Articles – Page 7 – Vietnam Miniatures Game

Posted on December 3, 2017April 16, 2018 by

M48 Patton (VUS041) Assembly Guide

Step 1. Begin assembly with the tracks.

Tip: Each track is stamped with the letter ‘R’ or ‘L’ and an arrow to indicate correct orientation.

Below: The correct alignment for the left-hand and right-hand side tracks.

Tip: When referring to left or right-hand side in regards to a Flames Of War miniature, the orientation is determined as if looking at the vehicle from the rear.

Below: The left-hand side track attached to the hull.	Below: The right-hand side track attached to the hull.	Step 2. Attach the main gun to the front of the turret.

Below: The main gun attached to the turret.

Step 3. Next, attach the infrared searchlight to the top of the main gun.

Tip: There is a contoured section on the base of the searchlight that attached to the top of the gun.

Step 4. Attach the loader’s hatch to the top of the turret.		Step 5. Next, add the cupola MG to the top of the turret.

Below: The cupola MG in place.	Step 6. Attach the hatch to the rear of the cupola MG.		Note: Later versions of the M48A3 added a ring of version blocks below the cupola MG.

Below: The ring of vision blocks attached below the cupola MG.		Tip: A loader’s hatch MG can be added to the M48A3 at a small points cost.

Below: The .30 cal MG attached to the top of the turret for +5 per tank.	Below: The .50 cal AA MG attached to the top turret for +10 points per tank.	Below: With the .50 cal AA MG in place, the M48A3 is ready for painting.

Adding Tank Commanders
Step 1. Attach the hatch at the rear of the cupola MG in an open position.	Step 2. Add the tank commander figure of choice inside the open hatch.	Step 3. Repeat the process if you wish to add a commander figure in the loader’s hatch.

Below: The commander figure attached to the inside of the open hatch.	Below: With the tank commander’s in place, the M48A3 is ready to hit the painting table.

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

M48 Patton Spotlight (VUS041)

Includes one M48 Patton Tank with optional MG & .50 cal Cuploa MG upgrades and crew figures

The M48 Patton tank was completely modernised version of the WWII M26 Pershing heavy tank, designed to fight Soviet tanks on a nuclear battlefield. Oddly, many of the lessons of WWII had been forgotten and the M48 lacked a stabiliser and was likely to catch fire when penetrated. Its impressive anti-tank capability was of little use in Vietnam.Much more useful was the M336 canister round, popularly known as ‘beehive’, filled with 1281 steel pellets that turned the tank’s main gun into a giant shotgun. The crews often moved the commander’s machine-gun from inside the cupola to on top of it, added another for the loader.

Check out the M48 Patton in the online store here…

The M48 tanks went just about anywhere in just about any season, and their firepower proved decisive in battles like the relief of Fire Support Base Gold. There the tanks led a relief column through dense jungle and arrived, guns blazing, ‘just like the late show on TV, the US Cavalry came riding to the rescue’.

The M48 Patton in ‘Nam

The Contents of the M48 Patton Box Set

Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

Description of Components

a. Tank commander figures Type A.
b. Tank commander figures Type B.
c. Tank commander figures Type C.
d. Tank commander figures Type D.
e. .30 cal MGs.
f. .50 cal AA MGs
g. Cupola MGs.

h. Hatch sprues.
i. Searchlight / vision ring sprues.
k. M41 90mm main guns.
l. Right-hand side tracks.
m. Left-hand side tracks.
n. Resin M48A3 turrets & hulls.

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

OH-6 Loach Spotlight (VUSBX04)

includes two plastic OH-6 Loach sprues, two Door Gunner figures, two plastic Flight Stands, one OH-6 Decal sheet & eight Rare earth magnets.

The OH-6 Cayuse was quickly nicknamed the ‘Loach’ after its initial designation LOH (Light Observation helicopter). Its high speed, manoeuvrability, and small size made it an excellent scout helicopter, even though much of its work was done at low speed while flying at or below treetop level.

Check out the OH-6 Loach in the online store here…

Armed with a M134 minigun and a M60 machine-gun, the OH-6 Loach could still deliver a nasty sting of its own.

