does anyone know of sources for plans/drawings of various vietnam war era riverine boats, such as monitors, zippo and water spray boats, armored troop carriers, etc?
The new 1/35 plastic LCM’s (Trumpeter and Italeri next) look like a good starting point for the ATC’s, but what about the monitors - it looks like these have a different hull type.
I can’t get to the “Floating Drydock” website to see if they have anything - are they out of business?
Here is a kit in 35th that I believe is no longer in production (but could be wrong)
All of the riverine craft were modified from LCM-6 landing craft. Not sure what would be involved in changing an LCM-3 into an LCM-6. A good reference is the Naval Institute Press publication “US Small Combatants” by Norman Friedman. Chapter 13 is about the Riverine forces and includes photos and drawings of the general arrangement of the ATC, Monitor, and CCB/Monitor. A company called Coastal Forces used to sell plan drawings of several PTs, PBRs, and other small craft. They might have some of these as well.
Dave Henning
Little Rock, AR
Steelnavy board has Floating Drydock site knocked out by Charley. They’re apparently in Florida now and are off line due to weather.
Check out this site. It has three-view drawings of all the different boats used. Great site.
http://www.rivervet.com/boats.htm
As far as the LCM3 to an LCM6, LCM 6 was 6 feet longer in the cargo area. I plan on stretching my LCM3 to a LCM6 by adding about 2 inches.
The below photos (center photo) show an actual LCM6 converted from a LCM3. New 6’ section is still unpainted.
I plan on building a Monitor and ATC(H) out of the stretched Trumpeter LCM3.
You can use google to find BROWNWATERNAVY in vietnam and talk to the guys who crewed them for any detail stuff you might need. There’s all kinds of packs, duffle bags, C-ration cases, magazines (playboy etc.), radio’s (boomboxes too), weapons, helmet’s, flack jackets in 1/35 armor. Most in VP productions catalog. Don’t forgit igloo water cooler, case soda too. To really outfit a river rat boat will be expensive. And yeah, most boats carried stuff like that. Trust me on this. … G.L.
Can’t wait to see some of these take shape. Don’t think I’m quite ready for one of these monsters just yet, but it does give one ideas…
The problem with any attempt to do a conversion is finding a suitable item or method to produce yards of rebar… Even the YTB we had had rebar " Mine fenders and grenade fences… I would like to do a scratch build of a monitor but I have yet to locate a suitable material to replacate rebar…
I’ve heard of using ordinary paper clips as rebar, once you straighten them out. Just an idea you could try and see if it works.
Thanks lemonjello,
I’ll play with some… I was thinking plastic spure scored on a mini lathe or something like that. Ummm I like your idea…
I am planning on buying lots of Plastruct plastic rod, about 0.30 looks right to me.