SFRA NCO grenadier circa 1996, 1/35 scale

[COUPmander Yoda]

This is my tribute to the officers and men of the Philippine Army Special Forces Airborne Regiment [SFRA].

This is a 1/35 scale model of a SFRA NCO [grenadier] with gear and equipment circa 1996.

[COUPmander Yoda]

1st. image:

You can see here that the airborne badge can even be depicted in 1/35 scale. Notice that the "parachute cords" in the badge can even de depicted by painting it in transluscent white over the red background of the airborne patch.

The pattern in the helmet liner is more "splotchy" and less-sharper than the official PA DPM pattern in the upper and lower garment. The cloth material of the helmet liner is not the official PA DPM pattern at that point in time unlike now.

The over-hanging helmet strap is clearly seen here.

You can see here that the M203 rounds have the blue lining in contrast to the aluminum mid-section in the front side of the bandoleer. These blue-lined M203 rounds are locally made by Avacorp and I choose to depict 6 them in the bandoleer[other six are US-made M433 rounds].

Notice the big "AFP" marking on the rear of the LBG suspender.

The single-content magazine pouches have the 30-round M-16 magazines partly exposed. These kinds of magazine pouches are still commonly seen though being gradually replaced. The seams of the nylon magazine pouches were highlighted as you can see. Take note that the front part of the magazine pouch belt has one 20-round pouch on each side. This is because putting 30-round pouch on the front of the magazine belt is hardly comfortable when sitting as the lower end of the magazine will hit the upper leg. The whole pistol belt has 2-20 round pouches, 7-30 round pouches and 2 water canteen pouches.

2nd. image:

The single seam running along the helmet liner is clearly visible here. The current helmet liners now have 2 seams similar to US PASGT helmets.

You can clearly see here the one green button on cuff and beside it on the folded sleeves. This is unique to AFP BDAs.

See the "AFP" marking on the canteen liner. You can still give terrific detail even in 1/35 scale.

3rd. image:
Notice the edges of the SFRA badge in the helmet. It is in yellow like in the 1/1 scale badge.

The helmet liner fastener fashioned from tire interiors in clearly discernible in this image.

The SOCOM patch with the white arrow over the 3-color horizontal band is quite visible in this angle.

Notice the strip of cloth with button that tightens the cuff on the upper garment. This is a unique characteristic of AFP BDAs over US BDUs.

Notice that the black cloth glove even covers the wrist watch. It is a diffrent shade of black to give it the real look of a clothing material.

4th. image:

This image gives a fairly accurate view of the different degrees of sheen on the whole model. I took effort to differentiate the sheen of the skin, gloves, uniform and weapons would be different so as to give it a realistic look. Even the M16A1 with the under-barrel M-203 has various levels of sheen in its various parts. Take note that the flash hider, barrel, handguard, receiver and magazine of the this soldier depicted has different levels of sheen.

Notice the "infantry" designation badge in the collar tab denoted by crossed rifles over a sand colored rectangular background. The other collar tab has the rank of a sargeant embossed on it.

The helmet straps is the earlier version but was fortunately replaced by the MICH system[a much safer system specially for parachutists].

The metal buckles for the rifle sling and M203 bandoleer are also depicted as you can see.

Look at the grenades in the 12-round[basic load] bandoleer; they have an aluminum mid-section. These are the more reliable M433 HEDP rounds - more reliable than the blue-lined, more pointed-nose, Avacorp M203 rounds.

Notice that I highlighted the seams on the trousers. The PA DPM camouflage pattern also breaks at the seams[does not continue to the other side of the seam].

The combat boots are reminiscent of the color hues used during that period but was gradually being phased out in favor of the all-black boot color.. The nylon liner of the combat boots are in two-tone brownish olive drab that the former "Ang Tibay"[then renamed Goodfit Manufacturing Corporation] boots have. The black boot laces over the olive drab lining can also be discerned.

5th. image:

The SFRA patch can be seen in the front of the PASGT/Kevlar helmet. There is a seam in the helmet liner that runs from the front-center to the rear-center of the helmet and this is highlighted. Notice that the camo pattern in the helmet liner does not "go over" the helmet liner seam.

Take a careful look at the arm that is pointing. It has the Philippine Army badge barely visible at the upper-arm portion.

[COUPmander Yoda]

I just finished editing my comments on my model.  I have to carefully explain my comments and it took me a lot of time to finish editing since I had to check on the images.

