Greetings all. This has been a long project for me. My intention was to build this boat for my wife’s uncle but unfortunately he passed just as I started building her. He served as a Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class on LCVP Boat 4 of the USS Geneva APA-86 which was a Gilliam Class Attack Transport. This experience on the USS Geneva was one of the most important things in Bob’s life and why I decided to go over the top on this build.
This is the Italeri 1/35 LCVP which is a wonderful kit OOB. I had no problems with assembly. There were some wonderful opportunities to upgrade this build which I couldn’t resist. I used the following after market parts and products to complete this project…
U-Models (Available from Blast Models) resin set which includes hand pumps, machine guns, wheel, rope, etc. I only used the wheel, pumps (manual bilge pumps), and exhaust from this set.
Eduard PE set for the LCVP which provides some terrific upgrades to the look of the hardware.
Academy 1/35 .30 cal machine gun bodies
Aber .30 cal machined gun barrels.
Archer Fine Transfers produced the boat markings. They were amazing and well worth the effort.
Gator Mask provided the lettering for stand.
Paint used was White Ensign Model 5-N Navy Gray which was an exact match to the photos I’ve seen of the real boat and ship.
In my mind every one of these pieces was important to the final outcome of the boat. To top it off I found some Cherry in my wood pile and made a base which I had laser engraved with the name of the boat and most importantly Bob’s name and image.
Here are the photos of the finished build…
(Note to self… invest in some lighting for photos)
Beautiful model and an excellent presentation. The insignia on the baseboard is a particularly nice, and individual, touch.
My father was an assistant boat group commander on board an attack transport (U.S.S. Bollinger, APA 234) in 1945. He told me lots of stories about LCVPs - and helped me with the old Lindberg kit (which actually wasn’t bad for its age - but obviously far outclassed by the Italeri one). And I built a model of the Bollinger (based on the old Revell Randall/Montrose kit) as a Christmas present for him.
Those who are interested in such things, and live within driving distance of Beaufort, North Carolina, might want to visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s boat restoration shop. The guys there are working on the restoration of a genuine LCVP. (At least they were the last time I heard. It would be a good idea to phone ahead before making the trip.)
Thanks for the feedback everyone. That tail shot I took isn’t representative of the actual model. I need to do that one over. Lighting is key!
Jtilley - Thanks for the information on the LCVP build. If I make it back there I’ll be sure to check it out. The D-Day museum in New Orleans also has a restored LCVP on display. They all seem to have their slight differences from boat to boat.
that is an EXCELLENT build and done for the best of reasons. the thing that surprises me is that when we (USS OZBOURN stole a lvcvp it had a black bottom ) the thing is i believe that some of the attack transport captains did want them painted . the ship we appropriated her from was used as a target in a gunnery exercise. the flag then took over the little boat when we went to wespac .
Earlier in this thread I mentioned the restoration of an LCVP at the North Carolina Maritime Museum. That project has now been completed. On March 6, 2009, the boat was handed back to her owner, the First Division Museum of Wheaton, Illinois: http://www.ncmaritimemuseum.org/special%20events/LCVP_lecture.htm .
Weebles, that is a fine effort, and I am sure it is a blessing to the family. It especially touches my heart because some twelve years ago I made a WACO glider for my father who was a glider infantryman in the 101st Airborne.
My father passed away on Jan 10th of this year, and I recently recovered the glider which he apparently dropped at some point. I am currently restoring it and making a mini display diorama depicting it disembarking its crew on a field in southern France. It is heart wrenching! Thanks for sharing your tribute.
