Semper Fi War in the Pacific

Playing a bit of catch up with my rendition of the jeep.....

My last pic post update was the finished engine and some work on the seats.

Onward we go...........

With the engine in place I began working on the rest of the body. I added the roof brackets which turned out to be a bit of bother as they didn't line up as well as I would have liked.

So, I began filling and sanding        carefully

Super glue, sand, file, fine steel wool, Mr. Surfacer,,, and repeat...    the seams should look ok...

Also added some additional wiring here and there....

Laid down a few coats of base color and added some modulation....

Hardly noticable, but I also added a bit of mud on and about the lower areas of the jeep. These will be painted / highlighted much later in the build....

Not sure if I am going to include the trailer at this point.....

Some glosscoating and decals added.......

(the roof rails turned out pretty good actually....)

I tried out the new Italeri acrylic flat,,,,   worked pretty well.     I believe MRC was offering 3 free bottles or your choice of colors for just the shipping costs,,,,  I went for flat black, flat white and the flat overcoat. The paints are ok really.

I finished up (mostly) with the seats too.....

Jumping around a bit,, as I do quite often,,,,  I decided to add a radio,,,  so, I began drilling some wire / cable holes.    Pretty hard to see in these first shots as the light reflects off the pale resin....

Adding some wiring / solder and details.....

I was liking the radio in its "infant" stages......     Then I figured I needed to add some wiring to the interior of the jeep. Reference shots showed this type of configuration.........  some thin solder should do the trick...

I used a dual strip of thin solder....   bend it, glue it, let it dry, move on to the next bend, glue, let dry, and so on....

I also needed some clamps for the wiring,,,,    so I cut some tiny lead foil strips..... glued one side down, let dry, then form over the wires and glued the other side....

Of course, test fit the radio..... 

A bit of painting / detailing of the solder "wiring" and clamps....

And,,,,   satisfied,,   finished off painting and detailing the radio.....

Then placement into the jeep......

Oh,, I forgot to document what a pain in the buttocks the shovel and axe were to get into place and look presentable...   

Anyhow,, sorry for the long post.......    hope you like the pics

As always,, all comments welcome.

Bill

More gray

More sand . Actually its your pictures background color .

Ben- Your Sherman is looking real good!  Looking forward to see your next update. 

Rob- Yeah I have to agree with the guys... your LVT really looks good but the white spots need to be toned down.  A coat or two of Bud light should do the job...

Rob , i thought it was white . Its sand ?

BEN - Looking real good.  Excellent pallet for the markings and weathering

BILL, CARL - Thanks for the input.  I was thinking pretty much the same as you Carl with the color.  Looking through books though the sand color appears that it was very light.  Was giving the color a rest for a while and have been working on the ramp.  Have made but not installed the pulleys for the wire rope and added weld beads to the ramp.

Rob , The white just looks to bright and is going to have to be toned down, imo .  After looking at the pics i think a more gray shade of white would work better . Not to much gray . Later weathering with some shades of  dirty brown might help to represent the effects of wading thru a recently bombarded shore line  and all of the debris .

Glad you approve of the Marine marking .

ww2,,,,,,,,,   very nice,,,,   can't wait to see it grubbed up....   wonderful job!

Pictures as promised:

Rob,,  I think the colors will be fine once you weather and down-tone them.......     my opinion - I like them!

DEATTILIO - Thanks for the links again, much appreciated   The problem of finding real color and pattern has been a problem for me with these LVT's.  My other LVT kits I believe I am going to go with the Navy Gray, something easy.

Alright guys, the LVT now wears the beginning of a 3-tone color scheme.  I'm still not sure so I am once again asking for your honest opinion.  Don't think I've ever had such problems deciding on paint as with this build!  It just looks funny to me but I had went with these colors thinking the weathering will really change how things look.  Painting it all green is still looming in the back of my head.  Only problem with that, I had ordered those decals last night for the "A43 LVT".  Anyway what ya think?

Fantastic!

Andy and Bill , thanks guys . Your comments are much appreciated . I think it took me 3 hrs all togeher . I had to apply one letter at a time and wait until it cured until i put the next one .

Carl,,,   amazing,,,   !          not much more could be said,,,,      simply amazing

Deat,,,  excellent reference material,  thanks!

Carl- you did it!   It looks great!  

deattilo- thanks for the great info about LVTs. This page has been bookmarked so I will find it when I build a LVT one day. 

Finale update on the yelling Marine ?

I made the USMC and the E.G.A. by cutting the letters from data sheets of 1/48 th air craft . The E.G.A. is a "O" ,a small and large "T" and the curve of a "D"..................

