Mick's Vietnam Project (Book Launch News) page 14

[carlos marighela]

Hmm. Now I’m starting to wonder how they might fit with the Wargames Atlantic Partisans. Those M16 barrels will still need shortening of course but that’s an easy job.

[CapnJim]

Hmm. Now I’m starting to wonder how they might fit with the Wargames Atlantic Partisans. Those M16 barrels will still need shortening of course but that’s an easy job.

Hmm.  Great minds must think alike.  I was wondering the exact same thing....

[CapnJim]

The more I look at them, the more I like them.  But carlos is right - the flash suppressor on the M16s seem about 2x as long as the ought to be (which is an easy fix...).  I'll have to wait and see what they look like in person...

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

The M16 does not bother me at all. It looks more accurate and in scale than the weapons on many miniatures.
(Certainly much better than ironing board sized swords on many fantasy figures)

https://historycollection.com/the-highly-successful-m16-rifle-suffered-from-a-terrible-reputation-when-it-was-first-introduced-in-vietnam/
An original M16, top, without the forward assist, which was introduced in the M16A1, bottom. Gun Digest

[CapnJim]

I may not care either, once I see them in the flesh.  Well, in the plastic, anyway...

[carlos marighela]

‘Tis true, viewed ‘in the flesh’ is always better but the photos, both Mick’s and Rubicon’s own, suggest the barrel forward of the hand guards to be almost or as long as the hand guards themselves, whereas, in reality, they are half that length.

Harder to tell from the photos, maybe Mick can answer this. Do the M16s have rifle slings attached? A couple of them seem to.

[Blackwolf]

Nice work
A question about the uniforms;  they look very grey(I am colour blind however ) ,is this normal,or the colour they fade out to?

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

@Carlos  The M16 have slings.


@Blackwolf
I have been experimenting with greens.  New clean uniforms were a blue grey tone of green.

Those figures are painted with Vallejo German Uniform 70.920. They were given a wash of Citadel Coelia Greenshade which is a blue green.
I think they are slightly too blue.

[Blackwolf]

That’s very interesting, thanks 

[CapnJim]

Got my Marines and VC today.  Man, all kinds of possibilities - even a hand with a cigar (since I smoke them, some of my minis do too... ).  FYI (and apologies if this has already been mentioned), the VC box comes with 24 male fighters and 8 female fighters...

They are def going toward the top of my painting queue...

[carlos marighela]

FYI (and apologies if this has already been mentioned), the VC box comes with 24 male fighters and 8 female

Yeah , it’s a long but steady path to obtaining gender equality.

Made Mao caps from green stuff before but this time round I’m going to look for a replacement source, as most of mine when I get around to buying some will be used as Khmer Rouge as opponents for the Empress PAVN. I don’t fancy making another 30 odd Mao caps.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

New try to get the US uniform colour right.
The jackets and trousers have been painted with Vallejo Model Colour paints with Citadel shade washes.
1.   Luftwaffe Camouflage Green 70.823 with wash of Coelia Greenshade.
2.   Luftwaffe Camouflage Green 70.823 with wash of Athonian Camoshade.
3.   US Dark Green 70.893 with wash of Coelia Greenshade.
4.   US Dark Green 70.893 with wash of mixture 50:50 Coelia Greenshade & Athonian Camoshade.
5.   German Uniform 70.920 with wash of Athonian Camoshade.
6.   German Uniform 70.920 with wash of Coelia Greenshade.
7.   German Uniform 70.920 with wash of mixture 50:50 Coelia Greenshade & Athonian Camoshade.




 I think 4,5, 6 and 7 all work, but I am not sure which is my favourite.

[CapnJim]

They all look good, Mick!  Varying shades of wear and dyes.  But I especially like #s 2, 4, 5, and 7...

If it matters, for my Empress US chaps, I used Citadel Base Death Guard Green for the uniforms.  I used Vallejo Model Color Panzer Series US Olive (70.887) for most of the web gear, and Citadel Base Death World Forest for the flak jackets.  I know the Citadel stuff ain't historical, but they gave the right colors for my tastes for the figs, and that's what I'm gonna try on the Rubicon boys.

Also, I use a hand brush to apply all the paints.  Only use a rattle can for primer and matte varnish.  No airbrushes.  I shade using a black wash with a mix of ink wash and floor finish.  I then drybrush the highlights with a very light tan.  Then I apply a matte varnish.  And I do a very basic neutral flock on the bases.  This process works for me, anyway...

I may get another box of VC, and use some of the figs to kitbash Ruff Puffs.  Some of the VC bodies, with a mix of Rubicon M16s, AKs, and Perry WW2 GI carbines and BARs.  Bare heads and bush hats for those guys...

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

The idea of kit bashing Ruff Puffs is interesting. I may try that. 

I have some Perry Afrika Korps sprues somewhere so I may try to make some early VC with WW2 German weapons.

[CapnJim]

The idea of kit bashing Ruff Puffs is interesting. I may try that. 

I have some Perry Afrika Korps sprues somewhere so I may try to make some early VC with WW2 German weapons.

Ooh!  And I may try that a bit when I do up my VC.  I just picked up a box of the Perry DAK guys.