Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Sea => Topic started by: Old Wombat on April 08, 2026, 05:17:02 PM

Title: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 08, 2026, 05:17:02 PM: The Royal Australian Marines, that is! ;)

This is half of the build I'm doing for the Operation Downfall GB over on WIM.

Where I'm at right now;

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-GWXxqwZ/0/NCdpt54gdZFZGnZvMbCcwmGCM85NSNtCj6nZDfrdM/X3/DSCN9515-X3.jpg)

72 of those little PE angle iron strakes. Almost as bad as doing indi-link tracks! ... Almost!
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Buzzbomb on April 09, 2026, 05:29:00 AM: Nice... not seen a lot of these built so very keen.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on April 09, 2026, 08:03:29 AM: Trumpeter or Italieri LCM kit?
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 09, 2026, 05:53:33 PM: Thanks, BT! :smiley:

Quote from: Jeffry Fontaine on April 09, 2026, 08:03:29 AM
Trumpeter or Italieri LCM kit?

Trumpeter.

I've read enough to know it may have some issues BUT it's what I could get at the time & it seems to (thankfully) have less reinforcing angle-iron ridges than the Italeri kit. ;)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 12, 2026, 10:47:06 PM: I think not having touched plastic for six months has messed with my modelling (over-)confidence because, for a relatively simple build, this one is really taking a long time to kick into gear! :-\

And it hasn't been helped by the fact that, realising that this is going to go into a diorama, I need to include a crew - including the coxswain.

So I've been hunting through my figure sets for the parts to smash together into a Franken-cox to go into the pilot house.

I've also been working on mod's to the pilot house & the gun positions.

I hope to get three, maybe four builds done over the next few months ... At this rate I'll be lucky to get this one done! :o :o
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Buzzbomb on April 13, 2026, 05:30:45 AM: Quote from: Old Wombat on April 12, 2026, 10:47:06 PM
And it hasn't been helped by the fact that, realising that this is going to go into a diorama, I need to include a crew - including the coxswain.
So I've been hunting through my figure sets for the parts to smash together into a Franken-cox to go into the pilot house.

I have this set, well most of it, I have used a couple of figures. You are welcome to it if it helps. Although they are dressed for more cooler weather than Japanese summer.

(https://www.kingkit.co.uk/uploads/shop/large/30620P1010015.JPG)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 13, 2026, 11:42:30 PM: Nah, it's fine, mate! I've bodged up a cox'n using bits from various figures from a MiniArt British Jeep Crew Set (35051) & some Aves.

Looking at photo's of WW2 RAN crewmen I discovered that the early iterations of the old No.8 & 8a uniforms were created for service in the Pacific Campaign

(https://www.shrine.org.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Image%204%20-%20RAN%20sailors%20c%201945.jpg)

So far this is the only image of the No. 8s I could find online (a bit earlier than my era)

(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRArW5OmpzMD0RRRKMRyjKPwGvJgY7n45UmQ&s)

However, there's a fair chance the uniforms in the older photo are sand/khaki in colour, rather than blue.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 14, 2026, 01:04:40 AM: This is the uniform I'm basing mine from - except with long trousers.

(https://scontent.fadl6-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/506526275_10232344199741293_3804236445493381574_n.jpg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=e06c5d&_nc_ohc=tsPkKbsZCYoQ7kNvwHS7qNZ&_nc_oc=Adr0MRorqFiVVpDc6Ntb9raMpjyhqp3N7j5fbSkQJtmGeAMCs93a6E7U1GEn01ziA_Q&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fadl6-1.fna&_nc_gid=bazq1TMPyqbjW9a6ukpePw&_nc_ss=7a389&oh=00_Af1oq_12rqar_Z-mG7jSSKi3WaftA9Dqea8uVLLuDVGEzw&oe=69E306E6)
From: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10228428077280679&set=pcb.3698323413771187 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10228428077280679&set=pcb.3698323413771187)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 17, 2026, 12:23:57 AM: Where I'm at;

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-dhkHd8s/0/NJj3QPsjCwJZ4LStkncSqtPhs5NDRGsPMwtvjVBnf/X3/DSCN9517-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-t4wrGFn/0/LFn6LsQ6Rn5WCCFzf6bSrXZBPc88sMW95PvJdfWRH/X3/DSCN9519-X3.jpg)

Actually, I've added some dark brown wash to the wheel since the photo's. so it doesn't look quite as "clean".
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on April 17, 2026, 02:05:56 AM: (https://i.imgur.com/pzraCz7.gif)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 17, 2026, 02:34:41 AM: :D :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Buzzbomb on April 17, 2026, 04:39:13 AM: So tick off the easy bit :smiley:

Looks the business
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 17, 2026, 04:51:50 PM: Thanks, BT! :smiley:

In all honesty, the whole kit part of the build should be the "easy bit", it's the figures & few mod's that are going to be the challenge.

