Background

The Second Battle of Fallujah—code-named Operation Al-Fajr (Arabic: الفجر "the dawn") and Operation Phantom Fury—was a joint American, Iraqi, and British offensive in November and December 2004, considered the highest point of conflict in Fallujah during the Iraq War. It was led by the U.S. Marines and U.S Army against the Iraqi insurgency stronghold in the city of Fallujah and was authorized by the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Interim Government. The U.S. military called it "some of the heaviest urban combat U.S. Marines and Soldiers have been involved in since the Battle of Huế City in Vietnam in 1968.

This operation was the second major operation in Fallujah. Earlier, in April 2004, coalition forces fought the First Battle of Fallujah in order to capture or eliminate insurgent elements considered responsible for the deaths of a Blackwater Security team. When coalition forces fought into the center of the city, the Iraqi government requested that the city's control be transferred to an Iraqi-run local security force, which then began stockpiling weapons and building complex defenses across the city through mid-2004. The second battle was the bloodiest battle of the entire Iraq War, and is notable for being the first major engagement of the Iraq War fought solely against insurgents rather than the forces of the former Ba'athist Iraqi government, which was deposed in 2003.

Concept and construction

Many other memorable points in military history have been captured in diorama's it is hard and often too soon or raw to recreate a combat scene. I do however think that we cannot let the past be forgotten. Through photos, articles, memorials and even dioramas that often adorn war museums its a tribute to our brothers in arms. I myself have served in the Infantry in Kosovo war and as Munitions Specialist in the Afghanistan war. Being a modeller as well I find it therapeutic as I build this diorama I reflect on my time in country the good and bad experiences.

I consulted on my own photo references of (battle damage) as well as online to capture the architecture common to Fallujah and the effects/results of the many military campaigns. I started with something that would bring the flavor of the region forward a "mosque entrance" then expanding outwards to create adjoined buildings. My plan moving forward is to add U.S. troops FIBUA fighting in a built up area with light armored vehicles in support.

I need to make an iron gate that will be a final detail to the mosque entrance.

I am using condensed foam in two grades that I trialed to see how they would react to cutting, compacting, tearing, solvents and adhesives. I found that super glue works the best and will not melt the foam for smaller piles of debris a spray adhesive common to craft stores or Mod-Podge works great and dries clear binding pieces.

 Get everything placed time to take a step back refer to the photos and make any last adjustments or additions before priming out the entire diorama.

Here is a trial of the colour that the majority of the buildings will be painted in. I am working on some date palms to fall behind and a photo board for final back drop.

 I would appreciate comments and suggestions...more photos to upload as work progresses.

Today working on more debris additional corrugated metal. I am sure this is an old technique but it works well using stipped down cardboard then giving it a light sanding and a coat of hardner before a metal finish to lay down the fibers.

Also tried a dry fit of the background to make sure the debris field and perspective matches. I might lighten the backdrop it took a lot of searching to find a good perspective. 

A few nights ago I did some reserch on an idea l had to add a burnt out vehicle. What seemed to be common was the almost whiteish gray and black mottled appearance from intense heat. After the buildings are painted and weathered ill add a burn patch under the vehicle some smoke trails up the concrete and disintegrated tires melted off the rims.

Stared the base layer of paint just a medium gray as close to a concrete colour as possible nothing specific.

June 15th  2019

I did some adjustment to the colours and switched from enamels to AK acrylics. The entire diorama was painted in CARC Tan 686 and highlighted with AK desert sand primer. Vallejo medium and dark grey wash was applied over the rubble to add depth and Vallejo weathering pencils for streaks on the concrete.

 I really wanted to capture the roll up metal garage doors that are a common feature in Iraq, also the spiderweb of downed power and service lines.

The mosque gates and wooden door were hand made then primed and weathered a light mist of CARC tan was sprayed to give the effect of settling dust and sand.

 The rebar was painted with Vallejo metal-steel highlighted with a white weathering pencil then a mist of carc tan.

So the diorama is pretty much done last touch is a Meng kit air conditioner unit or water tank on top of the second roof. Next I am moving onto the US armored vehicle and troop. I decided to do them in combat patrol/ house clearing advancing up the road with the Bradley in support. I did alot of research on the proper paint scheme and models of vehicles for 2004-2008 occupation. Although the M3A3 was introduced in Iraq March 2003 with the 4th Infantry Division the "BUSK" Bradley urban survivability kit was not in service until 2008 so I will probably forgo installing the system .

