54 tank for the NVA?
If not, does anybody have experience with the Tamiya 1/48 T-55 kit?
How different is a T55 to the T54s used by the NVA?
Thanks
Mick
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Yep. If you look back in the post its all made and oven ready. Just in the queue to go into moulds. Both the T54 and T55. :)
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Great news - thank-you
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No probs. :)
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Looks like this ;)
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Sweet!
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Centurion turned up yesterday, two weeks from the UK to Oz,not too bad considering :)
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Is there a release date for the MUTT at this point?
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Centurion turned up yesterday, two weeks from the UK to Oz,not too bad considering :)
Glad it got there.
The huge majority is getting through. Some super fast, some super slow, only the odd missing one but all customers brought to a satisfied conclusion so all good. Extra hassle though. lol
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Is there a release date for the MUTT at this point?
Just doing the crew as we type. So about a month.
Also the Mutt and Mighty Mite. plus a lot of other stuff. ;)
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Glad it got there.
The huge majority is getting through. Some super fast, some super slow, only the odd missing one but all customers brought to a satisfied conclusion so all good. Extra hassle though. lol
Is that like a happy ending? Hopefully the miniatures business is going just as well. lol
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Just doing the crew as we type. So about a month.
Also the Mutt and Mighty Mite. plus a lot of other stuff. ;)
Nice.
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Is that like a happy ending? Hopefully the miniatures business is going just as well. lol
Yes that does seem to describe the miniatures business. Some super fast, some super slow and the odd one just missing lol
The plague has to date just been super busy for us and so as the world goes through a very bad time we are pretty safe on our imaginary island doing our best to keep our customers happy. What has been really nice and kept us going has been both the good humour of customer, (well 99.9% as there is always the odd one that just does not understand the current situation.) and the significant number who send us messages of encouragement and thanks and calling us there mental health support. lol
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Staring at the Empress pages has helped keep me sane during this time! Between the gorgeous new ANZACs, picking out suitable figures from the NVA and going back over the SCW for my VBCW project has been a pleasant break from all the real-world madness.
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Staring at the Empress pages has helped keep me sane during this time! Between the gorgeous new ANZACs, picking out suitable figures from the NVA and going back over the SCW for my VBCW project has been a pleasant break from all the real-world madness.
Thanks mate ;)
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Hey Paul , any news? it has been quiet for a while in the NAM ;)
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Stay tuned tick, tick, tick ;)
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Stay tuned tick, tick, tick ;)
ITs a bomb! :o
Run for your lives!!! ;D
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TICK, TICK, TICK.....Its getting louder!!!!
Lets just say that I have spent all day packing masters up to be sent for moulding. Came to at least 14 moulds worth of stuff. Its actually a lot more than that in terms of items as one mould will have bodies for 6 vehicles in it, there average 16 figures to a standard size mould, etc. The box contains figures, vehicles in metal and resin.
And there is already a lot of new stuff already at the moulders.
And that's not everything as we still have new stuff here on the table to send.
Lock down was VERY busy.
Now we can get onto new releases as they are also stacked up. Tomorrow job. Time for tea now.
Stay tuned.
Paul
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tick, tick, tick,
Does that mean NVA sappers are in the pipeline? ;)
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Couldn't possibly say. ;)
Some very sexy stuff though. I am excited anyway lol
I will simply say pilots and walk away. ;)
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I will simply say pilots and walk away. ;)
But will they be flying away?
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TICK, TICK, TICK.....Its getting louder!!!!
Now we can get onto new releases as they are also stacked up. Tomorrow job. Time for tea now.
Stay tuned.
Paul
It is tomorrow today.
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Pilots?? Yes, please!!!!!!!!!
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Hi All,
Well we have finally built up enough stock to release the Patrol Boat River. This is in a new room within the Vietnam section of the shop. Called Brown Water Navy. You cannot miss it.
In the room you will see our 1/50 scale PBR and crew from the iconic film Apocalypse Now. This pack represents the cast from Apocalypse Now, one of the most iconic Hollywood movies of all time.
If you want your PBR crewed by only the best - Captain Benjamin L. Willard, Chief Phillips, Tyrone 'Clean' Miller , Jay 'Chef' Hicks, Lance B. Armstrong, then this is for you.
The PBR is made high class resin with pewter parts as can be seen in the picture.
This boat is a scenario all of its own and perfect for supporting your ground troops, dropping off special forces or even writing the script for the prequel of the film.
You have three options. The PBR on its own. The crew, or both combined for a special deal price.
Remember "Never get out of the boat
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Some more pictures.
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Outstanding Red Team! Get ya case of beer for that one. :-* :-*
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That is so :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* you leave me speechless . That is a must have indeed. On the list already!
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Nice.
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Class! Well done guys!
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Great looking PBR.
Just ordered it.
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Perfect.
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Wow, fantastic!
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Thanks team LAF gald you like it ;)
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Brilliant model....a must have!
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Brilliant model....a must have!
Cheers mate ;)
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Cracking job all round 8)
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Very tempted by that just to have it as a shelf queen with a nice base as it's unlikely I'll venture into riverine ops for 'nam.
Though who knows...?
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The figures are great sculpts :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
The boat is great as well
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Great looking piece, and Paul has the “team” spot on! But I’m not ordering it until you let us know what else is on those other 16 mounds :D, cuz I want to
maximize minimize shipping costs from England.
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Nice to see it in the resin :D
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Great looking piece, and Paul has the “team” spot on! But I’m not ordering it until you let us know what else is on those other 16 mounds :D, cuz I want to maximize minimize shipping costs from England.
Well just to add to that I collected another 11 new moulds worth last Friday so I have to start going through those. Trust me there will never be a perfect time to order to get the most as there will always be something coming along. ;)
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That’s what I was afraid of…which IS a good thing!
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That’s what I was afraid of…which IS a good thing!
lol
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Indeed it is a good thing!
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Any news on more civilians and peasants
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Alright, let's get back to Vietnam and Empress's remarkable miniatures....
On that note, I just received a text from the post office that a package from Empress just arrived! I can't wait to get home and open it!
Somehow, I still feel like a little kid when it comes to my minis, especially if they are historical.
I am almost 50 years old and remember the end of the Vietnam war. All my parents' friends were somehow affected by it.
About 3/4 of my neighbors are Vietnamese. They're outstanding people and the food they make is great. On our street they tend to open their garage and cook there.
When I come home from work I get waived over and have a beer and an amazing snack. I'm trying to learn to cook like they do.
I can see how they are the only people to beat the US at war. They're tough and smart. So sad that we had to fight half of them (the North).
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I think we actually had to fight three quarters of them because they hated their incompetent, corrupt government in the South and the US and its Free World Allies chose that lot to support. They are lovely people, good workers and had had years of trying to free themselves from Imperialist yokes only to have their own lot become tin pot dictators. I almost went there in the early 70s as part of our government's support and recently went there for a holiday to see some amazing people and superb countryside, eat some great food and drink a beer or three.
Alright, let's get back to Vietnam and Empress's remarkable miniatures....
On that note, I just received a text from the post office that a package from Empress just arrived! I can't wait to get home and open it!
Somehow, I still feel like a little kid when it comes to my minis, especially if they are historical.
I am almost 50 years old and remember the end of the Vietnam war. All my parents' friends were somehow affected by it.
About 3/4 of my neighbors are Vietnamese. They're outstanding people and the food they make is great. On our street they tend to open their garage and cook there.
When I come home from work I get waived over and have a beer and an amazing snack. I'm trying to learn to cook like they do.
I can see how they are the only people to beat the US at war. They're tough and smart. So sad that we had to fight half of them (the North).
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I think we actually had to fight three quarters of them because they hated their incompetent, corrupt government in the South and the US and its Free World Allies chose that lot to support. They are lovely people, good workers and had had years of trying to free themselves from Imperialist yokes only to have their own lot become tin pot dictators. I almost went there in the early 70s as part of our government's support and recently went there for a holiday to see some amazing people and superb countryside, eat some great food and drink a beer or three.
The idea that the South Vietnamese citizens hated the Saigon government ( or liked the Hanoi government more) is more of a post 75 idea pushed by Hanoi after the north reunified the country, during the conflict the majority of the population fled the "liberated" zones even during black April to the GVN controlled regions even when it only consisted of Saigon and 4th corps, also there where no real mass defections of ARVN units compared to the very successful Chiu Hoi program the south ran took in 101,511 Communist defectors. Its a shame that most games and modern media completely ignore or denigrate the south when they did most of the fighting and often ended up in gulags for decades in Vietnam whist being painted as cowardly puppets outside of it.
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You are spot on, 88D.
"...and often ended up in gulags for decades..." Or murdered outright.
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You are spot on, 88D.
"...and often ended up in gulags for decades..." Or murdered outright.
Amen.
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The simple facts are that a substantial portion of the population in South Vietnam were either actively opposed to the regime or ambivalent about its continuation. Were that not the case, there would have been no need for intervention by the US or its allies. Insurgencies, however well supported externally, will not prosper without local support.
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The simple facts are that a substantial portion of the population in South Vietnam were either actively opposed to the regime or ambivalent about its continuation. Were that not the case, there would have been no need for intervention by the US or its allies. Insurgencies, however well supported externally, will not prosper without local support.
If that was the case the population would have risen up or aided the North and its Viet Cong proxy (who happened to be made up mainly of northern troops after Tet) during the Tet offensive, 72 offensive or the 75 offensive which in the 1st two the north was planning on but never happened in fact they often actively resisted much to the dismay of the average NVA soldier who had been told by his political commissars the southern population was itching to throw off the imperialist yoke not aid the hated GVN and its 'puppet' army, The same goes for the ARVN, RF-PF and PSDF forces which if you are correct in asserting the majority of the southern populace did not support the southern government would have surrendered, defected or deserted way before the south was conquered in 75 and not fought as hard as they did even during the final hours. As for foreign intervention the same could go for the Hanoi government with its 100's of thousand Chinese troops manning its AA guns from 1965 and its vast amounts of Com-block supply's and aid.
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Edit
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I did not assert that the majority of the population supported the NLF or the North. Sorry, your straw man, not mine. What I did say was that a substantial portion of the populace was either anti-government or at best ambivalent towards it. The remoter the populace to government services the more ambivalent they would be.
If you think that the NLF was wholly constituted of PAVN troops pre or post Tet then you are mistaken. The North shouldered the preponderance of military action post Tet that’s true but that’s in part because the NLF suffered such grievous losses in 1968 (not just Tet but the two subsequent major offensives that took place that year. That and the fact that the war had largely assumed a semi-conventional nature anyway. The ‘72 and ‘75 offensives are prime examples of that.
All that said there were still substantial NLF forces operating up until 1975, even if they weren’t the architects of victory. There was still a substantial support base too, providing logistical support. It’s a fairly uncontroversial and demonstrably true statement that there were substantial or significant numbers of southerners opposed to the SVN governments, albeit political support increased somewhat
The fact that the population didn’t rise en masse proves little. It disregards the fact that the offensive was concentrated in urban areas for the most part and that’s where the regime enjoyed its greatest support. It also disregards the fact that whilst that was the official rubric for public consumption, that Tet would cause a popular rising, there is clear evidence that this was not a view shared by all within the Northern military and political leadership. Indeed there is evidence that Tet was,in part, the product of factionalism within the politburo and realistic appraisal within the ranks of the North’s leadership held little hope for it militarily or politically. Ironically it had a greater effect by demonstrating the hollow nature of Westmoreland’s claims and reducing US support for the war.
Neither the April 1972 offensive or the final one in 1975 were intended as regime changing operations, certainly not regime changers on the back of a wave of popular support. The Easter Offensive was a limited, albeit large, conventional operation designed to destroy ARVN military capability. The 1975 offensive was originally pitched in similar vein but developed as large parts of the ARVN just disintegrated.
Not quite sure what your point about Chinese aid is. Nobody questions the overwhelming materiel contribution of China, the USSR and its satellites. US intervention came about because the South Vietnamese government was on the point of collapse in 1963/64. Don’t believe me, that’s what the US military, intelligence agencies and political leaders believed at the time.
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Chaps,
Whilst I appreciate your extensive knowledge on the causes of the war etc., I don't think it's directly related to Empress Miniatures' NEW Vietnam Range? I think it may be better off in its own thread on this board or maybe General Discussion so this thread can avoid dilution. Maybe the Mods can move the comments so the insight isn't lost?
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Chaps,
Whilst I appreciate your extensive knowledge on the causes of the war etc., I don't think it's directly related to Empress Miniatures' NEW Vietnam Range? I think it may be better off in its own thread on this board or maybe General Discussion so this thread can avoid dilution. Maybe the Mods can move the comments so the insight isn't lost?
It would probably end up as a never ending Internet slap fight until one side gets bored if it became its own thread lol.
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It would probably end up as a never ending Internet slap fight until one side gets bored if it became its own thread lol.
I think that's preferable to it ending up as a never ending Internet slap fight in the Empress thread lol
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I’m bored already so happy to vacate the field. Yep back to the shiny toys is good.
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I’m bored already so happy to vacate the field. Yep back to the shiny toys is good.
Excellent, I think there were a few others getting bored too.
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ARVN Gage Commando painted by little ol me.
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Lovely work Paul! :-*
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Great result.
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Cheers, Guys ;)
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Nice work.
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Nice model and nicely painted Paul.
Every time I see the M706 Cadillac Gage Commando, my first thought is that it should be a Russian vehicle in the BTR family.
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Very nice!
Every time I see a Cadillac Gage Commando I think it should be a Chaimite. ;)
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Every time I see a Cadillac Gage Commando I think it should be a Chaimite. ;)
I think The Morrow Project.
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Every time I see a Cadillac Gage Commando I think it should be a Chaimite. ;)
It does looks the part.
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It does look like that Chaimite. I didn't realize that those were two different vehicles.
Great job on the model, Empress!
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Thanks guys 8)
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We have some new wall sections in the shop.
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We have some new wall sections in the shop.
Those look nice. Are they compatible with the previous wall section? ( do the wall posts and corner posts fit with new sections)
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Those look nice.
How were the decorative walls with the circular hole used?
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Those look nice. Are they compatible with the previous wall section? ( do the wall posts and corner posts fit with new sections)
Yes the wall posts work with the. perfectly.
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Those look nice.
How were the decorative walls with the circular hole used?
As a door. Presumably in an inner courtyard where security is not an issue. So a walled compound would use the main gate and within the moon gate.
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Thanks.
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Ontos.
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As a door. Presumably in an inner courtyard where security is not an issue. So a walled compound would use the main gate and within the moon gate.
That certainly dispels the myth that Vietnam was beset by fuck off enormous mice. :D
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As a door. Presumably in an inner courtyard where security is not an issue. So a walled compound would use the main gate and within the moon gate.
They have them in Docklands too ;)
Nice work on the colouring in as well 8)
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That certainly dispels the myth that Vietnam was beset by fuck off enormous mice. :D
lol lol lol lol
Or a giant game of crazy golf. Need a wind mill for that.
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As a door. Presumably in an inner courtyard where security is not an issue. So a walled compound would use the main gate and within the moon gate.
Oh. I was about to ask what calibre round caused it.
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Looking good 😉
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Another Gage.
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Nice.
It possibly needs some markings.
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Just in the process of designing SEAL's so whats your favourite SEAL picture for us to consider for the range?
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Must resist... o_o
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My top favorite is the iconic picture of Thomas Keith from ST2:
(https://i.ibb.co/9rrXW3Y/c5edfce40200e36a61f1c0a695e7258c.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MCCT75N)
...Currently making a team loosely inspired by these images:
(https://i.ibb.co/tY7kLr1/201600461.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Jrf03JS)
(https://i.ibb.co/LxBcxJd/1fc765af20d225b6f83278b8a0c67403.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N9fJ9m2)
(https://i.ibb.co/tQz638y/efd5cfc09bb13f4654988056d58dd44c.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gmd86zs)
(https://i.ibb.co/0j6RSZV/098ff1e46d329bcfe175b101795c5ca6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C5Y3Zvs)
...Lots of rough hair and bandanas!
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Must resist... o_o
But they are soooooo cute lol
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I still want to see one of John Kerry. ;-)
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Bandanas, Boonie hats & bad hair cuts. Stoners, cut down M-60s & ammo vests for mags and 40mm rounds.
(https://i.ibb.co/P5jz9wk/5dc48af479fa311b934379af7cddf9a1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/D45cRnT/eef42c12027e88a275b603ed4ca8d193.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/XxX7Cb4/original-s-navy-seals-seal-team-one-1-0958d95d21badac8538223b9b65d9e14.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/CPPSQ6L/WEq-Sxpdvw5-JYbx-Vdy-WWTnpg-S27a-VEae-E2k-Mlnp1-8m-M.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/MDqKxF9/6eb84e842bc4783c7096de4c1a4d304c.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/KDL9WQh/18f18ce72a778a3bdc8df0afd0341066.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/bXHyP38/30d231648bed55a3fe7fda3d74e9ccfd.jpg)
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What weapon is this guy carrying? Looks like a Sten with a silencer but would be surprised if it was.
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It is indeed - They where used in small numbers as a interim between the suppressed M3 and the S&W 76
Some operator cut the stock and kept is as a supplement in the PRC-77 accessory/antenna pouch instead of the long antenna assembly.
Some early-sneaky-stuff! ;)
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My first thought would be a silenced Swedish K, but it does look alot like a sten.
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Yup, suppressed Sten. All kinds of odd weapons. Silenced HDM .22 cal pistols, 9mm S&W ‘Hush Puppy’ pistols and a variety of SMGs including Stens.
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WOW!!!! Never knew that. Well we have to have one of those for the team ;)
Got and interesting NVA officer with a very unusual Sten coming out soon. Don't tell anyone though 8)
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Time for some releases then.
We have placed in the shop, in an attempt to get you to part with money, a few new Vietnam items.
Ford Mutt: The vehicle comes with an option of 4 weapons. 50Cal, 30 Cal, M60 and Grenade Launcher (Just because I felt like it. Some stowage. Plus a bloody big trailer. There are three coupling ring options as well so the trailer and vehicle can be shown towing or not.
Mighty Mite: As wished for by Carlos but really done as it was too cool not to. This comes with an M60 option and stowage plus another bloody big trailer with coupling options.
Then there are two crew packs. Each is specifically designed to fit each vehicle although they can with a little work be fitted into either vehicle. Better than that the open handed chaps such as the drivers come with spare weapons which can be attached to make them other passengers. Then they can also be used with other vehicles for example the Otter. As tank riders on the Patton. Or as passengers in a chopper. Phew so many options.
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Some more;
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And some more;
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Oh go on then. Lets have some more; lol
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Lovely!
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Superb (and, for the record, my bank manager still hates you lol )
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Good. Means I'm doing my job ;)
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I am not a fan of MUTTs. My normal line of work is to make the canvas stuff for WW2 vehicles (I am in the Hitler business). Increasingly these days there are people wanting stuff for REOs, M38A1s and MUTTs (I guess they are old enough to be collectable now). My layman's opinion is that everything on a MUTT is twice as needlessly complicated as on a Willys MB (especially the seats! - anyone would think it was made by the British or Germans). The wartime US stuff had a beautiful simplicity to it that the things of other nations seem to lack. But I guess once they got to the time of the MUTT that had gone out of the window.
Anyway, that's my rant over. Despite what i just said, they have a certain something about them that is appealing to the eye. And your figures of them are very nice. Good job!
Incidentally, if anyone wants a canvas top for their Empress MUTT, you can have one for 360 quid plus VAT. Send me a PM. The only problem I foresee is that it will be about fifty times too big. :)
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Rats, I was hoping to at least assemble the vehicles from my last order before another order...
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Lovely stuff!
I'll be needing a(t least one) Mite! :D
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Ford’s revenge. MUTTs had a nasty record of rolling due to their axle design which meant that their sale to the civilian market in the US was heavily restricted. Apparently the US military cut up most of the surplus ones they couldn’t shift overseas.
If you want overly complex, try the Austin Champ.
Now who will be the first to paint up the Mighty Mite with Hello Kitty stickers or a Barbie paint scheme?
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Interesting comment Plynkes; in the classic car world anything over 30 years old is deemed of collectable status (Ford Lazer anyone? People do however) ,here in Oz anyway. And I believe so in the UK,a VW Golf GTI recently went for over 27,000 quid! Not my cup of tea I prefer old Brits :)
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You can model it upside down if you wish o_o
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Now who will be the first to paint up the Mighty Mite with Hello Kitty stickers or a Barbie paint scheme?
Ah. That reminds me of the Ford-Revlon Mutt from GDW's Dark Conspiracy...
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If you want overly complex, try the Austin Champ.
You are rather preaching to the choir there, mate. I could not agree more.
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They were complex for their day,not so much now. It was all that waterproofing,and 5 speed synchro on a 4x4 drivetrain. You could get armour on the civilian version :o Most ended up in Oz,they still come up for sale,however some parts are rare,like bodywork etc.
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Christine wants me to do a Barbie and Ken version of the Mighty Mite. So tempting. Barbie driving and Ken handling the 50 Cal :o
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I'll buy one. Promise. :D
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A similar British vehicle:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/The_Prisoner_%285631842525%29.jpg/1280px-The_Prisoner_%285631842525%29.jpg)
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Thats funny I was thinking about the Minnie Moke.
I had a Corgi one which was on a parachute platform with parachute so I always assumed they had been used by the military but have never seen pictures of it so perhaps Corgi jumped the gun.
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They were evaluated and rejected, Paul - 2wd and very low ground clearance meant they were rubbish cross country. There was a promo film done of 4 squaddies riding round in one and then picking it up and carrying when it got stuck... will have a dig and see if I can find it
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They were evaluated and rejected, Paul - 2wd and very low ground clearance meant they were rubbish cross country. There was a promo film done of 4 squaddies riding round in one and then picking it up and carrying when it got stuck... will have a dig and see if I can find it
Kinda figures. Would have been useful fro Arnhem type operations lol lol lol
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I couldn't find the courage to search all 150-something pages of this thread so I will just ask my question here :)
Are there any plans in the foreseeable (or even near?) future to produce Vietnamese villagers?
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I couldn't find the courage to search all 150-something pages of this thread so I will just ask my question here :)
Are there any plans in the foreseeable (or even near?) future to produce Vietnamese villagers?
the short answer is yes. And there will be a good selection of them if the teaseing is to be believed
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Yep. pretty well at the top of the list now.
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Yep. pretty well at the top of the list now.
And just was looking at dipping my toes back into my French Indo-China war figs. lol
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Splendid news. :D
Then I'll wait for those and order my missing vehicles and some other stuff. ;D
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I am hoping for some more Australians to round out the platoon and....... ARVN.
ARVN with Garands, ARVN with M16s, ARVN with M1 Carbines, ARVN with M79, ARVN with BAR, ARVN with M60, ARVN with 1919A4 and ARVN Command, plus advisors.
:)
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I am hoping for some more Australians to round out the platoon and....... ARVN.
ARVN with Garands, ARVN with M16s, ARVN with M1 Carbines, ARVN with M79, ARVN with BAR, ARVN with M60, ARVN with 1919A4 and ARVN Command, plus advisors.
:)
Out of interest what is needed to round off the platoon. ;)
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In short, a bit of variety. Compared to the gyrenes the Aussies are a bit light on.
Another packet of M16s and one of M60 gunners. Personally I'm happy with the number of Owen guns but we could really do with some more patrolling/ firing scouts/JNCos and at least another M60 team, pref patrolling pose. An officer with a compass and an FO and his sig wouldn't hurt either. A few chaps with 66mm SRAAW (M72 LAW rockets) would be nice bit I have loose SRAAWs so I could live with out those.
Engineering splinter/ mini teams can be made from the existing chaps. If you want something exotic but only if you made a Centurion ARV you could make a chap with an M9 Flamethrower to operate from atop the damn thing. For the man who has everything an M67 RCL team would be nice. They saw occasional use in lieu of the Carl Gustav as bunker busters.
Now if you want something a bit bigger, an L5 pack howitzer and crew wouldn't go astray. They were frequently deployed into temporary FSBs by Huey or in the back of an M113. Portability was the sole advantage of the gun and of course it could do double service with your upcoming Cold War Brits and my 60s era Brits and '80s Argentines.
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Out of interest what is needed to round off the platoon. ;)
Don't get distracted now..... ;)
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Don't get distracted now..... ;)
I won't ;)
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ARVN with Garands, ARVN with M16s, ARVN with M1 Carbines, ARVN with M79, ARVN with BAR, ARVN with M60, ARVN with 1919A4 and ARVN Command, plus advisors.
:)
and maybe some with bazookas and recoil-less rifles as well. Want some to play post french/early war and maybe as Philippiaios for some anti Huke operations. :D
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When will we get Pilots and M60 door gunners for Choopers? A downed crew would be nice ,too.
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Hahaha. Greed is good.
There must be some synergy achievable between Vietnamese villagers and downed pilots lol lol lol
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Out of interest what is needed to round off the platoon. ;)
I'd go for two more packs:
Four blokes with 66mm LAW rockets; two with M16 & two with SLR. Rockets could be strapped to webbing/packs or in firing poses.
Officer/foc with map/compass, probably an m16, RTO with SLR; two man m60 team, gunner firing/kneeling + no2 with slr & a load of extra link.
That said I'd rather have an SASR team...
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That said I'd rather have an SASR team...
Seconded :)
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An SAS team would be nice but from a gaming point of view tricky to deal with. SASR’s battle losses in Vietnam were so spectacularly low (1KIA, 1 DoW, 28 wounded) that just about any time you lost a figure, the VC player would have won by dint of historical comparison. The majority of SAS losses were actually accidental. Given the number of probable and confirmed kills assigned to them it’s probably one of the most lop-sided aspects of any war, let alone Vietnam. To put that into context, Australia suffered 414 KIA over a ten year period In Vietnam including the advisory period from 1962 on.
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An SAS team would be nice but from a gaming point of view tricky to deal with.
I hear you; I'm just looking at the posibility of some seriously cool looking figures to chuck paint at.
If you've seen the MACV-SOG figure on FB that Paul H made for a competition winner, then having him do a similar job with an SASR team (modified weapons and personalised belt kits) would for me tick all the boxes.
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Quite agreed they would be fun to paint and I would definitely buy some.
Not so sure about the current crop of SASR though, I’m not into painting swastikas and Confederate flags. Some right fucking numpties currently serving.
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Not so sure about the current crop of SASR though, I’m not into painting swastikas and Confederate flags. Some right fucking numpties currently serving.
Man, skirting the modern rules of the board here... But there's been some pretty distressing news coming out lately!
I'd say that Ash has it pretty much on point with what packs would be nice to see for the ANZACS. The M72 would be good to scatter throughout the platoon and lead to increased variety amongst forces. The command pack with extra M60 would just be the icing on the cake too :D
I'd love to see a SASR patrol too, although I suspect any game would be a very one sided affair ;)
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Anyway moving on o_o
We have a lot of releases coming out over the next weeks as we have been quietly sculpting stuff and stacking it and drip feeding it in. Wouldn't want to bankrupt anyone.
Things like Chopper pilots are going into production moulds now and gun crews on their way. I have no idea what of the large batch will be coming out first so stay tuned. Guessing next week.
As for ANZACS we have 5 (I think) versions of the Landrover so will be revisiting them later in the year to crew so will do some gap filling with the infantry.
T54 and T55 will be out soon as I have the test moulds back and they are great. Will release them as separate vehicles. Planned to have a body and two turrets but its not worth it as the difference is quite basic and mainly on the turret so might as well sell them as both types. My NVA will get one of each but my Iraqi army will also get a few lol
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Brilliant news!!!
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If you have civilians one or 2 packs of national police would be helpful as they where often the main targets and first responders to communist attacks. One could be in shirts and caps and the others could be in mixed uniform and camp like in the attached picture.
http://www.psywarrior.com/SVNNationalPolice.html
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Good news on the Land Rovers, looking forward to those.
Please could you explain further on the T54/55.
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Only T-54, in various iterations in PAVN service during the Vietnam War. T-55 came after.
Probably a bit moot, the only real visible differences are the ventilator dome on the turret and a minuscule hole in glacis for the bow machine gun on the T-54, unless you are talking about the earliest models of the T-54 which don’t seem to have been fielded by the PAVN.
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Thanks Carlos.
I was a bit confused (I have been looking at a smaller scale plastic T54 project)
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And maybe some of these.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYW7HIsWk04/VxNFAG9wj8I/AAAAAAAAVG4/EIgFGxlWR_E3Ma3zGwWfbAseS1UqxPuawCLcB/s640/Vietnamese%2BGirls%2Bon%2B%2BSaigon%2527s%2BStreets%2Bin%2Bthe%2B1960s%2B%252825%2529.jpg)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--o8swZfU9Ug/VxNE8sBHYlI/AAAAAAAAVGQ/EmojeEPFi3IGyIi6CPEPJ2RPJFlH3MjJQCLcB/s640/Vietnamese%2BGirls%2Bon%2B%2BSaigon%2527s%2BStreets%2Bin%2Bthe%2B1960s%2B%252816%2529.jpg)
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Nice pictures, although she is going to have an accident with that back wheel :)
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Ohh it would be a dream come true if someone where to make loose bicycles at a somewhat decent price. I need loads of them. So far I can only find architectual model ones and they are quite pricy.
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mr3Dprint on Wargaming 3D has WW2 pushbikes. They are for 3D resin printing but you may be able to find someone to do it if you don't have access to one.
https://www.wargaming3d.com/product/german-bike/
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Ohh it would be a dream come true if someone where to make loose bicycles at a somewhat decent price. I need loads of them. So far I can only find architectual model ones and they are quite pricy.
Try Eureka. Nic has sold me loose bicycles over the years. they are rather nice and even have separate pedals, there's also one that comes with a Vietnamese female figure in non la and ao dai.
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Postage and customs, puts them out of range for me sadly.
I fell bicycles is a real gap in the market. Even though in real world bicycles are everywhere. I feel that any wargaming table from the 1930'ies and onwards should have at least 5 bicycles on it - somewhere. Whether it is abandoned in a creek og parked against a shop window or in an ally. Bicycles are everywhere.
And if you are doing Hue, there should be piles of them!
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Indeed she might have an accident. I would second the need for bikes and trikes or may be a Vespa or such thing
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Oh, and a tuck tuck?!
The resin 3d printed bikes are quite fragile. I tried it and I think its not worth it as they won't stand the handling during gameplay.
