Dear fellow scale builders,
This is my latest build: a team of operators from the CIA SOG (Special Operations Group) in the Afghan theatre. They have just taken out a post with a DShK 12.7mm HMG.
Five operators are in this team; all are borrowed from their mother units. Four are from 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) and the fella with the sunglasses is a JTAC from the 21st USAF STS (Special Tactics Squadron).
The JTAC deliberates with the commander, while they look over a hostile valley, which targets have priority. The others who carry a HK-416, 5.56 Minimi and a SR-25, provide 360° cover.
It takes place in 2009, the CIA received in that year a carte blanche to wipe out the resisting Al-Qaida strongholds. They borrowed lots of operators from other Tier-1 branches during that time.
My inspiration came after reading these books:
'Not a good day to die',
'Danger Close' and
'Horse Soldiers' The figures are a mix of Preiser, Revell, Hasegawa, Zvezda and Orion. All weapons are heavy modified or scratch made. For instance; sniper squatting sniper holds a SR-25 as personal weapon. This weapon has been made out of a M-16.
Painting is done Crye Precision Desert Camo and the sniper in Woodland.
The modified HK-416 and 5.56 Minimi.
The JTAC carries a headphone made with milliput. He has, like the commander, a modified HK-416 as personal weapon.
The beards, scarfs, rukken, pockets, slings, pillows and a prayer rug are made from Milliput.
The other accessories are from Orion ( DShK) and Goffy (RPG’s)
The 'soil' is made from bark, cork and putty. I tried to recreate the mountains a realistic as possible. Weed from the garden became trees in this little diorama.
A few things which I would do next time better:
- The trees are a bit bare. I placed them on the duo, but didn't thought of the leaves.
- The mold lines from the figures are still noticeable. Next time I need to remove those extensive.
A few overall pics:
The original idea was to hid the DShK with a piece of canvas. The fighters do that to prevent being spot from the air. I decided to left the canvas off, I like it more without. Let's say this is artistic freedom
Comments and critics are more than welcome!
Happy modeling!
Daan