US Marines in Fallujah Pt. 1

It has been a while since I've posted, but I've been busy. There's lots of stuff to fix up/change in the new house and those kids keep staying up later! Both of these are cutting into my painting time.

This last group was painted to represent US Marines in Fallujah in 2004. I didn't do any head swaps for once, but I did do a lot of green stuff sculpting to give them the look I wanted. I used the good stuff for knee pads (some up, some fallen down), groin protectors, hydration bags and some straps. I also added an AT4 to one of these figures. I went back and forth with the sculpting quite a bit as I really wanted to get the knee pads and straps thin so they'd match the cast figures well. I had planned on adding sunglasses to some figures, but it just didn't work with figures already wearing helmets. In the end I'm pleased with the results.

I tried to vary the colors I used as much as possible - personal equipment like googles and knee pads were an opportunity to add some variety. Some marines seem to have been issues coyote brown armor while others are pictured wearing armor in woodland camo. Initially, I was a bit scared to paint desert MARPAT camo, but it wasn't too bad once I got going.

Next up is a second batch of US Marines to finish this platoon. For the next group I'll have to sculpt some more accessories, like these have, and go with different skin tones and gloves.

RH Models US02COMA4; US02GREN; US02SAW1/US02SQ1; US02M21

RH Models US02GREN2; US02SQ3; US02COM; US02SAW1/US02SQ1

RH Models US02SQ1; US02SPOT; US02SAW1; US02GREN

RH Models US02SQ3; US02SQ3; US02SQ1 with WEA43

RH Models US02COMA4; US02GREN2; US02SQ3

There are a lot of great pictures out there. Here are a few I used.

Better equipped insurgents

Well it's been a super long time coming ... I'm finally finished another batch of figures. I've been more slowed by our move and the pandemic than I thought possible. Hopefully, now I'm ready to finish things even more quickly.

This group of miniatures is meant to better equipped Sunni insurgents, foreign fighters, defenders of Fallujah, etc. To represent them, I mostly used RH Model's PLO line. I made some subtle mods so that their clothing would be less militaristic - removed shoulder tabs, got rid of most pant pockets, un-tucked some shirts and lengthened some pants. I also gave some figures head swaps and covered some faces a bit more. I tried to paint them with as much variety as possible based on photos I've found - that probably took the most time. To lessen the appearance of boots on some figures I painted on socks or bare ankles. The many small dots on the head scarves took a couple of nights, but in the end I think the effect is worth it.

At some point I'll do some more insurgents - figures with different weapons, a mortar team and definitely a big batch of Sunni insurgents, lots of headbands, baseball hats and bareheads with little equipment. For now though I'm starting work on some opposing forces, US Marines.

RH Models MULTBABESQU; BALAK; PLOAK47; PLOCOM

RH Models PLOAK47; ARAK47; BALRPK; BALAK

RH Models PLOCOM; BALAK; PLORPD; BALAK

RH Models PLOSNI; PLOAK47; PLOAK47

RH Models MULTBHRPK; PLOCOM; MULTBHRPG

RH Models ARARPG; PLO12; BALRPG; PLOAK47

RH Models BALAK; PLORPG; PLOPKM

RH Models PLORPK; PLOAK47

RH Models PLOHMG; PLOHMG

RH Models ARACIV* with head swap; WEA14; MULT*GUN with head swap

RH Models PLOPROSNI; PLOPROSNI

Here are the pictures I used for inspiration.

Local tribesmen pose with their weapons in Fallujah (January 5th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents.

Iraqi Sunni insurgent in Fallujah (April 24th, 2004).

Armed fighter stands guard over three Jordanian truck drivers (November 11th, 2004).

A Iraqi insurgent holds a rocket launcher in Abu Ghraib (April 8th, 2004).

Iraqi insurgents battle US forces in Fallujah.

IH.

Local tribesmen pose with their weapons in Fallujah (January 5th, 2004).

STS insurgents

This weekend I finally wrapped up this big group of Sunni insurgents I've been working on. Things have been a bit slower than normal as my family is moving to new house, but soon I should have more room for my miniatures, especially for a gaming table I can set up and leave up! :) Plus, it's only 3 miles away so my painted miniatures can be more or less hand carried over to the place. Until we're all set up though I have to take a break from working on miniatures - everything is packed up.

This group of figures had lots of prep work involved. I did lots of head swaps (see notes below) especially to make STS guys with RPGs and head scarves/balaclavas. I then used green stuff to sculpt more covering scarves, fix up head swaps, extend shirts to make pullovers and replaced some sandals with shoes. Since pictures of insurgents show a huge array of civilian clothes being worn I wanted to do my best to mimic that ... it just takes a lot of time. Some came out really well so I've put backside pictures up too.

Next up is an even bigger batch of Sunni insurgents with more equipment and some heavy weapons, mortars and Dshk's. I just need to get set up with a new painting table. :)

RH Models NEGREBRPG* with head swap; STSAK; STSAK

RH Models STSPKM; STSAK with head swap; STSRPG

RH Models STSUGL; STSPKM; STSRPKAR

RH Models STSRPKAR; STSAK with head swap; STSRPG with head swap

RH Models STSAK with head swap; STSRPK with head swap; STSAK with head swap

RH Models STSAKAR; STSAKAR; STSRPG with head swap

RH Models STSAK; STSAK; STSRPG with head swap

RH Models STSSNI; STSRPK; STSAK

For the motorbike below I carved away some metal that I think helps with casting so that the front end seemed more realistically lightweight. It added an exhaust pipe with brass road and green stuff. With that magic stuff I also extended the pants of the driver so it seemed like he had sneakers on and not boots. Lastly, I added a speedometer and tachometer using a small piece of plastic. It was a lot of fun to work on this one - now, I feel inspired to finish to large artillery pieces I've had for Chechnya, but have been slow to complete.

RH Models STSMBPASS

The pictures below influenced my color choices, etc.

Iraqi Sunni insurgents celebrate in front of a burning US tanker (April 8th, 2004).

More Iraqi Sunni insurgents celebrate in front of a burning US tanker (April 8th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents pose in their house (May, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents show flag (May, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgent in front of portrait of Saddam Hussein (July 8th, 2004).

Arab fighter monitor horizon from his trench in the city of Fallujah (November 7th, 2004).

Arab fighter reads from the Quran in the city of Fallujah (November 7th, 2004).

Armed fighters in Mosul, Iraq (November 10th, 2004).

Marines from the 35th Lima Company take away suspected insurgents in Fallujah (November 12th, 2004).

Members of the Marines 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Company handle two detainees in Fallujah (November 13th, 2004).

Detainees wait to be processed and set to a detention center (Fallujah, November 17th, 2004).

Iraqi Sunni insurgents.