We'll see how it pans out! ;)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Frank3k on April 17, 2026, 10:40:34 PM: That came out great! I love the brass dials.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 17, 2026, 11:20:14 PM: Thanks, Frank! :icon_alabanza:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 19, 2026, 04:59:13 PM: Back onto the build, this gives an idea of where I'll be going with the pilot house & guns;

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-3Ds8QwF/0/LqMdHjQbkSdJShhL8G5WTfPCLRJdr24kWjvn9rMN7/X3/DSCN9520-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-Bw2BVjr/0/LsLPmxrChwcKLKQWBd3fs8GnFFrsG2MNVwmQWK8z7/X3/DSCN9521-X3.jpg)

Full steam ahead & damn the torpedoes! ;D
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 24, 2026, 02:02:51 AM: Movement is happening!

Puttying. Sanding. Repeat. Primer. Some of the first top-coat painting.

Nothing worthy of photo's.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Dr. YoKai on April 25, 2026, 06:55:12 AM: Looks pretty nice so far.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 25, 2026, 02:07:50 PM: Thanks, Doc! :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 28, 2026, 07:36:36 PM: This could be a bit macabre but here we go;

Petty Officer coxswain's head
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-pPv5jc2/0/M8hFwDzb8dw8JL5DVMWFGnT9jSHTWCTk5XG9G3zBW/X3/DSCN9525.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-pPv5jc2/0/M8hFwDzb8dw8JL5DVMWFGnT9jSHTWCTk5XG9G3zBW/X3/DSCN9525.1-X3.jpg)

Leading Seaman gunner's head
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-qtWrchv/0/KpQ6nhg9rGTPBN7tHLnbrBwcMNH48LFqjkVhXFSmC/X3/DSCN9542.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-qtWrchv/0/KpQ6nhg9rGTPBN7tHLnbrBwcMNH48LFqjkVhXFSmC/X3/DSCN9542.1-X3.jpg)

Able Seaman gunner's head
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-p38Xtbw/0/KsfFfVVSndLCjNCwM6TcZBqXgjCSLmJpBWXHD7v9R/X3/DSCN9544.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-p38Xtbw/0/KsfFfVVSndLCjNCwM6TcZBqXgjCSLmJpBWXHD7v9R/X3/DSCN9544.1-X3.jpg)

The first of each image is much larger than the actual figure heads & show far too many painting errors, still I'm not really a figure painter so I can live with it, the second image shows the head at close to real size (on my screen, anyway).

Now, a quick few questions for a quasi-poll;

A) Do I paint the LCM in one colour?
B) Do I paint the LCM in a splinter scheme?
C) Do I paint the LCM in a swirly/wavy scheme?
D) Do I paint the LCM in a blotchy scheme?

If you have an opinion, answer A, B, C, or D ... I will look at the answers in a few days & make my decision (which may/may not reflect the results of the quasi-poll).

Thanks for dropping by! :D :D :D :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on April 28, 2026, 08:51:10 PM: What paint/colour scheme for the LCM? I would have to say that would depend on when and where for the most part.

Keeping it simple would be to just stick with one colour and be done with it. So I suggest A as your option.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Buzzbomb on April 29, 2026, 06:46:41 AM: For one, I like how the heads came up, that style works perfectly well for figures setting a scene for a vehicle.

Colour scheme, really any are appropriate, pending the where and the when, but as I know where and when, the Splinter style B is perhaps more in my taste
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 29, 2026, 03:01:00 PM: Jeff, the when & where is, basically, described in the first post; it's Operation Downfall, so Japan, late-1945 ... Maybe a delayed version in late-1946.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on April 29, 2026, 09:08:46 PM: The Petty Officer cox'n completed;

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-Cz96Dsb/0/LfxMWVJ67Vt7VQ5kJHp6R5gV8WJ3qJMqTstqSJkBR/X3/DSCN9548-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-Cz96Dsb/0/LfxMWVJ67Vt7VQ5kJHp6R5gV8WJ3qJMqTstqSJkBR/X3/DSCN9548-X3.jpg)

2nd image = about life-size (on my screen) or about 4.8cm or 1 ²⁹/₃₂".

