During the Vietnam conflict, one of the hardest areas to prevent infiltration of Vietcong insurgents and supplies into the areas close to Saigon was the large delta area formed where the Mekong River meets the South China Sea. The Mekong splits into hundreds of smaller branches, densely forested by mangroves that provide natural cover from the air. Entire convoys of supply sampans can be hidden in some small inlet or tributary river under the canopy of mangroves for days and weeks at a time. Policing this area was virtually impossible without the use of marine units together with ground forces wading through the mangroves. In June of 1967, the US Navy launched the Mobile Riverine Force or MRF. Equipped with special river monitors (an idea from the US Civil War), each fitted with a 40mm gun turret, 81mm mortar, and 2x40mm grenade launchers, armored troop carriers and Swift Boats, these armored brown water vessels took the fight to the enemy hidden in the vast delta region. The Zippo was a monitor retrofitted with flame throwers to burn out potential ambush positions and also reduce the foliage in preparation for an infantry landing and assault. Behind the Zippo, the ATC (Armored Troop Carrier) would ferry in the GIs to storm ashore to carry out raids, or destroy stores before re-embarking.
This diorama took some planning, and it was a lot of fun putting them together. I have portrayed a typical river in the Mekong Delta, complete with greenish brown water, hidden tributaries partially hidden by mangrove trees, punctuated with small clearings for huts, nipa palms and semi-aquatic long grasses sometimes as tall as a man. It did help that I grew up playing among similar mangrove swamps, complete with monitor lizards and crocs. While the flame power of the Zippo is impressive, this diorama also shows how futile it was to try and pin the Vietcong down as the thick vegetation beyond the river banks provide cover for them to melt away under assault, and who knows how many sampans and other hidden rivers lie beyond range. The burning of the foliage in the scene is only barely scratching the surface. The burning peasant’s hut in the clearing could have been used by the Vietcong to run their operations, but could just as easily have been the home of some un-related poor delta farmer unfortunate enough to be nearby to the Vietcong ambush that attracted the counter fire from the US monitor and ATC.
Gallery
Construction Notes
The three main pieces in the diorama came from GHQ of Minnesota who makes war game white metal pieces in 1:285 scale. This scale is ideal for larger settings, without obscuring the details of the vessels. I got the kits for the MRF Monitor, ATC and a peasant bamboo and thatch hut. The GHQ kits and the decal sheet below can be purchased directly from GHQ Models website or from E-Bay sellers.
I also purchased this decal sheet of Vietnam River Assault units with exact markings for different riverine craft.
Using an 8×10 plywood board, I plan the layout of the river, and surrounding land features. test positioning the three main pieces helped me to determine the best angle for the focal point of the diorama. They should form a rough triangle where the main action happens. The elevation of the surrounding land in the delta region is relative low-lying as these are silt islands formed by the river. To create these islands, I use cork sheet about 1/8″ thick, cut to shape, glued with Elmer’s All-Purpose white glue, and pressed with weights.
The ground area is pasted over with spackle plaster and textured to sculpt the shoreline.
While the plaster dries, I start working on the white metal models. It is important to clean the metal castings by removing casting runners, cut off sprue ends, and polish the model with a brass brush. When you start, the parts are a dull silver, and after cleaning, it should be a shiny, clear silver, almost like sterling jewelry.
To convert the standard riverine monitor into a Zippo, I close off the machine pit with evergreen plastic card, and added two small circular turrets from my 1/700 spare naval parts box.
This is the ATC after it has been cleaned for painting.
Final setting of the diorama with the hut now positioned on the North bank.
Metal models should be primed with a good primer suited for them. I use Armory Grey Primer that coats the metal surface well and provides a good gripping surface for the subsequent paint.
The riverine craft were painted with Tamiya Olive Drab XF-62. Some accounts describe using US Army Green but pictorial evidence seem to lean towards Olive Drab.
The monitor on the right has been dry-brushed with SAC Bomber Green (or any other pale green would work), in contrast to the ATP on the left that hasn’t been treated yet.
I drilled a small base hole and fixed small brass wire as masts for both craft situated just aft of the wheelhouse. The riverine craft were painted with bright orange for lifesaver rings, Light Ghost Grey FS36375 for the radar dome, highlights in SAC Bomber Green, Tamiya NATO Black for tires and spools and tarpaulin canopy in Tamiya Khaki XF49. A wash of 50% Burnt Umber+50% Ebony Black, and decals with Micro Gloss surface prep and Micro Set solution.
The landscape is primed with Tamiya NATO Black XF-69, islands in Tamiya Red Brown XF-64, and river shade in Tamiya NATO Green XF67 (IJA Green is also suitable).
The peasant hut was primed in Tamiya NATO Black XF69, and then dry brushed with Tamiya Buff XF-57. All these main metal pieces were permanently glued to the base with super glue.
Tiny foil US flags were painted for the two riverine craft.
The river surface is textured with Liquitex Gloss Heavy Gel to simulate river flow, and then white spackle plaster was used to sculpt the wake of the craft. Another coat of Vallejo Wet Effects was applied to increase the wet glossy effect until the “water” shimmered and reflected light. At this moment, the landscape looked lifeless and dry like a desert.
It is amazing what some planting will do to transform that desert into a lush tropical delta wetland. The clearings were populated with clumps of grass, nipa palms, and monkey palms. The landscape was dominated by Bruguiera and Rhizophora mangroves. Notice that I did not use coconut palms at all. While these do exist closer to the sandy coastal areas fronting the South China Sea, the delta area is dominated by mangroves that thrive in mud. I loved doing this so much that I might do another one with peaceful huts, farmers, water buffalo and sampans.
Unfortunately, I will have to destroy the idyllic scenery with the effect of the Zippo and at least one well-paced mortar round into the hut. The jets of red hot flame-thrower liquid were formed with 6 mil brass wires and spackle plaster, painted bright yellow and clear orange, as were the burning trees and the fire and explosion on the roof of the hut. It went from tropical paradise to Apocalypse Now. After all, this was Nam in ’67.
Leave a Reply