1:32 US Marines (WWII)

The US Marine Corps in the Pacific campaign

During the war in the Pacific the United States Marine Corps became a specialist in amphibious landings. From Guadalcanal through Tarawa and Saipan to Iwo Jima its advance looked much the same: the approach in boats, the dash across the exposed strip of beach and then the fight for every bunker. Typical features are the camouflage helmet cover, light equipment and the semi-automatic rifle; the heavier gear reached the shore only with the later waves.

A setting that fits the theme

For this group a sandy strip with waves, broken palm trunks, a concrete shelter with a shot-through embrasure or a muddy path in the jungle all suggest themselves. The surface of the water is handled with clear glue or resin, the sand with fine sand sifted through a screen. The contrast between the light ground and the dark green of the uniforms gives the scene legibility at first glance.

Accessories worth considering

An amphibious carrier, ammunition crates, barrels or a ship's anchor washed up on the shore all go with the figures. If you want to tell a story, divide the group in two: one part advancing, the other covering. The camouflage pattern on the helmet and on the poncho is painted in layers from dark to light, with the small blotches last. It pays to bring out the weapons with a dark wash, so that they do not merge with the figure at a small scale.

No cloth patches or decals are enclosed, so the insignia are painted with a brush. The mold seams are best leveled before the base coat is applied, because otherwise they will show through every further shade. The figures can be mounted on thin plywood with the edge covered with sand.