By Suresh Nathan
I've been wanting to write this for a long time so today I kicked Madame Procrastinator
out the door got my glossies out and started writing!
I had bought an M163 kit from Italeri some years ago which was lying on my shelf all this time. I had happened on a article on the net from a Mike Duguay (mduguhsd@pop.k12.vt.us) who had done an M163 with a Verlinden modification kit. He had some photos of a Nam M163 and this was the inspiration for my diorama.
A bit more searching brought me to a website (The Vietnam War Internet Project) which spoke of the M163 in Vietnam. Surprisingly there isn't a lot written about the M163 in Vietnam although there is a lot on the Middle East versions.
Briefly, an Air Defense Vulcan test unit was deployed in late 1968. This comprised 28 men who were all subsequently decorated. Two were killed in action. One of the KIA was the commanding officer. The idea to show one man down and the other looking in terror at the enemy hit me. In addition I had always wanted to show an AFV stuck in mud-quite a challenge when you consider the painting. With a rush I had to get to work! First off let me say that the model is only loosely based on the photo that Mike sent me.
I wanted the figures to be the main focus and I felt that the extra details would distract the viewer. What I found most interesting was the unusual camouflage, the unit marking andthe name of the vehicle. Duster Buster may well not be the vehicle actually involved but this can be put down to artistic license rather than historical misrepresentation.
PLANNING
The first step is the planning stage. Balance is the key to any successful diorama and therefore in this case the base was made as small as possible. The figures had come from a previous project where a helicopter had crashed and the co-pilot was helping the pilot out of the craft. My cat destroyed the diorama but I vowed I would reuse the figures (nearly 10 years later!) That explains why they have the visors! As for the base I usually make my own.
MODELLING
Next, the vehicle was superdetailed with nuts and bolts. The jerry can was modelled with the cap off. Buckles were added to the left jerry can. The trim vane is mistakenly described in the instruction sheet. The floatation panel goes OVER the trim vane-it is not to be discarded as the instruction sheet suggests as shown below.
PAINTING
The figures were painted with an acrylic base-coat and oil paints were used for blending. I find that this is the best way to convey emotion in a figure-a crucial point in the success of this sort of diorama.
The model was painted as per the colour scheme in the photo. Dry transfers were used for the lettering. The trim vane star was cut from the kit. Alternatively, I have seen models with Have Guns Will Travel with the Knight symbol that may be familiar to Duster modellers. This seemed unlikely and therefore I stuck to the plain old star. The vulcan cavalry shield emblem was designed on a computer, printed out, coated with varnish, sand-papered and stuck on with white glue. Initial weathering was done. The kit was then embedded in plaster of paris and the swirling mud modelled around it.
The model was then wrapped in cling film and the entire base BRUSH painted. Airbrushing was used to simulate the disturbed mud. The wet areas were then coated with liberal amounts of gloss varnish.
FINISHING TOUCHES
If you look carefully at the model you will notice a streaky glossy look. This was meant to simulate rainy weather and to give a certain link between the water and the vehicle (as opposed to the ground and the vehicle). This was achieved believe it or not by brushing liberal amounts of Gunze thinner over the kit and letting the dissolved varnish settle like rain (sort of). I wouldn't recommend doing this on a prized kit but in this case, this weathering provides an extra dimension to standard weathering techniques (well at least I think so!)
END GAME
Finally the figures were placed. Having the driver point directly at the viewer makes you want to extend a hand, doesn't it?
REMARKS
Acknowledgements
Ariel my cat without whom this wouldn't have been possible!
All photos taken with Canon Eos 50E (CANON INC.) with Sigma 28-80 Macro lens
(SIGMA Lens Chart) and scanned with Umax Vista S6 (UMAX Scanner Directory)
References
Armor of the Vietnam War, Concord publication -Thanks Mike! (mduguhsd@pop.k12.vt.us)
M113 in Action, Squadron Publication
The Vietnam War Internet Project
LEST WE FORGET
The American Experience/Vietnam/Weapons of War