Author Topic: 1/35 Riverine Assault Craft (Read 42565 times)

jcf · « **Reply #50 on:** February 14, 2015, 01:22:08 AM »

Quote from: LemonJello on February 13, 2015, 09:30:57 PM

Not to derail my own topic, but I was pondering future builds on my morning dog walk - instead of getting another Elco, I'm thinking of acquiring one of the 1/144 scale LCAC kits from Trumpeter and scaling it up to a 1/35 armed hovercraft. This one would have the remote weapon stations and VLS cells. It could be an escort for the big LCACs as they land the heavy equipment or transit still contested waters from ship to shore.

Nice idea, problem is the 1/144 LCAC is weensy. Here it is with a, long delayed

, 1/35 M3A3 with Vulcan project.

One of the biggest problems is that the skirt, vinyl moulded in the 'inflated' state, is only about half an inch deep
which means only about 17.5 inches deep 'in scale', really too low.

LemonJello · « **Reply #51 on:** February 14, 2015, 04:10:58 AM »

Wow, thanks for those pics of the 1/144 LCAC. That's a lot smaller than I had it in my head. it would make a neat little hovercraft, but it definitely wouldn't be the size I was thinking. I think you could go with a single M151 (or similar remote station) and a VLS cell of small, short range missiles.

Guess I'll have to see if I can find a steal on eBay for a 1/72 one. Though the 1/144 offering may be a better testbed. Decisions, decisions.

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #52 on:** February 14, 2015, 05:22:14 AM »

Quote from: LemonJello on February 14, 2015, 04:10:58 AM

Wow, thanks for those pics of the 1/144 LCAC. That's a lot smaller than I had it in my head. it would make a neat little hovercraft, but it definitely wouldn't be the size I was thinking. I think you could go with a single M151 (or similar remote station) and a VLS cell of small, short range missiles.

Guess I'll have to see if I can find a steal on eBay for a 1/72 one. Though the 1/144 offering may be a better testbed. Decisions, decisions.

The Trumpeter 1:144th scale LCAC in JMSDF markings (kit number 106) is still the cheapest of the two versions available at Sprue Brothers. Just have to make a large enough purchase to benefit on the low price and free shipping. MSRP: $38.00/Sale Price: $21.49.

Kerick · « **Reply #53 on:** February 14, 2015, 05:57:00 AM »

IIRC someone made a model of a hovercraft of some sort by making the inflated skirts out of epoxie putty. There is AVES epoxie sculpt or the stuf you can buy at the hardware store.

ChernayaAkula · « **Reply #54 on:** February 14, 2015, 08:42:49 AM »

Quote from: jcf on February 14, 2015, 01:22:08 AM

<...> <...>

Oh yeah!

LemonJello · « **Reply #55 on:** February 17, 2015, 09:18:19 AM »

A combination of cold temps at LemonJello Electric Boat Division, a 1:1 scale closet renovation and a flu-ridden CinC Home have put a temporary halt to physical work on this project, but I am still working through options and details in my head.

Hope to have some progress photos soon to share.

jcf · « **Reply #56 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:17:14 PM »

Quote from: ChernayaAkula on February 14, 2015, 08:42:49 AM

Quote from: jcf on February 14, 2015, 01:22:08 AM
<...> <...>

Oh yeah!

Calm down Moritz, it aint' happening, the LCAC hull is simply too small.

LemonJello · « **Reply #57 on:** February 23, 2015, 08:57:34 AM »

Update: progress has been made.

Aft superstructure/turret:

Hatch to forward superstructure:

Both structures in place (minus roof on forward area):

Where the project stands so far:

finsrin · « **Reply #58 on:** February 23, 2015, 11:17:08 AM »

Am on a week road trip. That posting gives me serious model bench withdrawl symptoms. Can compensate by shopping Ebay.
If therez anything that should be changed, I don't see it :)
Waiting for next update.

Kerick · « **Reply #59 on:** February 23, 2015, 12:58:46 PM »

Looking great!

LemonJello · « **Reply #60 on:** February 25, 2015, 05:45:09 AM »

Update: Mast and sensors

Comments and suggestions welcome.

finsrin · « **Reply #61 on:** February 25, 2015, 07:51:26 AM »

Mast and sensors: Right on !
Like to mimic in 1/72 builds.

