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Dioramas: Vietnam
For Vietnam diorama subjects or techniques.
Hosted by Darren Baker
"Breakfast in the Boonies." Vietnam July 1967
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - 04:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text


I was out on an L.P. for a week a little south of Chu Lai, when Tet came knocking on our door. Was pulled after five days out there, as they needed warm bodies everywhere. Really ugly, but for the grace of God I made it without a scratch (got real ugly on the L.P.). When Tet slowed down, we started doing strikes to the south. Integrating with other units. That became more of an OJT training exercise than anything else. Actually rolled into Quin Non about four in the afternoon once. Low on ammo and everything else (was in a constantly moving engagement the kept moving south). By eight in the morning I was outta there, and headed back to Chu Lai to lick our wounds, and refit for my first trip out west. That OP involved a series of hard strikes with the 196th Infantry out thru the Que Son Valley. Set up a base camp on Lurch, and made strikes out of it. That's when I found out I wasn't nearly tough enough yet. We got there quickly. Ended that OP really beat up on a mountain top right on the Lao border. The mountain top would later be taken over by the 196th, and named Melon. When I was there an SF C Team held it. Ran out of warm bodies there as well. That's where I saw my first tiger! After another refit and being put back together again, we set up a new base camp out at Thien Phouc (A102), and did strikes out of there. That's where I met the CAV units. That last place was the toughest AO I was ever dumped in. They've awarded 7 CMH's in there, and two are pending. Handed out Silver Stars as a matter of fact. Bronze Stars were like candy. Now you've read a glossed over 15 months.

gary



You've been through alot, Gary. I am glad you made it through it all. You definitely have my respect.

When you mentioned the smoke grenades, it caused to me to paint the ones I had originally intended to place on the model and get them installed this afternoon in preparation for a show in San Antonio. Another thing that was missing was ammo for the M148 grenade launcher attached to the M16 resting on the barrel of the recoilless rifle. I added a 6 round 40mm bandoleer from Bravo 6's new M79 kit so it would have some ammo with it. Thanks for jarring my memory to get it added before bringing it to another show.

Cheers,
James
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2017 - 09:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


I was out on an L.P. for a week a little south of Chu Lai, when Tet came knocking on our door. Was pulled after five days out there, as they needed warm bodies everywhere. Really ugly, but for the grace of God I made it without a scratch (got real ugly on the L.P.). When Tet slowed down, we started doing strikes to the south. Integrating with other units. That became more of an OJT training exercise than anything else. Actually rolled into Quin Non about four in the afternoon once. Low on ammo and everything else (was in a constantly moving engagement the kept moving south). By eight in the morning I was outta there, and headed back to Chu Lai to lick our wounds, and refit for my first trip out west. That OP involved a series of hard strikes with the 196th Infantry out thru the Que Son Valley. Set up a base camp on Lurch, and made strikes out of it. That's when I found out I wasn't nearly tough enough yet. We got there quickly. Ended that OP really beat up on a mountain top right on the Lao border. The mountain top would later be taken over by the 196th, and named Melon. When I was there an SF C Team held it. Ran out of warm bodies there as well. That's where I saw my first tiger! After another refit and being put back together again, we set up a new base camp out at Thien Phouc (A102), and did strikes out of there. That's where I met the CAV units. That last place was the toughest AO I was ever dumped in. They've awarded 7 CMH's in there, and two are pending. Handed out Silver Stars as a matter of fact. Bronze Stars were like candy. Now you've read a glossed over 15 months.

gary



You've been through alot, Gary. I am glad you made it through it all. You definitely have my respect.

When you mentioned the smoke grenades, it caused to me to paint the ones I had originally intended to place on the model and get them installed this afternoon in preparation for a show in San Antonio. Another thing that was missing was ammo for the M148 grenade launcher attached to the M16 resting on the barrel of the recoilless rifle. I added a 6 round 40mm bandoleer from Bravo 6's new M79 kit so it would have some ammo with it. Thanks for jarring my memory to get it added before bringing it to another show.

Cheers,
James



honestly, I didn't really look at the 106 recoilless rifle close. We had one mounted on wheels (only one I ever saw), and just used the 50 caliber spotter round with it. Seems like the rounds were loaded in a box magazine, but could be dead wrong on the subject. I know the first time we fired it, I was certain I was dead! There's a 100 foot back blast, and we had a wall that was thirty feet or so behind us. Hurt for days!

Never saw an XM203 till mid summer 68 while on an OP with the 101st. When did the issue them; I don't know. We never used them, but had several M79's. Guys used to have bandoliers made that held about twenty five rounds. I never had one with me clearing bunkers and trench lines. I carried them in my right pockets and left hand. Used a lot of canister (buck shot), and never fired one further than thirty feet.

gary
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Friday, February 17, 2017 - 11:54 AM UTC
Yup, there is a magazine for the .50 spotting rifle on the 106mm RR. The backblast is a MF. It is one of those weapon systems when mounted on a track that you have to think about before firing.

The weapon in this diorama is the predecessor of the XM203. It is the XM148 which was harder to reload and was not as reliable as the M79 nor the M203. Some elements of the 9th Infantry Division (4/47 Inf for one) arrived in Vietnam with the XM148. Other units like 2/47 Inf didn't get them until May or June of 1967. The M79 was still the preferred grenade launcher. Heck, when I was in Afghanistan, the MARSOC unit that was colocated at our base had them. Being a former Recon Marine, we hit it off fairly well and my guys and I were able to go shoot with them on occasion when they would bring out all of their cool weapons. My favorites were the M79 and the minigun on their HUMVEE.

