April Figure Release (1 Viewer)

[rekp]

And why does the bazooka look like it's plugged on the end?

Wouldnt worry too much as it looks like the missile is too large for the bazooka anyways

 

[Nelson1976]

Obee mate,
Loved your photos of you and your gun crew.
However, I find this vehicle and especially the gunner to be very disappointing. If this is a Convoy Escort Vehicle and shows no weathering and lacking radio fittings it gets a C minus. The gunner is wearing American issue boots and not GP boots. Because the the gunners were highly exposed when standing in the rear of this vehicle they were issued with helmets and flak jackets for extra protection. Rating D minus.

Cheers Howard

View attachment 259706View attachment 259707

Thought this was a bit harsh - TG included a picture of the real jeep in their dispatch and their model looks like a pretty good copy, including no communication equipment. Is the photo of the real vehicle wrong? Weathering is a personal aesthetic I suppose. I should also imagine that having a helmet and flak jacket on could well be down to timing and circumstance both in real life and for the diorama builder, but I thought it was well known that US boots were preferred over GPs if they could be got hold of.

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

Sometime ago when I was going through army training, we were sent to a classroom for 12 weeks for part of our phase 2 trade training. This somewhat surprised me as up until then my army experience had been spent mainly outdoors. Of course this indoor lark was not going to last forever but I was determined to enjoy it whilst it was there.

The instructor there a certain WO2 Roger Tossler who right from the beginning had 2 class favourites, a chap called ‘Kingo’ (Kings Regiment) and another we called 'Cunterkinti' (Ex African Rifles) who for some reason he hit it off with and could always be seen joking with them and having a larf. It was Roger the instructor’s habit to walk round the classroom and peer over our shoulders, looking at all our workings and seeing whose calculations were correct. Whenever he could see K or C had an answer correct he would proudly ask them to read out their answer to the classroom, my he positively beamed with pride when his 2 boys read out the correct answers!
Roger was married to a woman at the time, but I think it was more of a marriage of convenience than anything else.

I was not one of Roger’s favourites (I kept mispronouncing his surname) and I knew that whenever he called me to read out my answer, he would have already have seen from walking round and peering over my shoulder, that my answer was incorrect. He never once in 12 weeks asked me to read out any of my answers if I had made the correct calculation.
As such people used to think I was a bit dim and was never going to pass the course, how could I pass, after all I never got anything right?

However when it came to final exam time I managed a respectable 90% correct answer rate and received an A minus, much to everybody’s surprise. In fact I got one of the highest marks in the class, K&C on the other hand did not do so well and managed B’s which was still a pass and I was pleased for them, because a good sportsman always respects the other person’s efforts and achievements. Roger was strangely quiet that day.

I therefore have upgraded the previous award for our ACCPACK 045 ‘Landy’ (from one forum member who has not seen it in the flesh although I don't think it will make any difference when he does see it) of a C minus to a strong B plus or borderline A minus. It does have some nice weathering (its not obvious from my photos I know) is a very versatile vehicle and can be used as a general utility vehicle or convoy protection if you just want something different. It’s also priced nicely and will hopefully sell well in the current climate.
My photography skills I have awarded a D minus, but they will improve with the next batch we send out.

I have also attached a photo below of an Aussie Landy on convoy protection duty in Vietnam, look at those boys, not one of them has a helmet on, nobody is wearing a flak jacket, one of the Aussies even has his shirt unbuttoned more than the regulation top button only and rumour has it that American boots were quite popular over there as were other forms of American kit so who knows? Interestingly this Landy has no radio fitted either.



Best wishes Blake Reade
Head of photography @ TG

 

[King & Country]

What an amazing story Blake...and what an amazing coincidence that your two classmates had those two particular nicknames...You just couldn’t make up that even if you tried...Could you..?

I reckon with all that talent you could have been a novelist...well done!
Andy.

 

[wayne556517]

Great story Blake I enjoyed it.

