Special Forces Patrol Vietnam 1969
I wanted to make a diorama that reflected my tour of duty in Vietnam with Special Forces in 1969. I focused on a recon patrol in the central highlands, where I was stationed. The figures are conversions from the King and Country Australian VN patrol set.
A US Special Forces recon patrol emerges from the jungle in Cambodia. The diorama was built on 4 levels to show off the unique uniforms that each man often wore on patrol
Each member wears a different uniform that our patrol members typically wore-Special Forces members chose their own uniform and kit depending on personal preference and the mission
The diorama is 8″ square and 20″ high. Note the hanging vines made from string dipped in white glue and then covered in hobby store grated green foam.
Patrol members are converted King and Country Australian patrol members, each distinctly dressed
I used roots, branches and other finds from my wifes garden and craft store jungle looking plants to add realistic detail to the scene.
The jungle was thick, wet, oppressive and difficult to move through when on patrol, especially since you wanted to stay off trails, with lots of things that can bite or hurt you, which I tried to convey in this diorama.
Each member was repainted to reflect the 4 different types of uniforms we wore on patrol, and new equipment was converted or sculpted from 2 part putty.
The point man on small recon patrols wore black dyed jungle fatigues and carried the AK-47 to deceive and confuse the enemy for a few precious seconds needed for the recon team to escape if spotted.
The equipment is sculpted from 2 part putty and the AK-47 is a converted Australian SLR rifle
The second man in line carried the M-79 grenade launcher, which he used to fire a tear gas round at enemy troops while the team broke contact in an immediate action drill, which we practiced continuously.
I sculpted the rucksack and other pieces of equipment out or 2 part epoxy putty. He is dressed in Tiger stripe fatigues, which many SF troops from various units and countries prefered. I used a No 0 brush to paint black and brown stripes over a khaki base,
I wore early woodland pattern jungle fatigues as they were made from Ripstop material and held up to jungle conditions better than the alternatives. We usually carried the Car-15, a cut down version of the M16, but would also carry the Swedish K silenced sub-machine gun or other exotic weapons depending on the mission
On a recon patrol, I always carried my own PRC-25 radio to keep in contact with my support units.
Called the “drag”, the last man in line on the patrol was responsible for rear security and Carried the M-60 Machine Gun, usually with the barrel cut down to save weight. He wears a mixed uniform of tiger stripe pants and jungle fatigue shirt.
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