Designed by Will Jayne
Painted by James Brown

The OH-6 Loach

The OH-6 Loach in ‘Nam

Contents of the OH-6 Loach Box Set

Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

Description of Components

a. 2x Plastic OH-6 Loach component sprues.
b. 2x Plastic flight stands.
c. 1x OH-6 Loach decal sheet.

d. 2x Door gunner figures.
e. 8x Rare earth magnets.

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

Special Force Patrol (VUS782) Spotlight

Includes six two-man Special Forces teams and six two-hole small bases.

To their opponents, the elite Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land) were known as the “Men with Green Faces”, owing to their camouflage face paint. They come silently at night to steal away political leaders, collect intel, destroy supplies, and then disappear.

Check out the Special Forces Patrol in the online store here…

SEALs usually patrolled on their own, but they did sometimes work with larger forces for major operations. Typical patrols were seven men and a South Vietnamese interpreter, but the full platoon could be deployed if a big mission came up.

The Special Forces in ‘Nam

Navy SEALs had a great deal of leeway with their uniforms so that they could better accomplish their mission. Many wore the Tigerstripe camouflage uniform typical of special forces in Vietnam.

Many SEALs wore denim jeans due to their hard wearing in the damp battlefields of the Mekong.
Head gear was always soft (never helmets) and varied greatly, such as bandanas, berets, or boonie hats. SEALs painted their faces in camouflage colours to blend into the surroundings. This earned them their nickname by the enemy: “Men with Green Faces”.

Contents of the Special Forces blister pack
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

Posted on December 3, 2017April 16, 2018 by

US 4.2″ Mortar Platoon Assembly

The 4.2in Mortars & Crew
Description of Components
a. 3x Gunner figures loading projectile.
b. 4x Gunner figures holding projectile.
c. 3x Standing figures covering ears.
d. 3x Standing figures with hands on hips.
e. 3x Standing figures with hand in air.
f. 4x M30 4.2in mortar tubes with base plate.

Assembling The 4.2in Mortar Teams
Each 4.2in mortar team consists of one M30 4.2in mortar manned by a four-man crew. The crew consists of one of figure type B with the remaining three crew members made up from a mixture of figure types A, C, D and E. Feel free to use which ever poses you think work best in your mortar teams. The 4.2in mortar teams are based using the large six-hole bases included in the blister pack.

The Bases Description of Components a. 1x Small three-hole base. b. 4x Large six-hole bases.
US Infantry Painting Guide

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

US 4.2″ Mortar Platoon (VUS717) Spotlight

includes two Mortar sections each with two M30 4.2in mortars and crew, one Small three-hole base & four Large six-hole bases.

The M30 4.2in (107mm) mortar first entered service with the United States Army in 1951 as a direct replacement for the M2 107mm mortar. Despite being twice the weight of the M2 (305kg vs. 151kg), the M30 enjoyed greater range and an increase in killing power when compared to its predecessor.

Check out the 4.2″ Mortar Platoon in the online store here…

Due to its weight, the M30 was often mounted in vehicles such as the M113 where it could offer mobile fire support to hotspots on the battlefield. When mounted on the ground, the base plate had to be dug-in and covered in sandbags in order to stabilise it. But even with these measures, the recoil caused when the weapon was fired would cause the base plate to shift therefore drastically reducing accuracy. What’s more, rate of fire was also reduced while the crew were forced to recalibrate the sights with the aiming stakes.

In many cases these were discarded for the lighter and more mobile M29 81mm mortar to allow the platoon to accompany the battalion on combat operations.

The M30 4.2in Mortar Teams

The M30 4.2in Mortar in ‘Nam

Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

US Mortar Platoon (VUS715) Spotlight

Includes one Command M16 Rifle team, two Mortar sections each with two M29 81mm mortars and crew, one Small three-hole base & four Medium four-hole bases.

By 1952, the M1 81mm mortar which had served US armed forces during the Second World War and into the Korean War had been superseded by the M29 81mm mortar. The M29 offered an increase in range and portability due to a reduction in weight when compared to the older M1 (42kg vs. 62kg).

