Seals at Takur Ghar

A few days ago I wrapped up these six figures. They are meant to represent the Navy Seals at Takur Ghar.

These figures started out as early war US Special forces 2001/2002 (USS02 codes). I gave them all head swaps using heads from Delta Force figures (Mogadishu). The helmets then had their holes filled in and some gear added to them with green stuff and some plastic sprue. Each got a green stuff hood, new front ammo pockets (four not three as originally sculpted) and some more back straps. I also sculpted a holster for each (some with a small pistol handle) and extended their pants a bit. One figure got new hands to hold a swapped in SR-25.

Next up is a small batch of Australian SAS in Afghanistan.

RH Models USS02-* with head and weapon swap; USS02M4GL* with head swap

RH Models USS02-* with head swap; USS02-* with head swap

RH Models USS02M60 with head swap; USS02M4GL* with head swap

I didn't have too many pictures to go off of. My main source of inspiration was one image of a Seal at Takur Ghar from Osprey's book about the battle in their RAID series. Based on information in that book I found specific pictures online of the equipment said to be used.

Navy Seal at Takur Ghar.

John Chapman's holster from Takur Ghar as displayed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

2001/2002 Al Qaeda

Weeks ago I finished this batch of Al Qaeda/Taliban for a couple of scenarios regarding Takur Ghar. I'm sure they'll have other uses, but the 2001/2002 time frame was my goal.

So that more figures would have chi com ammo rigs I modified Rolf's PLO figures with some green stuff giving them shalwar kameez (long tunics). I also added some beards, extended a few shirts to make jackets, made a few scarf endings and a prayer cap. I was particularly pleased with the beards. When I get back to working on Chechen fighters I'm definitely adding some of these.

In the future I hope to create some more Takur Ghar fighters with cold weather gear. For that fight in the mountains they seem to wear knit caps and western style winter jackets. I need a few more of guys dressed like that.

RH Models 055COM; AQSQU; PLORPG; MUJ14

RH Models PLOAK; PLOCOM; MUJGRENK/T; MUJ14* with head swap

RH Models MUJ14* with head swap; EER2W; MULT*AK with head swap; MUJLMGT

RH Models PLOPKM; MUJ14K; MUJ14; MUJ14K

RH Models PLOAK; PLOAK; MUJ14; AQSQU

RH Models PLOAK; MUJ14* with head swap; EER2W; AQSQU

RH Models MUJ14A; PLORPK; MUJ14* with head swap; BALAK

RH Models MULT*AK with head swap; AQSQU; AQSNI

RH Models AQPKM; MUJRPG

RH Models AQ26; WEA26

Strangely picutes of Al Qaeda/Taliban during the early period of the war were difficult to come by, even dead ones. Below are some of the few I found.

Al Qaeda in Afghanistan (May 26th, 1998).

Al Qaeda 055 elite force celebrating capture of Bagram Air Base (August 1st, 1999).

Al Qaeda 055 elite force celebrating capture of Bagram Air Base (August 1st, 1999).

Taliban POWs in jail complex in Shebargan, Afghanistan (December, 2001).

Foreign Al Qaeda POWs in Agam Valley near Tora Bora (December 17th, 2001).

Osama Bin Laden guards in Tora Bora before 9-11.

Odd Weapon Insurgents

I am not sure why, but for some reason it took me forever to get around making this post. I finished this group about a month ago. Looking back I sure did have fun creating them.

The group is meant to represent Sunni insurgents in the War on Terror. When looking through source pictures I realized that not every insurgent fought with an AK. Pictures of discovered weapon caches showed lots of variety. G3's seemed to be particularly popular. Presumably these came from Iran.

All figures got head swaps; some got green stuff scarf endings as well. I also sculpted a vest on one figure (pretty easy to do actually), "cived up" a gunner figure and gave one guy a new right hand.

Since I got discouraged creating a couple of US Marines for Fallujah with shotguns, I moved on temporarily to big group of Taliban/Afghans for Takur Ghar. I'm about halfway through that batch.

RH Models MULT20SKS w/ head swap; NEG28 w/ head swap; URBUKRIF w/ head swap

RH Models URBPIST* w/ head swap; NEG28 w/ head swap; URBM16203 w/ head swap

RH Models NEG2 w/ head swap

RH Models MULT*GUN w/ head swap; ARACIV* w/ head swap; WEA40; BLACK DOG T72026

Some good pics ...

Armed Iraqi men welcome residents of Fallujah home (May, 2004).

US Marines gather weapons found in the restive city of Fallujah (December 12, 2004).

Insurgents in Ramadi (March 9, 2005).

An armed man waves his weapon after burning a van in northern Iraq (December 11, 2004).

Sunni Iraqi insurgents celebrate in front of burning military tanker (April 9, 2004).

Insurgents in Ramadi (March 9, 2005).

A member of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadir's Mehdi Army in Kufa (April 19, 2004).