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Postage and customs, puts them out of range for me sadly.
I fell bicycles is a real gap in the market. Even though in real world bicycles are everywhere. I feel that any wargaming table from the 1930'ies and onwards should have at least 5 bicycles on it - somewhere. Whether it is abandoned in a creek og parked against a shop window or in an ally. Bicycles are everywhere.
And if you are doing Hue, there should be piles of them!
1:50 bikes for architecture modelmaking: https://architegn.dk/shop/cykler-1-50-2578p.html (https://architegn.dk/shop/cykler-1-50-2578p.html)
Just saw your comment on the price, sorry :(
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I agree with the we need more bicycles.
According to the song there are 10,000 (of them) in Bejing.
Other places they would be of use include:-
On the back of a tank,
Broken & stuck in a barricade,
Along side Japanese troops as they move to Singapore and
for messengers in VBCW / Dad's Army.
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Indeed she might have an accident. I would second the need for bikes and trikes or may be a Vespa or such thing
They exist. Seek and ye shall find.
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I agree with the we need more bicycles.
According to the song there are 10,000 (of them) in Bejing.
Other places they would be of use include:-
On the back of a tank,
Broken & stuck in a barricade,
Along side Japanese troops as they move to Singapore and
for messengers in VBCW / Dad's Army.
Heck bike troops were very popular concept in the early half of the last century. And if used correctly (Malaya, Singapore, Dien Bien Phu) they can be war winning. And speaking of VBCW, why not have your modern Infantry formations US bikes as their transport?
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I am not a fan of MUTTs.
Bloody jinxed myself, didn't I? I'm at work right now and would you credit it, I'm making a MUTT set for a bloke in bleeding' Dubai. And to put the tin hat on it he wants doors and curtains too (again, annoying and fiddly compared to the good old Willys MB). D&C? In Dubai? What for, to keep out sandstorms? He's gonna be a bit warm.
Oh well. Live and learn. Not going to moan about vehicles again, as whatever I moan about will probably find its way into my in-tray the following week, if this is anything to go by. :)
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or may be a Vespa or such thing
Maybe Paul at Empress can have a chat with Crooked Dice and sell their one with Paul Hicks sculpted riders (I think Crooked Dice have a vespa without a rider)..
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Bloody jinxed myself, didn't I? I'm at work right now and would you credit it, I'm making a MUTT set for a bloke in bleeding' Dubai. And to put the tin hat on it he wants doors and curtains too (again, annoying and fiddly compared to the good old Willys MB). D&C? In Dubai? What for, to keep out sandstorms? He's gonna be a bit warm.
Oh well. Live and learn. Not going to moan about vehicles again, as whatever I moan about will probably find its way into my in-tray the following week, if this is anything to go by. :)
Having been to Dubai, I'd recommend up-selling him a complete blackout style canvas cover that would allow him to sit in his MUTT and imagine he is anywhere else other than Dubai. Were I to have a vision of hell it would be something like Dubai, an endless Disneyesque air conditioned mall cum suburban housing estate with absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. The only place that comes to mind were the airport is absolutely on par with the city itself.
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Compared with where I flew to from Dubai I'll manage with the Dubai business class lounge thanks... Suffice to say where I ended up was hot and dusty and the security brief was 'extensive'... :o
But the Riyadh lounge is better on the way home... ;)
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Everything is relative and to be fair there's nothing especially wrong with the airport itself save for the fact that is fucking enormous and a real pain to traverse if changing planes. It's just that one expects a city to have at least a little more on offer than its major air hub. On this point, Dubai fails massively.
Ex K89 fell during a nationwide pilot's strike and we were lucky enough to finally get onto a chartered Qantas jet that diverted from Singapore. Our 'business lounge' experience was sitting in a hot, dusty tin shed at RAAF Tindal, nursing warm and nigh undrinkable Darwin Stubbies, waiting for our flight. Still, the alternative up until they shanghaied the Qantas flight, had been 3-4 days travelling home in the back of a Unimog.
Anyway back to our scheduled programming about fun toys 'n' stuff.
Vespas would be welcome and i certainly wouldn't mind a Lambro or two.
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Maybe Paul at Empress can have a chat with Crooked Dice and sell their one with Paul Hicks sculpted riders (I think Crooked Dice have a vespa without a rider)..
Negotiated and agreed that 18 months ago but never pursued it as we got into other things and it would be cheaper and better to do our own thing. Just a matter of time. ;)
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Just noticed that 'Danger Close' is now on Netflix.
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Just noticed that 'Danger Close' is now on Netflix.
Typical, I bought it as soon as it came out, should have just waited a bit.
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NVA tank riders and maybe crew for the MUTT please? I want some chaps to adorn vehicles whilst smashing down some big wrought iron gates. ;)
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I want some chaps to adorn vehicles whilst smashing down some big wrought iron gates. ;)
Now that really is the end.
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Best release something as its been a week since the last :o
We have......roll of drums...... a T54.
What more can I say. ;)
Its cute and cuddly and you all need at least one.
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that is nice indeed!
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Excellent.
Something for the Australian Centurion to play with.
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Sweet (and my bank manager still hates you lol)
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Very cool!
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Love job, Paul (and Richard, and casters)
Sweet (and my bank manager still hates you lol)
He'll hate you even more once you've sent it to me to slap paint on 😉
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:D
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Love job, Paul (and Richard, and casters)
He'll hate you even more once you've sent it to me to slap paint on 😉
That’s true lol
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Thanks guys glad you like. ;)
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Does it come with a choice of main gun barrels?
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Just sorting that out ;) So yes.
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Also forgot to mention that there will be more releases quite soon. ;)
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Does it come with a choice of main gun barrels?
With reference to my comment on the T55 thread about my not having done the research, what are the different gun barrels on a T54 with dome turret?
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Also forgot to mention that there will be more releases quite soon. ;)
I am very glad to hear that. I hadn't counted on the T54 but now that it's here I will include that one as well. Now just the wait for the remaining Vietnamese civilians and I am ready to order :)
Could I be so bold as to ask for a release schedule for August perhaps? :)
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With reference to my comment on the T55 thread about my not having done the research, what are the different gun barrels on a T54 with dome turret?
Potentially three. Plain barrel, barrel with counterweight, barrel with fume extractor. Barrel with fume extractor shown on the Empress T-55, plain barrel on their T-54. The T-55 is merely a continuam of the T-54 series so has most of its features. By the same token T-54s were progressively upgraded during their lifetime to T-55 standard.
Now, leaving aside Chinese upgrades to T-59 clones or Israeli Tirans with actual L7 derived 105mm guns, there’s the fun fact that in the 1972 Indo-Pakistan War the Indians put fake mid-barrel fume extractors on their T-54s to differentiate them from Pakistani T-59s. Makes them appear as if they are armed with 105mm or 20 pdr B type barrels but actually the original 100mm.
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Thanks Carlos.
I had not noticed the fume extractor on the Empress T55 (perfectly in proportion, just not as obvious as the ones on L7, L11 or L30).
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Also forgot to mention that there will be more releases quite soon. ;)
How did I miss that statement?
So is that "soon" as in August, "soon" as in September, "soon" as in this year, "soon" as in before the heat death of the universe or "soon" as in when I have caught up with all my figure painting?
^___^
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should be next week.
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Reminds of my grandfather’s pet gripe about the American use of ‘presently’ as opposed to at present. Made for a further element of misunderstanding when escorting Yank bomber formations. Never quite understood why we gifted them the language, they’ve never really got the hang of it. Hopefully they’ll fare better with Spanish. :D
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should be next week.
Cool, thanks. I may be adding to my "Not Colours" order.
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Of course if Morrissey hadn’t turned out to be such a racist arse-wipe we could have played you ‘How Soon is Now’. Alas, all of the Smiths back catalogue is off the menu for the indefinite future.
;)
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Many folks don't know much about, the 2nd Korean war. But it's another place you can use your US Vietnam forces and M1 armed ARVAN for.
https://youtu.be/3hpFsKqaIuc
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Well its difficult to answer exactly just incase something happens and lets face it in today's world a lot can happen to mess up plans. I have a large white board in front of my desk which has all the movements from one area to the next. Being sculpted - at Empress - master mould - production mould - in stock and released - cleaned off. Its currently completely full and has been all this year. This does not include planned sculpting lists which are sent to each sculptor which are very lengthy.
With all our shows closed down for 2020 our next possible show will be in February 2021 so trying to hit deadlines has got kinda greyed. We just release as soon as we can.
As for trying to advise on the BEST time to order to maximise on postage that's like trying to advise which bus to get on. Best to appreciate that there will be a constant flow of busses and hopping on the next one will mean that you may have to hop on another at some point in the future. Postage is done at cost (infact less than cost in most cases) BE WARNED the US recently put up their mail prices by about 50%. It has been announced that Royal Mail plan to do a big increase in early September so I would use that as a guide when buying from another country. Or if you are lucky enough to have an Empress distributor in your country go to them.
Cheers, Paul
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Many folks don't know much about, the 2nd Korean war. But it's another place you can use your US Vietnam forces and M1 armed ARVAN for.
https://youtu.be/3hpFsKqaIuc
Good find. I so want one of those North Korean Mushroom hats lol
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No worries. As soon as the Vietnamese civilians will be avaiable my order will be out :)
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Good find. I so want one of those North Korean Mushroom hats lol
Mushroom hats you say? That's a new one to me. Or are you talking about those hug caps their officers like to wear?
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Thanks Paul.
I, and I hope the rest of us, appreciate the general complexity of your business, and the additional random nature of the world we now find ourselves in. However, it is good to remind us occasionally ^__^.
It will , however, not stop us behaving like kids before Christmas ^__^.
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Mushroom hats you say? That's a new one to me. Or are you talking about those hug caps their officers like to wear?
Yeah thats the hat.
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Thanks Paul.
I, and I hope the rest of us, appreciate the general complexity of your business, and the additional random nature of the world we now find ourselves in. However, it is good to remind us occasionally ^__^.
It will , however, not stop us behaving like kids before Christmas ^__^.
We have often regarded our job as akin to drug dealers ;)
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We have often regarded our job as akin to drug dealers ;)
^__^
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Those are some sold caps. lol
And yes, I am all about that lead addiction. :D
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIzRGHuJt_I
Or if you prefer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGbj1pR5lX8
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIzRGHuJt_I
Or if you prefer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGbj1pR5lX8
Love Tom Lehrer lol lol lol
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Speaking of N. Koreans, I would LOVE to see what Empress could come up with for a modern N. Korean line.
A bit odd that they are so rarely gamed with. Maybe too scary in real life.
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Speaking of N. Koreans, I would LOVE to see what Empress could come up with for a modern N. Korean line.
A bit odd that they are so rarely gamed with. Maybe too scary in real life.
being the old forget war, that has actually ended yet. :D
I was chatting with them for a bit about starting a Korean war line, but seeing as how I am a currently liveing pay check to pay check, could quite muster the dough to afford the start up. lol
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Actually what I’d love to see would be some 1970s Chinese to fight my PAVN from 1979 onwards. Preferably in those heroic poses so beloved of Chinese propaganda posters.
That and the Vietnamese liberation of Cambodia, which, in part, sparked the Sino-Vietnamese War are truly forgotten wars. The condemnation of the Vietnamese ridding the world of the Pol Pot regime by the US and its allies is one of the more egregious examples of real politik of the late 20th C.
From a wargaming point of view the 1978 invasion of Cambodia is fascinating. The brief blitzkrieg of PAVN armoured columns slicing up the Khmer Rouge with a fascinating mix of Soviet, Chinese and US weapons on both sides is pretty much unique. Then you get the long, drawn out insurgency, AKA ‘Vietnam’s Vietnam’.
The Sino Vietnamese War is also very interesting with the Chinese taking very heavy losses in clumsy attacks on mostly Vietnamese militia and territorial units. I reckon when Rubicon release their 1/56 T-54 it will make the perfect basis for making a Type 62, a scaled down version of the T-59. Should be a pretty good scaling against 1/50 T-54s.
Just need some Chinese infantry. ;)
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Yep, those are all good conflicts. And you can use the Cambodians to fight out the Mayaguez incident....Any one know where I can get some 1/48 CH-53's?
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Revell/ Monogram do ‘em in 1/48 but surprisingly hard to find the HH-53 version at the moment. That’s the one that comes with the M38 Jeep and a 105mm howitzer as a bonus.
Almost bought one a few years back and passed, something I now regret. That said it’s a fucking big toy. I have the Airfix 1/72 one somewhere and that’s not a small item, it’s about the size of a 1/48 Huey.
Speaking of impossible dreams, I’d love some Green Berets tricked out for the Song Tay prison raid. Alas, nobody makes a 1/48 HH-3. I reckon it would make for a great demo game.
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That make for a great raid mission as well. But yeah 1/48 HH-53 might be a little to big for regular storage and play.
But I think it would be great to a con game.
With one or two crashed and them fighting to releaf and evacuation.
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Just released a couple of pilots for the range. These chaps work for helicopters and fixed wing and have separate arms to gain flexibility of pose.
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Ooh! I like those. Must haves.
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Oooooh! Nice work on those! :o
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Sweet...
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Glad you like them. ;)
Here is a preview of the machine gunners.
There is a rig for two of the gunners M60's but its not possible to put it together until its moulded.
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They are superb.
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OUTSTANDING!!
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Will there be a Ride of the Valkyries CD to go with it?
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Nice! I take it the rig for the M60 is the bungee cord suspension? Would be nice to have a set with the M23 pintle mount for the M60D version.
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Nice! I take it the rig for the M60 is the bungee cord suspension? Would be nice to have a set with the M23 pintle mount for the M60D version.
I’ve made the M23 pintle mount. Paul’s just not made it up.
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Groovy!
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Must have these , ordered the pilots already can't wait for the gunners!
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Glad you like them. Have to say they are some of my favourite figures.
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Well I have no helicopters in this scale, but I'm going to have to get these anyway, too nice not to have. The kneeling chap could make a good objective marker.
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USMC Mule vehicle with 106mm Recoiles Rifle.
The vehicle comes with three crew. The driver and two gun operators.
It also comes with a separate gun on its ground mount so that the crew can be used for either.
Also in the pack is some stowage and spare rockets for each type of ammunition. HE and Flechette.
28mm - 1/50 scale
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vehicles-113-c.asp
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Fantastic ! Another one to add to my list! (and, yes... the bank manager STILL hates you lol).
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Fark! :-* :-* That’s amazing! Definitely want one of those.
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Cheers guys.
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Ordered !! looking fantastic :-* :-*
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That 106mm RCL is a handy bit of kit! I'd like to see it on the back of a 2A SWB landy with Australian crew ;)
Does anyone know if the ARVN used it?
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How soon before Steve at Age of Glory gets these in stock?
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How soon before Steve at Age of Glory gets these in stock?
A few weeks. Probably mid September.
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That 106mm RCL is a handy bit of kit! I'd like to see it on the back of a 2A SWB landy with Australian crew ;)
Funny you should mention the gun buggy....
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Funny you should mention the gun buggy....
lol lol lol lol
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Quickie question for the knowledgeable.
What helmets were the Australian army wearing in Vietnam? I have pictures of troops wearing the US M1 helmet so assume that was issued however have come up with references, quotes, mentioning grabbing the helmets from both vehicle crew and infantry.
Did the Australians officially have a helmet at this time? Did they ever wear the British turtle helmet?
Just wondered if I had missed something????
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Probably both. ???
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US M1 helmet was the issue but very few wore it. We did not have the British battle bowlers.
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US M1 helmet was the issue but very few wore it. We did not have the British battle bowlers.
Perfect. ;)
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Yep, US tin hat but rarely worn. Probably most likely to see them and US flak jackets on engineers involved in mine clearing or mine laying.
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Yep, US tin hat but rarely worn. Probably most likely to see them and US flak jackets on engineers involved in mine clearing or mine laying.
More perfect. ;)
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There are reports of engineer and mine clearance teams in US flak jackets with M1, but I'm yet to see a photo showing them in use. Almost all footage and imagery has ANZAC troops in greens with bush hats.
If you were to do an infantry pack in M1 and flak, it would be likely purely hypothetical and be of limited use outside of 'what-if' gamers. A couple of sculpts in a dedicated engineer pack would be feasible, but I'd still prefer a pack in greens with bush hats before any troops with helmets or vests.
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This...
X2 to more diggers in giggle hats ‘n’ greens.
Whilst there are photos of engineers kitted up in flak jackets and even a combo of flak jacket and steel helmet (see attached images, one of 1 Field Sqdn RAE, one of 17 Construction Sqdn). The most common sight and most useable in a game would be the two man engineer splinter or mini teams attached to infantry companies and for the most part they would be dressed and equipped just like the infantry they were attached to. Third image shows a member of a splinter team.
That said, I have seen a photo of a mixed patrol of infantry and engineers patrolling by boat wearing the interesting combination of tin hats and life jackets.
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Here’s some more pics of engineers in tin hats, including the boating one.
https://tunnelrats.com.au/pdfs/newsletters/Holdfast-30.pdf
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Here’s some more pics of engineers in tin hats, including the boating one.
https://tunnelrats.com.au/pdfs/newsletters/Holdfast-30.pdf
Great magazine. ;)
Thanks for the information. Love the engineer idea. :)
I would not read too much into my question. I was doing a lot of reading on Long Tan and picked up a couple of references to Diggers donning 'helmets' when under fire and I was a bit surprised they would have had US helmets that early but knew they never adopted the British assault helmet but just wondered.
Don't read too much into my question we are not planning any in US helmets. ;)
I reckon there will be ANZACS in the New Year although we now have 5 versions of the Landrover to crew so it may be quicker. If any of you have any good information on those especially the 106 RR version in the field happy to see the pictures. :)
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Four new NVA command figures released.
North Vietnamese Army command group.
Officer armed with AK47
Trumpeter/ Bugler with Czech made bugle and attached trumpet banner.
Political officer armed with Chinese 7.62mm Sten gun.
Soldier armed with captured M79 grenade launcher wearing a cloak made from an American parachute. This figure is based upon a picture taken by Catherine Leroy at Hue.
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Superb (and my bank manager STILL hates you lol)
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I like the new additions. The painting is very good too. :-*
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Fantastic. Now some Vietnamese civilians and my order can go out ;D
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Very nice! Hmm.. a head swap and that chap with the Sten will join my TNKU for the Brunei Revolt.
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very nice additions indeed!
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Thanks chaps. :-*
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Not bad, I could do with a few more NVA with M79s. :D
I mean with a little bit of work and maybe a helmet change or two.....
https://www.battleorder.org/vietnam-rifle-platoon-2019
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Might do :)
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Groovy.
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Having bought some more NVA, this time in floppy hats, I’m painting them up as main force VC as opposition for my Australians. It’s now occured to me that I really, really need one of these. Minus the mounr it would be a handy item for your Viet Minh range too.
Pretty please?
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57mm RR?
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That’s the one. Chinese copy with the three legged mount, with a traverse race, which seems to be the same mount that they used at times with individual 122mm rocket tubes. Two for the price of one, any old bit of suitably sized tubing would do for the rocket launcher.
The recoilless rifle itself would work for your Indo Chinese French, Viet Minh, ARVN and even your late WW2 US infantry as they first saw service in 1945 in Germany.
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That’s the one. Chinese copy with the three legged mount, with a traverse race, which seems to be the same mount that they used at times with individual 122mm rocket tubes. Two for the price of one, any old bit of suitably sized tubing would do for the rocket launcher.
The recoilless rifle itself would work for your Indo Chinese French, Viet Minh, ARVN and even your late WW2 US infantry as they first saw service in 1945 in Germany.
I support this, along with the French Union, Viet Minh and US late war......So I can use them for late war action and early Korean war...
Maybe a M20 in those ranges as well. lol
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In short yes, its already on the list.
It has huge amounts of usage and was pretty common from the end of WW2 to today. ;)
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Good man! Well good men, both of you. Want to add an updated crew for the Viet Minh mortar?
By the by any news on Aussie M113s?
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Should be sorted by Christmas. ;)
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Thank you Santa. Please pass on my regards to the elves.
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Great to hear! :D
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Thank you Santa. Please pass on my regards to the elves.
Oh dear. Santa said you are in the naughty book so best be good for the next few months :o :o :o :o
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If it is that time of the year to write letters to Santa, I would like him to know that my Vietnamese village is almost finished and needs to be populated.....
Have your Elves finished the civilians yet?. :D
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Oh dear. Santa said you are in the naughty book so best be good for the next few months :o :o :o :o
Santa has been at the sherry again. Actually, given the amount of dosh I’ve put the way of his local distributor, he’s probably moved on to aged single malts. :D
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Santa can drink all the sherry and eat all the pork pies in the world. As long as he brings the packages. :D
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Santa can drink all the sherry and eat all the pork pies in the world. As long as he brings the packages. :D
WOOHOO!!!!! :-* lol
One for the clever gang. Which way does this plate go when layed for lets say a helicopter landing pad, A or B?
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Based on some pictures I found I'd say A.
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The answer might depend on which side of the Mexican border you are standing on. ;)
Never throw anything away I suppose.
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Real answer?
I would also plump for A. The raised bits look like the panel end connectors and based on photos and how PSP, the predecessor to aluminium matting worked, they would be ground side.
Presuming this has been installed/restored correctly...
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Thats three of us voting for A so it wins.
Thanks for your help. ;)
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Give me an A!
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And because I enjoy beating a dead horse.
https://youtu.be/qsM8EtBZ-EQ
https://youtu.be/k_WB_Rej0ds
https://youtu.be/53ZA10_AndQ
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Some shots of a recent 28mm Nam game with Empress Minis (and the Danger Close rules). Great fun and a first outing for the Hueys (with the new copter pilots sitting pretty!). Huge fun despite my USMC getting their posterior handed to them in a platter! lol
EDIT - most of the photos now the right way around thanks to advice given below
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Now if’d just taken the photos the right way round! 🤣
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Think of it as the closing scene of The Green Berets with John Wayne watching the sun set over the South China Sea. :D
Very nice looking game!
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Laughed out loud! (And cheers !)
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Those figures look very well painted. Care to add more photos of them? I like what you did.
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Hi Erik - you’re very kind and I mustn’t take too much credit as my marines were all painted by Dags who is often found on these pages (can’t recommend him enough). I didn’t get many other photos of this game worth putting up (I was too busy desperately trying to get my platoon out alive! I really loused up and am now waiting to get fragged!) but will hunt out a few more photos of an earlier solo game.
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Ok Erik, here goes. A lockdown solo game. The figures are all Empress painted by Dags. The buildings are a mixture of Sarrisa and Grand Manner and the jungle and paddy fields are all the work of Phil Taylor at “Tinned Fruit” (?! ... no idea where gets that name from!).
EDITED to get pics the right way up (see comments below)
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Sorry so many if these are “on their side”. They were taken on my phone and I was holding it the wrong way around for this site.
EDIT - now the right way up thanks to guidance below!
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Some more
EDIT - to get the pics the right way up, see comments below
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Last ones......promise!
EDIT - now pics are the right way up. Thanks to fellow LAFers for guidance!)
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Nice set up (and the painting), though viewing at an angle has given me neck ache ^__^.
Does your 'phone have a gallery app with a rotate option?
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Hi... will find out. I’m one of those duffers that gets flunked by the non phone aspects of my mobile on a regular basis so I’ll find someone to guide me!
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Hi... will find out. I’m one of those duffers that gets flunked by the non phone aspects of my mobile on a regular basis so I’ll find some to guide me!
if you are using an iPhone, edit the pics before loading them onto LAF. That will solve the problem or the orientation.
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Cheers - Malamute. Really appreciated. Have gone back and edited 👍
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Excellent.
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Fantastic looking table!
I've seen both the terrain and the miniatures previously shared by Dags and Phil, but it's inspiring to see them combined :D
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Great table Sparrow. You can't beat a nice bit of jungle -
(https://i.postimg.cc/fT2L2Jc6/WP-20200811-15-55-12-Pro.jpg)
For what it's worth Tinned Fruit is the name of the last band I managed and originates from the leader singer's only chat up line "What's your favourite tinned fruit?" It had a lot more success than the band...
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For what it's worth Tinned Fruit is the name of the last band I managed and originates from the leader singer's only chat up line "What's your favourite tinned fruit?" It had a lot more success than the band...
That's a fantastic origin story! That jungle looks great too. Any plans for it to be added to the store as a standing item?
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For what it's worth Tinned Fruit is the name of the last band I managed and originates from the leader singer's only chat up line "What's your favourite tinned fruit?" It had a lot more success than the band...
That explains it! (oh, and the next jungle pieces coming up look brill 😉).
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Great table Sparrow. You can't beat a nice bit of jungle -
(https://i.postimg.cc/fT2L2Jc6/WP-20200811-15-55-12-Pro.jpg)
For what it's worth Tinned Fruit is the name of the last band I managed and originates from the leader singer's only chat up line "What's your favourite tinned fruit?" It had a lot more success than the band...
Then they changed the band’s name to Crème Brûlée and things really looked up... As their guitarist famously remarked “It’s a shit business.” ;)
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lol
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Some pictures of a recent Ong Tan game played with USMC forces instead of ANZACS. Played the scenario with ANZACS a couple of times but on the third time thought it would be interesting to see what USMC tactics would be like in such a confrontation. They did not do very well although largely due to a failure to get their artillery support in earlier and relying on small arms fire to do the job.
Mind you casualties for the VC was pretty bad so not a good day for anyone's career.
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Some more. Note that the NVA cameraman actually knew which way to hold the camera lol
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and one for the pot.
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I think some Skyraiders with Napalm are on order. :D
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The USMC had one pass and decided to drop the napalm in a safe zone thus no casualties.
Wise move at the time.
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As the USMC commander, when Paul described their (my) performance as not doing “very well” he is, for once, the master of the under-statement. At one stage I desperately called out “broken arrow”! I got lucky at the end but it was more than I deserved.
What was interesting is the way the event card system just kept randomly creating NVA/VC attacks in a 360 degree basis that I initially struggled to come to terms with. Indeed, I now know how they must have felt at the Alamo! Exciting stuff!
All that said the game was huge fun (and right now in COVID world , that’s of immense value!). Here’s to many more!
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The USMC had one pass and decided to drop the napalm in a safe zone thus no casualties.
Wise move at the time.
One of the very few wise moves I made in the entire game! 🤣
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The USMC had one pass and decided to drop the napalm in a safe zone thus no casualties.
Wise move at the time.
:o So I take it, that it would have dropped the Nap on the Devil Dogs instead? Or did the Napalm deny the Viets movement, and thus helping the Marines? :D
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The area where I called in the air strike was devoid of VC when it eventually arrived so it dropped on an empty area (better that than bring in too close to my very battered platoon) but when I finally brought in artillery (way too late as Paul says!j I was able to suppress one assault on the left flank and then I just kept the fire coming down there so as to keep that flank locked down thus enabling me to devote what little firepower I had left on the front, rear and right flank to suppress NVA assaults there. It was getting very desperate right up to the last move when the cavalry (well M113’s) arrived. I had taken 75% casualties (yep, 75%!). A really lousy performance on my part!
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Well at least it wasn't a totally massacre. :D
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About two moves and 4 M113''s off one lol
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sounds like a fun game!
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Forget the 75% casualties, what would have been galling for the Marines would have been being rescued by the US Army. lol
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Forget the 75% casualties, what would have been galling for the Marines would have been being rescued by the US Army. lol
Yeah they really don't seem to like that. lol
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Forget the 75% casualties, what would have been galling for the Marines would have been being rescued by the US Army. lol
It was worse than that they were ARVN M113's lol
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Now he tells me! 🤣
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About two moves and 4 M113''s off one lol
He’s not lying 😉
(It really was “Broken Arrow”stuff! )
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A preview of the next section of the ANZAC range.
Lots to be done such as stowage and crew but you get the idea I am sure. ;)
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cool
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Very cool indeed! I want a couple. :-*
Just finished the MUTT and working on detailing the Mighty Mite.
Heavy as they are, your metal castings are an improve on the resin stuff and a lot easier to build. The resin the old Imprint line came in gave much sharper definition, dunno if there’s an availability issue with it but I’d welcome its return.
I hope the doors are separate pieces, they ended up being removed in Vietnam after a nasty ambush incident.
Looking forward to the crew now.
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The 'old resin' is the same as the 'new resin' its just had the grey colour removed. I will have a look but TBH think that the quality is better now than of old although resin manufacturing is very difficult. Its also slow and some vehicles are best made in metal, if they are small enough to fit, due to the numbers needed.
However I will have a look at the situation just incase I missed something :o
Doors are fixed on these although windows are not.
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No probs. Maybe my memory deceives me. What would be nice when you get around to the Aussie M113 is a spare road wheel and some spare track lengths in metal.
By the by you wouldn’t be able to sell me a track guard for your T-72 by any chance. I bought one ages ago and never built it as it had two guards for the same side (not interchangeable). Just remembered it while i was having a rummage about.
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e mail us on mail@empressminiatures.com and we can sort.
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Missed this one DOH!
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Cool.
They will trigger my next order ^__.^.
The grey resin always looked like it had metal in it when filed/sanded.
I was a bit surprised that the Mite and the Mutt were metal (the T55 grabbed my attention, so I have only looked at them).
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Love that guncar! I think I'll need two. One for the 106mm, and the other festooned with MGs :D
The spare 106mm can go in a dug-out ;)
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another really nice addition. Now send it of to Mr Hicks so he can work on the crew right away ;)
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Yeah its on his to do list. ;)
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Love that guncar! I think I'll need two. One for the 106mm, and the other festooned with MGs :D
The spare 106mm can go in a dug-out ;)
I want one to take on the Musorians or maybe their Kamarian mates.
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As it has been a while since I whined about those, lol are the Vietnamese civilians already on the horizon?
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Yes - just beginning to get their heads above the horizon on the production plan.
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heads above the horizon sounds good...
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They came out nice :D
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Missed this one DOH!
“Corporal, did you carry out a first parade on this vehicle?”
“Yes sir, brakes, oil, fuel levels, electrics etc.”
“Then why is the front passenger side wheel on back to front?”
:D
Happens to the best of us mind.
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Bum o_o
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Sorry Corp :? Can I go home to mother now?
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lol
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Sorry Corp :? Can I go home to mother now?
You’ll need to speak to the padre about that.