Check out the Mortar Platoon in the online store here…

This lighter design meant that crews could quickly move into position and set-up without much difficulty. The reduction in weight also meant the crew could carry a more abundant supply of ammunition into action with them and therefore increase the effectiveness of fire missions. The increase in range also allowed teams to engage targets at distances less susceptible to small arms fire.

In many cases, the lighter and more mobile M29 81mm mortar was the weapon of choice over large calibre weapons such as the M30 4.2in mortar.

The M29 81mm Mortar Teams

The M29 81mm Mortar in ‘Nam

Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

US Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Spotlight

Includes one Command M16 teams, one Medic team, three Rifle squads each with two M16 Rifle teams, one Weapons squads with two M60 LMG teams and optional M67 90mm recoilless team upgrade, two Small three-hole bases, one Small two-hole base & nine Medium four-hole bases.

The bulk of American combat soldiers in Vietnam served in rifle companies. As well as the basic grunt work, these workhorses undertook air assaults and worked with the tanks in mobile operations.

Check out the Rifle Platoon in the online store here…

The standard rifle platoon according to the Table of Organisation and Equipment (TOE) was a rarity in Vietnam. Almost every platoon was task organised based on the number of men available and the mission. Most units left the heavy M67 90mm recoilless rifle behind, although some swore by it when facing bunkers. Other units saved men by assigning M60 machine-guns to each squad rather than keeping them in a separate weapons squad.

The Command Teams

The Medic Team

The Rifle Platoon in ‘Nam


The M60 LMG Teams

The M67 90mm Recoilless Team

The Rifle Platoon Prepare To Move Out

Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.

Posted on December 3, 2017April 16, 2018 by

M42A1 Duster Assembly

Step 1. Begin assembly of the M42A1 by attaching the tracks.
Tip: Ensure that the drive sprocket is towards the rear of the vehicle.	Below: The left-hand side track attached to the hull.	Below: The right-hand side track attached to the hull.

Tip: When referring to left or right-hand side in regards to a Flames Of War miniature, the orientation is determined as if looking at the vehicle from the rear.

Step 2. Next, attach the sight group for the Twin M2A1 40mm Bofors gun to the gun itself. There is a notch located just behind the gun shield where the sight is designed to fit into.		Below: The sight group attached to the Twin M2A1 40mm Bofors gun.

Step 3. Once the sight group has been attached to the Twin M2A1 40mm Bofors gun, the gun is ready to be mounted inside the turret. These are two notches located in the turret where the gun is designed to attach; these can be seen in the examples below.		Below: The Twin M2A1 40mm Bofors secured in the turret.

Below: Another angle of the Twin M2A1 40mm Bofors successfully attached to the turret.	Step 4. Finally, add a head from the head sprue included in the blister pack to each crew figure located inside the turret.	Below: The head sprue included in the blister pack.

Below: Both crew members complete with heads.	Below: With the crew heads in place, the M42A1 Duster is fully-assembled and ready for the painting table.

US Vehicle Painting Guide

Posted on December 3, 2017July 19, 2023 by christo

M42A1 Duster Spotlight VUS161

Includes one M41A1 Duster & one American head sprue.

The experience of the Korean War led US Army officials to begin the phasing out of the M24 Chaffee in favour of designs based around the more modern M41 Walker Bulldog. Included in the M24 family of vehicles was the M19 GMC. Developed towards the end of the Second World War, the M19 was armed with two of the highly effective 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns mounted in an open-topped turret capable of traversing 360º.

Check out the M42A1 Duster in the online store here…

Since the 40mm Bofors was still considered an effective anti-aircraft weapon, the turret of the M19 was simply mated with chassis of the M41 to create the M42 or Duster as it became known as by troops serving in Vietnam.

The first M42s begun arriving in Vietnam during 1966 and as it become clear that the threat of North Vietnamese air power would never materialise, the M42 was quickly put to work in a ground support role. With each gun capable of firing 120 rounds per minute, the 40mm rounds of the M2A1 Bofors proved devastating against both unarmoured ground targets and massed infantry attacks.