 

[Gunn Miniatures]

What an amazing story Blake...and what an amazing coincidence that your two classmates had those two particular nicknames...You just couldn’t make up that even if you tried...Could you..?

I reckon with all that talent you could have been a novelist...well done!
Andy.

Hmmmm Andy I swear most of it's true, only the names of the innocent have been changed to protect their identity. Glad you enjoyed the story and appreciate you taking it in the spirit it was intended. After all in these dark days if we do not have humour then what else do we have left?

 

[The Military Workshop]

The photos and comments about them are giving me déjà vu.

Reminds me of what happened when K&C brought out their first Vietnam infantry. I showed the pics to some Vietnam veterans and got contradictory comments about slings on or off or sleeves up or down. Initially I gave feedback to Andy but after a few days gave up as there was no absolute right or wrong. I could find a Vietnam vet or photos to prove either way. The photos here are a similar scenario. Both are correct in isolation but together they show neither is wrong.

Besides nobody is being forced to buy the machine gunner as it is seperate item. You don't even have to have a driver or even have it is Aussie.

 

[WesternOutlaw]

I'm loving the new 4x4 and pictured with the Machine Gunner, it looks even better. I really like how TGM always includes some additional accessories for added detail.
Super cool!
{bravo}}

Love seeing the real war-time photos as well. Thanks for sharing John, Howard, and Blake. :salute::

 

[Larry Allen]

Didnt know TGM had to make there sets go with K&C ??

Hey Wayne,
No, of course T.G. can take any direction that they wish.

I really like my sets of the T.G. USMC WWII 37mm gun crew.
I also have many of the RS series Japanese Army and ACCPACKS vehicles and buildings.

But, K&C does have the largest number of WWII USMC USMC figures ... 40 or so sets to date.
They also have the largest number of Japanese sets, I think ... 58 sets.

As is so often discussed in this forum, compatibility is always an important consideration ..... scale wise, sculpt wise and paint wise.
So (IMO) it would be an extra bonus if the TG (USMC and RS Japanese) offerings can fit in with my K&C sets.
To date, the T.G. sets have wonderfully filled in holes in the K&C line ... and I appreciate that.

The T.G. Bazooka team will again fulfill the need.

But, if they took a design path that separated themselves then it would be difficult (for me) to add those to my collection.

Stay safe "down there"

--- LaRRy

 

[OzDigger]

Sometime ago when I was going through army training, we were sent to a classroom for 12 weeks for part of our phase 2 trade training. This somewhat surprised me as up until then my army experience had been spent mainly outdoors. Of course this indoor lark was not going to last forever but I was determined to enjoy it whilst it was there.

The instructor there a certain WO2 Roger Tossler who right from the beginning had 2 class favourites, a chap called ‘Kingo’ (Kings Regiment) and another we called 'Cunterkinti' (Ex African Rifles) who for some reason he hit it off with and could always be seen joking with them and having a larf. It was Roger the instructor’s habit to walk round the classroom and peer over our shoulders, looking at all our workings and seeing whose calculations were correct. Whenever he could see K or C had an answer correct he would proudly ask them to read out their answer to the classroom, my he positively beamed with pride when his 2 boys read out the correct answers!
Roger was married to a woman at the time, but I think it was more of a marriage of convenience than anything else.

I was not one of Roger’s favourites (I kept mispronouncing his surname) and I knew that whenever he called me to read out my answer, he would have already have seen from walking round and peering over my shoulder, that my answer was incorrect. He never once in 12 weeks asked me to read out any of my answers if I had made the correct calculation.
As such people used to think I was a bit dim and was never going to pass the course, how could I pass, after all I never got anything right?

However when it came to final exam time I managed a respectable 90% correct answer rate and received an A minus, much to everybody’s surprise. In fact I got one of the highest marks in the class, K&C on the other hand did not do so well and managed B’s which was still a pass and I was pleased for them, because a good sportsman always respects the other person’s efforts and achievements. Roger was strangely quiet that day.