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Reminds me of doing my minibus test for my FMT600 (Military driving license)
I had to do everything properly so I went to do the DI (Daily inspection) on the wagon the MT driver had just arrived in.
Me: How do you open the bonnet?
Driver: I don't know....
Me: So how did you DI it?
Driver: Er...
Unsurprisingly I passed my test.
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I once had a guy who wrote in the service sheet that a new oil measuring stick was needed as the current one was to short to measure the oil level... ::) lol
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Thanks guys.......keep rubbing it in ::) lol lol lol lol lol
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Yes - just beginning to get their heads above the horizon on the production plan.
Still a ways off then. Patience..... o_o o_o o_o
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USMC Otter slurping along. :)
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Basic pictures of the model. The crew are from NAM19 and NAM19.
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That looks really good :-*
Any news of new releases?
I would like a to see a pack or two of VC, Civilians, ARVN, Montagnards, and possibly also Koreans.
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Very nice. I am still resisting the vehicles as I try to keep to jungle patrols. But I did slip and just bought the remaining new packs that I did not yet have..
Dear Santa, Civillians are on the top of my wish list. And I have been so good.
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Guys we have some new releases next week.
Then a huge release the week after. Just building up stock.
Paul is just starting to sculpt some special figures (thats a clue) to go with a couple of very special vehicles (another clue)
Then another crew to go with the PBR.
Then due to popular demand sculpting some more figures.
Hope that helps lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Dear Santa. Please listen to dr Zombie lol
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Dear Santa. Please listen to dr Zombie lol
We have , and a lot of other customers and diverted our plan to accommodate our customers.
So we will now get hassle from other customers lol
Feel our pain please ;)
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I hope there are more Apocalypse Now characters soon.
I had great fun painting the PBR "Street Gang" crew.
I particularly want to have Dennis Hopper as the photographer and, of course, Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore.
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So we will now get hassle from other customers lol
Feel our pain please ;)
I will make it up to you. And on the sunny side, you will be rid of me (for a while) while I am painting my new toys....
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Easily bribed with chocolate lol lol lol lol lol lol
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That sounds good !!!!
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"Cruising for a bruising."
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Great pictures.
I guess you could take a jeep with you on a jungle patrol or to a village...
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Those are excellent.
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Very nice.
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Very nice terrain and atmospheric pictures.
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Guys we have some new releases next week.
Then a huge release the week after. Just building up stock.
Paul is just starting to sculpt some special figures (thats a clue) to go with a couple of very special vehicles (another clue)
Then another crew to go with the PBR.
Then due to popular demand sculpting some more figures.
Hope that helps lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
Sooo. It is next week already..
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Good grief, is that the time? It's quater past next week already!
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It seems we Americans put sugar in everything and a .50 on everything.
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We have now released the long awaited LMG gunners for helicopters.
These are in the Vietnam Vehicles crew section.
There are 4 gunners.
Two are holding M60's. The long ammo belts work on these. On the end of the ammo belt is a tin can that was sometimes used to help the bullets feed in better and stop jams.
The second two have the full Armament Subsytem.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vehicles-113-c.asp
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Woohoo! Been waiting for these!.
Now that you’ve started, surely you’ll do some Ronnie RAAF types?
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What brand is the helicopter?
Asking for a friend...
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Oh those are freaking nice!
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That is a stunning release!!!!!! On my order list , need some for 6 Helos. Now on to more releases as just the gunners would be to expensive on postage
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What brand is the helicopter?
Asking for a friend...
Its the Corgi 'Huey'
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👍
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Glad you all like them. :)
One of the main uses of this thread slowly became the option for you guys to let us have your ideas which helps with the design work. So with this aim, and with slight trepidation lol, what type of civilians do you actually want? Lets start with the rural types.
We have a lot planned already, starting with the rural types moving onto urban characters afterwards.
So here is your chance again to get involved ;)
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If Rural got to have the farmer working the fields. Walking to or back from work. Some village types, like a old lady smokeing while making dinner. Kids ether standing around or getting in the way. Village head.
And people with all their belongings strapped to their backs. Ether heading to market, being moved (or fleeing).
And lots of Bicycles.
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Yes please. To rural farmers/villagers. Preferably both armed and unarmed men and women. Some weapon/amunition caches would be nice also. It is hard to find weapons, grenades and amunition that is not 40k scaled.
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Oh yeah! Forgot armed types as well. lol
Say some with French and or Japanese weapons(good for early French Indochina wars), some with older US kit like M1s for village guard.
They some with weapons' supplied from the north.
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Forget the armed versions as they are covered its just the civilians at the moment.
Pictures are good ;)
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For me it would be preferable with people just walking or standing around. That way they are most versatile. While it would be cool with someone working a rice paddy. You can then only use them for that. If they are too "dramatic" or specific in their poses it somewhat limits their uses. If that makes any sense.
Also for my selfish uses I would like to see more women than men. As the men are off fighting the war on one side or the other..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/13476480@N07/28250324171/sizes/l/
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True, the guys working in the fields is more of a vignette I guess. Maybe some with hats and some with out. lol
Oh a side note. I like how the one Marine is sporting a WW2 helmet cover.
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Civ ideas
Rice field workers
Pig herders
Fishermen, with bamboo rods or casting nets
Sampan operators and sitting family
Adults and older siblings carrying children.
Think “Platoon”....villE elder...maybe even as casualty. Civilians huddled in hideyhole.
Moving bicycle with market goods piled high
Sitting / squatting - need plenty of these who would as likely take up this stance together when soldiers were in the village, some with arms around each other
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Some are already mentioned but just to be complete:
Preferably rural types:
- walking or running men, women and children, unburdened or with tools or packs
(a shoveling farmer can only be placed in a field, but a farmer with a shovel over his shoulder can be placed anywhere)
- boy leading or riding a water buffaloe
- playing children
- Old people, village elders
- People squatting on the ground
- People standing and watching or chatting
- A constrained male prisoner
- people riding or walking a bike (very useful for Ho Chi Minh trail bearers)
- sampan operators, crews and passengers
Urban types:
- people (male in suits or shirts, female in ao dai) walking or running with bags, suitcases or newspapers
- people (male in suits or shirts, female in ao dai) on bikes or scooters
- people (male in suits or shirts, female in ao dai)riding or walking a bike (very useful for Ho Chi Minh trail bearers)
- car or truck drivers
- rikshaw drivers and passengers (male in suits or shirts, female in ao dai)
- policemen
- Newspaper sellers
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All of the above & knee deep in the paddy field planting/plucking rice.
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Tuktuk passengers, Buddist monks, maybe a child on the shoulders or arms of a Marine,
What about "furniture" , a cocking pot on a fire , bowls with rice , Sacks with rice, and all the others mentioned above..
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Oh, one more idea . What about injured rural types , for doing a queue at a medical aid station or a medical mission in a village?
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Surely the single most iconic and powerful image of villagers in the war is that of the running, screaming, naked girl burned by napalm. Whether it is suitable for a range of toys is a matter of debate.
This suggestion may provoke distaste, but frankly I think it should.
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Surely the single most iconic and powerful image of villagers in the war is that of the running, screaming, naked girl burned by napalm. Whether it is suitable for a range of toys is a matter of debate.
This suggestion may provoke distaste, but frankly I think it should.
I had the same thought last night. I was hesitant to post it however due to the distaste associated with the suggestion. Maybe if it was done as a charity figure similar to the NHS nurse it could be somewhat more acceptable?
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I'd be careful about something like that. The AK paints mismanaged release of their crimes in minatures book release comes to mind.
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You know I’m not sure commercialising or perhaps further commercialising that image, even in support of an appropriate charity would be a terribly good idea.
Yes, it is thought provoking and it’s certainly iconic but I very much doubt its need to be replicated in miniature and it would be repellant to see it appear in a game. In much the sane vein as the photo of Phan Thị Kim Phúc, I doubt there’s much demand for a vignette of Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executing a Viet Cong suspect on the street or William Calley murdering all those poor souls at My Lai.
I think most reasonably sentient members of the hobby understand that truly awful things, war crimes included, occurred during this war, just as they have in previous wars and wars since. It’s an odd little hobby that requires not a small amount of what amounts to cognitive dissonance to indulge in it. Personally, I don’t feel the need to miniaturise every aspect of a given conflict but that doesn’t make me blind to the horrors of said conflict.
As a curious aside, in the popular imagination, that photo of the young Kim Phuc is often ascribed to an American air attack. In actual fact, it was the result of a mistaken attack by the South Vietnamese Air Force, albeit carried out by US trained pilots, in US supplied aircraft using US supplied ordnance. Doesn’t make it any better but it does add to the complexity of the story.
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I'd be careful about something like that. The AK paints mismanaged release of their crimes in minatures book release comes to mind.
Don’t worry, I stumbled across a German miniatures manufacturer who produces a 28mm figure of Fritz Haarman, a notorious paedophile and serial killer, who allegedly ate some of the body parts of some of his victims.
Hard to top in the truly execrable bad tastes stakes. I really have no fucking idea what would inspire or induce someone to commission or sculpt such a thing. I can only assume the owners of said company are just c***s.
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On the topic of unarmed civilians. Mix of urban and rural please. Mostly walking or casually posed but the odd one cowering and attempting to avoid what’s going on around them wouldn’t be bad. Some female figures in ao dais would be nice.
In Phuoc Tuy, the Australians encountered a lot of ‘wood cutters’ and charcoal burners who moonlighted as part of the VCI supply chain.
Some very lightly armed, pistol or carbines would be good to represent the VCI. Tax collectors, local political cadres, propaganda teams and the like. There’s an old Stuart Asquith wargaming scenario ‘The Tax Man Cometh’ that would make great game if appropriately updated.
Oh and a Lambro taxi/ moto- minibus with civilian passengers would be nice. Give Rich something to get his teeth stuck into. Even sans figures it would make for great set dressing for urban games.
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I had to look up who Fritz Haarman was, he sounds like a very unpleasant dude. lol
But yeah, I personally will not buy a min of burnt children from Kim Phuc. Even if the money went to charity. It just feels greasy to me. :?
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Surely the single most iconic and powerful image of villagers in the war is that of the running, screaming, naked girl burned by napalm. Whether it is suitable for a range of toys is a matter of debate.
Nope. Not even a matter of debate. We are discussing wargaming figures here, right? What could possibly motivate someone to use such an image in a wargame? Indeed the AK debacle should be warning enough.
And most likely (he thought only after responding :? ) we should leave that at this.
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I would advise against such a figure !!!! I wouldn't buy paint or display it.
Would second the question for Lambros, TukTuks etc !!
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Tuktuks are a given. And Mopads, those are still pretty common over there.
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Don't worry that figure will never be done by Empress Miniatures. I suppose the clue is in the name = Empress. They keep us men in check. lol
The image is very iconic but we just do not do the extreme style of figures as its just not us. We have been asked to create some really 'interesting' figures for our Ultra Moderns range such as beheadings but certain subjects cross the line, even if hey just creep across it. The simple question is does it add to a scenario and none of these extreme designs do.
We will be doing some casualty figure at some point as they are relevant to the conflict and scenarios and some of the vehicle crews were subtly designed to be able to fit this area.
Top marks to Andrew_McGuire for starting an interesting debate though. These things should be discussed. ;)
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Moving on and the suggestions. Yes all great and luckily all pretty much what I have designed so that's good.
Paul starts these in a couple of weeks so I will pop up pictures of the sculpts to let you see. ;)
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Moving on and the suggestions. Yes all great and luckily all pretty much what I have designed so that's good.
Paul starts these in a couple of weeks so I will pop up pictures of the sculpts to let you see. ;)
Great to hear! :D
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Talking about civilians; I recall some of the iconic combat photographers (real & film character) were probably going to put in an apperance at some stage.
Just wondering how far off that may be?
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Unfortunately the extra arms that were skin grafted onto Mr Hicks did not take and so we will get things done as soon as we can ;)
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Unfortunately the extra arms that were skin grafted onto Mr Hicks did not take and so we will get things done as soon as we can ;)
Curses! How about the cloning labs? Anything back from them yet?
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Cloning didn't work. He came out of the machine inside out. o_o
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Cloning didn't work. He came out of the machine inside out. o_o
It does not have to be hard. Just have him do a clay version of himself and make a golem. In fact you could have a small army of golems.
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It does not have to be hard. Just have him do a clay version of himself and make a golem. In fact you could have a small army of golems.
That's the ticket! I'll see if my buddy who is studying the kabbalah wants to contribute.
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Oh, better not !!!! I remember certain nights were it was very difficult to keep up with Paul on social activities in Pub and clubs. So Having an army of Mr. Hicks golems would just kill me I think lol lol
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Oh, better not !!!! I remember certain nights were it was very difficult to keep up with Paul on social activities in Pub and clubs. So Having an army of Mr. Hicks golems would just kill me I think lol lol
lol lol lol lol lol
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Don't worry that figure will never be done by Empress Miniatures. I suppose the clue is in the name = Empress. They keep us men in check. lol
The image is very iconic but we just do not do the extreme style of figures as its just not us. We have been asked to create some really 'interesting' figures for our Ultra Moderns range such as beheadings but certain subjects cross the line, even if hey just creep across it. The simple question is does it add to a scenario and none of these extreme designs do.
We will be doing some casualty figure at some point as they are relevant to the conflict and scenarios and some of the vehicle crews were subtly designed to be able to fit this area.
Top marks to Andrew_McGuire for starting an interesting debate though. These things should be discussed. ;)
Thanks Paul. I felt really uneasy about it, even though I wasn't actually proposing such a figure. You're right, there's a line that shouldn't be crossed, and that image is definitely on the wrong side of it, but if we don't think about what war costs, we shouldn't, as far as I can see, be playing collecting military models or playing war games at all. I've known people, as most of us probably have, who view the entire hobby as highly distasteful, and some who view hobbyists like ourselves as slightly sick. If we were to gloss over the hideous things that happen in war as mere aberrations and irrelevant to our fun, they would be quite right, but I think the responses here show that's not the case. (I can't speak for video gamers, who engage with a simulation of imminent life or death in a highly graphic form, but this isn't a forum for that kind of game).
BTW, I once looked at a soft plastic figure set of Chechen rebels from an eastern European manufacturer which included a figure with machete holding aloft a severed head. I was repelled, of course - though if I'm honest, also grimly amused, albeit fleetingly - but I own dark age and samurai figures doing the same thing, about which I have never felt any qualms at all. I'm really not sure what this says about the hobby, or, perhaps more to the point, myself.
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Excellent question and discussion, Andrew. I'm glad you brought it up.
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Thank you, Erik. I have nothing to add right now.
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ARVN Airborne repell Vietcong attack, Saigon, South Vietnam (1968)
https://youtu.be/2f8WO7wAAFc
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Great film. Some interesting buildings in that.
Especially like the garages.
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Right? Lots of terrain ideas. And that massive grave yard. (or what ever those white stones in a row are) is pretty prominent.
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Anyone? To save me going back through the many pages on this thread,
what is the status with ARVIN figures?
Pretty please.
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Anyone? To save me going back through the many pages on this thread,
what is the status with ARVIN figures?
Pretty please.
There will be, but not at the moment (subject to change/correction by someone in the loop).
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There will be, but not at the moment (subject to change/correction by someone in the loop).
Perfect answer ;)
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ARVN Airborne repell Vietcong attack, Saigon, South Vietnam (1968)
https://youtu.be/2f8WO7wAAFc
A big “thank you” for sharing this! It’s fascinating and really shows that their’s so much more to wargaming Nam than some might imagine 👍
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Thanks guys.
I wasn't going to do Viet-Nam. I mean I haven't even started all the Indo-China
figures purchased over the last two years, but a buddy let slip it was on his,
'I want to do list'. Hopefully as a skirmish. I always had a soft spot for the ARVIN,
especially when I read of division that in one year had more fatalities from road accidents
than combat! added to that the fact that one of their top officers was cashiered for selling
his troops rice ration to the VC ????
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A big “thank you” for sharing this! It’s fascinating and really shows that their’s so much more to wargaming Nam than some might imagine 👍
No problem, My main fouces for the conflict will be ARVAN.... Ok and American/ARVAN Airborne since i was a paratrooper in my misspent youth. lol
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Well you really need some Australians so you can add 1 RAR to your 173rd Airborne Brigade as per 1965. :D
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Well you really need some Australians so you can add 1 RAR to your 173rd Airborne Brigade as per 1965. :D
Thanks Satan!
Like I need more temptations. lol
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Every now and again one bumps into something that just seems to have got missed. I confess that our latest release pretty much fits into this area.
We have just released a 28mm - 1/50 scale CT15A armoured truck.
The CT15A was produced in Canada and used by both Canadian and British forces in the last year of WW2.
However its operational life extended far beyond WW2. British forces left their vehicles, including the CT15A's with French forces in French Indo China. There they remained in operation until the French left Vietnam in the 1950's. The vehicles were then passed to South Vietnamese troops and remained in front line operation with ARVN forces until the end of the conflict when the few remaining were adopted by the North Vietnamese Forces
Various versions were used as well as the armoured truck version. Most notably as an ambulance.
This vehicle is 28mm - 1/50 scale and comes with the option of the tarp up or discarded. Made in high density resin and pewter parts.
We will obviously be crewing this vehicle with various relevant crews in the future from WW2, to FIC, to Vietnam.
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Open top for cruising :)
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Me want!
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I can use a few of those. :D
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Uhhh. That was in use by the danish army until it got replaced with the M113 in the mid 60's. I could use that for my danish cold war army...
Its danish name is Mosegrisen. Directly translated it is the bogpig, but the animal in question is the waterrat.
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Luverly! I’ll have to get at least two. One for my colonial Portuguese.
You can use ‘em for post-war Malaya as well, which allows you to paint them blue.
In Vietnamese service they seem to have typically received an extension to the armour, raising it around the cargo area’s sides, sometimes with, sometimes without, square loopholes. Easy enough to add with plastic card and as they seem to be local conversions, possibly not universal anyway. Might be an extra if you do a dedicated SVN crew pack.
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We will obviously be crewing this vehicle with various relevant crews in the future from WW2, to FIC, to Vietnam.
Excellent, my Late War British will love them (even more so when they get some crew - maybe some British crew for the jeeps as well?)
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Excellent, my Late War British will love them (even more so when they get some crew - maybe some British crew for the jeeps as well?)
Yes same here, would love to see some of those late war brits..... And some FFL and Viet crew. :D
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GET SOME!!!!
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Looking good, Paul. Will make sure I acquire some more AA! 🤣
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New release- This is a sprue of 4 heads wearing Vietnamese sun hats.
This type of head was incredibly common and worn by both civilians and military. The pictures all show examples of what can be achieved and are from our existing range.
They can be used on our existing range to change the figures into multi types.
To attach the heads cut of the head of the figure and clean up with a knife or file. Drill a small hole in the neck area of the figure. Test the head to make sure it looks correct. Not too long a neck and not too short. Glue in place with Super Glue type glues.
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(https://i.ibb.co/0BnJ8sZ/received-10213418731315242.png) (https://ibb.co/0BnJ8sZ)
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I like those heads.
Will you be doing any more - say with Chicom hats?
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I like those heads.
Will you be doing any more - say with Chicom hats?
Possibly but not at the moment as we are concentrating on other stuff. ;)
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I like those heads.
Will you be doing any more - say with Chicom hats?
I am down for some of those.
But I am also a fan of the straw hats, going to add some to my Vietminh as well.
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The sun hats look great. Excellent idea to make them.
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Make that three votes for the Mao caps as well as some floppy hats and pith helmets. Actually it would be nice if you did spare heads for the whole range so we could mix ‘n’ match and double up poses.
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What about Marine and /or ANZAC heads?
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While heads are really nice to have, to avoid duplicates. Especially for us saps who initially started out with just some squad based skirmish but now are well underway to full company gaming.
What we really need is civilians and VC.
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Personally, I do not see the need for Marine and ANZAC heads.
The collections already have a lot of different sculpts and I can make the forces that I want without any duplicates.
The sun hat heads will allow me to make some VC that are clearly different from the NVA.
Chi-com (Mao) hats would allow me to convert some figures to represent Cambodian and Laotian guerrillas.
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I think the Marines could use a pack of boonie hats and some Patrol caps. Aside from that, just looking forward to seeing what else you guys have in the works.
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Personally, I do not see the need for Marine and ANZAC heads.
The collections already have a lot of different sculpts and I can make the forces that I want without any duplicates.
The sun hat heads will allow me to make some VC that are clearly different from the NVA.
Chi-com (Mao) hats would allow me to convert some figures to represent Cambodian and Laotian guerrillas.
ANZACS need some more figures as previously discussed in the thread. We will do VC, as previously stated so they will eventually be in the same situation as the Marines with lots of options. Infact I can see me getting very carried away with the VC. lol
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Spoiler Alert: Hobby horse being trotted out.*
It occurs to me that with Mao caps, were Paul to sculpt a few more chaps in tunics and chest rigs you could make 1970s Chinese. More opposition for your PAVN and also for your upcoming Soviet paratroopers.
*It’s Melbourne Cup Day here, so I’m allowed.
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Yep, definitely more heads Australian heads. That way we can model Tasmanians if we wish. You really need two heads to accurately model Tasmanians. I think we can gloss over the missing digits and webbed fingers at this scale. Button counters can add and subtract with a craft knife and putty.
You should be careful what you say about Tasmanians. Apparently some of them can read.
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Only some and they would still need to find another Tasmanian that can write if they wanted to reply. Lowest literacy rates in the country. :D
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OI!
The next queen of Denmark is from Tasmania and her husband the crown prince is the danish equivalent of a Navy Seal (only better). Don’t make us come down under and kick you asses.
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Carlos, you may think you are being funny but if this was FB, you would be in the sin bin.
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C’est la vie. Alas for Tasmanians and the po-faced everywhere, none of my time or money (at least that I know of) flows to Mr Zuckerberg and his marvellous means of misinformation.
I know I should be more charitable to our friends from the Apple Isle. After all they gave us the towering intellects that are David Boon and Ricky Ponting.
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Just no incest jokes, all right? I've heard a couple of good ones, but I'm sure you know them.
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OI!
The next queen of Denmark is from Tasmania and her husband the crown prince is the danish equivalent of a Navy Seal (only better). Don’t make us come down under and kick you asses.
I'm not much of a royalist, but I do like the Crown Prince and out Tasmanian queen to be.
(https://i.imgur.com/we1N9dX.png)
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Very nice additions to the range!
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Some M113's with ARVN crews.
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Gorgeous kits Paul! :o
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Very nice models.
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So glad you like the M113's ::) o_o
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Dear Paul,
What colours do you use for American vehicles and helicopters?
I have been using Vallejo US Dark Green 70.893 for Army Vehicles and Camouflage Olive Green 70.894 for the PBR boat (this used to be called Russian Green).
I think helicopters should be Brown Violet 70.887.
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Dear Paul,
What colours do you use for American vehicles and helicopters?
I have been using Vallejo US Dark Green 70.893 for Army Vehicles and Camouflage Olive Green 70.894 for the PBR boat (this used to be called Russian Green).
I think helicopters should be Brown Violet 70.887.
Its kinda complicated but I will explain;
I use Tamiya XF-74 which is the period 'Olive' green acrylic paint.
I then wash with one of those washes that when dry you can go back and add water to remove a lot but gives depth.
Then dry brush with the original colour.
Then dry brush with Tamiya Olive Green which is a lighter greener colour.
The dry brush with Valejo Iraqi sand a linen colour.
After that I may use an AK rain marks paint if I think its relevant.
Then I use a mud wash such as AK Dark brown mud wash.
I may use MIG powders although you have to use a fixative otherwise they disappear with handling or if you then varnish.
Hope that makes sense?
In reference to colours Marine vehicles, noticeably helicopters, seem to a lighter more jungle green earlier but seem to move onto the standard green mentioned at the start of this later in the war. However I have been doing the 1967 ONWARDS so have not researched anything yet.
I have some Trumpeter H-34 choppers to do and looking at the painting chart it says this.
Khaki Green Mr Hobby H80/54 - Acrysion N80 - Vallejo 924 - Tamiya XF51 - Humbrol 159
I will investigate the Tamiya paint and hopefully I have a few jars in the racks.
Hope that helps?
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@ Paul
Thank-you.
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Paul
Another "chopper" question.
What is the best way to represent the helicopter rotors in a model destined for the war-games table ? How do you do it ?
All best
Jonathan
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I use the rotor blades on my UH-1 helicopters but as the rotor head and attached blades are not glued to the aircraft, they can be removed for storage.
My CH-46 is a diecast which has folding blades, much like the real thing. With both, if you are so minded, you can rotate the blades and make wocka-wocka noises to your heart’s content.
In this scale a perspex or shirt box plastic clear disk would be a fairly large item. Huey blades in 1/48 are around 10” in length. Heavy if using perspex and would require some support if using a lighter transparent material, so to my mind more trouble than it is worth.
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There is a company that sells 'Blades in motion' for planes at least (can't remember who though)
They look brilliant, but are expensive.
Carlos is right about the difficulties, but I would go for 'shirt box' and not the whole 'disc' of the
rotor blades, just a 'blurred' (i.e. narrow triangles) of them. After all if drawing something & you
want to show motion you blur it. Then with a compass & indelible pen (or various circular things
to draw around) you could add a few motion lines. If the rotors have coloured tips then a smudge
of that colour will also help the illusion.
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Paul
Another "chopper" question.
What is the best way to represent the helicopter rotors in a model destined for the war-games table ? How do you do it ?
All best
Jonathan
Pretty much what Carlos has said. I use the Corgi Diecast and the blades do spin round, not that you want to keep spinning them. They come out for storage and also fold up.
I thought about using a thin Perspex disc but its a bit of a hassle tbh and I am not sure the effect would be that much better.
However I do have some plastic kits to do and may need to give them some thought as they are the big H-34's and the blades curve upwards in flight but down when landed so I may create discs for those. Not sure yet. ???
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I use the Corgi Diecast and the blades do spin round, not that you want to keep spinning them.
Does this mean I'm the only one that runs round the gaming room, constantly flicking the blades and making 'whoppa, whoppa, whoppa' noises or humming the Ride of the Valkyries......
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Does this mean I'm the only one that runs round the gaming room, constantly flicking the blades and making 'whoppa, whoppa, whoppa' noises or humming the Ride of the Valkyries......
Not quite... ;)
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Does this mean I'm the only one that runs round the gaming room, constantly flicking the blades and making 'whoppa, whoppa, whoppa' noises or humming the Ride of the Valkyries......
That is the main reason I include choppers in my games..
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Might do ::)
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Most kind all.
I find many of the 1/48 scale helicopter kits seem to be very expensive and in very short supply. I assume one follows the other ! (;-)
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I suppose that depends on where you are but even here, at the arse end of the world, I've found decent bargains like an Italeri Huey for $20AUD. Model shows (when they return post Covid) are a good source of stuff.
Whilst they aren't perfect, the Hobby Boss Hueys are a decent buy if you aren't finicky about type and fancy a generic UH-1 proxy. They retail her for around the $22-25 mark and are 'Easy Build' types that any fool can put together.
They are nominally UH-1Cs but lack any weapons for what was mostly a gunship model. With a little bit of work you can make an acceptable UH-1B proxy or use mostly as is as USMC UH-1 E models, which did see use in a slick mode, albeit mostly for command and control.
A look on various sites shows that you can still pick up the 1/55 New Ray CH-46 for around the $40 mark as well as their 1/60 Chinook.
Happy hunting!
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Thanks Carlos, I was looking for a sea knight for a long time ! Now I ordered two from New Ray.
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Had some pictures sent to us at Empress of Vietnam figures from the collection of Vasiliy Levashov. Superb work and worth sharing on here as inspiration. ;)
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Very nice, particularly like the faces and bases.
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very nice indeed
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Nice work.
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Paul
Any chance of some helicopter crews - maybe a pair of gunners and a crew chief looking out the back ramp or front hatchway suitable for the USMC Sea Knight ?
Also I would welcome any suggestions/tutorials as to how people mount their helicopter models onto their stands.
many thanks
JM
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Helicopter crews, pilots and gunners are already released and in the shop.
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Oops sorry Paul will take a look.
Did you see my e-mail by the way on a different era ?
JM
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Hi,
Don't think we have received anything as all e mails have been answered so if you have not heard from me then I did not get it.
Either pm on here or e mail on mail@empressminiatures.com ;)
OK This was subsequently sorted ;)
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Something a bit special for the US celebration of Thanks Giving Day.
We have just released into the shop a Fire Support Base for Vietnam. This comes in sections so that gamers can make the shape of base they prefer. Super big, big, or something small . Its your choice.
There is also a special Firebase deal which gives you a largish perimeter layout as well as some of the buildings and extra parts such as Claymore mines and fuel drums.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/terrain-129-c.asp
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Some closer pictures of some of the parts.
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God Lord! Well this is abit nice! :-*
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Cheers muchly ;)
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Excellent new terrain.
Love the new bunkers.
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I like the gate, but feel it should have a name on the boards at the top.
How about, 'Camp Hi-Di-Hi'
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Buy one and paint whatever you want on it. I called my one this.
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Building the gate on its side was a security design often used by the Marines Corps. o_o
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Taken whilst lying on my side.
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Go tell that to the Marines.
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Wow! That is great! :o
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Nice.
Any chance of an interior shot of the buildings?
What is are the dimensions (and angle) of the corners? I was wondering what the minimum size base you could build?
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If you check on the site the dimensions for each part and the entire perimeter when set up is there.
The inside of the bunkers is sandbagged the same as the outside.
Cheers
Paul
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Thats a grand addition to the range!
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Thanks Tom ;)
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If you check on the site the dimensions for each part and the entire perimeter when set up is there.
Okay, about 60cm as a circle.
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The full set is 80cm by 120 cm.
If you want a circle layout it can be achieved but size depends on what sections you choose. Each section has dimensions on the site.
If you want this let me know your ideas and I will lay it out for you.
No time wasters please lol
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Tis truly a thing of wonder!
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An awe-inspiring piece, regrettably beyond my means. Nevertheless it makes me wonder whether further components might be added to enable customisation to individual FB's. (I am, however, aware that incorporating Ann Margret into FB Ann Margret would not be strictly accurate).
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Mot sure about Anne Margaret but there will be other sections added in the coming months. :)
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If you've read Max Hastings' book, you'll be aware of the incident in which a couple of grunts peeped through a hole they'd made in the wooden floor of the star's 'dressing room'. While this didn't occur at the FB, which AM probably didn't visit, the potential for a vignette is surely irresistible.
