Royal Netherlands Air-Mobile Platoon, WIP.

Here is a little tutorial from my latest little project, Royal Netherlands air assault platoon for Afghanistan.

They are an interesting little military, and this tutorial will work, with a stretch, for Canadian infantry units as well.

The Netherlands, and Canadian army both use the C8 assault rifle, which is a cousin of the M4 carbine/M16 family. This was my first consideration for conversions; the old Caesar US infantry in Desert equipment contains a pile of figures armed with a weapon which I can't identify, but looks strangely like the C8 carbine.

Next, I needed to update the personal hydration system on the figures' backs. I choose the packs from some extra, Caesar Bundeswehr and from a pile of other figs like the Caesar Brits, and some Israeli bits and pieces.

Next I needed to find some helmets, I now realize I could leave the helmets of the original figures on, but in reference pics, the helmet does have a little less definition than the "fritz" helmets on the originals. I choose some extra Israeli heads I had, about two extra British heads and the best ones are from extra French I had.

I removed the SAWs from enough Revell US and glued and plastic-welded them onto various firing figures.
Next up were the HK, AG-36, UGLs. These were simply bits of balsa cut to the appropriate length and CA'ed to the underside of the C8. I used the same method to attach the distinctive "Elcan C-79" sight.

The bare figure, oh the potential! I also removed the gas-mask pack.

The hydration pack from the Caesar Bundeswehr set

Trimmed and CA'ed in place, just squash any edges that stick out with  the dull side of  a knife blade

The added head, this one is British

And this one is French

This figure uses the UGL, and C-79 methods earlier mentioned, as well as an Israeli head.

One of the 16 figures I've finished. 

This one came out well, they all wear a Dutch version of US three-tone desert camo. Note the lovely ISAF patch

Another one with a UGL, of all the ones I did, this one is my favorite pose.

A couple of variations on the hydration/armor possibilities, left: German, Right: US Elite Force. I'm not not sure which style is favored by the Dutch army, but this is such a small detail that I'm fine with either.

 Have a good day, and "get a fun," to quote the great old Tamiya model kit instructions.