LCI model - any available??

You're right as always, Al. 

If I remember correctly, Lindberg got the designation right in the original issue - and screwed it up on at least one of the later ones.  My recollection - highly unreliable as always - is that it wasn't a bad kit, though, of course, pretty basic.  I remember being utterly wowed by the little Pershing tank that came with it.

jtilley wrote:

...LSM (reconfigured version of the LCT)...,

Slip of the finger, John?  I'll bet you meant LSU.

Al Ross

One other thing to consider is size - if your neighbor hasn't tackled a resin/PE ship kit before, got for the larger scale. I build in 1/700 because of space considerations, but it can be devilishly hard at first and the learning curve can be quite steep (I say this as I am looking at my first 1/700 Victory ship from three years ago).

Skywave, in the days before the name Pitroad came into being, sold a small set of 1/700 American and British landing craft.  I'm fairly (but not absolutely) certain one of them was an LCI.

Many years ago, as Ed mentioned, Lindberg made a fairly large plastic LCI kit.  It was about a foot long and came with a little Mabuchi motor.  I haven't seen that kit in a mighty long time - and I would have no idea where to find one.  But I'm quite certain I remember building that one when I was a little kid.  I think Ed's right:  it was extremely basic to say the least.  But the company deserves credit for covering the American amphibious fleet more comprehensively than any other mainstream plastic kit company ever did.  If memory serves, Lindberg had an LST, LSD, LSM (reconfigured version of the LCT), and LCVP.  That's a bigger list of amphibious types than any other mainstream firm could boast - or can now.

The book 'Mighty Midgets at War' addresses primarily the Landing Craft Support-Large [LCS-L(3)].  Their external apperance is very similar to LCIs,  being built on the same hull form.   The are up-armed from the standard LCI.

LCS-L(3)  were used in an invasion beach prep role, mostly in the Pacific.  They would close the beach,  fire their rockets, then turn to parallel the beach & engage targets of opportunity with their 3-inch and/or 40mm guns.  

During Okinawa they were deployed with destroyers on the radar  picket stations in an anti-kamikaze role.   They were under the control of the destroyer and were to provide additional gun tubes on the target.  Richard McCool, CO of LCS-122 was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on the Okinawa picket stations.

Iron Shipwright also makes a model of the LCS-L(3) in 1:350 scale.   Loose Cannon makes one in 1:700 scale.

I picked up a book at a half price sale last month at Hastings Called "Mighty Midgets at war" (can't, remember exactly, I'm here, the book is at home!). It is a pretty comprehensive book about the LSI and the different versions. It includes some pretty good line drawings and is full of BW pics. I'll bring it with me my next trip here and post some more about it. Its gotten me interested in LCIs and I was thinking about having to totally scratching one.

Does anyone know if Lindberg has released their LSD kit yet ??

saddle tramp wrote:

My neighbor and his brother asked if there was an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) model kit available.  The large LHS could not find one.  If one exists, the answer, hopefully, will come from this post. Thanks in advance for any info.  Bill

http://www.commanderseries.com/ships_350.html

Iron Shipwright makes several in 1:350 scale.   This is my square-bridge variant

and review http://www.commanderseries.com/pages/LCI230.htm

ISW also makes a round-bridge version

They are good resin ship learner kits as they are not all that expensive and include PE which is often an aftermarket purchase.

Loose Cannon makes several version in 1:700 scale

http://home.earthlink.net/~loosecannonproductions/index-amphib.html

They are half the size of the ISW kits -- here is a photo for comparison

The Loose Cannon LCS kits do not include photoetch details and are waterline only.

Lindberg used to make a box-scale LCI.  It is out of production, but may be reissued by the new Lindberg (haven't seen it in their new catalog).  You may find it on eBay.   Not as good or accurate as either of these two.