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Couple of mules. Eeeeaaaghhh!!!
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The Mighty Mite
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Nice work - well done. :-*
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Indeed! Surf's up! ;)
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very nice indeed :-*
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Really nice .... love the surf board!
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Really nice .... love the surf board!
Very true.
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Thanks chaps :)
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Not sure if you have all seen this issue of WSS magazine but its main theme is Vietnam, including FIC. It has some interesting articles and an especially good one on Long Tan lol
The cover is covered with Empress gorgeousness made even better by the incredible brush work of Ruben Torregrosa. Not just one of the best painters in the industry but a really nice guy to match.
Certainly worth a look as the magazine is by far the best one available in my own personal opinion. ;)
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Read the article on Long Tan and the rest very recommended issue.
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I just got the magazine, looking forward to reading it ;)
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Got some releases due out before the end of the year so save your pennies up. You have been warned lol
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I know that there are some SEALS (in Jeans too) and MACV SOG due.
Are there any plans for VC, Civilians, ARVN or Koreans?
Useful for my project ;)
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I know that there are some SEALS (in Jeans too) and MACV SOG due.
Are there any plans for VC, Civilians, ARVN or Koreans?
Useful for my project ;)
yep. ;)
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Never mind all that American malarkey, let's be having the SASR first ;)
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Got some releases due out before the end of the year so save your pennies up. You have been warned lol
Have I ever mentioned my wallet hates you? ^__^
Never mind all that American malarkey, let's be having the SASR first ;)
I can relate to that.
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Happy Christmas to all you big kids out there :-*
Have a great day and I hope you all get from Santa what you wanted. Including Carlos who is probably on the naughty list.
;D :-*
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Not that I’m aware of but cheers Paul. Have a safe and merry festive season!
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Well we hope you all had a great Christmas. We are still enjoying a few days off from Empress, well mostly, but I thought it time for a little treat.
Here are a couple of group shots of our 28mm Vietnamese civilians.
They work for quite a long period of history and certainly for both French Indo China AND the later Vietnam war.
Can you spot the Hollywood father and son in the group?
We will put up some more detailed pictures in the future as this is just a taster.
We sat on a lot of new releases in December as we had enough to do and thought you guys and girls needed some 'time' to catch up with real life. However come January we will be welcoming in the New Year with a lot of new releases across a number of ranges plus a lot of previews so stay tuned.
Have a fantastic New Years celebrations and stay very safe out there.
Cheers,
Paul
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They look great :-*
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Fantastic - any VC hiding in there?
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Fantastic - any VC hiding in there?
They're all just walking - So, well disciplined VC!
They all look so damn good tho, with these 16 (who am I kidding, I'll get more) and the 19 I've converted from Foundry and Perry's - It'll make for a nice sized Village!!
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Fantastic - any VC hiding in there?
They are all potential VC. ;)
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Wow! Four packs worth. Very nice!
The one legged figure is a nice touch. Won’t be able to cast him as Tarzan though, if the late Peter Cook is to be believed.
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The one legged figure is a nice touch. Won’t be able to cast him as Tarzan though, if the late Peter Cook is to be believed.
I've nothing against his left leg...
problem is, neither has he.
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Lovely!
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Some excellent figures. :-*
Well done Empress.
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Thanks chaps :-*
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Nice.
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I'll take one of each. :D
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Cheers guys. ;)
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Very welcome additions to the range !!! :-* :-*
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Todays release is a new crew for the Patrol Boat River.
By popular demand this is a basic Navy crew although we couldn't just do any old crew so went for a crew with John Kerry as its commander. weirdly he looks a bit like Jeremy Clarkson so take you pick.
The four man crew are dressed in traditional brown water crew kit with life jackets, shorts and beach sandals 🤪
The pack can be purchased on its own or as a set with the PBR .
https://www.empressminiatures.com/brown-water-navy-128-c.asp
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Just as well you didn’t go with Richard Hammond. You would have had to get Rich to sculpt an upturned hull. ;)
By the by it can’t be Clarkson. Paul is well capable of etching the word c**t onto the name tape on that flak jacket and it’s just not there.
Very nice by the way.
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Just as well you didn’t go with Richard Hammond. You would have had to get Rich to sculpt an upturned hull. ;)
By the by it can’t be Clarkson. Paul is well capable of etching the word c**t onto the name tape on that flak jacket and it’s just not there.
Very nice by the way.
lol lol lol lol
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Just as well you didn’t go with Richard Hammond. You would have had to get Rich to sculpt an upturned hull. ;)
By the by it can’t be Clarkson. Paul is well capable of etching the word c**t onto the name tape on that flak jacket and it’s just not there.
Very nice by the way.
lol lol lol
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splendid additions
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Still waiting on those ROK Marine's and M-14 armed troops. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR08lP4Ii-PvbSpA9EkrznS5PI_VB7qHxL9-SVNHj_SDqF1OqBCaRAeBwf8&v=3hpFsKqaIuc&feature=youtu.be
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Still waiting on those ROK Marine's and M-14 armed troops. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR08lP4Ii-PvbSpA9EkrznS5PI_VB7qHxL9-SVNHj_SDqF1OqBCaRAeBwf8&v=3hpFsKqaIuc&feature=youtu.be
And that’s pretty much the look I hope we get with M-14 armed gyrenes. Flak jackets and standard OG 107 fatigues, so they are good for 1965/66 in Vietnam as well as the Dominican Republic and even possibly the Cuban Missile Crisis. More Aussies first though please. :)
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We have learnt that whatever 'drug' we do some customers will want something different. Its life ;) So we do what is logical in the flow.
As an idea on whats coming through the sausage machine;
Next out will be MACV and SEALs. Just waiting for a lot more stock to arrive.
Civilians
Then the STAB with crew.
Then USMC 50 cal, Mortar team, NVA mortar team.
VC!!!!
ANZACS Landrover crews AND other packs. However difficult to do a time line as the plague etc is messing everything up so its difficult to do a time line.
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Oh boy!
That is just the right drug coctail for me.
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We have learnt that whatever 'drug' we do some customers will want something different. Its life ;) So we do what is logical in the flow.
As an idea on whats coming through the sausage machine;
Civilians
My fix is coming, I see..... ;D
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We have learnt that whatever 'drug' we do some customers will want something different. Its life ;) So we do what is logical in the flow.
As an idea on whats coming through the sausage machine;
Next out will be MACV and SEALs. Just waiting for a lot more stock to arrive.
Civilians
Then the STAB with crew.
Then USMC 50 cal, Mortar team, NVA mortar team.
VC!!!!
ANZACS Landrover crews AND other packs. However difficult to do a time line as the plague etc is messing everything up so its difficult to do a time line.
Special forces!!! Can't wait!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Sounds good to me and very much appreciated as it gives us some planning space.
Of course if you are going with a drug theme or even just a simile you will need:
a) CIA figures
b) The 23rd Americal Division.
;)
MACV = MACV SOG or are you doing some advisers for Hue, etc?
Finally, are ARVN still on the longer term list?
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Please be aware. for every ‘dealer’ there’s always a poor soul enslaved to produce product in a dark dank basement.
We have learnt that whatever 'drug' we do some customers will want something different. Its life ;) So we do what is logical in the flow.
As an idea on whats coming through the sausage machine;
Next out will be MACV and SEALs. Just waiting for a lot more stock to arrive.
Civilians
Then the STAB with crew.
Then USMC 50 cal, Mortar team, NVA mortar team.
VC!!!!
ANZACS Landrover crews AND other packs. However difficult to do a time line as the plague etc is messing everything up so its difficult to do a time line.
-
lol
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At least there’s nobody in the supply chain secreting quantities of your product in body cavities or wrapping them in condoms and swallowing them.
At least I fucking hope there isn’t. :D
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As I explained to the police last time they popped round you are not a slave.
It was your wish to be chained to a desk in the cupboard under the stairs. They were perfectly satisfied with that.
Now get back to work and I will warm the grool up for you. >:D
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lol lol lol lol lol
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MACV = MACV SOG or are you doing some advisers for Hue, etc?
Finally, are ARVN still on the longer term list?
Yep.
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Looking forward to the SEALs & SOG as I've started to get Empress withdrawl, ended up making terrain.
Turned five and a half packs of Miliput into sandbags so far, think I've lost the plot...
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Ash,
If it’s any consolation, filling actual sandbags wasn’t much fun either.
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We have learnt that whatever 'drug' we do some customers will want something different. Its life ;) So we do what is logical in the flow.
As an idea on whats coming through the sausage machine;
Next out will be MACV and SEALs. Just waiting for a lot more stock to arrive.
Civilians
Then the STAB with crew.
Then USMC 50 cal, Mortar team, NVA mortar team.
VC!!!!
ANZACS Landrover crews AND other packs. However difficult to do a time line as the plague etc is messing everything up so its difficult to do a time line.
Good times coming!!
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carlos marighela
« on: Today at 07:30:44 PM »
"If it’s any consolation, filling actual sandbags wasn’t much fun either. "
lol lol lol
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Ash,
If it’s any consolation, filling actual sandbags wasn’t much fun either.
It's been a while, but filled a few way back when...
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Then the STAB with crew.
Okay, my wiki-fu is weak (Luftwaffe observation 'plane?, American prep' school?).
ANZACS Landrover crews AND other packs. However difficult to do a time line as the plague etc is messing everything up so its difficult to do a time line.
Cool, what about BAOR crew (and Late War British crew for the CT15A)?
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STAB= Seal Team Assault Boat. A cool little toy to insert your SEALs with.
https://www.powercatboat.com/STAB/STAB.html
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Actually its an LSSC - Light SEAL Support Craft rather than a STAB. My bad ;D
The SEAL team will be released early next week along with the MACV. This boat will then be crewed with linked figures to the SEAL team and the various LMG and GL added to this boat. There will obviously be a chap driving it in pilots helmet. This was a bit more fun than a STAB.
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Cool, what about BAOR crew (and Late War British crew for the CT15A)?
Ask me on the relevant threads and I will happily answer. Otherwise it get confusing........for me :D
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I like the new boat.
Looks like I need to build a bigger river :D
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The year before the plague, we went touristing to Vietnam and the rivers are very wide down by the coast. Our day trip on the Mekong was across a very large expanse of water but there were many narrow channels feeding in to the main flow. The local women took us on a very narrow boat trip down some of those channels.
I like the new boat.
Looks like I need to build a bigger river :D
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The year before the plague, we went touristing to Vietnam and the rivers are very wide down by the coast. Our day trip on the Mekong was across a very large expanse of water but there were many narrow channels feeding in to the main flow. The local women took us on a very narrow boat trip down some of those channels.
For a minute I thought you were going to say they were using an LSSC lol
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I might have felt more comfortable in that.
For a minute I thought you were going to say they were using an LSSC lol
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I might have felt more comfortable in that.
Especially if it had all the guns. ;)
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“ Actually its an LSSC - Light SEAL Support Craft rather than a STAB. My bad ;D”
Or in other words it’s another cool toy to insert your SEALs with. :D
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“ Actually its an LSSC - Light SEAL Support Craft rather than a STAB. My bad ;D”
Or in other words it’s another cool toy to insert your SEALs with. :D
Slightly bigger and LOTS more weapons lol
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@Poiter50
I work in purchasing and we have many suppliers in Vietnam. I used to visit three or more times a year.
I have visited the Meekong are on boats and also soe of the museums.
I have not been since 2017 but I will be going back once the Covid situation allows.
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Mick, a beautiful country with beautiful people. They fought for their freedom against a corrupt southern government propped up by a scared world power. I agreed with the reasons the West went to war but once the nature of the southern government became apparent, my sympathies evaporated. I dislike a dictatorship, no matter which side it is on.
I was scheduled to go there as part of the Aussie military but the changing politics in Australia changed that, so I missed out. Still had a great time while in the Green machine but never again.
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Ask me on the relevant threads and I will happily answer. Otherwise it get confusing........for me :D
Sorry, getting too excited...
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Sorry, getting too excited...
Seriously not a problem. Read my answer on the other thread ;)
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Lockdown Deals
In these very strange times that we live in many people are suffering from being stuck at home and listening to the doom and gloom on the television and radio and of course social media. Added to this many people have economic issues due their work being disrupted.
Empress Miniatures can do little to help or support our customers other than continue to ship out our toys as fast as we can and many customers have mentioned that we are helping their mental state so that's great. Added to this we are still selling the NHS charity figure and donating to the Nurses Charity.
However we have thought of a small way to help people in general. We do get quite a lot of odd and sod's figures that build up over the years. Usually these simply return to the melting pot although I have always been a bit sad about that. Therefore we are going to sell one off packs of figures. Each pack of figures are as in the picture and there will only be one of each so when its gone it will not be repeated. These packs offer customers a reasonably logical unit to collect and a good chance to perhaps but a period that you might want to try out.
The packs are significantly discounted. These will be constantly added to so if you cannot see the period you are interested in just keep looking because it will appear at some point.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/lockdown-deals-139-c.asp
First packs are largely Vietnam so you may be interested. First come first served.
Some examples.
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ALL THE DEALS SOLD OUT WITHIN AN HOUR .....SORRY :o
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ALL THE DEALS SOLD OUT WITHIN AN HOUR .....SORRY :o
LOL - That excallated quickly!
MACV, SEALs and a LSSC next week?!? Very cool to hear - Standing by!
Any estimate when the civies will hit the shop - Trying to plan around the whole post-brexit situation ;)
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ALL THE DEALS SOLD OUT WITHIN AN HOUR .....SORRY :o
My wallet thanks you ^__^.
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Todays release is VIETNAM NAVY SEALS.
6 figures in this particular team. They are carrying examples of the weapons that were commonly carried. Plus some are wearing LEVI jeans which was also common for Navy SEAL's.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IN THE PICTURE.
1) Carrying an AK47 was reasonably common so that the noise it made firing was not specifically alarming to the enemy. The figure is aiming a Colt Commander pistol with suppressor.
2) M60 LMG with a helicopter ammunition pannier in his back pack. This field modification enables heavy and constant fire is necessary.
3) M16. Wearing LEVIS.
4) M16 radio operator (RTO) throwing a coloured smoke grenade. Wearing LEVIS.
5) Carrying a LAWS and Sawn down pump action shotgun. Using a Stoner LMG with 150 round drum magazine. Wearing LEVIS.
6) M16 with attached grenade launcher.
Moving forward we will be releasing versions of these guys in an LSSC assault boat.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-special-forces-136-c...
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They look the part, like a younger Magnum lol more expense!
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They look very good. :-*
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Love the porn mustache on some of those guys. :D
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very nice indeed!!! Must haves alas I just ordered some figures last week so these have to wait for my next order
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Very nice indeed! My new favourite sculpts in this range.
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They're lovely 8)
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Nice figures.
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Thanks chaps ;)
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Just released;
MACV SOG team. 28mm
Highly Classified - Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group. These groups are what most people think of when they thing of Special Forces in Vietnam. The teams were drawn from army triple volunteers, Army, Airborne, Special Forces and teams were mixed with indigenous troops such as Montagnards.
6 man RT team. From left to right;
1) US point man 1. Wearing NVA equipment and parts of NVA uniform to disguise himself and carrying an AKM.
2) US personnel with STEN gun suppressed.
3) US personnel with Chi Com RPD LMG, Sawn off GL tucked in top of back pack.
4) Indigenous interpreter and second point man with AKM and wearing NVA uniform and equipment.
5) Indigenous team leader with XM177E2
6) Indigenous rear guard with XM177E2
https://www.empressminiatures.com/us-special-forces-136-c...
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Doh!
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Very cool.
To think I just about ordered the SEALS yesterday. I think I have better hang back some days to see what other goodies are in store. To save a bit on postage and the post brexit extortion money the post now charges.
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Well that's just typical, I put an order in last night and then you show off these excellent figures this morning lol
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The SEALS and MACV SOG are a must have for my painting list. :-*
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For me too MACV SOG and Seals definitely on the next order.
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Thanks chaps. More releases next week so stay tuned. ;)
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Looking really good! The shopping list just got bigger lol
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Yeah SOG is where its at. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIY9oNlUD5A
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OOoh very good! I see at least one opportunity to convert one of those into a Willem Dafoe from one of the older Jack Ryan movies. lol
Great figures, I'll get them as soon as my grey mountain is a bit more manageable. :D
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OOoh very good! I see at least one opportunity to convert one of those into a Willem Dafoe from one of the older Jack Ryan movies. lol
Great figures, I'll get them as soon as my grey mountain is a bit more manageable. :D
Never then lol lol lol lol lol
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I'll get them as soon as my grey mountain is a bit more manageable. :D
It is radiation shielding...
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I got mine yesterday afternoon, they are beautiful little sculpts! Top notch all round! Empress Miniatures and Paul Hicks are a winning combination! They are truly bringing Vietnam to life ;)
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Indeed Russ!
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Thanks chaps :-*
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So LRRPS and U.S. army are not far behind then? Or are we going to do the Secret war in Borneo first with Gurkhas, Malay, British troops and Indonesian opposition? ;D
(Oh a more series note, what's the out look for US and ARVAN regulars? Because I just found out that we have a baby on the way, and might have to put my hobby orders on hold in the near future. ::))
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Both Army and ARVN will be in the range but difficult to say exactly when although ARVN will be first in that queue.
Cannot give times at the moment until the world calms down a little. We also have a lot more Nam stuff to get through first.
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Cool, I will pick them up eventually then. Even if I might have to wait a little bit longer then I want to. :D
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Cool, I will pick them up eventually then. Even if I might have to wait a little bit longer then I want to. :D
Congratulations by the way ;)
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Todays release is the much requested civilians.
civilians played a major part in the conflict that raged in Vietnam, which obviously should include the French Indo China and WW2 periods. Civilians found themselves caught in the middle and suffered tremendously at the hands of all armies.
Therefore it is only right that we not only include them in the range but also page homage to their suffering.
In the same room in the shop is the sprue of heads in sun hats. These can be used to fit on the civilian heads if wished to make many variants.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/dan-sur---civillians...
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Order placed
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Gorgeous!! Just ordered the lot and MACV SOC and SEALs , a lot to paint now!!
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Brilliant additions to the range! Cheers Paul’s (both of you!)
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Very nice figures, perfect for a "quiet" village...
Do you have plans for more ANZAC figures, for a third squad?
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Love the new figures.
A question if I may ask,
any date for ARVN figures?
Thanks.
PS Sorry Paul, I miss the post where your addressed the ARVN.
My bad.
I will be patient. :)
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I just found out that we have a baby on the way, and might have to put my hobby orders on hold in the near future. ::))
Congrats!
Yes, children are an even more expensive hobby. Sadly child labour laws don’t allow you to defray the costs as in the past so you pretty well have to take the hit on the chin. Wait until they have pastimes and hobbies of their own that you pay for like roller skating, football and losing expensive items of school uniform on a regular basis. It never ends.
Still they are a fun pastime, quite rewarding actually.
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Civvies are pretty good btw.
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Cool, I will pick them up eventually then. Even if I might have to wait a little bit longer then I want to. :D
Congrats! Welcome to the club. It's not too bad... most of the time. Just be prepared to redefine what tired is :o
Most of parenting seems to be asking: "Why is this wet?"
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Great looking civs! ;)
And thanks everyone for the congratulations. Looking forward to it, even the parts that are going to suck. lol
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It is more rewarding then you think , then on the other hand don't think that the problems get less they just get different....
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It is more rewarding then you think , then on the other hand don't think that the problems get less they just get different....
They just get more expensive problems lol
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Just as long as they are not half the hell raiser their mom and I were as youths..... :o
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keeping my fingers crossed for you ;)
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keeping my fingers crossed for you ;)
Thanks! :D
Oh and another Question, are M14 armed USMC in the works?
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They better be. The Dominican Republic doesn’t just invade itself you know*. :D
* Actually, depending on your definition, it arguably does.
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They better be. The Dominican Republic doesn’t just invade itself you know*. :D
* Actually, depending on your definition, it arguably does.
Or the 2nd undeclared Korean War.
Oh and apparently M-14a were Used by Argentine soldiers of C Company, Regimento (Especial) de Infanteria 25 in the Falklands War at the Battle of Goose Green and San Carlos.
And with some head or head cover changes, they can work for a few other nations troops being real or imagined that is from the 1960s to the 2000.
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Oh and apparently M-14a were Used by Argentine soldiers of C Company, Regimento (Especial) de Infanteria 25 in the Falklands War at the Battle of Goose Green and San Carlos.
Now that's interesting for our future Falklands range ;)
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Now that's interesting for our future Falklands range ;)
Happy to help. Will there be a urgent fury and Panama as well. Or you leaving those for UnderFire? :P
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Hmmm, I’d take that with a large grain of salt, whatever Wikipedia might claim. I’ve heard that before and it’s been suggested that the handful (if that) of weapons concerned were actually BM-59s, the Italian updated 7.62mm version of the Garand. It look very similar to the M-14. Limited numbers of BM-59s along with SAFNs converted to 7.62mm were in the Argentine inventory. I’ve seen one myself in the excellent Museo de Armas de la Nación in Buenos Aires.
M-14s were not a standard weapon in Argentina,in fact there’s nothing to suggest they were ever in inventory. I’ve visited the Museo de Armas twice and it is incredibly well stocked, I’m fairly certain I would have noticed an M-14, I almost bought one 30 years ago. Argentina had a very robust arms industry in the 1970s and produced their own FALs so why they would issue a non-standard weapon to a company group is beyond me.
Of course one could always ask the chap on TMP who claims to have been a Malvinas vet, despite his name not appearing on the very comprehensive list of those who served, run by the Argentinean Ministry of Defence. If memory serves, TMP's most prolific poster was a special forces, police sniper cum lawyer/commando, one man Exocet, etc, etc. He’d be bound to know for sure. ;)
Failing that, there’s a pretty good Spanish language website with a fairly exhaustive review of weapons in use by the Argentine and Chilean armed forces at the time of the ‘Beagle Conflict’ AKA Operación Soberanía, the almost-war between the two in 1978.
https://aquellasarmasdeguerra.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/algunas-armas-utilizadas-durante-el-conflicto-del-beagle-la-guerra-que-no-fue-1978/
Worth looking at and a fascinating confrontation. It even sparked one of my favourite films, Mi mejor enimigo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0CisInqimA
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Derp! I actually knew about the Argentines having and using BM-59s. And I have shot one before.
And I had a conversation with a gun shop owner down the road from me that, he didn't own a M14, but one of those Italian mag fed Garand's a few years back. ;D
I just got all excited when I read that, because I was trying to find other nations that used M-14's.
I mean many Central American, South American, Caribbean, African and Asian/Pacific nations were given them. So The Marine's when not spreading democracy, can pull double duty in junta imagination games. :D
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The Empress Vietnam range needs some of these!!!! :D
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Cue Toy Dolls?
You know the drill. Build it and they will come.
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Already got ekephants in the Mutiny range so easy to do .
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Will you be doing the ACAV version?
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50956225008_eb0cedebb8_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kCPYpA)
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Mmmmmm need a bigger helicopter :?
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Mmmmmm need a bigger helicopter :?
How about a Jumbo jet? lol
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indeed a bigger chopper is needed
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How about a Jumbo jet? lol
lol lol lol lol lol
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indeed a bigger chopper is needed
Nah....
(You knew I was going to look ;))
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How about a Jumbo jet? lol
8) lol
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Nah....
(You knew I was going to look ;))
o_o lol lol
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There you go.
Elephants and baggage from the Empress Mutiny range and handlers from the Vietnamese civilian range.
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Brilliant.. no idea what I’ll do with them but I’ll need at least 2! lol .... they go on the list 👍
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50956225008_eb0cedebb8_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kCPYpA)
Would it be anachronistic to be running round it with a rope to bring it down?
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Very nice indeed
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Will you be doing the ACAV version?
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50956225008_eb0cedebb8_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kCPYpA)
Surely that’s the elephanti-aircraft version? Dumbo vs flak, the game Disney didn’t want you to have.
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Empress Miniatures elephants from the Indian Mutiny range now living in Vietnam. The people are from the Vietnamese civilian range.
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Good idea. Perhaps the Indian Mahout/s could have Vetnamese heads as well to give us more options?
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Judging by the look on that woman’s face, I’d say she’s probably stood too close to the rear of Nellie or possibly stood in something Nellie left to make the roses grow. :D
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Good idea. Perhaps the Indian Mahout/s could have Vetnamese heads as well to give us more options?
Sadly wrong clothes and foot wear.
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New artwork :D
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:-*
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Worried about that :-* symbol for the back end of an elephant. lol
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To Bombay a travelling circus came
They brought an intelligent elephant
and Nellie was her name
One dark night she slipped her iron chain,
and off she ran to Hindustan
and was never seen again... :D
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The beginning of the 28mm Empress Miniatures VC forces is due to arrive in the shape of local village based figures that link to our recently released civilians.
These guys and girls link into the recently released civilian packs and so the gamer can suddenly turn his villagers into a defensive force against any enemy that he thinks a threat.
Obviously these people work for many periods and Asian countries and for a long period of time. They are armed with weapons that were common following WW2 in the Vietnam region and so work for FIC and beyond the Vietnam war.
Therefore they work for early ARVN militia, Ruff Puffs, and of course local village based VC.
These should be due out in a couple of weeks so stay tuned.
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These are really great - well done.
I think it is a very clever idea. :o
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This is outstanding indeed!!!!! What great scope for real guerrilla fighting!!
Could they stand in for PF ( popular forces) too?
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This is outstanding indeed!!!!! What great scope for real guerrilla fighting!!
Could they stand in for PF ( popular forces) too?
Basically anything.
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Very nicely done, really well thought out range.
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Brilliant... :-*
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PF and RF and even their predecessors like the Civil Guard tended to be uniformed and their weapons somewhat less eclectic than those here. They were centrally armed and equipped and typically trained in government regional training centres, usually with foreign advisors.
The larger religious sects that maintained their own paramilitary forces in the 1950s and even up to the start of the 1960s, like the Cao Đài and Hòa Hảo also had a preference for uniforms. Photos of the Cao Đài militia in the 1950s and very early sixties show uniforms essentially indistinguishable from French colonial forces of the time.
Very nice, the inclusion of an MG-34 is brill. Quite significant numbers showed up during the war. You should do an AA mounted version, there are a number of photos of them being used in that fashion, even up in the North.
I’m hoping that there will soon be some more with less nón lá hats, a few more in shorts and a mix of WW2 Soviet and US small arms particularly carbines.
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...early ARVN militia, Ruff Puffs...
did these have female fighters, too? Or male and female mixed?
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Lovely, a great stat to my regional force part timers.
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Carlos a head swop with different head gear is no problem. What kind of headgear would you use?
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Pretty much every photo I’ve seen of VC in action or posed for action shows them either bareheaded or wearing a floppy bush hat. I have seen the odd one with a khăn rằn scarf wrapped around the head as a turban, which was also a popular peasant style in the southern parts of the country.
I’m not suggesting that nón lá were not worn by VC. They certainly were at times, especially by local guerillas trying to blend in but they don’t appear to have been used much in combat. None of the photographs of KIA that I’ve seen has show them and that includes plenty of photos taken at ambush sites ir as part of battlefield recovery, ie not posed photos of the dead. It makes sense as the nón lá would not be a very practical item to fight in.
Still, it’s a popular trope so nothing wrong with having chaps in conical hats in your units.
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I have come across references to them being used in action. One was for an ambushed Marine unit with a wounded Marine playing dead when the VC checked the bodies and he makes mention of them wearing the hats. Have the full quote somewhere.
However I agree its illogical, despite Hollywood, that a trained jungle wise VC would go into action with such a bullet magnet however these guys are designed as village / local VC, the lowest of the low in military terms and so the hats work.
Also surprised that no one ever comments on OTHER, both plastic and metal, ranges that have front line heavy core figures wearing them?
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Don’t worry, I have. I also get what you are doing with these and it’s fine. They are locals, defending their village, it’s clearly going to be a come as you are type party invitation.
Iffy are the Rubicon ones. Armed to the teeth with AKs and RPG-7s yet wholly clad in black peasant attire. Admittedly the hats are optional but one of the styles included is one that’s common to southern China, not so much Vietnam. Who knows, as they are Hong Kong based maybe it’s a wry but subtle political comment, in tiny bits of plastic? :)
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It makes sense as the nón lá would not be a very practical item to fight in.
On the other hand, a floppy hat or scarf won’t readily double as a saucepan.
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Double post
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Not sure I would try using a woven hat as a saucepan and I wouldn’t advise anyone else does either.
Just in case you didn't read that particular product safety guideline. ;)
A floppy hat makes almost as good a bucket on the other hand.
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In my opinion, and rough understanding of it all, VC would wear these hats to blend in in villages and countryside, and likely just pull them off to fight for practical reasons. I don't think it's much of a stretch to imagine these "villagers" quickly dropping their hoes and pulling out their shooting irons as a marine platoon advances into the killzone!
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Not sure I would try using a woven hat as a saucepan and I wouldn’t advise anyone else does either.
Sorry, I must have been thinking of ashigaru. Their hats were the same shape but not the same material.
With regard to the VC’s conical headgear, in view of the frequently putrescent state of their rice rations, at least according to Sir Max Hastings, it seems reasonable to suppose that the woven hats were both tastier and more nutritious. This may in part account for the guerillas being frequently bareheaded.
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Nothing like the splish splosh of cute little Otters.
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nice vehicle
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...early ARVN militia, Ruff Puffs...
did these have female fighters, too? Or male and female mixed?
Yes, you can see them in the background of the attached picture of Madame Nhu and also in this post on the RVNHS blog http://rvnhs.blogspot.com/2015/12/nhan-dan-tu-ve-peoples-self-defense.html also some very late war examples from around 3 miniutes onwards in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL9bZymg0QY
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Apologies for my site search fail, but do you do an NVA sniper/sharp shooter?
I am after one (or more) for an "point of interest" result.
Of course I could be the victim of too much film and television and they would be rare.
Thanks.
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Not yet.
They are on the to do list. ;)
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Not yet.
They are on the to do list. ;)
Thanks.
In the meantime the bare headed chap kneeling and aiming with an SKS has gained an Anvil Industries 'scope (sniper carbine anyone?).
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Some Vietnamese Civilians from The Empress Miniatures 28mm range.
One of those conflicts in which civilians seem to play a crucial role.