I therefore have upgraded the previous award for our ACCPACK 045 ‘Landy’ (from one forum member who has not seen it in the flesh although I don't think it will make any difference when he does see it) of a C minus to a strong B plus or borderline A minus. It does have some nice weathering (its not obvious from my photos I know) is a very versatile vehicle and can be used as a general utility vehicle or convoy protection if you just want something different. It’s also priced nicely and will hopefully sell well in the current climate.
My photography skills I have awarded a D minus, but they will improve with the next batch we send out.

I have also attached a photo below of an Aussie Landy on convoy protection duty in Vietnam, look at those boys, not one of them has a helmet on, nobody is wearing a flak jacket, one of the Aussies even has his shirt unbuttoned more than the regulation top button only and rumour has it that American boots were quite popular over there as were other forms of American kit so who knows? Interestingly this Landy has no radio fitted either.

View attachment 259715

Best wishes Blake Reade
Head of photography @ TG

An entertaining story, and look at those rebel Aussies with 'incorrect' gear including sleeves rolled up and an old smg.

 

[Northgate Woods]

I have also attached a photo below of an Aussie Landy on convoy protection duty in Vietnam, look at those boys, not one of them has a helmet on, nobody is wearing a flak jacket, one of the Aussies even has his shirt unbuttoned more than the regulation top button only and rumour has it that American boots were quite popular over there as were other forms of American kit so who knows? Interestingly this Landy has no radio fitted either.

View attachment 259715

Best wishes Blake Reade
Head of photography @ TG[/QUOTE]

Your Photo Facts:

Fact One: That is a 1/4 ton Land Rover not a 3/4 tonner like you tried to produce. The split windshield tells me that is or was used to carry a 106mm RCL.

Fact Two: That version of the 1/4 ton Rover was not fitted for Radio but carried a portable AN/PRC-25 set at the Crew Commander's feet or behind his back rest.

Fact Three: That is a very early Vietnam War photo as the Crew Commander is still carrying an F1 SMG which along with the Owen Gun were replaced very quickly with the M16 Armalite.
SOPs (Standing Operation Procedure) for additional PPE were not brought into effect until after the Battle of Long Tan 1966.

Fact Four: The Cowboys in the Rover going by the Tac sign on the front of the vehicle were "Blanket Folders" from a Supply Patrol (Royal Australian Army Service Corp) and probably never fired a shot in anger for their entire 12 months tour.

Fact Five: In my 15 years service in the Army I have never seen or heard of any digger who preferred or wore those U.S. Boots. The GP Boot was of far better quality for jungle use.

Some additional photos on 1/4 Tonners used in NAM. Second photo helmet and flak jacket. Fourth photo Military Police with helmet and flak jacket in the rear of the vehicle.

 

[Guest]

It is not my collecting era, regarding the landy I think it looks good, I learned to drive in a later version, whether or not it accurate is answered with the actual picture the vehicle is based on, unless that is a 'fake' picture! Possibly need some stores and bit of kit, but from the pictures I have seen it looks as if the vehicle was relatively clean of kit.

as always if you do not like it then do not buy it.

The Zulu range look good, it has been a while since we have seen some new Zulus from anyone. .

 

[wayne556517]

Howard mate my Dad swore by US issue jungle boots 3 tours mate SASR so much so when I told him I was off to the jungle warfare centre 1 of many tours he went to great lenghts and expense to post them over and after the initial wearing them in they pissed all over our GPs.
So I imagine the TGM gunner is minus a slouch hat and some US soldier minus a pair of jungle boots.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Howard,
As I mentioned previously this thread is déjà vu as so many aspects about Vietnam vary depending upon who you ask.

I have never served in the army, never mind in Vietnam (too young). I am by no means an expert on uniforms or equipment. However I do think your “facts” should probably be more classified as facts as per your personal knowledge rather than absolutes relating to what actually happened in Vietnam.

