DEATTILIO, CARL - Those are some great pics. Remember the city port wall in that one photo very well. All the walls there had either spikes, broken bottles, wire, or all of that combined mortared onto the top of them. I originally flew into the Mogadishu airport in Dec 92 and stayed up until 94. We were there to secure Mogadishu to Baidoa then out to Merca to Jowhaar.
Really like those pictures of that LVT! Yes, never have seen "nose art" such as that on these or most other vehicles. That would be a very interesting one to build. Wonder if there are any other pic's showing more of the whole vehicle? Going to save those pictures and really think about that one for the future
I was going to be finishing mine as the "A43" LVT on Iwo Jima, Yellow Beach 1. Tried to put a picture up but it did not come out very well. It has what looks like a two tone cammo pattern, olive drab base with a red brown camo. Thats my best guess anyway being it's a black and white photo. Strange, most of these USMC LVT were usually solid olive, solid navy gray, or 3 tone olive, sand, red brown. This one looks like it has a .50 in the right gun shield and a .30 in the left one. Has one .30 on the port quarter and a bunch of fuel cans on the right. Has A43 guessing in yellow (appears to be the same shade as the beach bar) and one yellow bar in the middle of the pontoons.
The more I'm looking and reading this is not a very good kit for a earlier (WWII) vehicle. This kit more represents an early 50's era vehicle. There will be more changing things around or deletion of things then had thought. Here I have removed the tread plate, side mounting ribs and replaced the poor molded grill both on the deck and the engine bulkhead with brass mesh.
First this is it with the ribs and tread plate
with the change
Theres a lot more that has to be deleted in the interior. Additions will be many more grab handles, new ribs, armor plate on crew bulkhead, armor plate over the fuel tanks and some other small stuff. Also have to go back to the pontoons and remove the the step, add the fuel drain plug and add the lifting eyes on top of the armor plate OH and a weld bead down the middle of the plate.
The only thing that has me worried is the co-driver hatch. It should be moved forward and not sure how to do this? It is only to the rear if there is a cab mounted MG and mine will not have the MG.
The hatch should be even with the drivers hatch Don't know if I will be able to do this.
Will let you know how the Friuls work out when they arrive. I expect them any day now.