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For a long time I've been wanting to throw together a couple of squads made up to look like American soldiers from the Vietnam War era. I wanted to avoid Catachans because after looking at old photographs of real soldiers they look nothing like them so I went with basic cadians and I think I've got it down. My references for this model was the movies We Were Soldiers and Full Metal Jacket. I wanted to model it after the 1st Cavalry Airmobile division for my Valkyries/Vendettas. Although depending on how well this goes I may want to get some Rhinos as proxy Chimeras and Model them up like M113 transports. Enough with the background here it is:









So what do you think?

I think he looks good. I like how its not an "in your face color" It does look like a practical color. I was actually expecting it to be a catachan when i clicked on this.

I know you're trying to make something based on something else, but nothing from the real world is going to transfer perfectly into the world of 40k. That said, I think this model could benefit from the body armor being done up in a camo fashion like the helmet, and have the imperial iconography on the gun and helmet picked out.

Also, the base color you've picked is really nice, but it could stand to be highlighted with a slightly lighter olive color. It's kind of hard to see the model's details with it all being the one dark color.

Otherwise, this is a really nice start. It will be interesting to see a whole squad of these guys.

Not looking too shabby. maybe the fatigues need a quick highlight to make them pop

Yeah, a highlight would probably make it look better, problem is I was never good at highlighting . I still wanted to keep the aquilla b/c I wanted to tie it to 40k regardless of the origin of the paint scheme. I guess I merely wanted to model an army after the era. As for camo-ing the rest of the body armor, I thought about it and looked at some old photos and noticed that most of the flak jackets worn in that era were mono-olive drab. It was only in the 1980s/late-70s I think when the army started camo-ing their body armor and fatigues. That said, it would also really be hard to highlight the body armor if it had camo on it too. I do agree that the details were lost. I usually like to wash my fatigues/armor with devlin mud to give them a grimy feel. Do you suggest putting the highlight on before or after the wash?

Either paint it dark and highlight it light, or paint it light and wash it dark. There's not a whole lot of point to doing both.

And once again, there are some things that you could do that would make the model look less accurate, but it would also make them look much better. Consider that it'e a vietnam-STYLE army, not a vietnam army.

Ok so I added a lighter green highlight and then carefully went over the deeper folds in a dilute Devlin mud. I think the problem might also be my camera since it isn't the best. It seems to be washing out some of the details with the flash. Ailaros, after giving it thought I wasn't sure what you meant by "pick out" the iconography so I assumed you meant paint it to stand out. If not I can always remove it later.

New = Left Original = Right





Any better?

I like what you've done! i think it looks great!
they actually remind more of Marines from the Pacific campaign during WWII.
either way, i like!

Ok so it's not an entire squad, but the idea here is to show how it is coming along and see what you all think. I've still got 5 guardsmen to put together and paint and I'm wondering what kinds of special weapons/heavy weapon I should add to the squad. I've got 2 Flamers, 2 GLs, 1 HB, and 1 Mortar available to me. I'm still undecided which I want to do for this squad. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I apologize for the hasty basing ahead of time, but I currently have no static grass and am still wondering how I want to paint them as well.









So what do you think thus far?

Looking great man! The highlighting on the green came out great imo
How'd you remove the shoulder pads? Just cutting or using green stuff too? Looks great anyways, would it be allright if copied it to some of my models?

you did a great job taking off the stupid shoulder pads! would you mind PM ing me with how you did it and pulled it off so well. thanks

@Chris13f: It was actually pretty easy and albeit crude: worked. I just took an Xacto knife and started to shave off the shoulder pads along where they meet the actual arm. I shaved them until they were I think they would have ended and the arm would have begun and from there I used a small file to smooth it out/round out the edges left by my cutting. The process would probably be a lot easier and a lot less accident prone (Xacto Knife + Tiny arm parts + Fingers = Bad) if you just use a Dremel tool and small sanding drum.

@pavarotti: As above, and no I don't mind if you copy the idea. It kind of adds a more realistic flak jacket look to IG imo. Also, no green stuff was used. Unless I/you screw up on the cutting/sanding, there really is no need for gs.

A great idea executed really well, looking forward to seeing some more.

I like, though it's kinda odd that the eagles are white when the uniforms are trying a little to blend in.

Nice army so far. Though with the thread name I want a B52 bomber style Valkyrie vendetta now.