I managed to get the tracks on this morning, if I dont get a picture before work tonight I will tomorrow.

Unfortunately there is precious few original color images that would lend credence to any scheme with definitive proof for modelers or decal manufacturers.  The books I have read do not elaborate with any detail on the finish of the LVTs, nor do any of the Iwo Jima veterans I have been privileged to talk to remember details to such as paint colors.  Below are links to several color videos from Critical Past that have LVTs in several scenes.  Given the age of the film and the fading or discoloring it is hard to match colors exactly.  Most of the videos are of 3D AmTrac Battalion, with several of 11TH and only one or two capturing LVTs of 10TH AmTrac Battalion.  The camouflaged vehicles were all painted in theatre, they did not leave the production or rebuild lines with camouflage, leaving us to interpret non-standard patterns and non-standard colors.  10TH AmTrac Battalion may have been three-tone or two-tone, it is very difficult to tell.  Further complicating interpretation could be glare from the sun, glare from still being wet after coming out of the ocean or layers of dirt and dust.  The yellow beach marking should be thin but I would not fret too much about two versus three-tone unless research uncovers more period color photographs.  I will continue to hunt for pictures and literature that helps with a little more definitive evidence for color schemes.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059757_landing-crafts_Mount-Suribachi_PB4Y-aircraft_Landing-Vehicle-Tracked

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059763_United-States-Marines_loading-shells_field-howitzer_gun-emplacement

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059764_United-States-Marines_field-howitzer_dead-Marines_Mount-Suribachi

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059765_military-supplies_Landing-Vehicle-Tracked_milling-about_tanks-unload

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675062148_Battle-of-Iwo-Jima_oil-drum_gear-unloaded_marines-sleeping

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675062153_Battle-of-Iwo-Jima_marines-advancing_Landing-Ship-Tank_Landing-Craft-Infantry

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675062160_Battle-of-Iwo-Jima_United-States-Marines_rocket-trails_bombing-Iwo-Jima-beach

CARL - Man that looks good

DEATTILIO - Thanks again, great info  I finally was able to get the black and white picture I have of "A43" to enlarge and It now reveals (barely) the preceding "10" you have been talking about.  Can just make out the "0" for the 10 in the picture so I will be adding the number 10 somehow.  I'm now starting to wonder if I made my yellow beach bar to wide?  Looking at the Bison decal sheet on line I am also wondering if I had painted the camouflage correctly?  The Bison sheet shows this vehicle having a 3 tone camo.  The black and white photo I'm using looks only like a two tone camo and that is why I had painted the way I did.  Now that the photo is enlarged there is a spot on the aft quarter that looks as if it could be a lighter maybe sand color but not sure?  I had first thought it was from the quality of the photo.  I'm pretty sure that there is no light sand color on the forward section of the vehicle as the picture shows nothing of a light color.  Can not see the top of the vehicle in the picture I have though so am now not sure.  I have spent all day looking for a place to purchase the Bison Decal sheet and have now decided on where I am going to order it.  While waiting for it to arrive I may have to rethink on how to camouflage the vehicle.  Maybe it should be a 3 tone?  Will also have to figure a way too replicate the small number 10.   Always something......

As soon as I came across the Bison decals I snagged several sets for the stash.  There are minor errors in markings and descriptions.  LVT-4 option "G"is a vehicle from 10th Amphibian Tractor Battalion and option "H" is of an LVT(A)-2 from 11th Amphibian Tractor Battalion.  There should be a "10" preceding "A43" and there should be a thin green-beach marking, similar to the yellow one on "A43" below "11B42."  A brief review of LVT units on Iwo Jima:

2D Armored Amphibian Tractor Battalion:
Camouflaged, four companies of LVT(A)4s in support of the four Amphibian Tractor Battalions.

3D Amphibian Tractor Battalion:
Solid green LVT2s, LVT(A)2s and LVT4s from all the film and photographs I have collected and come across.  Landed on Beach Red One and Beach Red Two.  The markings appear to be thick black stripes. Tactical markings would be "3A21," for example.

5TH Amphibian Tractor Battalion:
Solid green LVT2s, LVT(A)2s and LVT4s from all the film and photographs I have collected and come across.  Landed on Beach Blue One and assigned Beach Blue Two.  The markings appear to be thick blue stripes.  Tactical markings would be "5A"  "21," for example.  Most of these tractors also had names painted on such as "Beautiful Queenie."

10TH Amphibian Tractor Battalion:
Camouflaged LVT(A)2s and LVT4s from all the film and photographs I have collected and come across.  Landed on Beach Yellow One and Beach Yellow Two.  The markings appear to be thin yellow stripes.  Tactical markings would be "¹⁰A21," for example.

