Since
the Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March 2003 I monitored it every day because
I supported it. I entered military service myself in November 2004 and at the
moment I am at the infantry officer’s school at
Colombier
,
Switzerland
.
I have little time for my beloved hobby modeling at this time, but using a week
of holiday I have produced a little diorama of US Army vehicles participating in
house-to-house fighting somewhere in Iraq. The diorama base was made of wood,
plaster and some little stones. I included also some trees, bushes and grass
from the train modeling sector; the destroyed houses I made of balsa wood. I
added a destroyed tank and you can see the signs of heavy fighting all over the
terrain; I did this burning my modeling glue.
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images below to see larger images
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The
tanks in my diorama include this two Bradleys from Revell of Germany. One is the
“M2/M3 Bradley RV3143” and the other is the “M2A2 Bradley RV3124”. Both
of them are of great quality. The M113 APC is from Italeri. I added some Preiser
US Army Tank crewmen and US Army Infantrymen to it; some camouflage nets were
made of some bandage and train modeling grass glued to it.
The
little HUMVEE is from Revell of Germany; you receive two versions in one box,
and they are fantastic: very detailed and nice to have in every OIF convoy.
Below you can see additional pictures: On the left side it’s a Dragon M2A2 ODS
Bradley which is outfitted with the new IR-Identification panels. The Dragon M1
Abrams, one A1 and one A2 version have these panels, too. I tried to use a
special camo scheme on one of these Abrams, I think it looks ok. The tank
commanders and loaders are also from Preiser. These figures are really worth it,
they cost 6.45 Euro (16 of them).
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images below to see larger images
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The
whole diorama measures 1,2m in width and 0,3m in length and has its place on my
desk. I hope you like these pics.
I
have attached two images of “my” Piranha APC to the end of the article; I
drove this one for 10 weeks in the Infantry aspirant’s school at Birmensdorf,
Switzerland; now for I’m attending an officer’s position I can’t drive
again, so I look forward to the time I will have my own platoon with 3 Piranhas,
then I will ‘borrow’ one of them for myself!!
Daniel
Click on
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