Sweet thanks mate! Yeah i totally agree that it gives a better look

It looks pretty good, can I suggest using a devlan mud wash or two on the sand, it will give it a better contrast and tie it in more with the models.

@Lexx: Haha, yeah, that would be cool. If I had the money, they would totally look good with a marauder bomber. I do have a 1/35th scale Huey though. Next time I get a chance I'll throw up a picture with it and them, lol.

@poipo32: Yeah, I'll have to try that. Thanks for the suggestion!

Forge World Autoguns, or Maxmini sells M16A1's in resin, 10 for $6.00

@JDM: Yeah, that's a good idea. I do like the look of the autogun. Kind of a grim-dark version of the M16. I'll consider that for the next squad. The problem is shaping the resin arms they come attached to. I've never worked with resin yet so I'm not sure how well they'll take to the knife or file.

Ok, so onto the update. Finally got a complete 10-man squad with some basing! As far as the basing goes, I tried the mud recipe that doubleT used on his Death Korps of Kreig thread here: doubleT "Muddy Times" Thread

I pretty much did the same thing he wrote + the addition of some static grass.









And to top it off, a 1/35th scale Huey from my earlier work before I got into 40k.

I think you should get some of the M16s from hasslefree:

http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/pack.php?pack=2296

would make such a cool touch.

Ordo Dakka wrote:I think you should get some of the M16s from hasslefree:

http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/pack.php?pack=2296

would make such a cool touch.

Too small. Try M16A1's from Maxmini. 10 for $6.00

Hmm, it's hard to say which I like more. The hasslefree ones look far more detailed, yet you say they are smaller. The Maxmini ones I guess are the right size, but the picture makes them look more cartoon-like and bulbous.
I was also considering 1/35th scale Tamiya m16s. I'm not sure if those would be too big though.
Then again maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. I'd like to keep a somewhat 40k feel to them, which I think is best to keep with their lasguns. Autoguns would work well in filling that roll as well. But I am wondering if I should shift the color scheme of the lasguns from the black/grey of the M16 to a more wood like quality of the M14s they used before the M16s became common place. In that regard, does any one know how to paint a good looking wood-like scheme on lasguns?

So as far as vehicles go, I've been thinking of straying away from the chimera. And oddly enough I just don't like the look of the M113, it simply isn't an equivalent to the chimera more so it is to the Rhino. So I've decided on something a bit out of the ordinary:

http://www.hlj.com/product/AFV35016

I just can't help but love that clunky design of this cheaper alternative to the modern Bradley. It's a bit pricey compared to the GW chimera and will probably be a bit bigger, but I think 2 would make for a solid start.
It wasn't used in the Vietnam war, but this is more of a style army as opposed to a theme I guess. So really it's the little things like the shoulder-pads, guns, overall feel/look, and color scheme that matter.

So what do you think? I'll probably just get one for now to see what the finished product looks like and how well the scale fits before I get the second.

A later detailing idea would be to right things on their helmets and maybe add personal items, good read is "The things they carried" all in all great work, happy to see you didnt go the catachan rout.

It's been awhile but I've got some new pics bearing armor! So it took about a month but my orders finally came in. Both the YPR and a FW Demolosher turret/engine filters. So the Demolisher body was actually an older model I already had done up in Olive Drab so I apologize ahead of time if it doesn't look that great. It was one of my more earlier works. The sentinel is also an older model, but still fits with the color scheme I'm going for.






Also painted one of my figures with a brown lasgun in an attempt to make it look like an M14. Still not sure whether I like it or the Nato black ones more.



And this is the YPR. It is somwhat bigger lengthwise compared to the chimera, but, in every other aspect it is almost equal. Obviously haven't painted it yet, so that will be the next thing to do, but before that I was also wondering if I should keep the main cannon it comes with or add a 40k Multi-laser to the turret. I attempted to put a side-by-side comparison up, so maybe you all could get an idea, which would be better.

Really like this project keep up the good work.

I like the YPR! i like the ML instead of the regular gun. it's too thin,imho.
the demolisher is just awesome! great job.
and i've always liked the Cadian Shoulder pads, but i have to admit, you make them fantastic without them.
can't wait to see more.

Who did the YPR? I would surely like one for my FAD army.

M.

very well painted and nice idea