I have ordered several upgrade kits from Live Resin for the SAG turret on the M1151. It will take me evenings until the winter to complete the diorama but I will keep posting the vehicle builds as I move forward.

Just finished one of two vehicles for my diorama all I have to say is loved the build Meng makes a great product. I did alot of reaserch on the proper colours for US vehicles in Iraq from the 2004-2006 period as colours changed. This is the first armored vehicle I have ever made but allot of the skills I learned from building jets applies. Also doing research and watching others online builds helps.

BRADLEY M3A3 VEHICLE #1

Washed and distressed roadwheels

Matching pigment to RC079 AK interactive 686A CARC Tan swatch

One of several steps weathering the tracks

 Laying on the tracks without breaking anything! aaaarg!! delicate work.

Moving onto the primer coat application.

 Finish coat AKs 686 CARC Tan and Vallejo weathered wash European tan brown. I was going to seal everything with a coat of Ultra-matt but the AK interactive paint is extremly flat and dry as it as is a laquerl based paint.

Getting everything into position to see wher the figures will look the best.

 I am very happy with the date palm I found at "Reality in scale" easy to paint and assemble.

M1151 VEHICLE #2

Here is my second vehicle for my diorama posted under dioramas another great Academy kit I wont bore you with too many construction photos. 

I did add allot of Live Resin armaments I have seen some funky weapons configurations for the SAG save -a-gunner turret. 

Live Resin parts arrived excited to get building! 

So pros of the live resin is great detail as advertised, cons are no instructions and the type of plastic used to cast the parts is extremely brittle and can only be bonded with crazy glue.

Paint was a primmer coat of AK interactive desert sand primer then a coat of AK interactive 686A CARC Tan. After drying over night started weathering with Vallejo model wash 76.523 Tierra European Dust on all bolts and panel seams. I did the weapons in 2 coats of Vallejo black wash and picked up the details with Vallejo pigments dusted on. I also used the desert pigments to add a layer of dust on all the gear and vehicle.

 Tires are from the kit there are plenty of after market tires but I think they look just fine.

Sneak peek of vehicles placed.

Positioned the M1151 now its onto working on figures.

THE MARINES

I started the first figure for "Operation Phantom Furry" USMC wearing MARPAT. At 1/35th scale digital squares are barely discernible. I tried several methods to replicate the pattern with paint iether the pixels were out off scàle or looked too round trying to use a brush or sponge.

Then I found camouflage decals from Cross Delta in MARPAT desert what a life saver! I did a few trials as putting a 2D object on a 3D object would prove to be challenging. The decals are thick twice what your used too, I applied Micro-Sol decal softener it helped the decal bend after about 2 min it became extremly plyable. Working it in the creases with a brush moistened with micro-sol it conformed like fabric. Cut roughly to the size of say a lower arm sleeve and then a second piece for the upper arm go slow and watch that you dont wear through the pattern to the sub-strait.

I let it dry overnight the decal further worked its way into the underlying details I was amazed at the results. Next I noticed it was too shiney so a coat of AK Interactive ultra matt varnish took care of that giving the decal a fabric look.

 I am chasing that elusive "Coyote Brown" for the load bearing vest and gear in Vallejo. There is a ton of work to do on this figure but for the start I am happy with the camouflage the camera changes the colour a bit.

Started working on the heads and some of the other gear.

 Heads were painted with seven layers of Vallejo acrylic then a little 5 o'clock shadow added.

Marine gear painted in the Coyote Brown- Vallejo 71.024 Khaki brown great match then washed with 76.523, 76.514 finally a coat of AK interactive ultra matt.  

 Some Marines during the campaign maintained the woodlands camouflage pattern on vests and pouches. I did the camouflage first next ill do the MARPAT desert then add the gear, head and hands.

Oct 2019-Ill work on the figures over the winter try to get the diorama completed. I like the figure sets I bought there just isnt much to choose from. I would be interested in any leads to some custom after market figures for the US trooms in the early 2000s period. I also need a good crew set for the Bradley.