Special Forces GMV Afghanistan

[Maki]

I built this model quite some time ago:

Some might remember the blog on the old forums:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=227405

Now I’m hoping to finish of the model by making a base with some figures.

The figures I’m using are excellent Evolution Miniatures reviewed here:

US SF Operators and Afghan Man

I decided to replace the weapons with Live Resin offerings which are a bit more detailed:

This is a scene I had in mind… Afghanistan terrain:

Mario

[SF-07-18D]

@Maki I’ll be watching this post. As I’m working in something similar I’ll use your posts as reference.

[Maki]

After a while, here’s an update. The Live Resin M4s:

and the first figure done:

Mario

[SF-07-18D]

Amazing work, Mario!!!

[Jan_Degryse]

Nice model, great figure, looking forward to see the others painted.

Grtx Jan

[Maki]

Thanks guys!

Mario

[Gary_Totty1]

great work!
gary

[Chris83]

I have to ask what colors/paints did you use for the figures 3 tone desert pants? I’m trying to paint some figures myself but i can’t figure out the paint matches for the life of me

[Maki]

Chris, I painted with Humbrols. Still my favorite brand for brushpainting.

3-color DBU colors are:

121 + 84 (sand)
121 + 117 (greenish tone)
186 + 121 (brown).

Hope it helps,
Mario

[Chris83]

Thanks maki…awesome work by the way

[Maki]

The second figure… I still have to add the weapon sling and think about the radio antenna:

Mario

[18bravo]

Very nice! As for antenna, a body wire is the most likely. You can use the thinnest fuse wire you can find and zig zag it across the back underneath the CamelBak.

[Maki]

Thanks Rob. Were the body wires used in the 2001-2002? Most of the photos I’ve seen from SF in that period show whip antennas, either tied or strapped to the shoulder.

Mario

[18bravo]

Now THAT is a good question. In '02 we had the little stubbies on the hand held. I did not wear a body wire until '07. I’ll ask some commo geek friends if they were much in use back then. My feeling is yes, depending upon which radio was being used.

[Jan_Degryse]

I don’ think you need to ad some antenna, the figure is not warring a radio for long distance.
If the man just waring a Handheld and some equipment for shortrange communication with the squad a antenna for long distance will be some overkill.

my 5cents

[Maki]

Thanks Rob. Little stubbies like this?

I would think a marksman/sniper would not wear a long whip antenna, so I might go with a stubby.

Jan, thanks. Hmm… this is a good point, although I thought all radios have to have some sort of antenna, even for short range comms?

Mario

[18bravo]

Exactly that one. And even a team of SF has to maintain longer range comms with the team house, or even the AOB (Battalion level, usually not co-located) The body wire doesn’t necessarily give longer range - I had trouble in Iraq reaching about twenty klicks, and over very flat terrain in the Jazeera desert. For longer ranges I believe we used the PSC-5 with the SATCOM antenna. Not really my purview though. If it didn’t have a trigger or a detonator on it then it wasn’t really in my wheelhouse.

Ah, and for a sling on the M4 I do know that three point sling was very popular then. I made them for the whole team from components I bought at REI. Single points were also somewhat popular. It seems the basic two point sling wasn’t “cool” enough back then. Of course everything is cyclic. The two point with a quick release lengthener is now the shiznit.

[Stryker45]

Simply amazing work on painting those figures. Not to mention the vehicle. You know your airbrush and paint brushes.

[Maki]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Here’s a closeup of the next figure in progress:

Mario

[Maki]

And another one finished… well, almost. Sling and antenna to do.

Mario