under construction
Using foam insulation created a light but strong base for the diorama, built in multiple levels to best display the 50 figures used in the multiple scenes.
The diorama under construction
Using multiple materials, the base is created . Note the shell holes made from DAS airdried clay. The paddies created out of foam insulation and then water proofed with silicon putty for the water features in each paddy
the diorama
This is the finished diorama without figures. It took 3 weeks to complete
The village of Dong Ha,, Central Highlands in II Corp, RVN 1969
The village huts are hand made. Note the camouflaged bunker
Details to bring the village alive
Pigs, jars of rice, old barrels, etc. add interesting details to make the village come alive.
The base is 4’long by 2’wide with varying terrain
I created multiple types of paddy fields surrounded by jungle as found in Vietnam
Marine casualty station
An aide station is set up in a dry paddy field to treat the wounded and prep them for helicopter med evac.
The base
The base is created in multiple levels to best display the great K&C figures
The fight is fierce
The Battle for the village of Dong Ha is fiercely fought by both sides
The Marines attack
The Marines attack the well camouflaged bunkers created to protect the village and now used by the NVA
Casualties
First aide station set up in a dry paddy field waiting for Medevac support
The Battle rages on
The battle rages on through surrounding rice paddies, while a buffalo calmly grazes in a rice paddy oblivious to the chaos surrounding it as I actually observed during a fire fight I was in there.
Marine on the offense
Marines attack a NVA held village, protected with hidden bunkers
Australian Patrol enters the “Vill”
A friendly patrol checks out a recently deserted village flying the republic of Vietnam flag. Friendly??
A Specail Forces patrol enters the village
A US Special Forces patrol enter the village, looking for hidden weapons’ caches. The diorama can highlight many types of different situations found during the Vietnam War
Searching the village
Friendly troops search the village for hidden weapons found in well camouflaged caches as found by this patrol
Australian patrol approaches a “friendly” village that was quickly deserted
The base was designed to display multiple scenarios using multiple allied and Vietnamese soldiers