The lanyard leads to a pistol (holster) on his right hip.

Amusingly, all this effort & you'll probably only be able to see the top of his head clearly. ::)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 02, 2026, 10:31:46 PM: Well, today has been a step backwards. :icon_crap:

I noticed some depressions behind where I'd glued the exposed "ribs" supporting the tops of the sides of the vehicle hold while I was doing some weathering effects.

Not a big deal, just a quick PSR session to fix them up, bit of masking & a quick re-spray.

Yeah! Right! ::)

PSR went fine. Re-spray was easy ... But the paint, a different jar of the same colour (Medium Sea Grey) used previously was, at least, two shades lighter! :o :o

Looks like I'll have to do a bit more masking & re-spray the rest, again, to get the colour right.

Procreating male offspring of a female canine! :icon_twisted: :icon_twisted: :icon_twisted:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on May 03, 2026, 02:56:41 AM: I’m particularly liking the severed heads - although I now realise they are for the crew and not to adorn the side plating. Moving on…

My vote goes to the splinter paint scheme. :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 03, 2026, 06:04:06 AM: Gaaaah.. batch difference in colour.. that does suck. should not happen, but does.

Sounds like close to some more boat pix :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 03, 2026, 11:06:05 AM: Quote from: Claymore on May 03, 2026, 02:56:41 AM
I’m particularly liking the severed heads - although I now realise they are for the crew and not to adorn the side plating. Moving on…

You, my friend, have given me a very good idea for a post-apocalyptic version of the LCM ... I may need to buy another! :D :o :-\
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 07, 2026, 12:03:34 AM: Moving not-quite-slowly & steadily forward. 1st camo colour is on! :D

Now modifying the masking for camo colour #2.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 08, 2026, 05:51:19 PM: Camo is done - needs a few touch-ups, though.

Here's a teaser;

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-LGhr4r3/0/K7NNzxjFmJndCt8ctbKvDWbkCTmJxMRLGLrK3CW2S/X3/DSCN9549-X3.jpg)

PS: Every colour on there is "grey". ;)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on May 10, 2026, 02:17:48 AM: More, more my good man, more I say! >:( :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 11, 2026, 12:59:24 AM: Oh-kay, if I have to. ;)

Added a bit more DSG. Looks better now.

Still a bit of touching up to do, though.

A couple more teasers, just for Claymore:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-Cq2pwmb/0/LXQzkxtbmr25sQh9v4tTb7DtjQZLz7C2Bgxj7cVf3/X3/DSCN9550-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-dqQJQKK/0/LJFGt2h3pQL6NBNH2jwqpMzZZntsrf8vxvhNCjP5d/X3/DSCN9551-X3.jpg)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 12, 2026, 10:16:20 AM: I've glued the PO Cox'n into the wheelhouse, so that sub-assembly is sitting to one side while the glue dries/sets.

I used thin CA to get a quick fix & have added a big dollop of Clear Gorilla Glue to form a more permanent bond.

Next will be fitting the hold into the hull.

Proper movement! :-\ :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on May 13, 2026, 10:19:19 PM: Thanks mate and things are looking great - although I can’t quite make out yet where the 15” turrets are going to go… :-\
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 13, 2026, 10:26:55 PM: Quote from: Claymore on May 13, 2026, 10:19:19 PM
Thanks mate and things are looking great - although I can’t quite make out yet where the 15” turrets are going to go… :-\

They'll be mounted one twin turret astern of the wheel house & one twin turret at each corner of the cargo hold in a quasi-pseudo-Dreadnought lay-out, as I can't get one with a clear arc of fire from within the cargo hold. :smiley: ;)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on May 13, 2026, 11:14:06 PM: Perfect! ;D
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 14, 2026, 11:31:56 AM: OK, that was fun ... :-\

Two days to get the cargo hold in! It sat perfectly when dry fitting it but the moment glue was involved ... Nope, not on your Nelly! :o

I had to clamp everything down in at least 2 dimensions & even cut away some of the styrene support under the partially glued-in hold! :icon_twisted:

Ended up with a few more paint touch-ups to do & there are a couple of minor spots that will just have to become part of the weathering. ::)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 14, 2026, 12:42:37 PM: But... its done. :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 14, 2026, 02:01:18 PM: That bit. Yes. :smiley:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: apophenia on May 15, 2026, 02:51:16 AM: Quote from: Old Wombat on May 14, 2026, 02:01:18 PM
That bit. Yes. :smiley:

And it was a 'win' (since no 4-dimensional clamping was required) ;D
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 15, 2026, 06:19:58 PM: Time for a pictorial update, methinks! :smiley:

Gun emplacement armour plate is fixed under the deck with sprue-goo (still drying), & the deck is only dry-fitted until I get the gun mounts fitted, then I can glue that in place.

