Landing Craft Mechcanized

[digger303]

I'll have a crack and this is a heavy lifter although perhaps not the first to come to mind.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I think that is just fine as a topic
They Certainly helped lift us out of WWII on D Day

[Stokesy44]

Yes Oh yes!

[digger303]

I think that is just fine as a topic
They Certainly helped lift us out of WWII on D Day

D day would not have succeeded without them. Between the Dukws, Lcvt, Lcm's and Landing ships they got so much material on the beaches so fast that German high command couldn't match them and the paratroops landing only over the country side slowed them down.

[digger303]

All the bits and pieces. Not a lot really , just a big subject size. They weren't that complicated, but had a huge impact on the way the war was conducted.

Wheel house under construction an already with a pic I can see a nub not yet removed.

The loading ramp inspired to be added into the design, by the Japanese craft. Such a simple addition improved there effectiveness hugely.
I had a little trouble with this and I've shown on the instructions there is a locating channel on the underside which isn't located correctly. It needs either total removal of the smaller tab or get your sharp scalpel as I did. Promptly stabbed myself and slim the internal channel removing about half. A quick light file up of all edges and it fits like a dream.

The second small issue with the ramp is you have to cement in 4 thin rods to complete the ramp floor. A bugger to clean up, but the plastic is resilient and it can be done. However the attachment holes are very big and careful placement is a necessity and probably will need a bit of filler.

[digger303]

Still having some issues with the landing ramp area. The Hull corner I thought was malformed so I went about trying to pull it back into shape. I weaken the inside and applied a generous amount of tet repeatedly.


I had a some success , but alas I think one side of the deck is just too short. As unlikely as that sounds.

You can see the decking won't cover the hull this after I filed 0.2mm off it trying to get it to match up. What I will do is add some sprue glue and shape it up enough to make it less noticeable. The rear hull is matched up pretty well.

[digger303]

Time for a little history.
Landing craft Variants
There was no single design of LCM used, unlike the landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) or landing craft assault (LCA) landing craft made by the US and UK respectively. There were several different designs built by the UK and US and by different manufacturers.
The British motor landing craft was conceived and tested in the 1920s and was used from 1924 in exercises. It was the first purpose built tank landing craft. It was the progenitor of all subsequent LCM designs.

This is how the USA version came to be....

The story of the LCM’s development is a quintessential Higgins story. During an April 1941 trip to Washington, DC Andrew Higgins saw a Bureau of Ships plan for a tank lighter, a large, ramped landing craft capable of landing a tank. Returning home, Higgins had his engineering department try their hand at a version of the vessel. The design was refined several times before it seemed promising. In late May, Higgins was asked to develop just such a vessel. The design was to be shown to a mixed board of representatives from the US Navy and Marine Corps. Higgins was notified that the group would be visiting New Orleans to examine his ramped bow landing craft (LCVP) and would be looking for an initial design for a tank lighter. In his book, Andrew Jackson Higgins and the Boats That Won World War II, Jerry Strahan recalled Higgins’ response to the request: “Higgins informed the board that when it arrived, instead of plans he would have a workable craft. ‘It can’t be done,” the navy replied. ‘The hell it can’t,’ Higgins shouted back, ‘you just be here in three days.’”

Higgins’ team got to work at their factory on Saint Charles Avenue. Taking an existing towboat hull, the team pulled it into the side street (Felicity Street), blocking the street off to work. As builders got to work cutting down the existing hull, another team was locked in an office by Higgins and told they could leave only when they had worked out a solution for a ramp. The ramp design on the LCVP would not work, but within just half a day a solution was found and ready to implement. When the board arrived three days later, a 45 foot tank lighter was ready for their inspection. Higgins’ team had completed the vessel, including design and construction, in 61 hours. The board tested the boat, and promptly placed an order for 50 of Higgins’ design. Designated the Landing Craft Mechanized, this “big and clunky older brother to the LCVP” was an all-steel design, unlike the wooden LCVP. With two engines, the LCM was capable of making 130 mile trips and could carry one 30 ton tank or 60 men fully loaded with gear. A heavy steel ramp allowed tanks to exit directly onto a beach. The design was modified during the war, with the boats getting larger to fit the changing needs of the US Army and Marine Corps.