Look out for a big release of new packs after the weekend 😉
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More;
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They look brilliant - well done :-*
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Looking really good ;)
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They do look good!
Now we just need one of these to sort out which ones are the VC sympathisers or cadres.
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Very nice.
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Cheers guys.
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indeed very nice !
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We have the armed civilians & local VC.
These figures work for the French Indo China period as well as Vietnam.
Each pack of civilians links to an armed version of the same figure making for interesting scenario options.
This pack is DS7 has 4 armed figures.
ARMED WITH, from left to right;
7.62mm MAT-49 SMG French.
Sten gun British.
Model 1936 CR39 carbine French.
7.5mm Chatelleraut type M29 LMG French.
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already ordered some - as soon as I saw it on Facebook yesterday. ;D
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Cool idea of armed/non-armed versions.
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Ordered each pack twice. so that I can convert them in the same way I did with the unarmed ones.
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Cheers guys :-*
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Some support for the village.
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Hi Paul,
I was going to write an email with this question but figured I might not be the only one interested in your answer or indeed the only one asking you about this.
How is Empress handling the post Brexit shipping VAT situation. I know some companies have started to get European retailers or getting VAT registered. I am quite keen on getting all the new civillian and Spec. ops. guys. But less keen on the 18£ ransom note from the Danish post office.
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Ship via a port in West Africa and then on via Gioia Tauro in Italy or even Bulgaria is how the Colombians and Mexicans manage it. Let’s face it, no mule is going to swallow 30 condoms full of miniatures. You might end up paying VAT on the pallets of terracotta tiles or tins of tomatoes the figures come packed in though. ;)
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We have distributors already established in the EU, for example Atlantica in Madrid is the biggest, and we are just sending the first stock order to a new one in Holland.
Tabletopper.nl
Street: Haedstrjitte 16
Zip: 9008SP
Town: Reduzum
Province: Friesland
Country: The Netherlands
Website: www.tabletopper.nl
Facebook: (3) Tabletopper.nl | Facebook
If you do want details on purchasing from us directly e mail us on mail@empressminiatures.com for details. We are still getting a lot of orders, infact above average which is a bit of a surprise lol
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Ship via a port in West Africa and then on via Gioia Tauro in Italy or even Bulgaria is how the Colombians and Mexicans manage it. Let’s face it, no mule is going to swallow 30 condoms full of miniatures. You might end up paying VAT on the pallets of terracotta tiles or tins of tomatoes the figures come packed in though. ;)
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
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We have the armed civilians & local VC.
These figures work for the French Indo China period as well as Vietnam.
Each pack of civilians links to an armed version of the same figure making for interesting scenario options.
This pack is DS10 has 4 armed figures.
Left to right;
Moisin Nagant bolt action rifle Soviet.
Model 1936 CR39 carbine French.
M1 carbine USA.
Lee Enfield No4 MK1 rifle British.
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I like those a lot!
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Sweet!
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I have just received the VC so I now have 8 civilians who can change to VC.
I am very pleased with the figures and the concept. :-*
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Thanks guys. Glad you like the idea ;)
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Very Cool.
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Cheers. ;)
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Question for the hive mind.
The trumpeter H-34 has a decal set with a red wings transfer for the nose. See the illustration. Is the number in the middle, 91, a reference to a unit or is it the number for the helicopter so each one has a different number????
Just finishing three of the beasts and would like to know if I need to re number two of them. Hope so as its good for identifying the individual models on the table.
Cheers, Paul.
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Three at the same time is impressive, I'm just painting one of the Italeri H-34 kits. Lots of swearing involved...
I'd have thought the tail markings would be to ID the squadron and then have a different number for each aircraft, so don't have them all as YS 22 and have a different long number as well, but that's a guess.
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Trust me three of these is life changing. lol
Its the big red number on the nose cone thats the intriguing one. If its the unit then thats great.
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The usual formula for Marine helicopter squadrons is a two letter tail code that identifies the squadron and a double digit number for the individual bird. You often see that on the tail and nose.
The illustration shows a bird from HMM-162, from the tail code YS. The identifying number of the bird is 22, marked high up on the tail, a common location and in this case above the cargo bay/ cabin. The red winged 91 is a mystery to me. A very similar scheme shows up in footage of UH-34s lifting marines into Santo Domingo in 1965 seen here:
https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675033534_United-States-Marine-Corps_arrange-equipment_South-Vietnam_Da-Nang
The footage seems to suggest that the winged number matches the individual number of the bird.
More research needed. Might be specific to a wing or a squadron embarked on a given ship.
Now the bad news. First off, HMM -162 departed Vietnam in 1965. They were part of the batch of original marine helicopter squadrons sent to lift SVN troops (Operation Shufly). So if you are looking for a squadron that operated later in the period to match your troops that isn’t the best choice. Secondly the available photos of HMM-162 in Vietnam don’t show the red wings on the nose. That’s backed up by a comment I read by a guy doing remarkably detailed illustrations of H-34s who suggests the scheme was in use stateside.
Less dramatic but if you want to use that set of decals, you could just omit the wings from the front. You’ll need to come up with variations of the individual aircraft numbers but I’m sure there’s something in the spare decal box.
Hope that helps.
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By the by what’s the Trumpter kit like? I’ve been eyeing one off locally. I know it’s a rebox but I’m hoping it’s a better build than the Italeri one which I need to repair and finish. I went a bit silly at a recent sale and now have a stash of Vietnam era aircraft, many of dubious usefulness awaiting construction, including an Air America Pilatus Porter and a T-28 Trojan.
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Stateside at MCAS New River but looks like the number in the red wings is indeed an individual number within the squadron.
https://popasmoke.com/visions/displayimage.php?album=98&pid=5012#top_display_media
There’s also a couple of photos showing HMM-162 birds in Vietnam (no red wings)
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Thats brilliant, but annoying lol. Great piece of film.
Huge thanks for that. There are two other sets of markings so I had best check those out although they are not as funky. :-[
The Trumpeter model is VERY good and well detailed. The instructions are good although slightly misleading in parts as they do explain either or parts very well.
Two areas that I had issues with are the dash board and the engine.
Engine. Having taken two hours to make the engine Its not actually shown in the finished model so I do not bother with the other two. However that means that the exhaust does not poke through the hole in the nose cone. Thats can be sorted by using the second nose cone supplied which does not have the hole or simply gluing the exhaust on the onside so its looks right.
Dashboard. I had a struggle with getting this to fit when the two halves of the body were put together so on two I 'made' it fit. On the third I got a fit but it pushed the cockpit assembly forward ever so slightly so the rear of the cockpit does not fit perfectly , by 2mm , within the housing. This is hidden when the canopy is fitted. I found swearing helped a lot. ;)
The cockpit seats are also set back a long way so a pilot crew figure sits a long way back and so his feet are a very long way from the pedals. I obviously used Empress crew figure and positioned them slightly forward to a middle position which works well when the canopy is fitted.
Despite this its a great model and worth getting. I just have to work out what the extra bits are all for that are left in the box. I suspect the instructions are not as complete as they were with the original.
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Question for the hive mind.
The trumpeter H-34 has a decal set with a red wings transfer for the nose. See the illustration. Is the number in the middle, 91, a reference to a unit or is it the number for the helicopter so each one has a different number????
Just finishing three of the beasts and would like to know if I need to re number two of them. Hope so as its good for identifying the individual models on the table.
Cheers, Paul.
And following. As have one to do . Have you come up with a system for mounting it for aerial use? And are you thinking of replacing the rotors with a suitable discs . - that’s on my plans at the moment I think
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Thats brilliant, but annoying lol. Great piece of film.
Huge thanks for that. There are two other sets of markings so I had best check those out although they are not as funky. :-[
The Trumpeter model is VERY good and well detailed. The instructions are good although slightly misleading in parts as they do explain either or parts very well.
Two areas that I had issues with are the dash board and the engine.
Engine. Having taken two hours to make the engine Its not actually shown in the finished model so I do not bother with the other two. However that means that the exhaust does not poke through the hole in the nose cone. Thats can be sorted by using the second nose cone supplied which does not have the hole or simply gluing the exhaust on the onside so its looks right.
Dashboard. I had a struggle with getting this to fit when the two halves of the body were put together so on two I 'made' it fit. On the third I got a fit but it pushed the cockpit assembly forward ever so slightly so the rear of the cockpit does not fit perfectly , by 2mm , within the housing. This is hidden when the canopy is fitted. I found swearing helped a lot. ;)
The cockpit seats are also set back a long way so a pilot crew figure sits a long way back and so his feet are a very long way from the pedals. I obviously used Empress crew figure and positioned them slightly forward to a middle position which works well when the canopy is fitted.
Despite this its a great model and worth getting. I just have to work out what the extra bits are all for that are left in the box. I suspect the instructions are not as complete as they were with the original.
Cheers! Good to know. Should probably rescue the Italeri one first and finish my Skyhawk.
There is at least one aftermarket 1/48 decal sheet for Vietnam H-34s:
http://www.caracalmodels.com/cd48039.html
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(https://wargamesgazette.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/img_7850.jpg)
Above is the model as I finished it. You can read more about the build here: https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/09/03/sikorsky-h-34/
and here:
https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/10/13/sikorsky-h-34-2/
if you like
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Above is the model as I finished it. You can read more about the build here: https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/09/03/sikorsky-h-34/
and here:
https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/10/13/sikorsky-h-34-2/
if you like
Thanks - that’s useful
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welcome
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This is my progress so far; with an Italieri 1/48 H-34.
(https://i.ibb.co/RvkjwxH/WIP-Kingbee-1-LR.jpg)
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Ah! A Kingbee ride for your SOG? Nice one!
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(https://wargamesgazette.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/img_7850.jpg)
Above is the model as I finished it. You can read more about the build here: https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/09/03/sikorsky-h-34/
and here:
https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/10/13/sikorsky-h-34-2/
if you like
Excellent. I still cannot make up my mind on the markings so have started a Skyraider :D
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Did manage to get some stuff painted over the weekend.
An Empress T54.
Also one with it parked next to an M48 Patton.
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They look good. :)
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Jolly nice! I like the foliage. Must borrow that idea.
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Cheers guys.
The cammo is not actually attached but poked through the bars so it can be removed for urban action o_o
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I second (or is it third) that! Great work all around and the removable foliage camo is a very nice touch.
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Cheers for that. :D
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really nice heavy stuff!
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:-*
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Very nice.
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...Yes, yes...
But what about that boat? ;)
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...Yes, yes...
But what about that boat? ;)
Oh yes, that boat. Enquiring minds want to know...
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Not sure you deserve to know because you did not gush enough over my artistic endeavours with the tank ::)
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By George! As all wargamers over a certain age know, ‘gushing’ can only be applied to renaissance armies. ;)
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lol lol lol lol lol
Showing your age there. lol
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..it was a good tank and I liked it, you know how hard it is to find a tank you like...
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Thanks Ash your gushing is over whelming. o_o
The boat is moulded and the crew are going through the moulding processes so a few weeks yet.
Here are some very bad pictures that we used to sort out crew positions so they do not show weapons, arms, etc but you get the idea I am sure.
Each figure is linked to the original pack of SEAL1 except the driver who stays in the boat.
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:-* goodness me that's awesome
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Thanks Ash your gushing is over whelming. o_o
I tried to do it in the style of Col. Kilgore...
It's a very nice looking tank, I have one sitting in my 'wish list', thinking of an African paint job.
The boat is moulded and the crew are going through the moulding processes so a few weeks yet.
Here are some very bad pictures that we used to sort out crew positions so they do not show weapons, arms, etc but you get the idea I am sure.
Each figure is linked to the original pack of SEAL1 except the driver who stays in the boat.
Didn't realise there would be troops for it, bonus points..!
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Never get off the boat!
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Given all the attendant horrors that accompany cruise ships, ferries and weekend yachtsman, I say ‘never get on the fucking thing in the first place’ is better advice.
I do like the look of that one though.
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Good point. But I did meet my wife on a ferry from Italy from Greece. So they do have their uses. ;D
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By George! As all wargamers over a certain age know, ‘gushing’ can only be applied to renaissance armies. ;)
Just seen this. lol
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Given all the attendant horrors that accompany cruise ships, ferries and weekend yachtsman, I say ‘never get on the fucking thing in the first place’ is better advice.
I do like the look of that one though.
Indeed. I like boats et cetera,just not with other people.
Paul this looks a bit good!
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Good point. But I did meet my wife on a ferry from Italy from Greece. So they do have their uses. ;D
Is this the point where you tell us that you were passing a small, rocky, island when these women started singing to you and you were captivated by their song to the point of going man overboard? :D
I once, successfully I’m proud to say, attempted to pick up a woman in the back of an RAAF Caribou. The noise being deafening, my wooing attempts had to be made by writing notes on brown paper lunch bags and airsickness bags. On the night of the date itself it all was going swimmingly well until her Romanian father arrived at about midnight to ensure his daughter made it home. >:(
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I once, successfully I’m proud to say, attempted to pick up a woman in the back of an RAAF Caribou. The noise being deafening, my wooing attempts had to be made by writing notes on brown paper lunch bags and airsickness bags. On the night of the date itself it all was going swimmingly well until her Romanian father arrived at about midnight to ensure his daughter made it home. >:(
I hate when that happens. Had something similar with a British diplomats daughter I met in Amsterdam on a school trip when I was 17. lol
But no, no aquatic chores tempted me to leave the deck of the ship.
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I fear our pasts return to haunt us. It won’t be long before I am that guy going to rescue his daughter. Then again, given how forceful my daughter’s personality can be*, I kind of pity tye first bloke to date her.
* Fatherly way of saying she can be a right pain in the arse.
Now back to the war. Any news on the Australian front?
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I fear our pasts return to haunt us. It won’t be long before I am that guy going to rescue his daughter. Then again, given how forceful my daughter’s personality can be*, I kind of pity tye first bloke to date her.
* Fatherly way of saying she can be a right pain in the arse.
I have three daughters. Been there, seen it, done it, got the T shirt :)
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The boat looks good, and the matching figures is a good idea.
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The boat looks good, and the matching figures is a good idea.
Thanking muchly.
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This is just plain gorgeous!! The boat is first class and the figures are just unbelievable good!!!!
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Thanks Ash your gushing is over whelming. o_o
The boat is moulded and the crew are going through the moulding processes so a few weeks yet.
Here are some very bad pictures that we used to sort out crew positions so they do not show weapons, arms, etc but you get the idea I am sure.
Each figure is linked to the original pack of SEAL1 except the driver who stays in the boat.
Wow - As in... WOW!! Very cool indeed!
...I guess a few weeks is dooable ;) ...But only just!
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Cheers guys. Glad you like. ;)
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An Empress 28mm - 1/50 scale - PT 76.
This model is based upon pictures of two PT 76 of the PAVN 202nd armoured regiment destroyed by M48 Patton of the US 1/69th Armoured Battalion during the battle of Ben Het, 3rd March 1969.
The interesting thing was that the PT 76 in the photos taken after had not markings that I could see so easy to paint 😆
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nice bit of machinery :-*
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The LAW teams now have something to do lol
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Not if I get you first lol
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Jolly nice!
Fast forward to 1972 and you can blow up more of them with TOW missiles in the same spot. Empress already make TOW missiles. Just need ARVN crew.
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Cheers Carlios! ....... noted 👍
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You can also strap one to a helicopter ;)
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Ah but that’s another project. Academy do an OH-6/ Hughes 500 that comes with reasonably suitable TOW launchers. As you can pick these up for around $15 AUD, I have a small stockpile of them. One day I’ll get around to converting a cheap Hobby Boss Huey into one of the TOW trials unit gunships. Cool looking chopper with pretty wild camo schemes to boot.
https://www.angelfire.com/ga2/vnhistory/2RAC.html
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That would dominate a game.
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Well you just need to sell a few more of those 12.7mm AAMG packs to even things up.
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Some easy to make Napalm.
Wire wool or heavy duty wool.
Orange fluorescent spray paint. ( my camera made these look redder than they actually are.)
Woosh!!!
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Paul, what does it smell like in the morning? :D
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Paraffin!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jts9suWIDlU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jts9suWIDlU)
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Thanks Mick.
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Great photo! Talk about danger close. :-*
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And Danger Close is being shown on Australian Free to Air TV this weekend for Anzac Day. Some good viewing over the weekend while we languish in a snap lockdown.
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I dunno, I’ve been to Northbridge. Not sure a lockdown would make much difference. All the atmosphere of Thomastown on a Tuesday night. :D
Commiserations anyway. Wouldn’t be necessary if Scotty from Marketing had shouldered the Feds’ responsibilities.
At any rate thanks for the heads up, I’ll give DC another go and see if it annoys me as much as it did in the cinema.
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I love the smell of napalm in the morning, smells like a box full of dead moles eh Paul? ;)
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Skyraider now finished.
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The clicking noise you can hear is Ian desperately searching for a ZSU-57-2 in 1/50th
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The clicking noise you can hear is Ian desperately searching for a ZSU-57-2 in 1/50th
lol
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The clicking noise you can hear is Ian desperately searching for a ZSU-57-2 in 1/50th
lol lol lol lol He'd miss ;)
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Looks great! Does a victory lap around the village.
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lol lol lol lol He'd miss ;)
He’s right, I would..... lol
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Finally got my Marine helicopters finished (now onto the Air Cav ones of which there are far too many!!!!)
Huey's are Corgi
H34's are Trumpeter.
Crews are Empress Miniatures.
Having followed through the research on the red wing transfers on the front of the H34's Carlos was right the number in the middle identifies the specific aircraft. It should also match the numbers on the side, shown as 22. However the kit instructions are wrong and do not match the numbers. I therefore adopted a semi lazy solution of changing the nose cone numbers for identification on the table during a game but ignored the numbers on the side. They are marked as very early war and so pretty loud in colours but I do love Americana and these guys are a good example of that so I went with it. lol
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More.
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Love it!
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Cue the Wagner
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Cue the Wagner
I was going to say the same thing.
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Nice choppers!!! Have to do another H34 too.
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Wokka-wokka tastic! Impressive collection. :-*
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That is a lot of helicopters :o
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Wow!
Cue the Wagner
indeed....
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Yup. I'll have Ride of the Valkyrie in my head all afternoon...
Paul - I have been using all my willpower (and some of my wife's ;)) to avoid getting some of your Vietnam stuff. But I can feel my resolve weakening...any idea on when the US Army fellas will make an appearance in your store? I fear that will be my breaking point.... 8)
CapnJim
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Thanks guys. The transfers nearly killed me :?
Yup. I'll have Ride of the Valkyrie in my head all afternoon...
Paul - I have been using all my willpower (and some of my wife's ;)) to avoid getting some of your Vietnam stuff. But I can feel my resolve weakening...any idea on when the US Army fellas will make an appearance in your store? I fear that will be my breaking point.... 8)
CapnJim
We will be releasing US chaps in abundance but I want to get some lose ends completed first. eg the Marines and ANZACS finished. We are obviously infilling with other packs as we go along so stay tuned and there are a few other core ranges that will be infront of the army chaps. However when we get there I can guarantee it will be a complete range. ;)
If it make you feel better I have nearly 20 Hueys to sort for the Army release. lol
I am working through a set of rules and the one thing that is so noticeable is the different structures used by different groups. That makes games really interesting as US Army operate differently to Marines to ANZACS, etc which is very interesting to play and way above the usual games that players have fixed in their heads such as patrol in jungle gets ambushed etc. . Then when you look at NVA - VGC and at different times and who they are fighting its also adds layers of difference. All in all a very interesting conflict so I can only advise that you just take the plunge and 'get with the programme' :D
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We will be releasing US chaps in abundance but I want to get some lose ends completed first. eg the Marines and ANZACS finished. We are obviously infilling with other packs as we go along so stay tuned and there are a few other core ranges that will be infront of the army chaps. However when we get there I can guarantee it will be a complete range. ;)
If it make you feel better I have nearly 20 Hueys to sort for the Army release. lol
I am working through a set of rules and the one thing that is so noticeable is the different structures used by different groups. That makes games really interesting as US Army operate differently to Marines to ANZACS, etc which is very interesting to play and way above the usual games that players have fixed in their heads such as patrol in jungle gets ambushed etc. . Then when you look at NVA - VGC and at different times and who they are fighting its also adds layers of difference. All in all a very interesting conflict so I can only advise that you just take the plunge and 'get with the programme' :D
Thanks, Paul, for that update. In truth, I really am just waiting for the US Army fellas. But methinks I'll need to order the MACV-SOG and Seal boys in the meantime. One never knows what far distant land they may be called upon to visit and lay waste to... ;) At least until I get some PAVN or VC chaps.
CapnJim
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Any time line to see ARNV figures.
They played a little part in that war? :o :D
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Any time line to see ARNV figures.
They played a little part in that war? :o :D
Sure is ;)
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Sure is ;)
And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. lol lol lol
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Will we be getting any Marines armed with M14s?
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Will we be getting any Marines armed with M14s?
might be ::)
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might be ::)
Tease
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Tease
lol
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Cue music.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2CWfSLyjx8
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lol
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This can only mean it’s finally time for the Free World’s ultimate weapon:
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Some WIPs of Navy Corpsman and wounded Marines for Empress miniatures.
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Some WIPs of Navy Corpsman and wounded Marines for Empress miniatures.
Those WIPs are just oozing character :-*
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Wow. Paul you never fail to amaze me. Bet the Empress crew are chuffed! I for one would love to see a set of casualties.
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Wow. Paul you never fail to amaze me. Bet the Empress crew are chuffed! I for one would love to see a set of casualties.
Its OK lol
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All completed! Still one figure to finish for the set.
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Brilliant....
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Any one unsure of why the last pair is brilliant should look up the Don McCullin and John Olson photos from Hue.
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This maybe of interest; some background:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/19/magazine/vietnam-war-photo-wounded-marine.html
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Brilliant!
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Excellent
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Very nice!
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Amazing sculpting. :-*
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Any one unsure of why the last pair is brilliant should look up the Don McCullin and John Olson photos from Hue.
Thanks for sharing Dylan. I was unaware of the controversy surrounding the identity of the Marine on the door. That’s a fascinating little article.
We have the marines, well two of them and we have the tank. I suppose Paul will have to start work on sculpting a door. :D
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Thanks for sharing Dylan. I was unaware of the controversy surrounding the identity of the Marine on the door. That’s a fascinating little article.
We have the marines, well two of them and we have the tank. I suppose Paul will have to start work on sculpting a door. :D
We already have plenty of doors. ;)
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A door die range?
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Door stretcher range?
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Yes but then you’ll need to keep the political climate of the Vietnam War in mind and produce draft excluders and that will turn into a veritable parade of former Presidents and shock Scots.
Maybe a range of door Scotsmen? Ah, I forgot, you’ve already done that. :)
Now get back to packing my order.
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This maybe of interest; some background:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/19/magazine/vietnam-war-photo-wounded-marine.html
When I was researching the corpsmen figures for the pack. still one more to come by the way, I came across this article. First sigh of relief was confirmation of the toy octopus in the helmet lol
What struck me about this article was that it confirmed to me the danger of journalistic 'media' based history books as opposed to well researched books, which tend to be a lot drier when reading and some a cure for insomnia . Bowden's book on Hue is a must read. It is in the spirit of Band of Brothers and I highly recommend it . There were and I presume still are plans for HBO to make it into a min series. Hope so. However Bowden's journalistic style, that makes it so readable, (similar to Ambrose.) does unfortunately contain mistakes and dare I suggest creative writing to make the facts fit the story. Shame on me :o. In the context of the book they are not really an issue for the reader but as a piece of historic research it may be a problem. I have found a number of stories that are told in Bowden's book that are from other books, memoirs etc that have been tweaked to fit the Bowden book. Phase Line Green has had a number borrowed. There is nothing wrong with this and I still whole heartedly recommend the book but to the researcher one has to tread with care.
This story I find quite sad and I suspect the inaccuracy will now become the acknowledged truth. When this pack is released it will become our Empress Miniatures icon for the range and I will be acknowledging the true identities on the site ;)
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...When this pack is released it will become our Empress Miniatures icon for the range and I will be acknowledging the true identities on the site ;)
Good call.
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When I was researching the corpsmen figures for the pack. still one more to come by the way, I came across this article. First sigh of relief was confirmation of the toy octopus in the helmet lol
What struck me about this article was that it confirmed to me the danger of journalistic 'media' based history books as opposed to well researched books, which tend to be a lot drier when reading and some a cure for insomnia . Bowden's book on Hue is a must read. It is in the spirit of Band of Brothers and I highly recommend it . There were and I presume still are plans for HBO to make it into a min series. Hope so. However Bowden's journalistic style, that makes it so readable, (similar to Ambrose.) does unfortunately contain mistakes and dare I suggest creative writing to make the facts fit the story. Shame on me :o. In the context of the book they are not really an issue for the reader but as a piece of historic research it may be a problem. I have found a number of stories that are told in Bowden's book that are from other books, memoirs etc that have been tweaked to fit the Bowden book. Phase Line Green has had a number borrowed. There is nothing wrong with this and I still whole heartedly recommend the book but to the researcher one has to tread with care.
This story I find quite sad and I suspect the inaccuracy will now become the acknowledged truth. When this pack is released it will become our Empress Miniatures icon for the range and I will be acknowledging the true identities on the site ;)
Similar criticisms can be levelled at his Escobar book (Killing Pablo). Fitting the narrative around the facts and narrowing the focus to create heroic characters that readers will be drawn to. That said, It’s a good read, like all of his books. Guests of the Ayatollah is a less pacy read than the earlier works but I still enjoyed it.
Whatever demerits he may earn in terms of an absolute commitment to objective fact over narrative he makes up for with good writing. Compare and contrast Bowden’s Hue with the execrable prose of Nolan’s Battle of Hue.
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Whatever demerits he may earn in terms of an absolute commitment to objective fact over narrative he makes up for with good writing. Compare and contrast Bowden’s Hue with the execrable prose of Nolan’s Battle of Hue.
Totally agree ;)
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Those are brilliant sculpts. I never cease to be amazed by Mr Hicks sculpting skills and his ability to capture a photograph or an iconic image. There are further photographs of Marine casualties being treated in the rubble of the Dong Ba Tower (should Mr Hicks feel the need to make another casualties pack :D).
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Looks like Bowden made a deal with Michael Mann, who in turn signed the project with FX (which is now Disney, IIRC?)....should be interesting....though I would have been more pleased with HBO on the job.
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This will work for Disney then lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmILOL55xP0
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lol
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This will work for Disney then lol
Paul! Now you really are taking the Micky.
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Paul! Now you really are taking the Micky.
Moi? ;)
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The last Corpsman to finish off the pack. Need to complete a couple of other items for Empress before these get shipped.
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Paul, your sculpting is amazing :-*
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Nice sculpts again.
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Yep - very nice indeed. Looking forward to seeing what the army fellas are gonna look like. Someday... ;)
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Quite a lot of new releases coming through the system at the moment so stay tuned. ;)
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Very well researched and sculpted corpsmen and wounded. Well done both Pauls! :-*
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Hey Paul,
I was looking at your site and saw you had a Marine platoon and support listed.
A total of 47 figures.
How about a platoon deal with what you posted? :)
All the figures needed in one shot. :D
Plus you could do Weapon Support.
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Quite a lot of new releases coming through the system at the moment so stay tuned. ;)
Tease.... ;)
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Just getting our ducks in a row. ;)
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Just getting our ducks in a row. ;)
I told you that flocked wallpaper was coming back.
Next week we’ll discuss the best way to smash Toby Jugs and the pros and cons of retrofitting formica kitchen surfaces.
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I told you that flocked wallpaper was coming back.
Next week we’ll discuss the best way to smash Toby Jugs and the pros and cons of retrofitting formica kitchen surfaces.
I see the drugs are not working ::)
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I dunno. I have no memory of Woodstock, so they must have had some effect.
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Just getting our ducks in a row. ;)
Very well then. I suppose I'll just have to be patient - not my strongest suit, though.... 8)
I dunno. I have no memory of Woodstock, so they must have had some effect.
Um, I don't think those are the drugs to which Paul was referring. :D But I'm one of the new guys here, so what do I know?....
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Slightly off piste but I needed some 'special' figures for a game scenario this weekend and here they are.
The MP's in the armoured Mutt are designed to be signing along to a transistor radio in the back which you cannot see in the pictures.
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Interesting 8)
Are they just standard figures with glossy helmets or sculpted to be MPs?
Is the MUTT converted from the standard item with plasticard?
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The Mutt is armoured with plastic card.
The figures are all Empress existing Marines with heads from our moderns range and some extra sculpting of little bits such as the MP arm 'band'. Not sure what they called that as its like an upper sleeve.
Anyway all conversions of existing figures for my own use and a bit of fun. Not going on sale as we cover off Military Police in the range properly in the future.
Oh and I went for the glossy helmets as they had an iconic look. Very 1960's Bond film like. :)
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Nice job 8)
Not sure what they called that as its like an upper sleeve.
Brassard
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Nice job 8)
Brassard
Well done. ;)
I've been called worse.
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It is only Wednesday....
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lol lol lol
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It is only Wednesday....
Priceless..!
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I've been called worse.
Sorry Paul, I never realised you were listening at
the Tower Hamlets events. :)
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I had and have spies ;)
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Loving the armoured MUTT! :-*
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Loving the armoured MUTT! :-*
Cheers ;)
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Wait and see what he gets called on Saturday!
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Yes, Brassard and it's not personal but YMMV. lol lol
Nice job 8)
Brassard
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Nice MUTT. The MPs are pretty cool too.
And y'all be nice to Paul. I don't want anything to upset his delicate disposition and interfere with his eventual release of US Army men. After that, flog away... ;)
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Nice MUTT. The MPs are pretty cool too.
And y'all be nice to Paul. I don't want anything to upset his delicate disposition and interfere with his eventual release of US Army men. After that, flog away... ;)
That may delay the army release as I could coast on the niceness for years lol
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That may delay the army release as I could coast on the niceness for years lol
Bag that, then. Back to scathing sarcasm, it is!
Do I need to send Vinnie and Guido by to, um, help things along? ;)
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Nice vehicle and figures.
I will have to wait for some passengers for my V100.
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Todays release for the Vietnam War collection.
1/50 scale
LSSC or Light Seal Support Craft was used by Navy Seal's for incursion into enemy areas. This boat works with our Navy Seal pack and every crew member, apart from the boat skipper who is steering the LSSC, is a duplicate of its dismounted figure version available in pack SEAL1
Seven figures as well as the LSSC.
