PMC

PMC:Private Military Contractors. PMC theme 1/6 figures was all the rage in 2007 with a flurry of box sets being released by HT, Barrack Sgt, TS, Dr. Figures etc. Today it remains a popular topic for 1/6 kitbashes due to the relative 'anything goes' load out of most PMC operators from the diversity of their attire to tactical gear & weapons. My two PMC kitbashes was also completed in 2007 with one of the figures drawing inspiration from a bash by Kaz featured in SpecFigures 2 magazine. PMC though a somewhat politically correct term in today had been called 'Mercenaries', 'The Dogs of War' to 'Soldiers of Fortune' in the past & glamorized in books like Frederick Forsyth's: The Dogs of War & movies like: The Wild Geese starring Richard Burton & Roger Moore. Today the mention of PMC immediately brings to mind the shadowy 'Blackwater USA' (aka Blackwater Worldwide) the largest of the US State Department's three private security contractors. It provides security services in Iraq from the guarding of installations/officials, training of Iraqi army/police personals to logistical support like convoy security etc. In recent years, the company was also embroiled in the controversial killing of innocent civilians in Iraq & in Feb 2009, the company had since changed it's name to 'Xe'(pronounced 'Zi') in an attempt to dis-associate the company's name from it's work in Iraq. Undeniablely, PMC comapnies had change the involvement of conventional troops in today's low intensity conflicts in the world's hot spots. However the long term effects & trends of PMC deployment remains to be seen.

UBCS

UBCS: Umbrella Biohazard Counter-Measure Service. A bash i did early this year, just a couple of black-ops guys with umbrella UBCS patches, not entirely game/movie accurate. UBCS not to be confused with USFU (Umbrella Special Forces Unit) made their first apperance in the Sony Playstation Capcom game Resident Evil:Nemisis. Most notable character of course is Carlos Oliverio who fought alongside Jill Valentine in the game & who later appeared in the live action movie Resident Evil:Apocaplyse & Resident Evil:Extinction. The primary function of the UBCS is the containment/retrival/destruction of Umbrella Corp data during a biohazard incident. The unit was deployed extensively in the Raccoon City Outbreak & had a high mortality rate. It's members were drawn mostly from ex-military, Mercs or even wanted criminals. To give the bash a more aggressive & RE-universe feel, the lens of the gas respirators were inserted with cut-out red plastic for added effect.

Task Force Ranger

One of my very first kitbash figures in 2004 when i started back on the 1/6 scene after a long break since 1999. The figure is a rendition of a US Army Ranger from the famous book/movie "BLACK HAWK DOWN". The average GRUNT load out in 1993 looks pretty basic in today's standards: Ranger body amour made by DUPONT, M16A2 (with no scope just the iron-sight), US 3C-desert BDU (90s transition after the 6C-choc chip used in the first Gulf-War), K-pot (with 6C-choc chip liner). The BHD Ranger figure has been widely bashed by sixth scale modelers & has appeared in the first Spec-Figures magazine. The picture was taken using natural light during sunset which explains the slightly yellowish tint.