My friend Chuck is 80+ years old now, but still pretty active. He served in the US Navy as a teenager, assigned to LCT's and LST's in the Pacific during WWII. As a tribute to him and his many war experiences, I wanted to build a model of his vessels. I couldn't locate the specific type LST he was assigned to, but after a lot of looking found that Loose Cannon did 1:700 LCT's. We weren't sure what type, so I ordered both the Mark 5 and Mark 6. It turns out Chuck served on LCT 812, a Mark 6.
Since I was stuck with both, I built them both--although "building" consists mostly of painting. They are resin, and came with only 20mm guns as photoetch--no railings, masts, etc. It appears that Loose Cannon still has not produced a detail set.
I painted them in the only camouflage pattern I could find on the net, although Chuch doesn't think his was camouflaged. I used White Ensign Colourcoats.
First up is the LCT Mk 5.
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This is done in Measure 31 Design 7L, and uses Ocean Green, Navy Green, Deck Green and Black. The diagram didn't show the hull below the waterline, so I painted it anitfouling red. Don't know whether that's right or not.
Next is the LCT Mk 6. She is finished in Measure 33 Design12L, using Pale Green, Ocean Green and Deck Green. I used a yellow-colored poster tack to mask for painting.
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Chuck's LCT 812 survived the war, a photo is available on the internet, showing the bow only. She was finally sunk at Bikini, during the atom bomb tests.
Here are all four craft, compared with a nickel for size.
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And a last shot of all four together. Loose Cannon packages them two to a kit.
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One of my favorite stories Chuck tells about himself is when their LCT was strafed by a Japanese plane. Chuck was assigned to the galley, and when the bullets sprayed around, he was sure he was hit--he felt hot liquid flowing down his leg, so he began yelling for the skipper, shouting that he was wounded. The skipper came in, and pointed out that the enemy had hit the coffee pot, and it was coffee rather than blood that Chuck was screeching about.
Later, assigned to a different LCT, that vessel sank, but the crew was rescued. To this day, Chuck says he doesn't know if they hit a mine, or what.
Anyway, great stories from another of the unsung heroes of the WWII generation.