Frank3k · « **Reply #62 on:** February 25, 2015, 08:20:48 AM »

It's looking really good. The sensor box looks realistic and I like the AN/COKETOP low profile helical search/nav radar.

Kerick · « **Reply #63 on:** February 25, 2015, 08:46:49 AM »

Looks great! Nice bottle cap radar!

LemonJello · « **Reply #64 on:** February 25, 2015, 10:14:12 AM »

One last photo for tonight:

I've mocked up the hatch, ventilator, SATCOM and FBCB2/Blue Force Tracker antenna. I'll be adding several VHF whip antenna as well.

Frank3k · « **Reply #65 on:** February 25, 2015, 12:52:32 PM »

Nice job on the rails and hatch handles. Did you bend them using a tool or are they from a kit?

Buzzbomb · « **Reply #66 on:** February 25, 2015, 01:18:59 PM »

Very, very slick

LemonJello · « **Reply #67 on:** February 25, 2015, 08:54:16 PM »

Quote from: Frank3k on February 25, 2015, 12:52:32 PM

Nice job on the rails and hatch handles. Did you bend them using a tool or are they from a kit?

Frank, no special tool, just a pair of needle-nose pliers and some K&H wire I picked up a long time ago.

LemonJello · « **Reply #68 on:** February 26, 2015, 10:46:13 AM »

I didn't accomplish much of anything tonight, except to second guess adding another weapon system - so I put it to this august assemblage:

Option 1: two individual fixed position box launchers at the stern, each pointed off the center axis and slightly above the horizontal - but not in the line of fire from the aft turret.

Or,

Option 2: a four cell vertical launch box in the bow- my concern here is keeping the 25mm clear of the launchers if the gun is center/forward.

I'm thinking of NLOS-type missiles to give this boat a little more punch in the harbor/shipping interdiction role.

What do you think? Too much?

jcf · « **Reply #69 on:** February 26, 2015, 11:27:51 AM »

Mmmm, well making real world design observations here.
Yes, overkill, as those turrets are already pushing the carrying ability of the hull and the raised mounting position
of the aft one is a metacentric height horror-show waiting to happen in anything besides a still mill pond.

As to a vertical launch system in the bows, I guess you're talking some small missiles as you really don't have much
'real world' space between the keel and deck. On the 80' Elco the deepest point forward, measured from the baseline
which was 6" beneath the keel, was 130", so for your half-size vessel it's 65", from baseline, 59" actual and that's an
outside moulded dimension, by the time you factor in structure and sheer you'd be lucky to get 48" vertical space
at the deepest point ... but that is at the centreline, you quickly lose room as you move out.

Take the dimensions on the following and halve them for your boat.

Kerick · « **Reply #70 on:** February 26, 2015, 09:41:48 PM »

I have to agree. I just don't see the space for what you mentioned. Maybe a pintle mount for an M-240 amidships for close in defence but that's about it. Its looking awesome the way it is.

LemonJello · « **Reply #71 on:** February 26, 2015, 10:26:17 PM »

Thanks, gents, for the input and reference info. I had to push the good idea fairy off my shoulder so she'd stop whispering in my ear. I'll leave the missiles for a future project (maybe the 1/35 Elco?).

With that decided, I just have to close up a couple of holes in the deck and she'll be ready to go into the paint barn.

Kerick · « **Reply #72 on:** February 27, 2015, 01:37:43 AM »

I think you are on a great path here. Lots of small details will make it pop.

Antonio Sobral · « **Reply #73 on:** February 27, 2015, 05:51:33 PM »

Great project!

Following closely to gather some inspiration

LemonJello · « **Reply #74 on:** March 01, 2015, 02:26:52 AM »

The weather decks have had non-skid applied prior to final assembly, so it's time to turn our attention to the hull. Should I go with water jet(s) or ducted propellers? I think I can make a decent representation of either, but which would be more appropriate to a fast, heavily armed strike vessel such as this?


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Author Topic: 1/35 Riverine Assault Craft (Read 42565 times)