Semper Fi War in the Pacific

Blades up . I havent seen one done like this b4 myself .

I cut off the resin hydraulic piston , drill out the cylinder with a 1/8 " bit and replaced it with a longer one made from aluminum tubing .

Also i did some more "welding ".

Due to the extra weight on the front the rear tracks are lifted off the base .Will add some weight .

Carl   I've always liked your weld beads and the addition of the other ones is even that much more detail and looks nice.  I assume the work on the piston was mainly due too needing it to be longer but even if it did not need to be longer it is spectacular that you replaced it with aluminum tube   Thats the best way to represent that smooth polished metal look.  When everything else is painted that piston is really going to stand out and look great!  Love all of those little pins also.  Keep it up.

Rob my man thanks . The aluminum tubing is removable so when i paint i canr remove that part .

Carl, thats even better being able to remove the tube before painting

Simple markings on the LVT

Starboard side has same markings

Dont worry the ramp still drops if wanted.

Small update but what the heck

Fire extinguisher

Rob , LTV is looking real good . I wasnt sure  of the camo and markings but i can see where it all is going to make an interesting looking model that will stand out .

Did you scratch the fire ext. ? Looks real good .

Carl, believe it or not I'm not much of a camouflage person and usually go with solid color vehicles.  Now with the markings it does really help pull everything together and I believe it should look pretty good when weathered.

The fire extinguisher I had posted a while back but not cleaned up and painted.  The tank and horn is from the Traz resign kit, the hose is stretch sprue and the bracket is just a piece of styrene flat stock.  Glad you like

Carl,,,  the "Shermozer" looks great. Awesome job on the piston. How do you produce your weld beads?

Rob,, that LTV is fantastic (camo, markings, and on and on),, can't wait to see it weathered up.

You guys are just way to good..........

No access to FSM for nearly two days during my business trip because the hotel WIFI sucked!  I am so happy to be back...

Carl-Huge improvement on the piston using aluminum tubing.  Local shop sells those so will have to keep that in mind.  Thanks buddy!  Always looking good... yes you are still a sick man!

Rob- Your LVT is looking better and better everyday!   I am glad you re-did the camo job... 

By the way I found a hobby shop in NOLA and it looks nice when I checked its website.  That's one of stops I have to make while I am in town.

Andy,,,  its always ok to take a break from computers, websites for a few days.

Hope you're enjoying NOLA,,,,,,  hope the shop turns out to be even better than you expect!

Have fun!

Bill , about the weld beads .  On these i c.a. 'd stripa strip of stretch sprue ( c.a. because it was against resin) thien came back and appied liquid glue , waited till the plastic softened and then imprinted the weld beads with the sharpened end of a strip of brass from the p.e. sheet . I chucked that strip of brass into a hobby knife hanlde .I will post pics of the tool if you want .

You betcha Carl,, would like to see it

Hey Bill , hows things ? Been golfing yet ? Still raining out here .

Here's my weld beads tool . I beveledthe end to point .

BILL, ANDY - Thanks guys.

CARL - Still like your weld beads   Nice tool for making the welds.  Will have to make me one now

Been doing a little planning on the layout of the diorama.  Have also decided to add some Japanese influence into the dio.  Had a left over "Woodpecker" MG from an old RPM kit so went and dug it out and went to work on it.  Believe it or not, took about a hour or so to clean off the sprue attachment and build.

Things arranged on the beginning of the base.

Still have not completely made up my mind if the ramp will be up or down.  Here is a pic of both positions.

Down

Up

If ya did not notice in the pic above, there will be a Japanese MG bunker in the front right corner.  Still need to carve it out and then make an overhead for the bunker but this is the basic layout.

The triangle shape drawing will be left on and that will be the concrete pad the MG sits on.  The other lines represent where I will have to carve and create the pit where the men would stand.

Will get a little more done on the base before weathering the LVT that way I can weather it easier by being able to blend the correct shades of gunk onto the LVT as to what is on the base.

Looks like it will be fun Rob , giod design imo .

Hey buddy, thanks   Will see how it goes, this is just a rough layout but think it will look good.  The LVT will also be loaded with supplies and there will be more Marines.  Don't worry about our Marines facing that MG, remember the LVT MG's will be manned and providing some cover fire and that Marine you see closest to the enemy MG will have a flamethrower.  Lets just say if things work out right, we will have ourselves a little barbecue so make sure you bring some hot dogs, marshmallows and of course

Thanks Carl,,,,  simple, effective tool.      Nice

I've only been to the range so far....  playing, at least 9, tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be ok.

Rob,, I like the layout too,,,, will you be adding water / ocean?

