discussion SBS Troops with Kayak - 1:35 - Dragon Kit

[pjgtech]

So next on the bench is this one.
What looks like an older kit from Dragon, featuring two SBS troops coming ashore from their Kayak, and looking very purposeful, and 100% in full alert mode.

My brief understanding of the SBS (Special Boat Service) is that it was formed after WW2, but took inspiration from the many small groups that carried out various maritime ops during WW2 using small boats, small subs, canoes and kayaks, eg: the Cockleshell Heroes, Royal Marines, Commandos Special Boat Section, etc. Apparently it had several names, until they settled on SBS around 1987.

I understand that recruits go through the same gruelling selection process as the SAS. On being selected and trained they have some specialist skills, for example underwater recon, diving, canoeing, demolition, etc.

This one might be suitable for a small Dio, not sure yet.... never done water before? Eek!
Obligatory initial pics.....

 

[scottie3158]

Peter,
Now that is something different I will follow along if I may.

 

[Jim R]

Definitely unusual. Camo will be fun.

 

[pjgtech]

Yep, it will be! Lol....

 

[pjgtech]

Apparently these Kayaks are called Klepper, and are made by a German manufacturer, there's a cool video of one in action, sadly by US forces not SBS, but it gives an idea of the vessel, and how they are used....see linky:
https://youtu.be/UXeQC9Cl2ss?si=CskOrx1oFkHMXOoc

 

[pjgtech]

Did a small update today....
After priming and filling gaps on the two figures, gave them a first coat of sand/beige.
Also gave the kayak its first coat. Top seems to be a dark green while the underside is a matt black.
Also primed most of the other bits and then gave them a first coat too.
Pics....

 

[pjgtech]

Update...
A little bit of progress on this one.

Initially painted the figures a sand colour as a base coat, but then realised that the smock jackets (DPM) have a sort of very light green base colour, before the dark green, brown and black are added, so I corrected this.
Also painted the boots and put an initial flesh tone on the hands/faces.

Have also painted the bags that will be used as stowage on the kayak and there are four very slim bars, not sure if they are part of the oars or what, but have painted them too ready to be attached to the kayak. Lastly painted the two rifles (sniper and M16 type).

The sniper rifle appears to be a matt green, whilst the M16 is a typical black tactical look.
Next up will be the camo on the jackets and trousers, jackets are DPM (light/dark green, brown, black) and trousers are a sort of desert camo (brown / beige/sand). But these are small 1:35 so we'll see how we get on......

 

[Airborne01]

If you wish Peter I'll post a photo of actual examples of the clothing items in question - unfortunately I no longer have a shamag similar that which the crouching figure is wearing
Steve

 

[spanner570]

Looking good Peter.

An interesting subject and one that brought back memories for me.

Before fibre glass and then carbon fibre came along, I had a canvas Klepper 'Folding Boat' canoe during the start of my competitive canoeing days in the '60's'
Mine was a red and black single seater, slalom canoe.
It consisted of two piece internal wooden lathe and rib frames.
You pushed one bit in to the front end and then the other in the back end and then pushed down and sprung the two sections together midships, thus tightening the canvas skin. The sections were attached together with simple brass pins, clips and hinges.

Whilst surfing, the thing had a habit of folding up mid wave, so you were trapped in something resembling a semi closed door hinge!

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Ron

 

[pjgtech]

There is a paint guide on the box, referring to Revell Aqueous Mr Hobby paints (which I do use), but the code they give for the light green base, appears to be a grey! So I just made a light green which I think matches the base coat (mixing two light greens to get the shade I wanted). Cheers NB: I have the dark green, brown and black that goes on top already....

 

[pjgtech]

These are the patterns I have for the DPM smocks and desert sand trousers, which I'm going to try to match, but the figures are so small, so we'll see....

 

[pjgtech]

Actually looking at that bottom DPM pattern, the base is definitely a sand/beige!
But the middle DPM does have a very slight green twinge to the base colour, (to my eye).
The box art for this model is also (to my eye) a very light green, which is what I've gone with.
Makes sense to me that if its a "Jungle" pattern DPM then it would have a green base.....
Trouble is if you look at different photos, etc, they all seem to be slightly different?

 

[pjgtech]

Tips for the shemagh?
There is a very slight pattern detail on the figures head (that is wearing the shemagh), which might show up more once a wash is applied.
But I was considering painting over it with some sort of very fine net material, but it would have to be very fine/small.
Anyone have any ideas?
Edit: found this online which seems to be a close match....

 

[Mr Bowcat]

The "sniper" rifle is an L96A1 Accuracy International, lovingly nicknamed the Green Meanie by troops.

The M16 is in all likelihood a Diemaco C7, made in Canada under licence from Colt, and later purchased to become Colt Canada.

 

[pjgtech]

Yep, correct. Whoever originally bought this kit, made a couple of notes on the box art, visible in the photos and they did note which models the guns were, as you say an Accuracy International and an M16...

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Yes, but not an M16 (which is a US designation for an Armalite AR-15).

 

[Airborne01]

The lower image is a Woodland DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) and is more contemporary, whilst the upper, darker, pattern is considerably later mate. The DPM washes to a much lighter tone with time and the raised edges and seams even more so. Did you source the DPM from Jane's Book of Camouflage? If so the colours are of new and unissued material!
Steve

 

[pjgtech]

• 
  #9.1
  Airborne01 commented
  Today, 15:15
  The lower image is a Woodland DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) and is more contemporary, whilst the upper, darker, pattern is considerably later mate. The DPM washes to a much lighter tone with time and the raised edges and seams even more so. Did you source the DPM from Jane's Book of Camouflage? If so the colours are of new and unissued material!
  Steve

****************************
Hi mate, was not aware of that book, so nope, I just got pics off the net.
TBH I will do the camo pattern as best I can to my ability, which is not that good, and if its not perfect then so be it. I would like to get it close, obviously, but am not that bothered if its not 100% spot on.
Cheers

 

[pjgtech]

Camo update!
So put 1st camo coat on the smock, dark green, on top of the very light green base....

Then put 2nd camo coat on the smock, brown...

Then added camo coat to the trousers, brown on top of the sand base....

Need to add the black streaks to the smock tomorrow, but its coming along.....

 

[pjgtech]

The two SBS figures and the kayak are now almost done, (almost) so I will get some pics up later.
So I'm now starting to think about a little diorama. maybe A5 sort of size, as the two figures and kayak are quite small (1:35).

As they will generally be a covert unit, I was thinking the dio could be a quiet little cove, in a secluded area, with the base being part water and part sand/beach, maybe with some rock formation or plant life to one side. The Kayak pulled up onto the beach, as if they have just landed and the two figures placed to "scope out" the area. Got some foam boards, mod pog, PVA, etc.

For the water I have so far seen two main methods (apart from the dedicated gels that you can buy), which are the toilet paper and pva method and the clear mastic method.

As this will be quite small, and just the edge of a river / coastline, my intention is that it will be quite still, not loads of waves, maybe a couple of small waves lapping the shore. I am leaning towards the toilet paper and pva method.
This will be yet another learning process for me, as I've not done "water" before.....