NAM - (FA#10)

As I hadn't had any thought towards this week's post I desperately risked life and limb to recover a box of what I thought were my 54mm western buildings, only to find it was a box of my Vietnam forces.
Here's a selection from the rather diverse forces I have.

On patrol (Bit twee - Ed.)

These tanks are Pershings, from what I recall, probably not used in Nam, but were the only tanks I could find (and afford) to use at the time.Whilst I'd bought them, my friend Nick painted them and added stowage etc.

The underside showing its cheap origin.

They were bought along with a lot of other suitable armoured vehicles in a Hammersmith department store (on one of my many visits to the Original Games Workshop) for the princely sum of 25p each!
They were originally made by "Airfix", made from Polyethylene, and came completely assembled even though they had 'clip-on' tracks and push-on turret.

I bought a lot of AFVs

The AFVs had to have a slight conversion to make them look more US than UK and the circular hatch was cut to a rectangular one, though some were left as mortar carriers with the original hatch left in place. Th e small commander s central cupola was openable - a nice feature for such a cheap kit.

One converted into a command vehicle.

Showing the underside.

My metal ACAV

The USA fielded ACAV (eventually in the war and the only model available in metal at the time cost a fortune (to me at least, as an impoverished student.) and so I never increased their numbers.

Cheap plastic on the left and metal ACAV on the right

Mortar carrier conversion

The whole AFV force. (note the one with open rear ramp and hatch)

It couldn't be NAM without some US grunts and I have about a company's worth (at 1:1 scale), made from various manufacturers:

{Plastics - Airifx or Matchbox, I forget which)

Close up (obviously)

Another close up of the above.

Metals (maybe Skytrex ?)

Metal originals, sculpted by my friend Nick

How they appeared on discovery - note the unit markings on their bases

The plastics -aarggh

 Along with the US, I had to have some VC, though they were very few in number as they rarely appeared visible in our games, mine were  a mix of plastics and metals (the latter again sculpted by Nick)

A platoon of VC

A selection of my civilians - mostly converted from "Atlantic" Ancient Egytians!

In addition to the figures shown, I have many casualty figures, more civilians, some Nuns, a News team, helicopters (of course),  fixed wing aircraft and probably  a lot more I've forgotten about !
I made some very shoddy buildings from scrap and a jungle from tissue paper and barbecue sticks - it may not have looked pretty but some good games were played over our coloured sand terrain.

All the figures were 20mm - even the chunky metals 9yes there was scale creep even in the 70's) and the whole project was made as cheaply as possible.

So, maybe it's not an army, but it was certainly forgotten and no doubt there's more its and pieces of it in various boxes in places I've forgotten.

That's it then for another week, thanks for taking the time to visit and I hope you've found something of interest and as always your comments are truly welcomed and very mush appreciated.