Here is a quick update on my palm trees - - - -

After making the "trunks" a little paint job is required. I don't use a lot of browns,, more of a grey / light brown mix. I then wash with grey followed by a lighter grey drybrushing. I wash afterwards with dark brown and black. A pinwash of black also brings out the "rings" and trunk dings and imperfections. These trees always seem to look beat up.

In the past I have used imagination and paper to make the palms...  I tried a little bit of a new method of doing this,,,  I was not super thrilled with the results.....  so I removed these palms and tried something different....    I will save these palms for some ground cover though.

I stopped by a florist and started sniffing around looking for a substitute.

I found some ferns that looked like they would do the trick.

While the face-up side of the ferns seemed a bit too green,,,,   so I turned them over and the color was better plus they have a better palm leaf look in my opinon.

So I began cutting away at the ferns. I sealed the pieces with a flat coat and then began attaching them to the trunks. Tedious as you can only attach one at a time. Rotating the trunks and continuing to attach,,, I am pretty happy with the results.

Hope you like...........

BILL - Palm trees look GREAT   Looked pretty good with the paper ones but with the vegetation it really looks the part.  Like the painting / weathering process on the trunks also.  Thats really going to look good when all put together.

Water or no water, thats the question.  If I go with a MG bunker then there will be no ocean.  Iwo Jima did not have bunkers right on the beach / surf. You only started too see the bunkers once say 300 -400 hundred yards in.

I like the idea of the MG bunker and it helps tell a story but it was a secondary thought.  The original thought was to just be landing on the beach.  The Styrofoam is cut at a steeper angle on the other side not shown representing a beach.  If going with the ocean showing the board would be turned to the other side not shown and there would be the edge of the water showing.  I like the idea of the water also and I like the other side of the LVT better which would also show in this scenario.  So the question now is water or MG bunker??

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Had also been meaning to share this picture I had found with yall.  Dont know if you have seen it before but found it to be interesting even though it's in Europe.

The pic is great,, thanks Rob

Water VS Bunker..............    tough choice....    I would say since you have the initial plan for the bunker, go with it.

Either would be good though.........   

Oh,, and thanks Rob,, appreciate the kind words

PANZERWAFFE,  Your LVT4 is looking great.  I vote for the machine gun bunker.  Eric Hammel’s book IWO JIMA has some excellent images of various emplacements and fighting positions.

I made good progress on MARDI GRAS this weekend.  Got the green painted on and the port side markings applied, the “2B19” tactical markings was horrendously frustrating.  Unfortunately, I ran out of the needed numbers/letters so had to order a couple more sets from Archer today.  Once I get the remaining markings on I will start some weathering and then work the machine guns and shields.  For the A-4 I got the two shades of gray needed for the camouflage pattern.  Next weekend hopefully I can get the green and brown applied.  I am waiting to do the tracks until I assemble all four sets for painting and weathering.

DEATTILIO - "Mardi Gras" is looking great. Good too see her with her paint on and the tac markings look good from here.  The transfers can be a real pain but as you have shown they can produce really good results.  Nice work on both and I look forward too the paint on the A 4 and weathering on the 4.

PANZERWAFFE

Had also been meaning to share this picture I had found with yall.  Dont know if you have seen it before but found it to be interesting even though it's in Europe.

Rob- Great pic... never saw it before.  Troops were probably heading to the front while jeeps are returning to the base empty after delivering more ammo or supplies.  

Bill- Lovely work on the palm trees!  I like the second attempt on the palm leaves better.  Much better!!!  Thanks for the tip!

Deattilio- Nice process on Mardi Gras where I am currently located but of course a month late.  Took a lot of time looking at Higgins boats (LCVP) but none of LVTs at National WWII Museum.

Rob- That's for you... saw the actual 'woodpecker' MG.  Sorry to say this but it was one ugly looking MG!

Guys- For you guys doing figures... 

That's the Higgins boat... LCVP.   I was expecting it to be bigger but it wasn't... 

Much obliged Andy,, and thanks for the pics,,,  very NICE

Great work everyone! the 50s look real wnough to shoot,,,,If someone could reach them!

The palm trees are very realistic, thanks for posting the WIP pics,, I am going to use that technique.

My fig is moving slowly, but it will be done.

Have Friday off so hope can spend some time at bench!

Hey guys ive been slipping behind here .

Bill those palm trees are really nicely done . Very authentic .

Detailio good looking builds  .

Andy , nice pics . They'll be good for referrence .

Tonka , pics ?

The weather has improved here so i've been outside digging . Not much bench time .

Take care

Tonka / Carl,,,      thank you both...........