One more link-this one is from 1967 and has drawings and dimensions of the different boats, including the Riverine craft. Wish I had this 30 years ago!
Dhenning> Thanks for the link to the drawings. I think that if I can’t scratch-build a model, I may try a 3d model. As to the reinforcing bars, from the photos in the link I provided they look about 1" rebar.
Out of curiosity I checked on what was available and came across some basic models.
https://www.stlfinder.com/3dmodels/vietnam-in-hd-episode-1
Gary
Tankereasy I built this PBR about 5 years ago it’s cleaned up a bit now I have a proper crew with her and thanks to Tanker Builder and his insight I was able to improve the diorama alot more than compared to the photos in the thread. Also it got 3rd in surface ships at the IPMS Roscoe Turner in Indianapolis 4 years ago again I give the thanks to that to Tanker Builder and his suggestions. http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/156055.aspx?page=2
Some really good info here! I am missing one thing, and even with google and youtube I cant seem to find any resources for it, but I need photos of the captains area on the PBR so I know what colors to use, if anyone has a link or pictures for that it would be much appreciated! I’m currently building tamiyas Pibber.
Here’s one.
By the way, everything was pretty much GREEN! (along with some purple and pink on this rebuilt one.)
Nino
In 1/72, PE would be just fine. At least at a guess.
The bar armor was 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/8 angle stock (20 x 20 x 3mm) with 5/8" (16mm) reinforcing bar, which was stood off 12" or 18" (30 or 45cm) off the hull.
Now, at 1/35, you are right at where the “upset” (the raised texture) on the bar would “show”–this is what was frustrating in my ancient attempts.
That 20mm angle iron is about 0.6mm at 1/35; at 1/72 only 0.2mm.
This is a bit of a rarefied market, so, there’s not much to get that’s explicit to the topic.
Riverine used gear in an ad hoc way. If you were doing a “school” setting at Dam Neck or Little Creek, it would be all straight-up Marine-style gear. For “in country” it’s a mix of gear, Army suspenders and Marine belts, mis-matched ammo pouches and the like.
Crew gear will be M-1 helmets, typically without cloth covers, they will have either M-56 or M-61 flack vests near their stations (or donned if in contact).
There will not be a lot of packs, bedrolls or the like as those will be stowed below (even on a PBR). Items sstowed in the open are going to be things like coolers, mermite cans, round water cans/coolers and the like. Those will all be lashed down securely. Ammo, fuel, and water cans will also all be lashed securely. Doubly so in PBR, as they could do a 180º in just 110% of their length, at speed.
Camo nets were a random sort of thing, if aboard, they were neatly stowed.
Hope that helps
Oh My ;
I took my old boat after a flip off a shelf and converted it to a Newfoundland mail Boat . the thing looked like a modifird Lobsterman . I had sliding side windows , mail - sorting rack ( with mail in it )and a lower cabin nap and relief area .
I used figures from Monogram’s Patton M-48 A-1 heavily modified into Sea -Going civilians . It lived through seven moves and two different Live -Aboard boats and then died after settling in Texas .
I still have the hull somewhere . it’s a great model for modifying and so is the Swift Boat . Swift Style boats have been used for years as small and large crew transport boats to the closer offshore Oil Rigs . Also as Tanker Ship Crew taxis .
The Monogram kits were an open door for any Mod you wanted to do to them .
My “peeve”, being now a CRC (Certified Rivet Counter), is models that have an array of weapons “laying around”.
Bill CRC
Somethings are just beyond doing. Another term would be “deformed”.
Cleaning the model room and I came across the February 1992 issue of ‘Scale Modeler’ magazine (formerly known as The Worlds Largest Modeling Magazine). Volume 27, Number 2. Now out of business – check the library
In it is an article by Duane Pfister describing his build of a 1:48 scale ATC(H), scratchbuilt using sheet styrene and styrene stock. Also included is a set of dimensioned 1:48 scale plans (2-view). Yes, it is based on an LCM-8 hull, not an LCM-6
More modern materials and techniques may make the process less painful. Although carving the hull out of Ren-shape or MDF is still akin to my previous recommendation of starting with a block and carving away anything which doesn’t look like an ATC or Tango boat
Good man! Every soldier knows you don’t leave your weapon lying around out of arms reach. That is drilled into you head early on in training. Unattended weapons tend to grow legs and disappear.
Even a pintle mounted crew served weapon will have one guy sitting around guarding it.
5/8" rebar? That’s good to know.
It’s the checkered plates that might also be difficult to replicate. Does anybody make a sheet of that?
Gary
Tread plate is made in styrene by either Plastruct or Evergreen. There is also brass tread plate out there. And textured decals by Archer for application to smooth surfaces.
Ed - I have to respectfully diagree. I have even seen scans of the original modification drawings for the Tango boat and they all say time and time again the base is an LCM-6. Then again, a modelling article is not really a historical information. Can you point to some other source that says a Tango boat is based on an LCM-8?
Thanks in advance and have a nice day
Paweł
The diamond tread plates are only on the upper surfaces. Generally.
The hull “compartments” (and the pilothouse roof, if memory serves) are smooth plate.
The “no loose waepons” thing is complicated in VN. You might be stationary in a position that could be “in contact” with little warning. But, in the rainy season, stuff gets covered up often. Which is why MGs are so often under covers
Ill try and get pics uploaded tongiht of the PBR Mk II im working on. Does anyone know of the best place to pick up a marine stowage set that would look go well with the boat?
Hi;
You can find the Diamond Plate at Hobby Lobby , it’s in the model railroad sccenery section .
gary ;
In my experience ( remember I was there ) , most of the early ones were based on LCM-6 Boats . Now maybe the late ones that I didn’t see were 8s but I kinda don’t think so .Remember there are folks that see what they have been talking about only to find they are incorrect !
Hi, that reminds me of a quote a freind of mine was fond of. I think it was something along the lines of “If I didn’t believe it, I wouldn’t have seen it”.