Cheers,
James
Epi
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Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2017 - 11:42 AM UTC
Got to see this dio in person today at Model Fiesta and I tell you, the pictures do not do it justice, it must be seen in person to get the full effect. Congratulations James for placing and your other stuff was awesome to look at too.
Sean50
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Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2017 - 01:11 AM UTC
I confess to not being that up to speed on anything post-1945 but this to me looks exceptional, all the more so because of the personalisation. The little bits and pieces dotted around are really well done and natural looking IMHO.

Great stuff.

Sean
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2017 - 05:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Got to see this dio in person today at Model Fiesta and I tell you, the pictures do not do it justice, it must be seen in person to get the full effect. Congratulations James for placing and your other stuff was awesome to look at too.



Thanks, Pete. Congrats to you, too, on placing with your HETT. Did you do the Patriot system, too? I like your work. One of these days I will get around to doing some modern armor.

I am glad you liked this dio. I wish I were a better photographer of models. I took the pictures at one of the picnic tables outside the WTU Barracks at Fort Hood...not exactly the best place to take photos of models, but I could not get good enough lighting in my barracks room. Now that I'm retired, I don't have to worry about that anymore.

I wish I had gotten a chance to talk to you at the show. When you went up for your award, I didn't recognize you at first because the last time I saw you was back when BDUs and DCUs were still worn. Are you going to go to any of the shows in the DFW area this year or perhaps Soonercon in Oklahoma City? I should be able to make it to most of the shows in the area this year.

Cheers, Brother!
James
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2017 - 05:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I confess to not being that up to speed on anything post-1945 but this to me looks exceptional, all the more so because of the personalisation. The little bits and pieces dotted around are really well done and natural looking IMHO.

Great stuff.

Sean



Thanks, Sean.

I am glad you like this diorama.

I try to make most of my works fairly personal, but I thik this one turned out the best mainly due to all of the small details. I started working on this diorama back in June 2015 when I was recovering from a neck fusion surgery. I entered it in a show in October 2016, but there were still a few minor details that I still had to add that I did not have time to add prior to the show as I was still working on it up until 0200 in the morning the day of the show. I placed the final details on this diorama this past Wednesday which was the addition of 4 smoke grenades at various places on the top deck and a bandoleer of 40mm grenades near the M16 with the XM148 Grenade Launcher leaning on the barrel of the recoilless rifle.

Cheers,
James
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 02:23 AM UTC
A quick update on this diorama. I entered this diorama in the Armor Diorama category at the Fort Worth Scale Modelers Society SUPERCON 2017 show yesterday. It won first place in it's category. Additionally, it won the Charlie Jay Memorial Award for the best Vietnam subject which I felt honored to be chosen for. On top of that, it also won Best of Show which was a real surprise for me...and a great honor.

Cheers,
James

jrutman
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 03:24 AM UTC
Big congrats on a well deserved award. Or rewards actually !
J
210cav
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 05:10 AM UTC
Jim-- Your work is scary accurate! Down to mud on the boots...very well done and a fitting first place model/diorama.
You have done well
DJ
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 08:12 PM UTC
Thanks, Jerry and DJ.


Cheers,
James
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
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Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 01:26 AM UTC
greetings!

Your dio was similar to one's life passing by at a snail's pace. Some of them gave me chills and one some bad juju. You deserved the win, and for once a guy gets it close to being right. Important here anyway.

I see so much imaginary stuff called out as a Vietnam diorama. Snow ball's chance in Hades!! Yet I can almost smell the burning charcoal, and rotted vegetation in your work Sir.

Raining in the valley this afternoon
gary
j76lr
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Posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - 02:33 PM UTC
great job !!
timcc2008
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Posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - 07:37 PM UTC
Jim, I have to say this is outstanding. You have piqued my interest in possibly doing a Vietnam dio/vignette in the future. Congrats on the awards that you have gotten for this....very well earned and deserved. Thank you for your service!

v/r

Tim
erichvon
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Posted: Thursday, September 28, 2017 - 12:59 AM UTC
James, that is a work of art! One of the most interesting Vietnam dios I've ever seen. Not only is it beautifully painted and composed but the back story makes it all the more fascinating. Your attention to detail is brilliant. For me it's the little things that stand out on a diorama as they're the bits that make it look like a snapshot in time rather than an assortment of models. Things like the mugs being heated on burners, the kit inside the track and especially the storage boxes as they're something that was specific to that unit. Fantastic work.
ReconTL3-1
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Posted: Thursday, September 28, 2017 - 08:55 PM UTC
Thanks for the additional comments. Something that means more than any award that this diorama can ever win are the times when a Vietnam Veteran is looking at the diorama and sees the tiny details and appreciates the time I took to try to get those things right.

I am starting a diorama for next year's 50th Anniversary of the 1968 Tet Offensive. It will be part of my series of dioramas commemorating the service of 2d Battalion 47th Infantry (Mechanized) 9th Infantry Division. The tiny details will be a bit different in that one since it will be an action diorama, but I hope to have details that are just as important as the ones in "Breakfast in the Boonies."

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
James
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