Enjoy! ;)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-7Qj4gV4/0/LPCkm6ZBt5db4B2b2ZWxNHstNDkZtCtpH5zfP54HQ/X3/DSCN9555-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-DktWJsh/0/NNCK5ThVmFFHxHjTtfBXJhX2hCHsH2ffjtB9czN7B/X3/DSCN9554-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-LdDk96P/0/NV33CxrHbMLVj42gG46w9SmJHtrRkCxr2LjJt8S96/X3/DSCN9552-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-LJMxNHm/0/NTBHWppgNLv38ktbRcTNsFStM42RfsMLR57npBqsq/X3/DSCN9553-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-jH9RnRB/0/MCFsgnR5zJCrZpg8pFZrcWMztgxb5fSLZpzKxJzhf/X3/DSCN9558-X3.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-PdqtDdf/0/Mz58Hr8m568v8wRK7b2KJDMmrz7pgXXQV8XfwJFZn/X3/DSCN9557-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-fzjBnXC/0/Nbh5GsddhtRPws7sr6q3L6svPPMs4KzgXzRDHzMQf/X3/DSCN9559-X3.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-rcv9KtX/0/M5pXSvcGPm9Qq24p7BgJWmNfBXJZhszZwFk53D5xP/X3/DSCN9560-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-cpPbzQc/0/MJ26QCQD8W8rcp26Z2HjjP4JcHcrmXkJ3ZSjdxg6n/X3/DSCN9561-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-bVGnGzs/0/NcKFxJJnxRg7w6phdDRPf6nrXpq2GfC8Pn6sRHkKR/X3/DSCN9556-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-KMcp334/0/MWr7J53HTCJ4htgMjs9JTWKc2j9Nhj6rZQ3zKBKNC/X3/DSCN9566-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-M6ZzwJn/0/M3wzbgHjD6GqJv9MTpzH3kb3wJcQ3jznCmGJKqs2P/X3/DSCN9562-X3.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/RAN-LCM3-Landing-Craft/i-f3qrB8g/0/LdDZjpdJXd67WLtBg7cDnfQqXgP2RmJwBjX5r8DGF/X3/DSCN9567-X3.jpg)

Hopefully that wasn't too exhausting! :))
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Frank3k on May 15, 2026, 10:51:18 PM: That looks great! The paint job and masking is outstanding.
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 15, 2026, 11:03:05 PM: Thanks, Frank! :icon_alabanza:
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on May 17, 2026, 02:07:22 AM: Great work and the coxswain’s position, in particular, is excellent - although you would have to be barking mad to stand there with nothing more than a few mm of steel between you and the entire German Army!
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Old Wombat on May 17, 2026, 12:16:17 PM: Quote from: Claymore on May 17, 2026, 02:07:22 AM
Great work and the coxswain’s position, in particular, is excellent - although you would have to be barking mad to stand there with nothing more than a few mm of steel between you and the entire German Army!

Thanks, mate! :icon_alabanza:

But this guy's facing off against the entire Japanese Army during Operation Downfall (it's for a GB over on WIM) with only a few mm of steel for protection - at least I've given him some overhead cover, too. ;)
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Claymore on May 17, 2026, 04:22:49 PM: Of course, Japan, what an eejit… :-[
Title: Re: Here Come the Marines! (Part 1)
Post by: Kerick on May 17, 2026, 04:43:33 PM: Quote from: Old Wombat on April 13, 2026, 11:42:30 PM
Nah, it's fine, mate! I've bodged up a cox'n using bits from various figures from a MiniArt British Jeep Crew Set (35051) & some Aves.

Looking at photo's of WW2 RAN crewmen I discovered that the early iterations of the old No.8 & 8a uniforms were created for service in the Pacific Campaign

(https://www.shrine.org.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Image%204%20-%20RAN%20sailors%20c%201945.jpg)

So far this is the only image of the No. 8s I could find online (a bit earlier than my era)

Remember McHalles Navy TV show? Check the back row center bald guy. It’s Tim Conway!

(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158086760716336)