GRUNTS, Central Highlands, RVN 1968

I built this diorama several years ago when I was recovering from a back injury that was incurred during a night jump in high winds back when I was a Reconnaissance Marine. The figures are conversions on Dragon's Marine Recon and 1st Cavalry sets with a combination of Dragon, Hornet, and Verlinden heads. The rucksacks are each configured differently with various types of equipment being carried by each soldier. The frames were scratchbuilt with brass wire and lead foil. The rucksack bags themselves are the lightweight tropical rucksack from Verlinden's Backpacks for figures. The equipment ranges from bandoleers to claymore bags, LAW rockets to canteens without covers. My main aim was to make this diorama look like the soldiers were really weighted down and are working hard to make it uphill.