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LZ X-Ray, The Ia Drang Valley


ArtyScout
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On page 13 of this forum, you'll find my first diorama post: LZ-Landing Zone. Well I've decided to redo that diorama and rename it above. The majority of the old figures are staying, just repositioned and tweaked and I'm adding 7 new figures. Also the UH-1D Huey will be repainted from USMC to US Army. For one thing I found out that the Corps used UH-34 choppers before phasing them out with CH-46 Sea Knights and CH-53 Sea Stallions. Second the decals on the Huey silvered because I forgot to gloss coat the decal areas, and there were other discrepancies that needed to be fixed. I believe with the support and knowledge that I've picked up in this forum and at World Militaria, I'll be able to pull it off. The good news is I won't have to make room for a 'new' diorama. LOL. So here are some pics of the seven new figures prior to priming that I'll be adding to the old diorama plus a reminder of the old diorama. The figures are from Bravo6 and Master Box. As you can see the M60 front sight had to be "redone" on the Bravo6 kit. It was quite flimsy and it broke off with just a slight touch. I tried my best to kitbash another one, I also used PE bipods on the M60 instead of the resin ones and also for the grenade pull rings. So wish me luck, and as always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Mann

 

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Proud Kraut

Manny, great to see that you are starting another diorama project. I thought about reworking some of my old dios as well and I´m curious how your´s will look finally.

The new figures, especially the M60 gunner are looking awesome.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hey everyone, I know its been a few weeks since my last post, but I have been doing some work. Fortunately some of it has been in my garden. But here are some WIP pics of the figures. They WILL be getting tweaked with some rank and unit decals on some of them; and that process has already begun. Enjoy and as always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

 

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Old Marine

I agree with Lars.  The figures are looking good!  Those are nice crisp figures, who made them?  Great work. 

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On 5/10/2023 at 5:10 PM, Old Marine said:

I agree with Lars.  The figures are looking good!  Those are nice crisp figures, who made them?  Great work. 

Thanks everyone. Dennis, most of the figures are from MasterBox. Especially the African American figure; which is a kitbash of MasterBox parts. The M60 machine gunner and kneeling A-gunner are from Bravo6.  Also, the helmets are from Bravo6. I'm dealing with small uniform decals now. They can be tedious, but as you know they put the figures over the top.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

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Old Marine

Master Box, and the other Ukrainian companies have been making some very nice figures.   Those figures have crisp detail and very natural looking  poses.  I wish those model companies and their employees well.   You are doing a great job with them, they look great.  I know what you mean, at the end of the project completing all the final tiny details seems to take forever.  But, the little details do push the figures over the top.

 

Great work, I am looking forward to seeing the terrain and foliage where your your guys will be operating.  

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Hey everyone. The figures have their decals and all they really need is some fine tune tweaking and figuring out where they'll go in the diorama. I didn't have enough 1st Cav decals so not everyone got one. Actually I did have enough 1st Cav decals, but the remainder were the low visibility green type, and according to the timeline, those did not come into use until 1966. I'll double check my stash, but for now, these will have to do. As always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

 

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Old Marine

That’s a lot of figures, this should look great. The paint is excellent.  I’m looking forward to seeing the finished.  
 

As for the patches, you know there is always somebody that didn’t get a patch, lost the patch, was too lazy to sew it on or the dog ate the patch.  
 

great job Manny.  

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Proud Kraut

Outstanding Manny, the result was well worth your work. Looking forward to seeing the figures re-united with the Huey!

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Hello everyone. I've been doing some work on the Huey. I was able to remove or paint over the old decals and put the new ones on. I was very disappointed that with all the helicopter decals in my possession, I don't have a single 1st Cav or Cavalry decal. But by checking out photos of the era, I was able to lay down some nice decals. I still have to add the door gunner's M60 bungee cord, and was debating to use EZ line or black thread. I'll probably go with the thread since the EZ line looks too thin, but the Huey is practically done. Now I can get to the groundwork itself. As always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

 

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On 5/25/2023 at 11:48 PM, sundance said:

Wow, very nice. Were they the one with "death from above" painted on their noses?

No I don't think so Sundance. The 1st Cav normally had the crossed Sabres on the nose.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

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Hello all. Thanks for the comments on the chopper. I've added the door gunner's bungee cord to the chopper. You'll see them in the next picture. I've been adding foliage to the base to make it represent LZ X-ray. I have to tweak the banana palms and add some more field and static grass. Then set up the figures in their proper places. BTW the tan mound is a termite mound. Here are some WIP pics.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

 

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Hello Everyone and Happy Flag Day (I know I'm late). Well my diorama is done. It's November14, 1965 and the first elements of the 1st Bn, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry have landed in the Ia Drang Valley at LZ X-Ray. I hope to impose the Chu Pong Massif in my background pictures and hopefully I conveyed the feel of the early stages of the battle prior to all hell breaking loose. I hope you enjoy the work and the pictures and as always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated. 

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

 

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