There were 2 designs of the LCM 3.
The Bureau
Capable of carrying 120,000 lb (54,000 kg) of cargo
However my build is known as a Higgins boat.....if I've got it right.

The LCM 3 is developed in two different versions: cargo and troop transport. Its tactical role is to increase the firepower of a landed force. Indeed, the LCM 3 (Higgins )is capable of embarking and disembarking a 30-ton tank, which can subsequently support the infantry as close as possible during an amphibious assault.

Capable of reaching the 10 knots, it can also carry, in place of a tank, 60 equipped soldiers, almost double of a LCVP.
Landing Craft Mechanized 3 (LCM) specification

Creator/User: United States of America
Denomination: LCM 3

Crew: 4 (1 coxwain, 1 engineer, 2 crew members)
Propulsion: 2 Diesel engines, 110-225 hp
Transport capacity: one 30-ton tank or 60 equipped soldiers

Speed (loaded): 8 knots
Speed (empty): 11 knots
Length: 15,25 m
Weight: 25,000 kg

One last bit of interest...

As 1,500 “Higgins Boats” made their way to French shores on June 6, hundreds of LCMs were among them. Also known as “Mike” boats, for the alpha-numeric code for M, many hundreds, if not, thousands of American troops splashed down on the beaches in an LCM. Operating in units called flotillas, the LCMs mostly made the crossing on their own power; few were towed or transported aboard troop transports. If the crossing was rough on a troop transport, it was miserable in the open, low LCMs. As H-Hour neared, they pulled alongside troop transports, picking up men to ferry them ashore.......

[DBMiller]

If carrying a tank into battle isn't a "heavy lifter" I don't know what is! Good choice.

[digger303]

If carrying a tank into battle isn't a "heavy lifter" I don't know what is! Good choice.

Thank you

[RangerNeil]

If carrying a tank into battle isn't a "heavy lifter" I don't know what is! Good choice.

Agreed. Next size up if memory serves is the LST (and with all the floaty builds in this years groups it would be nice if someone had a stab there too.. AFV club do (did?) a nice 1/350 version. )

[Stokesy44]

If carrying a tank into battle isn't a "heavy lifter" I don't know what is! Good choice.

Thank you

Not a particularly nice ride in choppy seas. I read a quote from a US soldier on his way into the beach on D-Day as saying, "That guy Higgins has got nothing to be proud of inventing this damn boat!"

[Stokesy44]

Enjoyed the data dump with all the background info

[digger303]

If carrying a tank into battle isn't a "heavy lifter" I don't know what is! Good choice.

Thank you

Not a particularly nice ride in choppy seas. I read a quote from a US soldier on his way into the beach on D-Day as saying, "That guy Higgins has got nothing to be proud of inventing this damn boat!"

Higgins fortunes rose and fell with the war. He was tremendously successful during the conflict, but after the war eventually he lost it all.

[BigWall]

Very cool subject. I look forward to watching the build!

[Casper]

I have learned something today thanks for the interesting History on these "heavy lifters" digger
"54,000 kg of cargo" wow!

[digger303]

Not a lot to say atm the hull and deck needs smoothing off for a flush fit. I need to add all the bits and bobs and try to give it a bit more character the kit sides are just big slabs of flat plastic.


This kit I'm led to believe isn't that accurate dimensionally, but has really nice plastic machine guns and the propeller is wrong . It has a 4 blade when a 3 is correct. Apparently the Italeri kit is bang on and if you were to kit bash the 2 it would be right as could be.

[Stokesy44]

Oh no, the prop blade count is wrong. Bin the whole kit goddammit!!!! #happycountingrivets

I cant even look at it now

For anyone with an interest in D-Day that shape is iconic. Great subject to pick Sir.

[digger303]

Oh no, the prop blade count is wrong. Bin the whole kit goddammit!!!! #happycountingrivets

I cant even look at it now

For anyone with an interest in D-Day that shape is iconic. Great subject to pick Sir.

