Big Red One in Vietnam (Empress civilians 8/2/25)

[flatpack]

You are doing a fine job with this project Mike.
Keep going.

[mikedemana]

Thanks, everyone! I've been waiting on the humidity to let up (finally supposed to do so today) so that I can do the preliminary spray matte coat prior to the grass & leaf flocking on the next batch of figures. Speaking of which, that batch is Black Sun's "U.S. Army Personalities #1" pack.



Hopefully, the linked photo from their website comes through. Who are these personalities? Is the one with the towel around his neck and the headband Charlie Sheen's character from the movie Platoon? Is the bald guy with cigar Cap'n Jim, er...I man Col. Kurtz from Apocalypse Now? 

Figured I would "crowdsource" that question so that I don't look like a fool on my post about them... 

Mike Demana

[CapnJim]

Regarding the figures in question - that would be my guess.  But I do have a little bit more hair than that bald chap with the cigar.  Not much more, though....

[carlos marighela]

The characters are, from left to right.

Top Row: A young Michael Jordan, Steve Buscemi.

Bottom Row: Garry Busey, The Guy that mows the sculptor's lawn and Don Rickles.

[mikedemana]

The characters are, from left to right.

Somehow, sir, I think you're pulling my leg on this reply....! 

I have no idea who the black M-60 gunner is supposed to represent. However, I think the top right is Tom Berenger's character, Staff Sgt. Barnes, in Platoon. He has what appears to be an AK-47, maybe a nod to when he guns down Sgt. Elias? The bottom middle...any chance that is Forrest Gump...? 

Input welcomed...

Mike Demana

[mikedemana]

Oh well...now I don't feel so bad not knowing who all of these guys are supposed to represent!   



Here are my efforts on the five soldiers in the U.S. Army Personalities pack. Above is a group shot of them posed with two more of my scratch-built SE Asian temples from my Pulp games. With them being overgrown with vegetation, there's no reason I can't use them in my Vietnam games.



Here's the one that Cap'n Jim and I feel is inspired by Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. It is one of my favorites from this pack. I love the bald head, cigar in his mouth, and no bullshit look on his face.



Definitely in the running for my favorite miniature from the pack. So much attitude in this shot -- sunglasses, bare-chested, and the way he's holding his M-60 machine gun. Great pose!



The figure that I think is inspired by either Sgt. Elias or Staff Sgt. Barnes from the movie Platoon. It is a toss up between that movie and Apocalyspe Now as to which seems to be hated by Vietnam vets or history buffs more. I honestly liked it, though. My favorite part is when Charlie Sheen "new guy" is put on point and realizes an enemy soldier could be less than six feet from him and he'd never see him.



I decided NOT to paint this up as Charlie Sheen. Not because I was worried that I would do a poor job on it, but because I simply wanted some brighter colored hair in my group of Americans. Here was a chance to throw in some blond, non-regulation length locks in the group, so I took it. 



I really like how this pose is completely different than all of the others. His t-shirt, floppy bush hat, and light on equipment look gives nice variety to the collection of miniatures. Who he is supposed to me, I have no idea, though. If any LAF readers have some thoughts on that, I'd love to hear it!

For a couple more photos, check out my discussion of this batch on my Lead Legionaries blog here:
https://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/2025/05/vietnam-personalities-pack-from-28mm.html

Thanks in advance for any comments...

Mike Demana

[CapnJim]

Well, whoever they are, you've done a nice job on 'em!

[carlos marighela]

I have a vague sense that the bloke in the giggle hat might be meant to be Chef (Fred Forrest) from Apocalypse Now. Bit chunky for Fred and needs a moustache but I think Bob Murch only sculpts moustaches in packs containing female figures. Just so you can tell them apart. 

Sadly Fred's dead, so unlikely to complain.

Paul Hicks had a much better take on Fred.

https://www.empressminiatures.com/vietnam-apoc1-2254-p.asp

[mikedemana]

Bob Murch commented on my Facebook post that the personalities are all archetypes rather than strictly representing a single character. That explains why we all had a feeling we should know who they are but were having trouble nailing them down.

Anyway, they're great figs and I'm having a blast painting them. Thanks for all the comments...!

Mike Demana

[CapnJim]

I may have to get that pack.  The balding fellow just screams "The Old Man" in our Nam '68 campaign...

[carlos marighela]

Well, if you do, you could thin down that cigar and paint it as a Chupa-Chup stick. More congenial to our present times than a cigar and you get a recognisble character into the bargain. 'Who loves ya baby?' 

[CapnJim]

Nah.  I smoke cigars, so there you go.  I'm not really concerned with congeniality...

But I'm pickin' up what you're layin' down...

[carlos marighela]

I smoke cigars, so there you go. )

You have risen even further in my estimation sir!

[Lord Raglan]

Those look pretty sweet Mike 👍🏻

[CapnJim]

You have risen even further in my estimation sir!