[jepot]

I just finished editing my comments on my model.  I have to carefully explain my comments and it took me a lot of time to finish editing since I had to check on the images.

Mr CY,

My gosh! You made a VERY detailed explanation of your work- KUDOS! VERY GOOD!! you have filled the void of lack of nicely built figures of AFP topics!

Keep it up!  Great!!!

[opus]

Now THAT is beautiful!

 

[40niner_com]

Wow, and this is 1/35 scale... an almost two-inches figure with all the details...

[COUPmander Yoda]

This forum along with the PDFF and IPMS-BAC forum inspired me to finish the model.  I needed hints and tips.

I go to great lengths in detailing models...sometimes even buying the CCIE item:



That ammunition load carrying gear is quite popular among AFP troops.   That is for one of my future AFP figure project...in 35th. scale ofcourse!

[wingnut]

wow...

someday i gotta do something like this...

[specter]

very nice work..  some questions though...

1) was the figure scratch built?

2) any plans to build a new SFRA trooper? (they recently issued tiger stripe BDA to their troops)

[COUPmander Yoda]

The figure was cobbled from several Tamiya and DML infantry kits.  The M203 bandoleer magazine and magazine pouch are scratchbuilt.

I do have plans to build another SFRA infantry figure but I will need to do some consultations with people from SFRA[who are timawa forum members] before I do start it.  As you can see, I go to great lengths when it comes to realism that is why I need to consult with AFP people before I do a project.  There is one SFRA gear that really attracted me and this belt-order LBG has M16 and M203 pouches...might even try to acquire the real thing just to make my model realistic...down to a gnat's ass, not an exagerration as you can see from my work.

As for the SFRA tiger camo I have a walking shorts made from the SFRA fabric and I do have several images of the camo....ready reference.

There is another thing that I am considering an AFP infantry in a pose while firing an indegenous Avacorp rifle grenade.   Problem is I need to bring my measuring tape and go to a military camp to make sure that I can replicate it...down to the disposable plastic sight.

One thing that I would like to always emphasize are the unique CCIE and weapons used by AFP troops.  These requires scratchbuilding.   

The AFP trivia topics participated by AFP people here and in the PDFF forums really drove me nuts to make an AFP infantry.  As every modeller knows we need unusual sort of inspiration in order to finish an unusual modelling project due to the obstacles we encounter.

BTW:  I have around 25-30 boxes of 1/35 scale DML brand infantry and infantry equipment kits at home!
I do have 60 and 81mm mortar and 57mm RR  model kits in 1/35 scale at home...even an RPG-2.

For the PMC people in this forum, if I will build a PMC figure here I may ask you some trivia questions to make it look realistic...same with the SFRA, SR, SFRA and PSG[I live near Malacanang] members in this forum.

Thanks to Mr. Jepot for inspiring me to focus on AFP projects.  I know that there is a gap in the 35th. scale infantry models and someone need to pitch in.  I am planning to build an M151 with the RR but I noticed that there is a difference with the kit and real vehicle.  May need your help if I start it...even if I have to go to Fort Bonifacio just to take walkaround pics of the M151 with 106mm RR.

[jetmech]

  Can't wait to see your other completed projects. BZ to you.  What shade of green did you use? Is that the IJN green? That's my next project.  So far, I've used dark green and faded drab but they don't look closed to the real color. Thanks.

[COUPmander Yoda]

Jetmech,

You are right;  IJN green is the correct shade for the dark green color in the AFP DPM camo[we can fade it a bit to simulate weathering].  I am aware of contractors who did not comply with the official shade of the camo that is why I spent effort to clarify the exact shade.

[mikelogics]

Interesting.

Some comments: I like the way you did the Kevlar helmets. The thing is, we only wore those during parades. Our pants were bloused inside the boots, not with garters. I wonder if you could fix that. Also, we stopped using OD tropical boots by the early 90's. They should be all black.

[COUPmander Yoda]

Mikelogics,

Yes you are right...I saw the Kevlar in a parade in the mid-1990s.  Even saw some SFRA officers with Belgian  P90s.  I will take pictures of the black-lined boots..even the soles, for my next project.  Thanks for the blousing tip!

[jetmech]

Jetmech,
You are right; IJN green is the correct shade for the dark green color in the AFP DPM camo[we can fade it a bit to simulate weathering]. I am aware of contractors who did not comply with the official shade of the camo that is why I spent effort to clarify the exact shade.

  Thank you, boss.