The LSSC came into operation in 1968 replacing the need for PBR's to insert SEAL teams into enemy territory. Fast and manoeuvrable as well as bristling with guns these boats add a very interesting dimension to game scenarios.
This is in both the Special Forces room and the Brown Water Navy room in the shop.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/brown-water-navy-128-c.asp
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The SEAL team out of the boat. :)
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Very nicely done, looks fantastic.
Are the crew going to be available as a separate pack?
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Sorry but no plans to. Its a specially designed set crew and boat.
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That is just too fucking cool for school! :-*
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Thanks guys :-*
Its a Paul, Paul & Richard production ;)
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very very nice indeed!
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If you keep this up you are forcing me to build a damned river for these boats to sail up and down. But then you also have to make some local boats as well.
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That's cracking
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Superb!
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8)
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Thanks guys that very kind of you all :-*
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Best let you have another release soon. :)
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Best let you have another release soon. :)
Can only admire the ambition and scale of the range you are building 8)
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Can only admire the ambition and scale of the range you are building 8)
Cheers for that.
If its worth doing its worth doing well ;)
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Empress Miniatures release 28mm USNC for Vietnam.
50 Calibre HMG with firing figure. Has a spare Starlight night time scope that can be added if wished.
Sniper using Starlight scope on an M16. Based upon an actual picture, as are many of our range, this Marine also carries a Detective Special private purchase pistol in a holster on his waste belt.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/usmc-vietnam-war-18-c.asp
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Very nice, the waterproof trousers on the starlight bloke are a nice touch.
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very nice additions
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Indeedy! Very nice. That .50 cal will no doubt inspire a thousand Carlos Hathcock vignettes.
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Cheers guys. ;)
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Very nice!
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Cheers.
Just noticed that this thread has got over 200 pages.
Congratulations to Earther who started it lol
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Cheers.
Just noticed that this thread has got over 200 pages.
Congratulations to Earther who started it lol
It’s when the thread has been going on for longer than the conflict that you have to worry ;)
Good work all round though :D
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It’s when the thread has been going on for longer than the conflict that you have to worry ;)
Secret Army, a TV series about the French Resistance in WW2
lasted longer than WW2, and...
Allo Allo, a TV series taking the micky out of Secret Army
lasted longer than Secret Army!!!!!
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It’s when the thread has been going on for longer than the conflict that you have to worry ;)
Secret Army, a TV series about the French Resistance in WW2
lasted longer than WW2, and...
Allo Allo, a TV series taking the micky out of Secret Army
lasted longer than Secret Army!!!!!
Does M*A*SH count (as the Korean War did not really end)?
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There will come a point on this website, perhaps in many years to come, where reference to this thread is made and it will elicit the almost inevitable response of ‘You weren’t there man, you wouldn’t know’. ;)
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There will come a point on this website, perhaps in many years to come, where reference to this thread is made and it will elicit the almost inevitable response of ‘You weren’t there man, you wouldn’t know’. ;)
lol …. That made me chuckle!
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me too lol
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There will come a point on this website, perhaps in many years to come, where reference to this thread is made and it will elicit the almost inevitable response of ‘You weren’t there man, you wouldn’t know’. ;)
lol
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There will come a point on this website, perhaps in many years to come, where reference to this thread is made and it will elicit the almost inevitable response of ‘You weren’t there man, you wouldn’t know’. ;)
lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Cheers.
Just noticed that this thread has got over 200 pages.
Congratulations to Earther who started it lol
My most successful thread to date 😂
Couldn’t have done it without you, Paul. 😉
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Now all we need is the T-shirt... :)
By the way, Paul, not to nag or anything ::), do you know if the US Army boys will have flak jackets or not?
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VIETNAM UNIT DEALS.
With the publication of more and more Vietnam based rules, most notably "The ‘Nam - The Way It Was." We have been asked by a lot of customers about starter deal units to get into the period quickly.
One of the many benefits of the Empress range is its growing size as we are able to offer large deals that represent platoon size units for both the USMC and NVA/ VC.
These deals are a fast track to the conflict, all you need to do is paint the figures.
The deals represent around a 20% discount plus of course significantly reduced postage.
The USMV deal is for 38 figures.
The NVA deal is for 44 figures.
So come on in and enjoy as its a great period to wargame.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vietnam-16-c.asp
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One of the many benefits of the Empress range is its growing size as we are able to offer large deals that represent platoon size units for both the USMC and NVA/ VC.
.....
The deals represent around a 20% discount plus of course significantly reduced postage.
An excellent idea. Any chance that you might offer something similar for the BAOR range at some point as well?
:D
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No plans to I am afraid. ;)
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Empress Miniatures 28mm Vietnam War ARVN to be released.
As we have previously said we are moving through the various forces and troop types in as logical ( well to us.) way as we can. We are trying to make our range by far the best researched and sculpted, as well as the best quality that you expect from an Empress Miniatures product. Obviously, this does take time but with approaching 250 figures already in this range and more due to be released in the coming days and weeks, as well 66 figures in the French Indo China range, 18 vehicles, terrain ranging from French colonial buildings to a complete Firebase we think that we have succeeded so far and we have no plans to stop.
We still have more Marines to release, some very soon, as well as more ANZACS, VC, special forces etc, etc, etc,.
However as planned we will very soon see the first of the ARVN troops arrive in the shop.
These guys will accurately represent the ARVN forces that fought throughout the conflict and after the majority of Free World Forces retired from the conflict. As the rest of the range they will accurately represent the physical differences that exist between Vietnamese and western troops and you can be sure that our sculptor for this range, the incredibly talented Paul Hicks, will create simply the best.
No pictures as yet, that’s due in a few days, so a nice picture of the Empress South Vietnamese (ARVN) flag sheet.
So stay tuned for further details later in the week.
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Looking forward to this. Hoping the puppet forces will cover both ends of the war.
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Yes, happy day, ;D ARVN troops.
I see a large order going to Empress soon.
Can't wait to see the photos of the figures.
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Yes indeed give us photos!!! Have already ordered the Ospreys on the ARVN forces
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At long last Marvin gets some respect.
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At long last Marvin gets some respect.
Empress has a policy of always treating all combatants with respect in the way it sculpts its figures. No caricatures from us lol
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First picture at the end of the week. ;)
We will obviously fill you all in on what they will be as regards troop type. I think you will be happy which is a bold statement but I am anyway as they are a very sexy unit.
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Empress has a policy of always treating all combatants with respect in the way it sculpts its figures. No caricatures from us lol
Of course. I was originally going to say love, as I did in a post from at least a year ago anticipating - OK, demanding - the inclusion of ARVN troops, but for some reason changed it as I was about to type it, possibly thinking it sounded too hippyish.
Speaking of hippies, any plans to represent the home front?
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No but its an interesting idea.
Not sure what gameing/ sales potential there is and sculpting time is of a premium.
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Not sure there’s much of a market for people wanting to game Kent State or even the 1968 Democratic Convention if it comes to that.
On the other hand, if you had this in mind I’d go for it….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRBqcUtKK3I
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Not sure what gameing/ sales potential there is and sculpting time is of a premium.
Some form of alternative Zombie senario...
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Some form of alternative Zombie senario...
I think thats been covered by another Nam range.
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Not sure there’s much of a market for people wanting to game Kent State or even the 1968 Democratic Convention if it comes to that.
On the other hand, if you had this in mind I’d go for it….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRBqcUtKK3I
So a Performing Arts range. I will have to consider that idea...........no. o_o
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I dunno whether you’ve ever seen WR: Mysteries of the Organism, the ‘70s Yugoslav film that clip was lifted from but it er ‘elevates’ the concept of art film to new levels. It’s almost impossible to categorise but if you have a taste for the offbeat, it’s definitely that. If Terry Gilliam had access to better drugs, it’s the film he might have made.
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Oh and as an added bonus it explains the Kate Bush song ‘Running Up That Hill’. You will definitely never hear that song in the same way again. lol
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You so need to get out more lol lol lol lol
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Well, we have only just come out of another lockdown and it’s still a case of “If you can work from home, you must work from home”.
Yeah, would love to get out more. Thankfully both the Copa America and the Euros are on at the moment. The only sad bit is I’m reminded of my plans to attend the Copa had it gone ahead last year as originally planned. A month on the piss in Colombia watching the footy, would have been grand… :'(
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You so need to get out more lol lol lol lol
We ALL need to get out more… lol
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So a Performing Arts range. I will have to consider that idea...........no. o_o
Well, thanks for considering it.
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I dunno whether you’ve ever seen WR: Mysteries of the Organism, the ‘70s Yugoslav film that clip was lifted from but it er ‘elevates’ the concept of art film to new levels. It’s almost impossible to categorise but if you have a taste for the offbeat, it’s definitely that. If Terry Gilliam had access to better drugs, it’s the film he might have made.
I have, and that’s all I’m saying.
Actually I’ll also say this: while my suggestion about expanding the range to the US home front was fairly flippant, the unanticipated responses lead me to think there may be some serious potential in such a range. After watching the above clip I was put in mind of another film from the era which looks at the anti-war movement, and more particularly its nemesis, the pro-war movement, from a dystopian rather than satirical angle. Unfortunately I have no idea how to insert a clip via my phone, which I barely know how to use, but interested readers will find one easily enough. The film goes by the name Punishment Park and is, I would suggest, rife with gaming potential.
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I’m not sure about figures of eg protesters but it may be worth seeing if there is any interest in a pack of armed radical underground types. I’m presuming some existing figures can be used for National Guard. A bit of a diversion of course and I can imagine hardly a priority compared to say ARVN or MPs.....
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I would suggest the pack of Warlord's Survivors but they seem to be OOP.
I’m not sure about figures of eg protesters but it may be worth seeing if there is any interest in a pack of armed radical underground types. I’m presuming some existing figures can be used for National Guard. A bit of a diversion of course and I can imagine hardly a priority compared to say ARVN or MPs.....
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To clarify a little, the anti-war characters in Punishment Park aren’t armed resisters. Without giving too much away, the scenario is somewhat akin to the Japanese manga & films Battle Royale, except that the prisoners aren’t given weapons and expected to fight among themselves; they are set the task of escaping the park / prison while avoiding various hazards, but supposedly will not be impeded by the guards, who are just there to see that they stick to the rules. SPOILER: the guards don’t play fair.
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This thread needs to get back on track.
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Lets just stick to the war in South East Asia, and see what ARVAN are coming out at the end of the week. Which I am very excited about. And then of course the rest of the lines will be pushed to the side for the US Army range. :D
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This thread needs to get back on track.
Well it is the end of the week and we should be getting the promised photos of ARVEN troops.
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This thread needs to get back on track.
Is that so? Funnily enough your comment, while not a direct quote from Punishment Park, encapsulates its theme - the suppression of dissent - perfectly.
Of course I realise the thread is dedicated to the Empress range and potential additions to it, but I fail to see why this discussion should not include at least the possibility of coverage being widened to the domestic opposition to the war, and perhaps even an out and out revolution (which was considered a real possibility at the time, given the activities of the Black Panthers). These factors, after all, had at least as much bearing on the outcome of the war as events on the battlefield. The key point, however, is that they do have gaming potential. Whether an individual manufacturer wishes to exploit this is another matter, but I fail to see why the question can not be raised.
Obviously the decision of what is or isn’t pertinent here is one for the moderator to make, and if it is against discussion of anything other than model soldiers, equipment & uniforms, so be it. I could make a further point of what such a stipulation is likely to lead to, but I’m sure other members are capable of working that out for themselves.
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Well it is the end of the week and we should be getting the promised photos of ARVEN troops.
That what was promised. Looking forward to seeing them. :D
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That what was promised. Looking forward to seeing them. :D
The international standard ISO 8601 for representation of dates and times, states that Sunday is the seventh and last day of the week. ;)
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Folks,
I've split out and removed the more or less pointless (as in not going anywhere but off-topic) Sunday/Monday discussion. Please resume discussion of the miniature line first, background issues second and politics, in accordance with the forum rules, not at all.
I consider the homefront angle to be more "domestic politics" than not and will therefore reserve further reconsideration, but will leave it here at the time being.
As a guide, stuff like the Weathermen and the SLA may reasonably be subsumed under the crime/police scenario angle, but please do consider how this discussion (if flippant and jocularly) of Kent State and Black Panther/socio-racial conflict comes across, especially in current times, and if you really want to be associated with such positions. Best to keep it strictly limited to figures and the modelling aspect, if you must.
Thanks.
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Let’s get back to Vietnam Wargaming. Here’s some pics from a recent game I umpired. All Empress Minis (what else?), the vast majority of which were painted by Dags
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It turned out to be a very interesting game run over several weeks. The USMC were all role players and the NVA player an experienced wargamer. All received briefings and individual objectives and all updates were via WhatsApp messages with photos and, for the US the occasional recon overflight (video on my mobile phone ;)). Lots of Event Cards etc adding to the chaos. It turned out to be an excellent way of simulating the “fog of war” involved with a counter insurgency style operation and we even had the NVA making use of tunnels. We will give it another go some time (regardless of what day of the week it is lol )
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First picture at the end of the week. ;)
It is time 8) ( as said in lion King)
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Nice looking game, Sparrow! Interesting way to run it, too...
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You chaps on LAF are the first to see these preview sculpts so enjoy. ;)
ARVN Paratroops circa 1968.
ARVN paratroops owed their origin and traditions to the French parachute forces of the Indo China War therefore we felt it fitting that we start our ARVN range with these chaps to add a continuity with our French Indo China Range.
In 1965 the airborne units were raised to division status, Su Duan Nhay Du, and by 1967 following further unit increases it numbered 13,000 paratroops. Heavily involved in actions throughout the conflict the units found themselves involved in various parts of the Tet offensive including bitter fighting to retake Hue city and relief the of Marines in Khe Sanh. Due to their semi independent nature and use as a strategic reserve they fought alongside US forces such as 1st Cav and 101st Airborne in the A Shau Valley during operation Delaware in 1968.
One of the most interesting aspects of ARVN troops is their use of ‘home’ made uniforms and equipment as well as the individualistic way that the men seem to have pretty much wore what they wanted within the obvious guidelines therefore some used flak vest or helmet covers whilst others did not bother. that’s adds something very unique and examples of this will be shown in this part of our Vietnam range.
This figure firing a 30 cal MG from the hip. The bipod and ammo belt will also be included. He is wearing a locally made rain jacket that has been made from an issue poncho. Uniform issue varied and it is said that those units engaged in Hue wore regulation ARVN issue OG uniforms there are plenty of photographs that show this not to be the complete case and cammo trousers seem pretty common. This gives the painter the option to add some variations.
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Well worth the wait! :-* can't wait to get these Paul!
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Be Still my beating heart. :-*
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Paul… my bank manager still hates you ! lol
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:o Gorgeous, marvelous eyecandy! :-*
Must haves indeed
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Paul… my bank manager still hates you ! lol
But mine loves him. Carry on Paul ;)
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Love the figure, Paul. :-*
Look forward to seeing the first ARVN figures listed on your web site.
Hopefully soon.
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But mine loves him. Carry on Paul ;)
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Awesome! :-* :-* :-*
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Oh, for Chrissake! Really? Why don't I just send you all my money..... :o :D
But seriously folks. Very nice. I wasn't planning on having ARVNs just yet. Hell, I still gotta do US Army/PAVN/VC. But with this, I may have to rethink who gets done first. Dang it.....
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Dang it.....
Isn't that a battle in Vietnam ? :D
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Many thanks guys. :-*
Another preview of one of our ARVN paratroops.
This time the Lieutenant. Wearing a US M65 field jacket. Carrying an M1911A1 .45 Calibre pistol. He also has an M1A1 folding stock carbine. No helmet cover.
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Fantastic!
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Nice!
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Another nice one...!!! But in the "picking nits" department, the .45 seems just a tad small for that ARVN LT... ::)
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No its to scale. Worth noting are the heavy duty gloves the figure is wearing ;)
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Looking good. Looking forward to seeing the rifle armed troops.
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The Lt is a really nice figure :-*
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No its to scale. Worth noting are the heavy duty gloves the figure is wearing ;)
Roger that. I do really like the figure, in any event...and waiting for more previews... :D
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Would that be the M65 field jacket he's wearing?
If so, is that OG or did they come in camo?
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Would that be the M65 field jacket he's wearing?
If so, is that OG or did they come in camo?
Yeah, it's an M65. AFAIK, the issue ones were OG. OG107 to be exact. But as with just about any military uniform, exact shading varied...and the BDU (woodland camo) version wasn't issued until '81 or '82.
There may have been local copies, or civilian versions, though...
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Great, that's pretty much what I was guessing re the dates. thanks for that.
I'm already painting this guy in my head and he's not even molded yet..!
Just spotted that Paul already said it's an M65, I really should spend more time reading and not just looking at the pictures...
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Time for some releases methinks.
USMC corpsmen and casualties. An important part of any unit and hopefully relevant in the rules you use, if not they should be 😉
These chaps are based, as usual on pictures taken during the conflict. Most iconic of all is the famous one of the Marine being cared for on the back of an M48 Patton tank.
We also have an 81mm Marine mortar team based upon a picture of them in action in Hue 1968.
As usual brilliant work by Paul Hicks.
Now in the shop!!!
https://www.empressminiatures.com/usmc-vietnam-war-18-c.asp
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The mortar team.
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More good stuff! I'll definitely have a medic with my platoon. Can't live without 'em. Sometimes literally...
May have to get a mortar team or 2, as well. The Army used the 81mm too. And my "little" brother was 81mm mortar man in the Marines in the 80s, so he'll appreciate that...
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Nice.
Definitely want the medic.
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Can't wait for these to turn up :-*
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Some of my favourite minis in the range yet...the casualty/medic figures are just :-*
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Todays release;
NVA/ Main Force VC crew with 82mm 82-PM-37 Soviet mortar.
This mortar entered service in 1937 with Soviet forces and was designed to be able to fire captured enemy munitions without allowing enemy forces to use its captured munition.
The crew are designed to be used as either NVA (PAVN) or Main Force VC.
Now in the shop.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/north-vietnamese-army...
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Very nice additions!!! A few more and an order is coming . Have to collect some more Things i want to safe on postage and other fees.
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Very nice additions!!! A few more and an order is coming . Have to collect some more Things i want to safe on postage and other fees.
Check out our nearest distributor to you.
Table Topper.
https://www.facebook.com/tabletopper.nl
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Cracking stuff! Love the medics and mortars!
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Beautiful sculpts. My NVA force will love this addition
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Cheers chaps :-*
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The medics are super cool…..lovely figures!
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Perfect for my ever expanding NVA force 👌
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Thanks guys.
You can never have enough NVA or VC ;)
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You can never have enough NVA or VC ;)
Nah! Just a packet of heads, peering out of Chu-Chi like tunnels.
Four should do it, just keep moving them around the table as
they 'Pop up' then disappear. lol lol lol
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Nah! Just a packet of heads, peering out of Chu-Chi like tunnels.
Four should do it, just keep moving them around the table as
they 'Pop up' then disappear. lol lol lol
Like 'Whac-A-Mole'...
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lol lol lol
Like 'Whac-A-Mole'...
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Visited tabletopper but they haven#t listed the new minis yet. Have to wait a bit longer I suppose
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Another preview of the upcoming ARVN troops for Vietnam sculpted by Mr Hicks.
This chap is an RTO paratrooper. Based upon an original picture.
He fits in with the officer as the command group.
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They look very good. :-*
ETA?
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A few weeks I would expect as they need to go through two mould making process's.
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Looks good to me!
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Luvverly! :-* Keep that up. Not only will those chaps work for Vietnam but will proxy well for places like El Salvador in the 1980s.
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Very nice additions again!!
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Love the new sculpts... Mr Hicks is a talented chap
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Cheers chaps.
We have been asked by a few customers to show a size comparison for the Vietnam range of the various nationalities.
There has developed a weird belief that people from North Vietnam were a LOT taller than those in the South. We have no idea where this came from specifically however the Vietnam War historian, Gordon L Rottman, explains it very well when he writes;
" Physically, there was little difference between North and South Vietnamese.
The average Vietnamese was 5ft 1in.-5ft 4in. (1.57-1.63m) tall and weighed 110-122 Ib (50-55kg). South Vietnamese often claimed they could identify a North Vietnamese by physical appearance.
Northerners were reputed to have more Chinese-like facial features, were taller, bigger-boned and had fairer
complexions. While these features were slightly more prevalent among northerners, they were by no means widespread and could be found among southerners, albeit less frequently. Also, after the communist takeover, some 950,000 refugees fled the North to South Vietnam between 1954 and 1955. Most settled in the ARVN's northern provinces or around Saigon. Their children were liable to be drafted into the ARVN."
To illustrate this simply Google pictures of Vietnamese standing next to western troops. One way to measure figures in picture is to use the weapon they carry as a measuring stick because although people change weapons do not. To help an M16 is 39.5 inches in length.
Empress Miniatures has scaled their Vietnamese figures authentically smaller than the Free World figures such as Americans, Australians and of course French.
Figures from left to right are USMC - ARVN - ANZAC - VIETNAMESE CIVILIANS X 2 - ARVN - NVA/VC - USMC.
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Awesome love the attention to detail you guys and Paul have put into all your ranges!
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Luvverly! :-* Keep that up. Not only will those chaps work for Vietnam but will proxy well for places like El Salvador in the 1980s.
I agree completely. With the right paint job, I can see them maybe doing double duty as ARVN, or as Central American troops. Or I could just get 2 sets - they are indeed "luvverly" figs... ;)
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I’m very happy with your commitment to relative scaling. Oddly enough I’ve read a number of accounts of taller than average communist troops being ascribed to being ‘Chinese advisors’. Never read of North Vietnamese being especially larger than their southern brethren and my own observations are that there isn’t any real distinction height wise.
Fortunately for the likes of Cap’n Jim and I, a similar tendency to the slight of build and relatively diminutive stature exists amongst folk in Central America. I think I’ll end up with two sets as the inner button counter will insist I lengthen the M16 mags to 30 round jobs.
If anyone else is interested I have a decent monograph on the FMLN that describes tactics, organisation etc.
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Northern chinese are notably taller than southern chinese. Most chinese from the diaspora come from the south and east and hence are smaller than europeans
I played for the chinese army team in hebei in 1989 and was by no means the biggest despite being 6 ft 2 and 13 stone.
Certainly in the north the norm wasnot noticeably different from european averages, although fitter and leaner.
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I have read similar accounts about Northern Koreans being bigger in the 50s then their southern cousins. But that the numbers have flipped do to dietary changes in both nations.
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I suspect that when viewed from a slit trench any bugger running at you with a bayonet on the end of their rifle appears bigger than they are. Conversely, any erstwhile ally decamping to the rear at a steady run will appear smaller as their form diminishes into the distance.
One thing I can confidently predict that we will all agree on is that Kim Jong-un is definitely larger than the average North Korean. ;)
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I think Gordon Rottman sums the whole matter up quite nicely 😉.
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Thanks for the picture. The comparison helps a lot
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One thing I can confidently predict that we will all agree on is that Kim Jong-un is definitely larger than the average North Korean. ;)
No argument from me! lol
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Next South Vietnamese ARVN preview is firing an M16.
His jacket is a locally made one off rain coat that has had extra pockets sown in to take M16 magazine. The pack on his back is also stitched into the jacket.
This figure was taken from a picture of an ARVN Paratrooper attacking the Hue Citadel.
These sculpts should be out soon.
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I like these AVRN paratroops :-*
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I like these AVRN paratroops :-*
Thanks for that.
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Lovely!
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Been asked for the original picture that the coat is shown in so here you go.
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Here's a colour image of the same type of kit;
(https://i.ibb.co/qJT2LfM/post-153751-0-86717100-1507329896-thumb.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/XJGnw8D/post-153751-0-22276100-1507329962.jpg)
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Interesting - in Ash's picture you can see it is actually an early type of load bearing vest.
You can see that the uniform is Tiger Stripe and the vest in olive green nylon.
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Lots of different 'ammo' vests, one-offs, local manufacture & issue items appeared in that War..
There's an interesting thread with lots of pictures here:
https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/241571-cut-down-vn-tropical-coat-tailored-into-m16-mag-vest/
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Looking at the original photo again, I suspect it’s a custom made load bearing vest over an M65 jacket. Maybe it’s just me but there seems to be a difference in texture between the material around the main torso, with that on the sleeves and bottom hem. It was notably cool in Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive and the M65 has a hood which tucks up inside the collar. I still have one, somewhere.
Matters not, just gives two painting options for the same figure.
Might I ask though that when sorting these types into packs, they go into a ‘Hue character pack’? The trouble with unique figures is that you don’t really want one in every pack.
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Thanks for the pictures. That will help when painting them up later.
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Might I ask though that when sorting these types into packs, they go into a ‘Hue character pack’? The trouble with unique figures is that you don’t really want one in every pack.
Will try but cannot promise ;)
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Cheers!
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Another preview of an ARVN Paratrooper.
This rifleman is carrying ammo belts for the MG.
Coming pretty soon.
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Very nice, great facial expression.
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Next South Vietnamese ARVN preview is firing an M16.
His jacket is a locally made one off rain coat that has had extra pockets sown in to take M16 magazine. The pack on his back is also stitched into the jacket.
This figure was taken from a picture of an ARVN Paratrooper attacking the Hue Citadel.
These sculpts should be out soon.
I find it a real challenge to paint many of your awesome sculpts since they have a lot of special equipment and uniform specials. It would be great if you could provide all this information on the Empress website. Possible?
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Good grief, I look away from this thread and suddenly there are three unread pages!
I need another army for a war I am not interested in (https://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/search?q=vietnam&max-results=20&by-date=true (https://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.com/search?q=vietnam&max-results=20&by-date=true)) like I need a hole in the head (member of Trepannees Anonymous...).
The ARVN figure look so good (and tempting).
The colour photographs are very useful.
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I find it a real challenge to paint many of your awesome sculpts since they have a lot of special equipment and uniform specials. It would be great if you could provide all this information on the Empress website. Possible?
Thanks for the compliment. Difficult to add too much information without complicating the descriptions on the site and it getting more complicated. This is one of the few of our ranges that I have kinda kept up with painting the figures and vehicles and so could put painted versions up to show stuff but that may not be enough. What kinda of things have you had problems with so I can get an idea of what you are looking for?
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Absolutely stunning additions. I think my will be ARVN force will be bigger then I once thought it might get....
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Absolutely stunning additions. I think my will be ARVN force will be bigger then I once thought it might get....
Same here. You just gotta love the ARVN.
I have a love for units / armies that are not considered the best. Makes wargames far more challenging and interesting.
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Indeed Paul
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Thanks for the compliment. Difficult to add too much information without complicating the descriptions on the site and it getting more complicated. This is one of the few of our ranges that I have kinda kept up with painting the figures and vehicles and so could put painted versions up to show stuff but that may not be enough. What kinda of things have you had problems with so I can get an idea of what you are looking for?
I really appreciate that you have made the effort of adding a variety to the figures and not just standard issue. That is also a reason while I find it interesting to read ”the story” about the uniform and equipment of each miniature that you provide in this forum. Beside special uniform items like the ARVN you are about to release, it is mostly all the pouches, bags, straps etc. I struggle to identify. Not being well educated on the development of the Vietnam war from an uniform/equipment perspective can make it a bit hard. If you can provide pictures of painted miniatures front/back, that would be a great help. Thanks
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I really appreciate that you have made the effort of adding a variety to the figures and not just standard issue. That is also a reason while I find it interesting to read ”the story” about the uniform and equipment of each miniature that you provide in this forum. Beside special uniform items like the ARVN you are about to release, it is mostly all the pouches, bags, straps etc. I struggle to identify. Not being well educated on the development of the Vietnam war from an uniform/equipment perspective can make it a bit hard. If you can provide pictures of painted miniatures front/back, that would be a great help. Thanks
This may be of help, there are eight pages; I've linked the first and last (the last covers a fair amount of personal equipment).
http://cartalana.com/010-01.php
http://cartalana.com/010-08.php
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Ash,
great resource! Many thanks!
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If you can provide pictures of painted miniatures front/back, that would be a great help. Thanks
Added to my to do list ;)
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I have a love for units / armies that are not considered the best. Makes wargames far more challenging and interesting.
Explains the enduring popularity of the US as wargaming option. ;)
“ Brave men those marines, not very bright but brave men.” George Logan AATV.
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Explains the enduring popularity of the US as wargaming option. ;)
“ Brave men those marines, not very bright but brave men.” George Logan AATV.
naughty boy lol
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Indeed a great resorce!
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To prepare for ordering the ARVN, when avalable, Does anyone have a ORBAT of an ARVN airborne Platoon / company ?
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To prepare for ordering the ARVN, when avalable, Does anyone have a ORBAT of an ARVN airborne Platoon / company ?
This may be a good starting point:
http://grunt-redux.atspace.eu/arvn_forces1.htm#SQUAD%20VARIATIONS
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This may be a good starting point:
http://grunt-redux.atspace.eu/arvn_forces1.htm#SQUAD%20VARIATIONS
Nice link.
I think this comment on that list is the most important
"From what I can tell from all the reading over the years, ARVN infantry formations were very, very odd! Not one infantry division appears to be equipped and organised in the same way. On the whole they appear to be pretty much 'ad hoc' organisations, using whatever supplies were available for setting up new units. Even units that used the M16 by 1969 were using the M1 again by 1972!!"
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Thanks Ash!! That really helps to put that order in with Empress later. How much later, Paul? ;)
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Added to my to do list ;)
Great! Thanks!
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In reference to painting ARVN Paratroops this is a useful film. I probably got this from Carlos at some point I cannot remember so thanks if I did.
The first 5 minutes or so seem to show pretty average ARVN but after that you start to see better equipped troops with a real mix of kit and uniforms. Worth a look. ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f8WO7wAAFc
The grave yard makes for some interesting urban terrain.
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If you are interested in the Regional Forces/ Popular Forces (Ruffpuffs) who did much of the fighting and dying in the war then their organisational structure can be found here:
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/the-arvn-was-their-performance-misunderstood/
Hopefully Empress will do some Ruffpuffs at some stage. The marines in I Corps detached rifle squads to work with Popular Forces platoons as part of their Combined Action Program so you can create some interesting scenarios that sees a mix of USMC and South Vietnamese troops in a platoon level game.