Regarding the SOPs (Standing Operation Procedure) let me go on my own experience in the police. Police General Orders (PGO’s) stated we should complete our notebooks on a daily basis. Well aware of it but I often did not. PGO’s also stated a CID Inspector should checks his teams revolvers and sign a record that he had done so. Was a famous case where a Constable had lost his revolver but when case was investigated turned out Inspector had signed register multiple times when it was clearly already lost. Oops, demoted and kicked out of CID. Likewise orders in Vietnam said sleeves down but many did not comply.

I note you said SOPs (Standing Operation Procedure) for additional PPE were not brought into effect until after the Battle of Long Tan 1966. However I have seen a photo that predates LT by 11 months with all crew wearing helmets and flak jackets. Then on the other hand I received this comment from an Ex Lt in Vietnam when I asked him about flak jackets and helmets :

“After about 1968 we had the VC/NVA on the back foot in Phouc Tui – we were trying to find them, and they were trying to avoid us – so we got a bit slack about things like this. Nobody made a ‘big deal’ of such things (at least by the time I was there in 1970), so people wore what they were comfortable with – I don’t think many wore them unless they really expected some action (or were new in theatre), and that was rare, particularly on convoy escorts, which were pretty boring as, to my recollection, no convoys in our AO (which mostly moved between Nui Dat and Vung Tau) were ever ambushed”.
This Lt was not infantry but was in charge of the small Task Force defending Vung Tau. He was actually Army Aviation HQ.
So TG’s gunner, if somebody uses him, could be one of the guys who was not expecting trouble but found it. Or he could be placed on the ground behind a sandbag etc. As stated nobody is forcing anybody to buy the gunner.

Your pic of the gunner with helmet and jacket is a great shot. The caption that comes with it in the book Mud and Dust also mentions the two gun barrels in bottom right. The one on the right is a M1 which caption says was not standard issue for Australians, yet there it is.

Regarding boots you will be happy to note the Lt agrees with you and said :
“GP boots were acclaimed by everyone as the best available in Vietnam and the Yanks were always trying to get them from us (they were very valuable trade goods). The only Australians I ever saw wearing US Boots were training team etc guys who relied on the US logistics systems for their uniforms etc. We loved our GP’s as they were called – their official name was ‘Boots, General Purpose’= GP’s”. Seems to like them.

On the other hand an ex 7 RAR Vietnam infantryman I know said he used to wear US boots in the wet season, as they had eyelets down by the instep that let water out but GPs didn't . He would only wear his GPs in the dry. I also noted Wayne’s comment about his Dad. Your comment “The GP Boot was of far better quality for jungle use” is not based on any actual experience in a Vietnam jungle as experienced by infantry. Maybe you did not mix with infantry much so no problem if you have a different opinion.

Comfortable boots mean more to infantry / SAS than perhaps they do to than an admin Lt in Army Aviation or Armoured Corps like where you served. Even in recent times good quality boots been a major issue and heard many infantry soldiers complaining about having to buy their own. Looks like Wayne an example of this himself. Seems to have got better in last few years with a new top quality product.

I know you are a massive supporter of the military so I was a bit surprised by your comments about “the Cowboys”, "Blanket Folders" who “probably never fired a shot in anger for their entire 12 months tour”. After all you never deployed to Vietnam so would not have fired a shot in anger either.

As the owner of another well known brand often says “if you don’t like it, don’t buy it”.

Hope you have a great ANZAC day.

Brett

 

[Horus]

The US Jungle vs Aussie GP boots is an easy fix if required with a dab or two of black paint. The uniform colour is a tad darker green on the TG figures

The figures themselves are smaller than K&C Vietnam range. I'd guess the TG figures would all have got the nickname of Shorty !

Opened the new K&C M14 US Marines set today, another uniform inconsistency enters the mix, the loading Marine appears to be wearing British / Aussie type trousers with just a single thigh pocket as against one on each leg of American combat trousers !

I don't think these slight uniform differences are going to stop me collecting what I like in the Vietnam ranges.

Be nice if one of the manufacturers produced a range of the French indochine war of the early 1950s !

Steve