A Short Tab on a Hot Day in Helmand Province

1/35
Bronco
Additional Figures - Gecko and Stalingrad

Overview

This is the 1/35 Scale Bronco QuadBike with Trailer kit (very cool - highly recommended). It includes 4 figures. Each figure can be rendered in DPM or MTP gear. There are also 2 Gecko figures included in this diorama. In addition one Stalingrad figure of a local fighter is also included in the scene. The year is late 2009- early 2010, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. MTP was replacing DPM throughout theater, although in some cases vests were not favorably received at first, and squaddies hung on to their DPM pattern vests until they were all "retired" out. Therefore the mixed gear. I have written a short blog about the building of this diorama in the Forum Section at Track-link.com  should you want to read it. 

https://www.track-link.com/blogs/39854

Landscape notes and materials list:

To capture the sun and heat in Afghanistan minimum modulation to the landscape and features was applied. Shadows are dramatic. Uniforms are light and bright. The drainage ditch has been rendered in a more dramatic style to set it off from the surrounding bleached landscape. There is a tiny trickle of water in the bottom of the ditch.

- Carved green foam base
- Plaster Cloth
- Lightweight Hydrocal
- Woodland Scenics and hand-made molds to cast rocks
- Hammer-smashed gravel from my driveway.
- AK grass tufts (airbrushed to make them look dry and sun burned).
- Vallejo Sand, Ivory, various dark browns
- Vallejo washes
- Armor Farm dried grass
- Sticks from my backyard
- Woodland Scenics Light Brown and Dark Brown landscape paint
- Vallejo Clear Water 

Figures:

- 4 provided with kit, 2 Gecko Squaddies, 1 Stalingrad Afghan Rebel
- Various Accurate Armor replacement heads
- Masking tape and Green Stuff rendered chin straps
- Live Resin rifles
- Vallejo paint
- Various Vallejo washes
- Vallejo Thick Mud
- Vallejo Splash Mud
- Solder and lead sheet for water pack hoses and harness attachment loops. 

Reference Material

- “The British Army in Afghanistan 2006 - 2014”,  by Leigh Neville, Osprey Books, 2015
- “The British Army Since 2000”,  by James Tanner, Osprey Books, 2014
- “Taskforce Helmand” by Verlag Jochem Vollert, Tankograd No.9017, 2011
- British Army photo databases
- Dozens of reference photos found online

Click on images to enlarge