11TH Amphibian Tractor Battalion:
Camouflaged LVT(A)2s and LVT4s from all the film and photographs I have collected and come across.  Landed on Beach Green One.  The markings appear to be thin green stripes.  Tactical markings would be "11A21," for example.

If more detail and photos are needed I can thumb through my photos and references and provide via scans.  One of the most helpful resources for me so far has been Victor J. Croizat’s Across the Reef.  He was also the Battalion Commander of 10TH Amphibian Tractor Battalion for the assault on Iwo Jima.

Looks great Carl.............

I know what you mean about figs taking time....  [for me], many many hours

I was there and overlooked it ................thanks Rob .(no actually i saw that one but wasnt thinking M4A2 .)

Ok, this is it for the jeep and figure until i get the USMC . Ole grumpy sat his M1 carbine behind the drivers seat b4 he started yelling .

Oh, much better finally.  Thank you Rob!  Worked on my Huey for few hours last night and this morning... it is good to be back. 

ANDY - Thanks buddy.  How are you feeling now?

CARL - Go to the tap US ARMOR - COMPLETE VEHICLE SETS and when that page comes up it will show all the listings.  There are a few USMC sheets in there and are real easy to spot being the USMC stands right out.  The one with the stars and bars is AR35287 "USMC M4A2 Iwo Jima Gun Tanks".

Carl- Glad the AM tracks fit perfectly!!!  It didn't work out for me when I used Modelkasten tracks on old Tamiya Pz IV wheels earlier... took alot of work to make them fit.

Rob- Nice camo work!!!

DEATTILIO - Taken shape indeed  Working in 1/72 is a bit more challenging than my 1/35, thats for sure.  At least these LVT's were large vehicles makings the 1/72 not to bad to work with.  How is your fit of the top deck to the hull?  The one I'm doing is not very good.  The locater taps on the hull I had cut back so that I could line up the top deck correctly.  Even with these cuts it is going to be a little tricky with a lot of glue and tape to hold in place while the glue dries.  I envision that there will be gaps to fill once glued in place. 

CARL - Thats going to be fun to watch you bash these two kits together.  Sounds like things worked out well with the solution.  A little extra work but might come out better than a bought kit

I think the salt technique is a very good one for acrylic paint, have seen some really fine builds using it.  With enamels though, starting to think it is not worth the time for the out come.  It's alright but believe it's better to paint the chips on after the finish is put on with enamels.  In the past I had always painted the chips on with a frayed brush and a very fine tip brush had a much better out come IMO and it was quicker.

I'm still shopping around for decals and am about to make an order.  I got lucky and actually found a decal sheet by Bison for the actual LVT that I am doing, A43.  Did not realize someone actually made decals for this vehicle and I was looking for generic numbers and letters.  Being able to get actual decal sheet is very nice   Trying to find someone that sells both the Bison LVT decal sheet and the Archer USMC E.G.A. decal sheet so that they can be purchased in one order.

Carl Joe- Trust me you will love those dry transfers.  I used them for the first time on my Pz IV earlier.  It even worked great on Zimmerit!  You don't believe me... OK here's proof

Just place the decal where you want it.  It helps if you can use tape to hold it down so it won't be moved when you rub it using sharp pencil. 

The owner told me he will be at AMPS National so I plan to buy sh*t load of his sets.  I promised myself to buy less kits this years but more aftermarkets of course! 

Rob.................. "Archer also has some nice decals for Sherman's if interested. They had a few different sheets, one of them had those stars and bars like in that picture of the dozer in the pacific. "............. Under what catergory did you find it ?

Detail , looking like a good days effort for sure .Thanks for comment

Bill , only thing i'm surprised at the length of time ot ate up .

I am the same way Carl...  once I get into "fig-mode" I do enjoy them...........

Shellback, that is tedious effort on those tracks that is evidently paying-off.  Great patience!

PANZERWAFFE,  the LVT is looking good, really looking forward to seeing the cab and tracks on.  I did the putty-fix on my previous LVT for the bow gap and it was incessantly aggravating in 1/72.  It took a disproportionate amount of time trying to keep the joints sharp without filing or sanding away the edges, my eyes needed resting and my nerves an adult beverage by the time I got to the point I figured it was good enough.

Not bad for a day’s effort, it is finally starting to resemble an LVT, and more importantly I can see it beginning to take the look of "MARDI GRAS."  I plan to do a little more sanding tomorrow and possibly a coat of primer to show the areas of putty that will need more attention.  I have rid the model of most of the exaggerated weld seams but still have several more to sand smooth.