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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’.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Mark Hazell

 

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.
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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.
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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…

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Aaron Mathie

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.
Navy Seals (VUS782)
Navy Seals (VUS782)
Navy Seals (VUS782)
Navy Seals (VUS782) Navy Seals (VUS782) Navy Seals (VUS782)
Navy Seals (VUS782) Navy Seals (VUS782) Navy Seals (VUS782)
Navy Seals (VUS782) Navy Seals (VUS782) Navy Seals (VUS782)

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”.

Navy Seals (VUS782)

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.
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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.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Steve London

The M30 4.2in Mortar Teams
4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717) 4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717)
The M30 4.2in Mortar in ‘Nam
4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717) 4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717)
4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717) 4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717)
4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717) 4.2" Mortar Platoon (VUS717)
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.
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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.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Steve London

The M29 81mm Mortar Teams
Mortar Platoon (VUS715) Mortar Platoon (VUS715)
The M29 81mm Mortar in ‘Nam
Mortar Platoon (VUS715) Mortar Platoon (VUS715)
Mortar Platoon (VUS715) Mortar Platoon (VUS715)
Mortar Platoon (VUS715) Mortar Platoon (VUS715)
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.
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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.

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Mark Hazell
& Steve London

Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
The Command Teams
Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
The Medic Team
Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
The Rifle Platoon in ‘Nam

Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
The M60 LMG Teams
Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
The M67 90mm Recoilless Team
Rifle Platoon (VUS712) Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
The Rifle Platoon Prepare To Move Out
Rifle Platoon (VUS712)
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.
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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.

Designed by Tim Adcock
Painted by James Brown

The M42A1 Duster in Flames Of War Vietnam 
 
Contents of the M42A1 Duster Blister Pack
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.
Description of Components
a. 1x Crew head sprue.
b. 1x
Twin M2A1 40mm sight group.
c.
1x Twin M2A1 40mm gun.
d. 1x Right-hand side track.
e. 1x Left-hand side track.
f. 1x Resin M42A1 Duster turret & hull.
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Armored Troop Carrier (H) (VUSBX14) Spotlight

 

ATC(H) (VUSBX14) Includes one Armored Troop Carrier boat, with options for the ATC(H) and ATC(H) Aid Boat.

The ATC boats converted from LCM-6 landing craft developed in the 1950s for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore use. The converted LCM designs added 0.25 inch armor plating in many areas to protect the superstructure from critical damage caused by rockets.

Check out the ATC(H) in the online store here…

The upgraded armored ATC made up about half of the river craft deployed by the United States during the Vietnam War, in effect making the ATC the “workhorse” of the river war. Some ATCs had helicopter decks added and became ATC(H).

Designed by Evan Allen
Painted by Aaron Mathie

ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
The ATC ATC(H) (VUSBX14)

Length:

56’ 1” (17m)
Beam: 17’ 6” (5.3m)
Draft: 3’ 6” (1m)
Displacement: 155,000lb (70 tonnes)
Speed: 8.5 knots (16km/h)
Crew: 7

The Armored Troop Carrier (H) in ‘Nam 

 

ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
ATC(H) (VUSBX14) ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
ATC(H) (VUSBX14) ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
ATC(H) (VUSBX14) ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
ATC(H) (VUSBX14) ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
ATC(H) (VUSBX14) ATC(H) (VUSBX14)

ATC Tent plug-in Special Order (VSO112)
The ATC(H) includes the helipad bow piece, giving you the versatility to field it as a transport in either a Combat Platoon or a Weapons Platoon (as an Aid Boat) role.If you want to field a ‘rag-top’ ATC, you can replace the helipad piece with the  ATC Tent special order piece (VSO112) available here from the web store…
ATC Tent (VSO112)
ATC with ATC Tent plug-in (VSO112)
ATC(H) (VUSBX14)
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PAVN Decal Sheets Spotlight (VPA940)

 

PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940) PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940)
includes four PAVN Vehicle Decal Sheets.