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Hopefully Empress will do some Ruffpuffs at some stage. The marines in I Corps detached rifle squads to work with Popular Forces platoons as part of their Combined Action Program so you can create some interesting scenarios that sees a mix of USMC and South Vietnamese troops in a platoon level game.
Yes we will. ;)
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That is grand news!!!
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Yes we will. ;)
Great. More of my money you'll end up with.... ;) :D
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Just released;
28mm ARVN Paratroops.
Officer wearing standard issue combat greens. Armed with a Colt M1911A1 pistol and folding stock M1 Carbine. Wearing standard issue US greens.
RTO wearing standard issue greens although the tight trousers can be painted in cammo. Helmet cover. As well as carrying smoke grenades for marking positions he also carries the M16 rifle.
30Cal. Gunner wears a locally made waterproof coat. This item was unique to the wearer so can be painted in either green or cammo.
30 Call No. 2. Wearing a US flack vest over his issue greens he is carrying a spare ammo belt as well as as an ARVN pack and M16 rifle.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south...
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Another new 28mm ARVN Paratrooper pack.
All riflemen. No helmet covers.
From left to right;
Carrying M79 Blooper with ammo belt for grenades. Smoking a cigarette.
M16 Rifleman carrying a fragmentation grenade, phosphorous grenade, and LAW's.
M16 rifleman wearing a locally made jacket/ vest with stitched pockets and back pack for spare ammo.
M16 rifleman crouching wearing standard cammo or green combats.
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Love em! :-*
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Dear Paul E and Paul H,
These look wonderful as usual.
Please can you explain your plans - are you doing specific packs of figures for ARVN infantry, paratroopers, Marines and Rangers.
Apart from badges and camouflage, (which will be painted on), were there significantly noticeable differences in uniforms and equipment?
I have the impression that uniform cut and equipment were fairly standard, with the main difference being which units got M16s etc first.
Mick
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Superb…. as ever
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They all look good so far. Particularly love the chap hip-firing the 30-cal... :D :D :D
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Order placed
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Very nice.
And tempting...
And they will need some wheels (which you already do)...
Must resist.
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Lovely sculpts!
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Thanks guys :-*
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Very nice.
And tempting...
And they will need some wheels (which you already do)...
Must resist.
Resistance is futile... Just succumbed to to the temptation of an M113 + ARVN crew
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Got my order a week or so ago! Only just had a chance to sit down at the desk and have a proper look. Really chuffed with the ARVN and can't wait to see more! Also a couple of jeeps came through too. :-* amazed by them.
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My ARVN order arrived yesterday - nice figures. I am happy. :)
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Just been painting up the fabulous villagers and adding a couple more huts to my village.
A couple of suggestions/ requests. Could we have some civilian porters please? More folk with loads being carried on poles or yokes and maybe a bicycle with load. Not just useful for the Ho Chi Minh Trail, porters were an intrinsic part of most NLF/PAVN operations and ambushing of supply parties a feature of the war.
Could we also have some more civvies in urban attire, suitable for Hue or any urban centre. Men in short sleeved shirts and slacks, women in ao dais? The unarmed/armed option like the villagers would be great.
Finally could we get an ARVN type with a bullhorn as an interpreter for cordon and search games?
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Could we also have some more civvies in urban attire, suitable for Hue or any urban centre. Men in short sleeved shirts and slacks, women in ao dais? The unarmed/armed option like the villagers would be great.
Finally could we get an ARVN type with a bullhorn as an interpreter for cordon and search games?
I agree.
Just ordered the Hue campaign book from Osprey (due November) to go with the Tet Offensive book I bought all those years ago.
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Thanks chaps.
Glad the ARVN have been arriving safely. ;)
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Got my ARVN yesterday, too. they arrived safe and sound and they are really really nice sculpts, full of character.
Now i have to convert some of them, as I couldn't resist ordering several of the same pack, so will add some more pouches and other stuff to make them look a bit different to the original , may be a head swap or two and I need a medic of course.
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A couple of suggestions/ requests. Could we have some civilian porters please? More folk with loads being carried on poles or yokes and maybe a bicycle with load. Not just useful for the Ho Chi Minh Trail, porters were an intrinsic part of most NLF/PAVN operations and ambushing of supply parties a feature of the war.
Could we also have some more civvies in urban attire, suitable for Hue or any urban centre. Men in short sleeved shirts and slacks, women in ao dais? The unarmed/armed option like the villagers would be great.
Finally could we get an ARVN type with a bullhorn as an interpreter for cordon and search games?
Some excellent ideas for figures - the sort of thing that gets the creative juices going for scenario design 8)
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Hi Empress, do you have an ETA on more ARVN releases? Thanks!
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Hi Empress, do you have an ETA on more ARVN releases? Thanks!
Hold on, I have only just ordered the first lot ^__^
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Hi Empress, do you have an ETA on more ARVN releases? Thanks!
Not an exact ETA but there will obviously be a swathe - torrent - tranche - or what ever the latest marketing word is for more in the not too distant future. lol lol lol lol
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Not an exact ETA but there will obviously be a swathe - torrent - tranche - or what ever the latest marketing word is for more in the not too distant future. lol lol lol lol
lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Not an exact ETA but there will obviously be a swathe - torrent - tranche - or what ever the latest marketing word is for more in the not too distant future. lol lol lol lol
Hmmmm, diabolical laughter. You got any sharks with friggin’ lasers, by chance?
I better grab my poncho before the - deluge!
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Moi?
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lol
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Got a platoon of US boys, and a platoon of NVA chaps, in the mail today from Age of Glory here in the States. These guys look good in photos, but are simply way cool in the flesh (pewter...?). Now it's on to sorting into units and prepping and painting. I'll post piccies as I get units done....
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Got a platoon of US boys, and a platoon of NVA chaps, in the mail today from Age of Glory here in the States. These guys look good in photos, but are simply way cool in the flesh (pewter...?). Now it's on to sorting into units and prepping and painting. I'll post piccies as I get units done....
Excellent. Have fun ;)
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Not an exact ETA but there will obviously be a swathe - torrent - tranche - or what ever the latest marketing word is for more in the not too distant future. lol lol lol lol
lol
Those mould makers must be working overtime at the moment given the pace of recent releases (not forgetting all of your other ranges).
Out of interest did you have an endgame in mind when you launched the range or is it fair to say that it is expanding in much the same way your own personal projects tend to ? ;) :D
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lol
Those mould makers must be working overtime at the moment given the pace of recent releases (not forgetting all of your other ranges).
Out of interest did you have an endgame in mind when you launched the range or is it fair to say that it is expanding in much the same way your own personal projects tend to ? ;) :D
No end game only a very rough range plan which sculptors etc cannot keep up with so I have to calm down a lot. lol TBH the range has developed in certain areas that were not planned but is behind in areas that were. eg ARVN are about 18 months behind but there has been a huge amount of other releases that were planned for further down the line so all good.
The range will continue to develop although we do have to share the love to other ranges as well and that slows things down a lot but that's pretty normal for things. No plan survives first release ;) In the meantime I am constantly researching new areas of the range which can take time, as well as working on BOHICA which of course does link into the range significantly and is in itself a useful tool to develop the range. Therefore the range is based upon playing all facets of the conflict, both US and French parts. Plus I am researching other periods at the same time. I need some Minions to do my bidding :)
The one thing that I do find fascinating is how many other companies have jumped into the period without actually researching anything or doing the commercial maths. Its actually a niche period with little commercial depth so huge investment is a gamble. We have obviously led the charge on this period in the last few years but we will be moving into something far bigger commercially very soon but this will not stop the development of the range over the coming years. As I have always said "no Empress range ever really finishes as things will always be added to them".
For example we are still adding to our AZW range which is where we started and we have some more for that in the near future. I appreciate that does not fit with the current wargames trend of 'this years/ months/ weeks colour is black' but I come from the old days of wargames collector mentality and have collected my own personal periods for over 50 years and am not just in this game for the money. If I was I would have been better doing dolls house furniture, Space Marines or Goblins. lol
In short stay tuned. :)
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For example we are still adding to our AZW range which is where we started and we have some more for that in the near future. I appreciate that does not fit with the current wargames trend of 'this years/ months/ weeks colour is black' but I come from the old days of wargames collector mentality and have collected my own personal periods for over 50 years and am not just in this game for the money. If I was I would have been better doing dolls house furniture, Space Marines or Goblins. lol
In short stay tuned. :)
Keep the faith! :)
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For example we are still adding to our AZW range which is where we started and we have some more for that in the near future. I appreciate that does not fit with the current wargames trend of 'this years/ months/ weeks colour is black' but I come from the old days of wargames collector mentality and have collected my own personal periods for over 50 years and am not just in this game for the money. If I was I would have been better doing dolls house furniture, Space Marines or Goblins
I, for one, look forward to the forthcoming Space Goblin Dollies' Tea Party range. It should be fairly niche but then there is a potential crossover market to consider. To maximise play fun I would urge you to go down the old Timpo cowboys route of swappable torsos, limbs and heads for maximum mash-up value. :D
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I, for one, look forward to the forthcoming Space Goblin Dollies' Tea Party range. It should be fairly niche but then there is a potential crossover market to consider. To maximise play fun I would urge you to go down the old Timpo cowboys route of swappable torsos, limbs and heads for maximum mash-up value. :D
I really think that Timpo do not get as much credit as they should. Lot of my pocket money went on their stuff. :-*
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Keep the faith! :)
Totally ;)
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We have obviously led the charge on this period in the last few years but we will be moving into something far bigger commercially very soon but this will not stop the development of the range over the coming years. As I have always said "no Empress range ever really finishes as things will always be added to them".
Oh Lord I don't know if my bank account can handle another big range from you guys. lol
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Oh Lord I don't know if my bank account can handle another big range from you guys. lol
Its not exactly a new range just more concentration on it.
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Its not exactly a new range just more concentration on it.
Good to hear, wife would kill me if I started buying books to do research on a new war/miniature line. :D
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Well said, Paul 👍
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Jeez, Paul...you should just have a "Minis of the Month Club', and for a set fee you just charge a credit card on file, you would send folks minis every month automatically...sometimes it seem like that's what I do anyway..... :D
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Its not exactly a new range just more concentration on it.
OK so no French in Algeria or Sandinistas?
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OK so no French in Algeria or Sandinistas?
No they are making Ethiopian troops for Korean war. ;D
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Its not exactly a new range just more concentration on it.
Do tell...
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Here is something to put you off your cornflakes on a Wednesday morning.
I was asked by the guys at Odd Sided Dice Podcast to pop by for a chat about Empress Miniatures and especially our Vietnam range. Interviewed by Mr Ian Weighill who new what he was doing even if I don't this is covering our past, present and future plans etc and was great fun to do. Must confess that I hate listening to me so have not listened to the play back and after you have listened you may agree 😂
However if you want some detail on Empress Miniature then this is worth a listen.
Cheers, Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n80NXnCiv48
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Aaah! What happened, it died after 12 minutes? There were difficulties with syncronicity but the talk was developing.
Here is something to put you off your cornflakes on a Wednesday morning.
I was asked by the guys at Odd Sided Dice Podcast to pop by for a chat about Empress Miniatures and especially our Vietnam range. Interviewed by Mr Ian Weighill who new what he was doing even if I don't this is covering our past, present and future plans etc and was great fun to do. Must confess that I hate listening to me so have not listened to the play back and after you have listened you may agree 😂
However if you want some detail on Empress Miniature then this is worth a listen.
Cheers, Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n80NXnCiv48
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Works fine for me ? o_o
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It came back up from your FB post, working fine now. Ta.
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Aaah! What happened, it died after 12 minutes? There were difficulties with syncronicity but the talk was developing.
Try going straight to youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n80NXnCiv48
click the youtube link bottom right.
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Thank-you for posting the Podcast. I really enjoyed it.
I empathise a lot with the reasons you started. I am also part of the Airfix generation.
I am looking forward to your BOHICA rules - they sound interesting.
Keep up the good work.
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Thank-you for posting the Podcast. I really enjoyed it.
I empathise a lot with the reasons you started. I am also part of the Airfix generation.
I am looking forward to your BOHICA rules - they sound interesting.
Keep up the good work.
Plus one to that...MISTER Eaglestone.
By the way I bought Banana Oil & used it on my Airfix
conversions, the ones inspired by Bob O'Brian's series,
'Romans, friends & foes' which was in Airfix Magazine
price a whopping two shillings & six pence (12.5p).
But then I am a lot older than you. :D
(Pikeman Pete)
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I often wondered whether ‘banana oil’ was a crudely disguised euphemism. I remember a late 1970s edition of Military Modelling or perhaps Battle mentioning the then teenage Perry Twins using it on plasticine to sculpt award winning 1/16th scale busts. Ah teenagers! Boys will be boys and all that, especially when it comes to busts. ;)
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Glad you enjoyed it.
Interesting to see that the main thing you came away with was the reference to banana Oil. It kinda sums up the early period of wargames to me lol
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Banana Oil you could get, but my first Wargaming buddy,
one Steve O'Leary (Are you out there Oscar?) got hold of
some Carbon Tetrachloride. If you cut up sprue & put it
into a jar of that stuff, left it for a while (days?) you
ended up with a plastic liquid. That could then be 'painted'
over tissue (cloaks, tarpaulins, lorry tilts etc) & it would set!
Alarm bells would be ringing if you tried it today ::), well we
were only eleven. ;D
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Banana Oil you could get, but my first Wargaming buddy,
one Steve O'Leary (Are you out there Oscar?) got hold of
some Carbon Tetrachloride. If you cut up sprue & put it
into a jar of that stuff, left it for a while (days?) you
ended up with a plastic liquid. That could then be 'painted'
over tissue (cloaks, tarpaulins, lorry tilts etc) & it would set!
Alarm bells would be ringing if you tried it today ::), well we
were only eleven. ;D
You can do the same if you put the sprue into liquid plastic kit glue. Did it recently when making some plastic kit helicopters. Great for filling gaps and getting a buzz.
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Wow, Spret…..that’s a blast from the past….Carbon Tet was dry cleaning fluid back in the day, and I think was also in Halon fire extinguishers……not sure if it’s easy to get now, but it was a standard cleaning agent in antiquity….
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getting a buzz.
When I was a young shaver, & worked in a Bank,
one of my tasks was to remove the E13b characters
from the bottom of returned cheques. This involved
a solvent pen (much like a broad nib felt tip pen) filled
with Inhibisol. On one occasion, while trying to refill it,
I spilt the whole can. The branch was high for days.
lol lol lol
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My first job was in a hat factory brushing glue on to straw boaters for stewards at some horse race or other. I was as high as a kite… but I still couldn’t find any banana oil lol
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Who knew that LAF was some sort of AA for hardened former (?) glue sniffers? lol
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When I was significantly younger I worked on Saturdays in a paint factory as a dogs body.
The boss wanted the handrail on the mezzanine floor painting and he sent me to the boys in the paint lab for a tin of paint.... I was duly given a small gold tin with no label and a hairy stick and sent on my way.
Later the boss wanted to know what was taking so long... Apparently (I don't remember) I was singing The Size of a Cow by the Wonder Stuff to the paintbrush about half way down the (progressively worse painted) railing. The paint was full of toluene and I was absolutely off my head... much to the amusement of the boys in the lab obviously... the boss took me home early as he didn't think I'd make it on my pushbike.
I was told the story later...
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This getting high theme kinda links into Vietnam. o_o lol
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I think we should limit the 'effects' of Viet-Nam
games to playing period music, LOUD.
'THIS ONE IS FOR MISTER EAGLESTONE IN THE ARTILLERY!!!'
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I think we should limit the 'effects' of Viet-Nam
games to playing period music, LOUD.
'THIS ONE IS FOR MISTER EAGLESTONE IN THE ARTILLERY!!!'
lol
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Given it’s the artillery it has to be Boom Bang a Bang by Lulu? (I know “It makes you want to shout” …. Sorry…..couldn’t resist it ….. ;) ….)
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Given it’s the artillery it has to be Boom Bang a Bang by Lulu? (I know “It makes you want to shout” …. Sorry…..couldn’t resist it ….. ;) ….)
lol lol lol You remind me of Baldric's WW1 poetry, 'The Guns'
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“There’s a Kind of Hush”…. Herman’s Hermits 1967 ;)
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Latest vehicle for the Vietnam range master has just arrived.
Created by the ever talented Richard Humble the Duster M42 is 28mm = 1/50 SCALE as is shown in the comparison picture with the figures.
This is the pre master so will be checked for detail and manufacturing ease then re printed before going into moulds to create a resin and white metal product for our customers.
Great work Richard.
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Sweet!
Will have to paint it as per the photo in another tribute to Richard Boone.
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Very nice.
I hope they are at Salute.
Does this mean the ARVN might get an M41?
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A very cool addition to the range
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Very nice.
I hope they are at Salute.
Does this mean the ARVN might get an M41?
Yes to the M41 not sure to the Salute date. Should be for Warfare.
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The duster looks great, one of my all time favorite afvs! Will there be crew to go with it?
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very well come addition of firepower
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Time for some sound effects.
I am sure the commentator in the first film is that famous Englishman Bob Hope. ::)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keFzBeJkFCI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fhy5akosok
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No sound on this one and a bit grim at the beginning but you do get a puppy.
Good shot about half way through of a campaign looking Duster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWFQhUkr8E
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Yes to the M41 not sure to the Salute date. Should be for Warfare.
Hmmm, might have to go to Warfare as well then...
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I have a request for some separate heads, they being us boonie caps and M1 helmets with the Mitchell covers. I know the ultra modern USMC line does have boonie caps but they seem a little more stiff with a wider brim then the Vietnam era caps.
And I would like the helmets to add to some of the spec ops units to change them up a bit. And I think they would look good on some of the WW2 late wars figs to represent some south America government forces in the 70s. ;D
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seconded request!
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'Bush hat' heads would be very useful. Stop me from beheading more Anzacs...
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Just an update on the Duster.
Its at the moulders but not going to be available for a few weeks. We have to get it moulded, make sure its perfect, then make production vehicles for stock before we release so two to three weeks.
We also have to do crew for it which will probably be done before we release.
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We have some new figures for the 28mm ARVN range due out soon. These are pictures of the sculpts before Paul Hicks and I tweaked them.
As usual with our ranges these are based on photographs.
Stay tuned for the real release.
Cheers, Paul
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Awesome, really looking forward to these guys.
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These look very nice and i will buy them. :-*
I still have the last lot to paint as well. ;D
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Lovely! …. but you knew I’d say that lol … my bank manager still hates you ;)
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Hell yeah!
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Excellent figures once again, is there no end to Mr Hicks' talents? Roll on the SASR
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That is a must have again ! Well done to both Pauls :-*
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New release. 28mm
ARVN Paratrooper riflemen. No helmet covers.
From left to right;
M60 and support gunner with spare ammo belt. Armed with an M60.
No2 gunner carrying ammo boxes on a stick. Armed with an M60.
The M60 gunner is wearing a bush hat with large feather. Taken from an original picture.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south...
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ARVN Paratrooper riflemen. No helmet covers.
From left to right;
Trooper carrying LAWS. Also armed with a pistol side arm. He has the famous ARVN back pack.
NCO armed with an M16. Note the scarf which was common.
RTO using a PRC-25 Field Radio. Armed with an M16. Smoke grenades carried on the rear.
Trooper carrying an M16 and looking mean.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south...
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ARVN Paratrooper riflemen. No helmet covers.
From left to right;
MCO carrying an M16. Wearing a flack vest.
Trooper aiming a Blooper. Wearing a locally made grenade vest.
Trooper laying down suppressive fire from behind cover. Wearing a hooded waterproof top and scarf.
Trooper reloading his M16. Wearing a scarf.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south...
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ARVN Paratrooper riflemen. No helmet covers.
From left to right;
Trooper acting as point man. Carrying an M16 with 30 round magazine.
Trooper carrying a Blooper and spare grenades as well as his folding stock carbine.
Trooper throwing a grenade and holding an M16.
Trooper with M60 firing. The ammo belt can be cut to length.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south...
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Outstanding indeed!! When can these be ordered?
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When can these be ordered?
They are all up on the site at the moment.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south-vietnam-troops-147-c.asp
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Lovely looking minis...really characterful poses
:)
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Well,
shit, I mean, shucks. I don't even have my US and PAVN guys done yet. And you do this. Thanks, Paul. ;)
Well, I guess I could spend my money on worse stuff... :D
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Nicely done.
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Just ordered the lot can´t wait!
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It's the golden age of Vietnam wargaming and IMHO Empress is the pathfinder 👌
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It's the golden age of Vietnam wargaming and IMHO Empress is the pathfinder 👌
Shucks :-*
Very true though lol lol lol lol lol
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New in the shop these French Indo China period heads for both Asian and European Empress Miniatures 28mm figures.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/french-indo-china-17-c.asp
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Very nice, those should work for ARVN Rangers as well.
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Yep - nice job with these. I can think of a few uses for them, besides ARVN...
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Those ARVN paratroopers look great.
The beret heads look good as well.
-
A glimpse at the new 28mm 1/50 scale M42 Duster that's due out in the new year.
This is not the finished model as we are still sorting a couple of things and of course need to get the crew sorted but we thought that we would let you have a preview.
Cheers,
Paul
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That looks great :-*
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It does indeed and the detail on thw white metal bits like gun barrels and sight are particularly impressive.
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The M-42 is looking good.
Will we be seeing a M-41 Walker after the New Year?
Please say yes. lol
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Excellent. That looks great.
Will we be seeing a M-41 Walker after the New Year?
I hope so.
And then some Voting Machines?
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Very nice addition to the range !
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The M-42 is looking good.
Will we be seeing a M-41 Walker after the New Year?
Please say yes. lol
Yes its next in line to be made ;)
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Excellent. That looks great.I hope so.
And then some Voting Machines?
That went right over my head!!!!! :) Please clarify ? :D
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ARVN M113s were sometimes described as voting machines as they were invariably present during a coup. Ngoh Din Diem was executed in the back of one.
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Well I never knew that :o Cheers,
We do two versions both work for ARVN so we already do Voting Machines. ;)
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Yes its next in line to be made ;)
Easter Offensive here we come!
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And then some Voting Machines?
That went right over my head!!!!! :) Please clarify ? :D
ARVN M113s were sometimes described as voting machines as they were invariably present during a coup. Ngoh Din Diem was executed in the back of one.
Interesting. I was referring to the M24 but have been unable to find where I read it.
In Vanguard 42 Armour of the Vietnam War (Simon Dunstan) there is this text:
Each squadron had a troop of M24 Chaffees...
However, the tanks were not employed against the Vietnamese Communists (Viet Cong), although they were used to topple and sustain successive governments in Saigon.
For this reason ... armour personnel were known as "coup troops".
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Google suggests Steve Zaloga (Osprey M24 page 36). If I have that book, I cannot currently find it.
Google: arvn m24 voting machine
As Carlos mentioned, any armour will count.
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Happy Christmas everyone :-*
Love
Paul & Christine. :D
Empress Miniatures.
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Merry Christmas to you both! Have a safe and enjoyable break.
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Yes, Merry Christmas to everyone! Or Feliz Navidad, or Buon Natale, or Frohliche Weinachten, or Joyeux Noel, or Mele Kalikimaka...
Please forgive me if I've missed anyone...
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Merry Christmas each …. ;)
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A very belated happy x-mas and a happy new year!
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Thanks guys.
Fingers crossed for a better New Year regarding the plague ;)
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Thanks guys.
Fingers crossed for a better New Year regarding the plague ;)
No kidding. While I belong to neither extreme in regards to out current pestilence, I am ready for it to be done with...
Of course, Paul, your creations have been helping me see my way through these interesting times in which we now live...you have my gratitude! ;)
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No kidding. While I belong to neither extreme in regards to out current pestilence, I am ready for it to be done with...
Of course, Paul, your creations have been helping me see my way through these interesting times in which we now live...you have my gratitude! ;)
Very kind of you to say so. We have had a LOT of similar comments from around the world over the last couple of years. Weird times ;)
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Hydroxychloroquine, bleach, horse worming pills and ultra-violet light are one thing but are people injecting miniatures as a way to ward off the plague now? Must check the relevant Whats-App, Facebook, Fox News and dark web sites. :D
Seriously, have some nice toy soldiers to paint up has been a blessed relief, so another voice of thanks from me.
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Hydroxychloroquine, bleach, horse worming pills and ultra-violet light are one thing but are people injecting miniatures as a way to ward off the plague now? Must check the relevant Whats-App, Facebook, Fox News and dark web sites. :D
Seriously, have some nice toy soldiers to paint up has been a blessed relief, so another voice of thanks from me.
Cheers for that. ;)
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Seriously, have some nice toy soldiers to paint up has been a blessed relief, so another voice of thanks from me.
I have to agree, though I need to get on and paint some ^__^
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Shucks thanks :-*
-
When I bought the MUTT and crew, the MUTT came with an impressive array of weapons, amongst which was a Mk18 grenade launcher. Wasn’t sure whether I would ever use it, as I wasn’t really planning on a brown water navy.
Today I popped into a model shop looking for something that proved not to be on their shelves and instead came away with another 1/48 OH-13 Sioux. The price was right and I wanted a ‘Possum’ for my Australians.
Back home I was searching the web for images of 161 Independent Recce Flight and serendipitously came across this. Now there is another alternative for an armed version, an M60 mounted on the skids but this is pretty fucking cool, so I reckon it might win out.
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Oh wow !!!!!!
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Who makes the helo kit you bought?
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Italeri.
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I SO NEED ONE! lol
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me too!!!
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ARVN Paratroopers.
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Plus transport.
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Very nice! :D
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Such a nice collection of characterful figures. Painting is excellent, the badge detail really looks the part.
Think I may need another M113...
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Huh. I was just looking around for 28mm M113s yesterday, and here this appears. Maybe a sign?
And Paul, your ARVN chaps are working their way up on my "To buy...'' list.
-
Brilliant stuff!
-
Cracking stuff!!
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Cheers guys :-*
I will post some specials that I also made later ;)
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This chap had a head added plus the scarf.
-
Nicely done Paul, sorry...
Mr Eaglestone, Sir, Your Honour... Colonel...Army Sargent Major..
I'll get me coat. ;)
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Nicely done Paul, sorry...
Mr Eaglestone, Sir, Your Honour... Colonel...Army Sargent Major..
I'll get me coat. ;)
Retired Lord General if you please lol
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very nice painting and miniatures!
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Retired Lord General if you please lol
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Retired Lord General if you please lol
Er, I know my memory is a bit off as I advance in age, but I don't remember any ranks like that, in your army or mine.... :o
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Er, I know my memory is a bit off as I advance in age, but I don't remember any ranks like that, in your army or mine.... :o
Understandable. Us Lord Generals do not tend to hang around with the lower orders lol lol
Its the 17th century rank for the most senior general in an army eg The Earl of Essex, Sir Thomas Fairfax and of Course Oliver Cromwell.
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In which case you want Captain-General. I suspect the Empresses may have differing views as to who is boss though. ;)
Very nice work btw the cam is simply bt effectively done and the bucket looks grand!
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"Bucket"? WTF is a "bucket"? Some weird euphemism for an M113? :o
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"Bucket"? WTF is a "bucket"? Some weird euphemism for an M113? :o
What the Cpt. said. +1
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Yep, an M113 is a bucket. RAAC personnel get their nickname of bucket heads from said vehicle*. Not from the striking resemblance some have to a water carrying implement or the similarity of IQ levels. ;)
*Arguably they get it from all turreted armoured vehicles but 'bucket' itself is/was an M113, just as the FV432 in British Army parlance is invariably a 'wagon'.
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I thought as much. We weren't nearly as imaginative. We called M113s (and any armored vehicles) "tracks". Now, for those that inhabited M113s and the like, we tankers had several names......
-
Another 'special' figure.
-
The Vietnamese Gene Kelly, right?
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Oh, war is Hell. (Danger of overdoing your tan lol lol lol)
-
Nice
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outstanding
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Must be an officer, or his 2nd. Hate to see the sun beat down on the poor captain without some protection. Of course, now I gotta come up with a scenario in which to use that chap...
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Brilliant stuff lol
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Must be an officer, or his 2nd. Hate to see the sun beat down on the poor captain without some protection. Of course, now I gotta come up with a scenario in which to use that chap...
This chap is not for sale its just one of a group of figures I made from existing figures for my collection.
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Roger that. Nice work on him. Just out of curiosity though, what inspired the umbrella?
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Made me think of that Tim Page shot of the chap with the pink umbrella.
(https://i.ibb.co/d0Cf29w/80819722-2692098397505075-1146101745080860672-o.jpg)
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Yep thats the inspiration. ;)
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a few more specials;
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:-* :-* :-*
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Liking the separate helmets.
Not looked at the Empress Vietnam listings
for a while, are they, & bare heads, available
or is it a case of hack-sawing them off a
helmeted head? :o
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There are some useful heads available but most of these are hacked off. I will be making a sprue or two in the future. These were experiments.
Got some more ARVN out soon as well.
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There are some useful heads available but most of these are hacked off. I will be making a sprue or two in the future. These were experiments.
Got some more ARVN out soon as well.
Looking forward to the separate helmets (& 'empty' heads?)
as well as the ARVN.
I have a 1/48th T28b Trojan winging its way to me,
via the modern wonder that is e-bay. :)
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I am painting up my Vietnamese civilians and I am a bit stuck on one guy. Specifically this guy https://www.empressminiatures.com/ds7--viet-cong-2552-p.asp nr. 3 from the left.
I cannot really identify his gun. Can anyone help me out?
What is it? Is it some form of cut down Garant rifle?
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Model 1936 CR39 carbine French as per product description on Empress site. You have to scroll down a little.
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Painting tip: The folding stock on the CR39 was unpainted aluminium. Try a very light grey.
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Thanks. I had stared myself blind on that gun. I didn’t realize it was a folding stock.
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Todays release is some 28mm ARVN Paratroopers for the Vietnam range.
Tow of these chaps have helmet covers.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/arvn-republic-of-south...
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Now those are perfect!
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Nice.
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More nice figs there, Paul...the ARVN are working their way up my "to get..." list....
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Cheers guys.
Another release later this week.
It goes broom broom bang bang as a clue.
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It goes broom broom bang bang as a clue.
Is it the less successful Wargames genre (for Bike Gangs)
than 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (1970s cops)
lol lol lol
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Cheers guys.