The People’s Army committed their armour into battle in battalions,
Tiểu Đoàn Thiết Giáp (pronounced thee-ow doh‑ahn tee-et harp), and grouped these into entire regiments.

Check out the PAVN Decal Sheets in the online store here…

As aid from China and the Soviet Union increased, their armoured strength grew rapidly from a single battalion in 1965 to three armoured regiments in 1971. This gave them a significant advantage over the puppet forces as each battalion had more tanks than an entire ARVN armoured brigade.
Below: PAVN Stars with 200 – 300 series vehicle numbers in yellow. (x1 included in pack.) Below: PAVN Stars with 400 series vehicle numbers in yellow. (x1 included in pack.)
PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940) PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940)
The Vietnamese term xe thiết giáp (ironclad vehicle) is used to refer to tanks. However, the influence of the English word ‘tank’ has also led to the use of xe tăng (pronounced ser tung), or simply tăng as well. Confusingly, tăng itself means increase or up.
PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940) PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940)
Below: PAVN Stars with 400 series vehicle numbers in white. (x1 included in pack.) Below: PAVN Stars with 200 – 300 series vehicle numbers in white.(x1 included in pack.)
PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940) PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940)
PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940) PAVN Decal Sheets (VPA940)
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Anti-tank Platoon (VAN707) (ANZAC) Spotlight

 

Includes three Anti-tank Squads each with two M67 90mm recoilless teams & six Medium four-hole bases.

The M67 recoilless rifle was a 90mm weapon designed primarily to be used as an anti-tank weapon. However, it could also be used in an anti-personnel role with the use of the specialised M590 anti-personnel round. It could be fired either from the ground using a bipod and monopod or from the shoulder using the fixed bipod as a shoulder rest and the monopod as a front grip.

Check out the Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) in the online store here…

The M67 proved itself as an effective weapon, though it was primary used against infantry and fortified targets rather than actual armoured targets. However, the M67 was not without its faults; mainly its weight and size of its back blast. These factors tended to limit the M67 use to purely defensive operations.

Designed by James Brown
Painted by James Brown

The M67 90mm Recoilless Teams
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
The M67 90mm Recoilless in ‘Nam
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Contents of The Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) Blister Pack
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) The NCO
Description of Components
a. 1x Standing NCO figure with Owen gun.
b. 1x Standing NCO figure with M16.
c. 1x Kneeling NCO figure pointing.Assembling The NCO Figures
The Anti-tank platoon is made up of three Anti-tank squads, each containing two M67 90mm recoilless teams. One team in each squad must contain a NCO figure in order to correctly represent the unit.
The M67 90mm Recoilless Team
Description of Components
a. 6x Kneeling M67 90mm recoilless gunner figures.
b. 6x Standing M67 90mm recoilless loader figures.
Assembling TheM67 90mm Recoilless Team
Each of the six teams that make up the three squads of the Anti-tank platoon must contain both the M67 90mm recoilless gunner and loader figures.
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)
Description of Components
a. 1x Kneeling rifleman figure planting Claymore.
b. 1x Standing rifleman figure aiming SLR.
c.
1x Squatting rifleman figure aiming M16.
d. 1x Kneeling rifleman figure aiming SRL.
e. 1x Advancing rifleman figure.
f.
1x Running rifleman figure.
Assembling the The Riflemen Figures
Of the two teams that make you each Anti-tank squad, one team must contain a NCO figure, a Rifleman figure and a M67 90mm recoilless gunner and loader. The other team in the squad needs to contain a rifleman figure, a M60 gunner and a M67 90mm recoilless gunner and loader. The M67 90mm recoilless teams are modelled on the Medium four-hole bases provided in the blister pack.
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707) M60 Gunners
Description of Components
a. 2x M60 gunner figures firing from the hip.
b. 1x Standing M60 gunner figure.Assembling the The M60 Gunner Figures
An M60 gunner is included in one of the two M67 90mm recoilless team that make up a Anti-tank squad. See the text regarding assembling the Riflemen figures for further information.
ANZAC Infantry Painting Guide
Anti-tank Platoon (ANZAC) (VAN707)