Another release later this week.
It goes broom broom bang bang as a clue.
1979 Honda Civic?
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M42 Duster?
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M42 Duster?
You win.
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What's my prize? ;)
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The inner warmth of knowing you were right. ;)
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A M-42, cool.
Can't wait to see it. :)
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Looking forward to seeing the Duster 8)
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The inner warmth of knowing you were right. ;)
Uh huh. :D
BTW, if anyone cares, the M42 stayed in service into the 80s with the Army National Guard...fielded in some Guard units in lieu of the M163 Vulcan vehicle.
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Uh huh. :D
BTW, if anyone cares, the M42 stayed in service into the 80s with the Army National Guard...fielded in some Guard units in lieu of the M163 Vulcan vehicle.
One of the last units was actually in the Ohio national guard only a couple of miles from where I live. If you go to the Motts military museum south of Columbus, you can see one of their Dusters painted in 1980s MERDC.
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One of the last units was actually in the Ohio national guard only a couple of miles from where I live. If you go to the Motts military museum south of Columbus, you can see one of their Dusters painted in 1980s MERDC.
Yep. I was in the Ohio Guard ('80-'84 and '89 to '94). I saw them in service...
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I thought that I had posted this previously but obviously not.
So here it is the M42 Duster with and without crew.
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WoW :-*
Great looking model.
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Came out well :D
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That’s a really beautiful model. :-*
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Very nice.
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Indeed very nice :-*
Is that an ARVN or US crew?
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US crew
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Thanks Paul!
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I ordered a M-42 yesterday.
Also some packs of ARVN figures.
Thanks Paul for all the great figures your team puts out.
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Thanks Guys.
Big hug to Marine0846 ;)
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Nice Duster. Looks great!
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A beautiful model :-*
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I have been waiting for this for a while, the crew and track look great!
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Cheers guys ;)
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Looking good - a nice addition to the range. It’’ll pack some punch on the tabletop!
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This could even things up lol
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Ugh. Just call in a Skyraider, and take it out before they learn how to use the damn thing...
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Ugh. Just call in a Skyraider, and take it out before they learn how to use the damn thing...
Laughed out loud!
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Personally I’d be more worried about the thing behind it. A 175mm shell can really ruin your day and from quite some distance. You would want to rent your local parish hall if you wanted to field it in a game mind you.
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I can’t read all the script on the barrel except for the French for dog, interesting; I presume in (ex) ownership of the AVRN hence the language?
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It says “ Vua chiến trường” which is Vietnamese for ‘King of the Battlefield’.
Yep, ARVN M107 captured during Lam Son 719. It still exists, I’ve seen it up close at the war museum in Hanoi. Can’t find a better pic, the courtyard area is quite crowded with various bits of kit but of you look carefully you can make it out behind the Il-14 transport plane.
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It says “ Vua chiến trường” which is Vietnamese for ‘King of the Battlefield’.
That's one for Tom to write on the side of his M113.
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Here it is again, tucked behind an M48. Loads of interesting kit in that museum.
There was also a very interesting tractor based on a PT-76 chassis (last photo). Might be an interesting conversion project.
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Indeed Paul, that will be used on a M113 !
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Indeed Paul, that will be used on a M113 !
;)
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All quiet in nam! Anything coming down the Ho Chi Minh trail soon? :D
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Or from the arsenals in the US?
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Oh yes lol
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Not the 1/56 B-52 and crew! :D
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Not the 1/56 B-52 and crew! :D
Damn. You have spies :(
However its 1/50 SCALE.
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At 1/50 scale, that's a 3.7 ft. wingspan. Storage could be an issue....:D
I wonder what the kill radius on a typical game board would be for a 750-lb. dumb bomb? :o
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Given that they could carry around 70,000 pounds of ordnance and tended to fly in 3 ship formations for Arc Light missions, I suspect the point is moot. It’s a whole lotta table. :D
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just suspend it from the ceiling over the gaming table. Were the shadow falls, everything is gone ;)
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About 16 were lost in combat so they’re not impervious to flak et cetera.
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Given that they could carry around 70,000 pounds of ordnance and tended to fly in 3 ship formations for Arc Light missions, I suspect the point is moot. It’s a whole lotta table. :D
Probably best as a whole lot of sports hall. ;)
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Akula commissioned it then? ;)
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About 16 were lost in combat so they’re not impervious to flak et cetera.
The Arc Light missions over the South pretty much were. They bombed from so high up they could neither be seen or heard on the ground and there was typically fuck all on the ground that could reach ‘em even if they were detected. Plenty of Vietnamese testimony as to the psychological effect of devastating bombing runs that had absolutely no warning. All the declared combat losses were over the North.
Now if anyone wants a jet bomber that might fit on the shelf, there’s always the dear old Canberra, Take yer pick, USAF B-57 or 2 Sqdn RAAF B.20.
-
Airfix do a rather nice Canberra in 1/48, and it’s not complicated to put together.
-
Been contemplating one for a while. Used to know a chap who was a navigator on a 2 Sqdn Canberra. Terrific chap. I remember he still had a pair of Yank jungle boots that some Vietnamese cobbler had put a zip in, in the style of the old flying boots.
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A lot of the Nam vets in Armoured Corps had zips in their boots, almost a badge of honour for having been there.
Been contemplating one for a while. Used to know a chap who was a navigator on a 2 Sqdn Canberra. Terrific chap. I remember he still had a pair of Yank jungle boots that some Vietnamese cobbler had put a zip in, in the style of the old flying boots.
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Akula commissioned it then? ;)
Harsh….hmmm….but true.
I sold all my Hueys to Paul a while back, otherwise I’d probably be at the “looking for some B-52s” stage by now.
;)
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You know you want to lol
-
This may be of interest to you ANZAC groupies.
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/coral-balmoral-2008.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1-SzgftKx6oxiCLo5JV8Ysu63-dkZC2BMFI9fSRPEXeuJ0zflcFOA9nL8
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This may be of interest to you ANZAC groupies.
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/coral-balmoral-2008.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1-SzgftKx6oxiCLo5JV8Ysu63-dkZC2BMFI9fSRPEXeuJ0zflcFOA9nL8
Some very interesting photos there Paul, thanks. I'd recommend the book by Lex McAulay to anyone who hasn't read it as well.
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Cheers! Not seen that monograph before. Second the recommendation on McCauley’s book.
Of course now we want Australian gunners.
-
The Arc Light missions over the South pretty much were. They bombed from so high up they could neither be seen or heard on the ground and there was typically fuck all on the ground that could reach ‘em even if they were detected. Plenty of Vietnamese testimony as to the psychological effect of devastating bombing runs that had absolutely no warning. All the declared combat losses were over the North.
Now if anyone wants a jet bomber that might fit on the shelf, there’s always the dear old Canberra, Take yer pick, USAF B-57 or 2 Sqdn RAAF B.20.
My old boss Terry used to fly Canberras, for RAAF over Vietnam, at the same time as my two deputies, one had been a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and the other an RAN gun commander who (I believe) shelled Vietnam. I guess I was the odd one out.
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The main part of my brown water navy is now complete.
These are the monitors and landing craft. The models are from a company called Merrimac which is (or was?) part of Old Glory in the USA. They are slightly below scale being true 25mm (1/56) but work well for the table when the 28mm Empress Miniatures figures have been added.
4 Landing craft and 2 monitors.
I made a helo pad for one of them which can be removed as can all the tarps.
Next up the Empress PBR’s and LSSC’s which are nearly done. Then its game time. ;)
-
o_o
-
:o
-
Very nicely done indeed.
-
Very cool! :-* :-* That’s a great looking little riverine force. Now you know you just want the hovercraft don’t you? ;)
-
These are great! And very characterful to boot!
-
Very nice, Paul! Looking forward to the PBRs. Speaking of which, "Never get outta the f***in' boat!" ;)
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Which few people know was a quote from Edward Winslow, leader of the Mayflower Pilgrims. ‘ Never leave thee thy fucking boate’. ;)
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Great stuff Paul! 👍
-
Brilliant stuff! The “bar” has been set….
-
Damn that is something brilliant! :o
-
A cracking looking flotilla 8)
Particularly like the additions that make them really pop … the surf board, prisoner etc
-
really nice boats
-
Thanks chaps. I will get the PBR's finished next and then the LSSC's and then do some game pictures to show the river layouts. ;)
In the meantime there is new stuff coming through the sausage machine so stay tuned in the near future. ;)
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A bit of a tease but here is a hint of what's just going through the sausage machine. If you are all good children I will let you see some of the figures ;)
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Awesome
-
Fascinating. My interest in piqued...
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I promise we've all been very good, will eat all our tea and go to bed early. Photos please lol
-
Ah some gentlemen from Swanbourne!
-
Very nice reference pictures ! So, now were are the figures ? We all have eaten our C -rats bravely ;)
-
This maybe of interest;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0aAgf16FMg&t=330s
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Wind forward to 8.37 and there appears to be footage of Lcpl Ron Harris on patrol. Ron Harris was an indigenous man who had previously served in Vietnam with 5RAR. Sadly, Ron became one of the handful of SAS casualties when he was accidentally shot in a blue on blue by in 1969 a member of his own patrol. Sad end to a very fine soldier.
The inflatable craft footage is interesting. Judging by the backgrounds it appears to be part of SAS operations around Phuoc Hoa in support of 5 RAR in the clearance of Long Son island in 1966 (Operation Yass/ Hayman).
-
Wind forward to 8.37 and there appears to be footage of Lcpl Ron Harris on patrol. Ron Harris was an indigenous man who had previously served in Vietnam with 5RAR. Sadly, Ron became one of the handful of SAS casualties when he was accidentally shot in a blue on blue by in 1969 a member of his own patrol. Sad end to a very fine soldier.
Sadly he came back from R&R early as he was bored and volunteered to go out with another group which probably added to the confusion and the reason for the Blue on Blue.
If you can get hold of a copy this book is a good read. 'Behind Enemy Lines An Australian SAS Solider in Vietnam' by Terry OFarrell
-
The first figure we are showing (and there are quite a lot of these chaps so you can game SASR operations correctly.) is this character who is somewhat unique. This is our tribute to Harry (Ron) Harris.
This figure is carrying an M16 with grenade launcher. The magazine is the long one with 30 rounds.
This figure is based upon Harry Harris. Sadly he lost his life to a Blue on Blue.
The following is taken from 'Behind Enemy Lines An Australian SAS Solider in Vietnam' by Terry OFarrell
“The plan went well and as the two patrols passed, a note
explaining the situation was handed over to the inserting PC. I was
surprised to see Harry Harris, who was a usual member of our
patrol, with the new mob and asked him what he was up to. Harry
replied that having recently returned from R and R to find that we
were out on a job, he had grown bored with life in camp. Hearing
that there was a job on he had volunteered to go out with a strange
mob rather than wait for our return to Nui Dat. I knew Harry well:
we had done Selection together and I had shared a tent with him
since his arrival in June 1968. Ron (his nickname was Harry for
some long-forgotten reason) was a real character who would keep
us amused for hours with his repertoire of card and other minor
‘magic’ tricks. Being Aboriginal, he never used camouflage paint and
usually wore a ‘Tiger Suit’, a type of camouflage particularly suited
to dark, wet conditions but favoured by only a few of the boys in
the Squadron. Nonetheless, there was never any problem with
recognition while on patrol as we were totally familiar with Harry
and his methods. Sadly, this was not the case with the patrol he went
out with and late the next day he was tragically shot and killed in a
blue on blue incident.”
-
Beautifully done! :-* :-* That’s made my day seeing that figure.
-
awesome :-* :-*
-
Excellent. Waiting with bated breath (whatever that is) for more... :D
-
Cheers chaps ;)
-
Another preview of a next 28mm Vietnam release. This time a member of the SASR wearing issue jungle greens and carrying a suppressed Stirling SMG.
The Stirling is something new to the Vietnam battlefield. It had a reputation for reliability and accuracy so when the suppressor is added it makes the perfect special forces killer.
The pack is a cut down Bergen.
On one operation whilst the SASR patrol waited silently for the VC a Gibbon sneaked up and stole the troopers pack and ran up a tree shouting loudly. Sadly for all concerned the Gibbon refused to return his loot and the Stirling was used. The patrol then beat a hasty retreat out of the area as their position was compromised.
On the next patrol the Gibbons got their own back and chased the patrol through the jungle throwing their pooh and screaming and the SASR had to be extracted.
Tough life in the jungle when the enemy is everywhere. 😉
-
Nice mini. I could find several uses for him. I like the look on his face - like his shorts are chafing or something... :D
-
Great Figures :-*
-
Very similar to the scene in The Odd Angry Shot where Bung goes looking for "the prick who's pinched my pack" As it was written by an ex SASR trooper, it was probably based on it. Yet another cracking figure.
-
I'm intrigued that the sterling was considered accurate, because all those James Bond henchmen using them couldn't hit the side of a barn (from the inside). :D
-
Gibbon’s Decline and Fall…..
Lovely sculpt, looking forward to the polar opposite of stealth…a trooper toting ‘the Bitch’.
-
Edited.
-
It wasn't "largely unsuccessful" otherwise they wouldn't have used it.
-
Not going to argue.
-
I haven't got a copy of that book. I do know that shotguns can't achieve the same results as suppressed SMGs. The Sterling was chosen by various SF units in the 60/70s as it fulfilled their needs. I've just noticed that you've deleted the post I'm replying to, and written "not going to argue"
-
No worries,my posts were superfluous anyway.
Looking forward to the miniatures :)
-
Looking good Paul ;)
-
I'm intrigued that the sterling was considered accurate, because all those James Bond henchmen using them couldn't hit the side of a barn (from the inside). :D
Also the weapon of choice of the Imperial Storm Trooper.
-
Also the weapon of choice of the Imperial Storm Trooper.
Probably from whence any poor reputation stems. lol
Truth is that any 9mm SMG is going to be fairly useless beyond about 50 feet. They used to say of the Owen and then the F1 that at 50 metres a wet blanket would probably suffice to stop the rounds. That's assuming you could hit very much with an F1 at 50 metres to start with. With a silenced SMG in the jungle it's likely you are going to be using the damned thing at 50 feet or less. The US navy SEALS seemed to think the silenced Sterling was a useful bit of kit. Certainly less obtrusive than the standard bang-stick.
-
Here's hoping for some chaps with XM-148 grenade launchers. Much more common than the XM-203.
-
very nice sculpt Paul and Paul!
-
Cheers chaps. ;)
-
M42 Duster
-
Super paintjob on the Tank & crew, the nón lá hanging off the side is a very nice touch.
-
Agreed excellent work! :-* :'( :-*
-
very nice painting.
-
Cheers guys :-*
-
Lovely painting, Paul.
My M-42 sits unpainted, :'( but not unloved.
In fact I saw it in it's package, the other day
it called out, "paint me, paint me. :D
-
Brilliant! 👍
-
The Duster looks brilliant :-*
-
I agree with all the comments posted thus far regarding that Duster. Well done, lad! :D
-
Sweet!
-
Paint job is horrifying! I'll give you an address you can send it to for disposal! ;D joking aside the tank and crew are painted to perfection! Will be picking up some bits from you at Colours
-
It's been a week and I'm getting SASR withdrawal, going to need another picture - for medicinal purposes....
-
Huge thanks for all of the nice comments. Big group hug chaps :-*
Another example of our future releases of Vietnam ANZAC SASR,
This chap is carrying a cut down M60 LMG as well as a LAWS in his cut down Bergen.
The shoulder band is a covered M60 ammo belt which was a particular ANZAC way of keeping the bullets dirt free to prevent blockages on the weapon when firing.
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Noice! Or to use a local expression denoting unrivalled pleasure…. Choice!
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Noice! Or to use a local expression denoting unrivalled pleasure…. Choice!
Good to see you are down with the kids lol
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Good to see you are down with the kids lol
Those are the precise words I use when I want to annoy my kids… along with ‘totally gangster’, ‘ you gonna hang wiv your posse bruv?, ‘straight out of Compton/Preston’, ‘ in da hood’ and other assorted bits of faux yoof speak. Drives them fucking mad. Teenagers hate the piss being taken. :D
I am, admittedly, a shockingly bad parent.
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Those are the precise words I use when I want to annoy my kids… along with ‘totally gangster’, ‘ you gonna hang wiv your posse bruv?, ‘straight out of Compton/Preston’, ‘ in da hood’ and other assorted bits of faux yoof speak. Drives them fucking mad. Teenagers hate the piss being taken. :D
I am, admittedly, a shockingly bad parent.
We are obviously on the same wavelength cos that's what I do. With some added hand gestures which are all designed to be slightly wrong.
Sadly I also score on the 'dad dancing' although that's actually me doing it as best I can but do not tell anyone o_o
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Latest Empress Miniatures 28mm Vietnam ANZAC SASR radio operator.
Using a US issue AN/PRC25- “Prick 25” radio to keep the team in communication with HQ.
Carrying a modified SLR with 30 round magazine.
Kit includes strobe light and grenades.
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Lovely!
The thing that always surprised me was why the SAS went to the trouble of converting standard L1A1 SLRs into auto versions when the L1A2 AR was in the system. The AR was a bit crap and usually only ever appeared as a gun for enemy party on exercise but it was designed from the ground up as an automatic rifle. The SAS took the 30 round mags and the dust cover from the AR anyway. Must have had bored armourers I suppose.
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Two previews of ANZAC SASR from Empress Miniatures. This time illustrating the interesting array of weaponry used. Illustrated is an SLR and M16 as well as an M79 Grenade launcher.
So far we have shown only some of the swathe of SASR figures due for release very soon. Stay tuned.
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They look great :-*
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That's a nicely dimensioned Blooper. I have seen one from another make that looks like 3" drain pipe.
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These are all must haves!! :-* :-*
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Great figs. Really like the guy with the M16 and slung M79...
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Nice job on the M42.
The SASR look really good.
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Cheers guys :-*
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Two more previews of our 28mm ANZAC SASR chaps for Vietnam.
Soon to be released
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How many variants of ANZAC SASR will you have? I count 6 so far.
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How many variants of ANZAC SASR will you have? I count 6 so far.
10, two fighting patrols.
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Thank-you
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very nice additions.
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Some action shots of the Empress PBR's and crew.
DAGADAGADAGADAGE!!!
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Jacuzzi jets on full throttle.
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The PBR looks very dynamic - well done.
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Cheers.
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Fantastic
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Cheers. I will put some pictures of the main craft at some point. ;)
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SASR
The Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) is a Special Forces regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions of the Australian World War II 'Z' Special Force commando unit, as well as the Independent Companies which were active in the South Pacific during the same period. It is based at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Perth, Western Australia and is a unit of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, part of the Australian Defence Force. As with the British SAS, the regimental motto is 'Who dares wins'.
The SASR's participation in the Vietnam War began when 3 Squadron deployed as part of the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) in April 1966. The SASR's role in Vietnam was to act as the 'eyes and the ears' of the Australian Task Force through conducting reconnaissance patrols throughout 1 ATF's area of responsibility. As in Borneo the SASR operated closely with the New Zealand SAS, with a New Zealand SAS troop being attached to each Australian Squadron.
SASR Squadrons rotated through Vietnam on one year long deployments until the last Squadron was withdrawn in October 1971. During its time in Vietnam the Regiment was extremely successful in the reconnaissance role. To their enemies members of the regiment were known as the 'phantoms of the jungle' due to their fieldcraft.
The Australian and New Zealand SAS killed at least 492 and as many as 598 and losing only two men killed in action and three fatalities from friendly fire. The last remaining Australian soldier who went missing in action in 1969 after falling into the jungle during a suspended rope extraction was found in August, 2008.
Australia's SASR also worked with U.S. SEAL Teams and U.S. Army Special Forces, and provided instructors to the LRRP School. Some members also served with the highly secret MACV-SOG Units.
ANZ7 SASR
Australian SAS were, like their British counterparts, famous for wearing what they wanted to get the job done. Obviously there were limits but these figures are based on photographic and verbal evidence. Much kit and uniform was standard issue although invariably altered to suit the wearers wishes. Added to this were locally purchased items made to the wearers specifications.
This style was also common with the weapons used. SLR’s M16’s and M60’s were all altered and usually cut down to both reduce weight and sometimes length. As action was expected to be close range this had not effect on the accuracy of the weapons. Grenade launchers of various designs were added to both the SLR’s and M16’s.
SLR’s were usually cut down and wooden grips removed usually replaced by foregrips. 30 round magazines were common and the SLR could be changed to fire on full automatic. By reducing the length of the barrel the rifle would fire both loudly and with a ball of flame thus occasionally being mistaken for a 50 cal. This alterations earned such modified weapons the name ‘The Bitch.’
Figures from left to right;
SLR with 30 round magazine and UGL.
M60 LMG cut down.
M16 with UGL.
M16 with UGL.
SLR with 30 round magazine.
ANZ8 SASR
ANZAC SASR also used the British Stirling SMG with a suppressor for close kills.
Figures from left to right.;
SLR with 30 round magazine and carrying a US issue AN/PRC25 ‘Prick 25’ radio.
SLR with 30 round magazine
Stirling sub machine gun with suppressor fitted.
M60 LMG cut down.
M16 with jungle mags and carrying an M79 Grenade launcher ‘blooper’, ‘Wombat gun’.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/anzac-forces-110-c.asp
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Said it before, will now say it again… my bank manager hates you lol
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Said it before, will now say it again… my bank manager hates you lol
But not as much as your wife ;)
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:-*
Order placed - also the Peakies ;D :D
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Many thanks ;)
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Superb! Really gorgeous sculpts. :-* :'(
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But not as much as your wife ;)
lol lol lol lol
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Have to place an order soon
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Love the eye candy photos of the Brown water navy :-* :-* :-*
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Cheers chaps. :-*
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Hopefully see some of you at Colours ;)
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Hopefully see some of you at Colours ;)
I had hoped to, but the stars are no longer aligned.
I hope it goes well today.
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Got my reinforments at Colours today! Just spent the last hour checking the SASR out and wow! :-* (plus all the other gorgeous Nam sets) Keep them coming :-*
Mike :)
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Good to see you sire, as always. Glad you like the toys. ;)
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The Brown Water Navy is coming along.
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I hate it when the pictures go sideways o_o
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Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! 👏🏻 Top notch work. Loving it!
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Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! 👏🏻 Top notch work. Loving it!
:-* ;)
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Good use of the artificial turf at the water's edge.
Plenty of cover for Charlie. >:D
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Always on the look out for useful everyday things that can be incorporated ;)
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Love it
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Very nice scenery.
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Fantastic set up! Love the crashed Huey tucked away in the background.
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Well, ain't that a spiffy-lookin' board! Well done!
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Cheers chaps :-*
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Great looking table and an impressive flotilla 8)
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Not been around here much as Christmas was very hectic and it looks like the New Year will go the same way so I thought I would just say Happy New Year to you all and thanks for the support team.
Lots of goodies across all ranges in the New Year so stay tuned.
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And to you and the rest of the gang!
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Happy new year to you and yours, Paul! And to everyone else here on the LAF!
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Beautiful stuff there Paul. A happy new year to you are yours! 8)
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I love that Duster!
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Thanks chaps ;)
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PARTICIPATION GAME FOR OVERLORD SHOW.
Empress Miniatures will not be trading at Overlord, (although if you need anything send us an e mail Current plan is a 'simple,) but we will be running a participation game, well hopefully three at the show.
The games will be using BOHICA rules with up to four players tasked with successfully carrying out a search and destroy mission against a possible enemy position. The hidden opposition will be controlled by Ian, and I get to run the game and try and remember the rules and operate the civilians. Phew!
We need four individuals (at most) who want to play the game for each sitting. Sorry but we cannot accept anyone under 16.
The first sitting will be 10.30am and we already have two volunteers.
Players can vote on what one of the three scenario options they want to play. The table layout does not change but the challenges do.
Village Sweep scenario.
OPTION 1 - USMC FORCE - 1 Patton tank, three 4 man Marine teams. 4 PLAYERS.
OPTION 2 - ANZAC SAS 4 SAS teams. 4 PLAYERS.
OPTION 3 - 1 Chaffee tank, three 4 man French Para teams. 4 PLAYERS.
These games will be spread during the day. First one starts at 10.30. Duration should be an hour.
So if you are interested in gaming Vietnam, or want to try the rules, or just want to play a fun game then book in and we will see you there.
Cheers,
Paul
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Hope your games go well, Paul. Looking forward to battle reports...
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me too
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Cheers guys.
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Win, lose or draw I reckon the eye candy would make the cost of admission worth it. Lovely looking stuff.
Any additions to the range forthcoming?
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Win, lose or draw I reckon the eye candy would make the cost of admission worth it. Lovely looking stuff.
Any additions to the range forthcoming?
Kind words sir ;)
No releases at the moment but some in the not to distant future.
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Kind words sir ;)
No releases at the moment but some in the not to distant future.
You tease, you... 8)
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You tease, you... 8)
Moi o_o
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No releases at the moment but some in the not to distant future.
Will that include M41s or M24s?
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Good luck with the games today.
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Good luck with the games today.
Same from me. Waiting patiently (which for me is quite the trick... :D ) for any AARs you might care to post....
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:)
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I'm not sure what the Vietnamese for 'get off my lawn!' is but that seems to be the message.
Lovely, atmospheric pic.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnWZDvnEnXs
lol
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Don’t tell me you are missing it already?
Vermont South would have been an excellent venue for the Vietnam War or just about any war really. Could have saved the government a motza and nobody would have noticed any of the side effects of Agent Orange.
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Painted by Javier Gomez Valero from 1898 Miniatures.
Lovely job. :-* :-*
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stunning paint
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outstanding
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Those are very nice. The muted tones on the helmet covers are spot on!
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Paul, love that shot of the ville. Is that from a recent game?
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Cheers,
Not recent. Over a year ago. The villagers unexpectedly turned nasty and mauled an ANZAC patrol. o_o
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They are very good.
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They are very good.
As you all liked it here is another one. ;)
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That's a cracking photo and I particularly like the variation in uniform tones.
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As you all liked it here is another one. ;)
Thanks, very inspiring.
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The different uniform colors are really nice indeed
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A close up of the PAVN.
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Lovely. Lovely, I tell ya...
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We have just added to our Vietnam deals, in time for Salute but open to everyone, both a civilian / VC and ARVN deal.
We already have deals for the USMC and NVA (PAVN) and Main Force VC.
These represent a 20% saving as well as cheaper post and packing. All the deals are designed to enable players to get into gaming pretty quickly.
This link takes you to the Vietnam room and the deals are in the relevant folders within.
https://www.empressminiatures.com/vietnam-16-c.asp
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Some cracking photos there Paul 👍🏻
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Indeed, those are some the most atmospheric shots of Vietnam games I have seen. Brilliant stuff. :-* :-* :-*
I hope it inspires you to further expand the range, certainly inspires me to paint some more.
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I especially like the town set ups you do.
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Great shots there. Well done, Paul!
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Cheers guys,
Have some more;
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Show-off.... :D
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Love it!
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Anything new on the horizon for this range? Gunners? More Aussies? VC?
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Anything new on the horizon for this range? Gunners? More Aussies? VC?
Voting machines?
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Press photographers... :D
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Prone Australians. Artillery crews in various states of undress. VC with captured ARVN weapons.
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Padre with a wa%&ing machine?
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Voting machines?
[/quote
What on earth have voting machines to do with anything? Is this some weird US politics reference?
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What on earth have voting machines to do with anything? Is this some weird US politics reference?
Popular name for South Vietnamese armour as they played a role in every coup. Diem was assassinated in the back of an M113 and Nguyen Cao Ky made sure that the VNAF had its own tank unit based at Tan Son Nhut. Why did the South Vietnamese air force need a tank unit you ask? Because the General Staff HQ and the organs of military power, essential in a coup, were based there.
Of course, if like me, you have recently had the pleasure of going through customs and immigration at SGN, with multiple planes landing at the same time, then you might wish you had one of those tanks. ;)
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Photos of M-24s as 'voting machines'.
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The army ones seem to have sported a reddish brown over green camo pattern.
The VNAF ones had a rather jazzy scheme of dark green over light(er) green. On the off chance anyone fancies modelling one.
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Interesting stuff- cheers! I’ve recently added 2 Chaffee’s to my French Indochina War collection. They are clearly “French” but (if no one’s looking) they may find their way on to the odd 1960’s game now I’ve moved some Empress ARVN off the lead pile.
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Interesting stuff- cheers! I’ve recently added 2 Chaffee’s to my French Indochina War collection. They are clearly “French” but (if no one’s looking) they may find their way on to the odd 1960’s game now I’ve moved some Empress ARVN off the lead pile.
What scale are the Chafee's? Ive been looking for some in either 1/48 or 1/50th scale
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Anything new on the horizon for this range? Gunners? More Aussies? VC?
Yes!
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Yes!
Yes? Will that be the Rick Wakeman lineup or the earlier incarnation? Brave man going prog rock, it was mostly over blown shite quite divisive in terms of music fans.
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Yes!
Does that 'yes' indicate more Aussies? :D
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Yes!
Will they be at Colours?
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Todays release is for our 28mm Vietnamese range.
This pack contains an ARVN paratrooper with a 'Blooper' grenade launcher as we felt there was one needed to complete the platoon.
It also has a medic and casualty and a US Army liaison officer. For this we chose to base it upon a famous incident involving Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf (of Gulf War generalship fame) Also known as The Bear due to his physical size, who rescued an ARVN casualty whilst serving as a MACV advisor to a South Vietnamese airborne unit during the Vietnam War: His weapon of choice was a short barrel M1 carbine.
We chose not to simply copy the famous photograph/ statue of the incident so that Norman can be used independently in his liaison role. His experiences in Vietnam are best summed up here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Schwarzkopf_Jr.
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Very cool. :D
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Very nice.
I have rather a lot of Vietnam figures :-)
But you are tempting me to buy some more.
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Very nice.
I have rather a lot of Vietnam figures :-)
But you are tempting me to buy some more.
You and me both! Just placed an order...
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Cool!
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nice addition
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Cheers chaps ;)
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You mentioned this when we spoke at Partizan and its way better then I even imagined. The range just gets better and better if that's at all possible :o
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You mentioned this when we spoke at Partizan and its way better then I even imagined. The range just gets better and better if that's at all possible :o
Thanks Russ :-*
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Nice figs there. Hmm...
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Lovely stuff Paul 👍
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Thanks chaps. ;)