I didn't say I hated it, just that Trumpeter got it wrong by a big margin in the height of the sides and the width. Kind of changes the look and impression of the subject to a degree. As for the prop nobody would even notice that. But I thought I should pass on the info.
I just hope a Sherman will actually fit into the cargo area, because they were a pretty tight fit I think. I'll haven't built a Sherman before so I don't have one on hand to do a quick check. I have a old tooled Tamiya Jackson built and that won't fit.

[digger303]

Now I have a real world issue here.
The side supports appear to be floating above the deck. That is a easy fix mostly just triming the ribs underneath and it will drop down.

However this one is going to take some more time to solve.

The Hull width is a bit narrow causing the cargo tray to not sit right and squeeze in making the wall decidedly less than perpendicular.
I'll work on it

[digger303]

Small quick update. I've added some bracing in order to bring the deck up level and hopefully with some material removed from under the cargo area everything will come together. I've got to wait for the sprue goo to set first. I decided to go with that instead of CA was because I didn't have any of the thick type. While it won't stick to the abs plastic it will create a socket where the abs piping won't be able to escape from.

[digger303]

Another step achieved although I ve had to use all my large clamps to get the cargo space installed. The ramp was no prob.

[digger303]

Well the cargo space and hull finally mated together and I decided to try something new.

[RangerNeil]

Looking good - that side detailing sets it off nicely!!

[digger303]

Looking good - that side detailing sets it off nicely!!

Lets hope I don't cock it up. I've never done this before.

[BigWall]

Very nice! This will be a fun one to weather up.

[Tomcat64]

Just caught up with all of this - great bit of info around the development, I knew they pulled it together quickly but hadn't realised just how quickly.

Nice to see the creative approach to knocking it into shape too and the added detail on the side looks great

[digger303]

Just caught up with all of this - great bit of info around the development, I knew they pulled it together quickly but hadn't realised just how quickly.

Nice to see the creative approach to knocking it into shape too and the added detail on the side looks great

Thanks Neil.
The sides were so bland with a sheer piece of plastic flat as a tack.....it looked wrong.
Ive got some trimming and filing to do now.....quite a bit

[digger303]

Very nice! This will be a fun one to weather up.

It'l be interesting if it survives me and this next step.

[digger303]

Hi all, another short update.
I started the PE work adding the gun shields and the lifting cleats for the side of the craft. I soldered these together as they were a bit loose and I wanted to strengthen the fold lines in the brass too.

I drilled the cooling jacket holes out as before plus the barrel as in the last build. I find it improves the look a few percent.....fiddly.

Now I had this stuff tucked away in a draw unopened for 12yrs, but I've been informed it is great for portraying weld lines.

Now I don't think mine is in it's best condition being a trifle hard which makes rolling it into a thin line more difficult and time consuming however I applied it.

As you can see it isn't easily manipulated with a tool even after having TET applied to it....so it is a little rough. However it is what I have and I hope it will be OK after paint.

cheers all.

[digger303]

You can buy a piece of history today.

https://dailyboats.com/boats-for-sale/? ... turer=1486

[digger303]

The man behind the Higgins boat in a very short summing up of his achievements

n spite of being (or perhaps because he was) tough, he was also fair, and he sought first and foremost ability in others. Higgins Industries was the first company in New Orleans to racially integrate, and Higgins paid all his employees equal wages for equal work, regardless of race or gender.

A former adviser of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Raymond Moley, wrote in a 1943 Newsweek article that “Higgins’ assembly line for small boats broke precedents, but it is Higgins himself who takes your breath away as much as his remarkable products and his fantastic ability to multiply his products at headlong speed. Higgins is an authentic master builder, with the kind of will power, brains, drive, and daring that characterized the American empire builders of an earlier generation.”

Higgins died in 1952, and Higgins Industries—once one of the most successful boat companies in the United States—closed its doors in 1959. But the legacy of Higgins and his patented boat lives on. Today, the National WWII Museum is located in New Orleans on Andrew Higgins Drive, a fitting tribute for an inventor and entrepreneur who played a key role in America’s victory.

Higgins was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2019, and to mark the forthcoming 75th anniversary of D-Day, the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum "landed" a restored Higgins Boat in front of the museum and United States Patent and Trademark Office headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 27. Through the end of July, visitors are invited to climb aboard and experience firsthand the boat that won the war.

[Tomcat64]

Nice work on the PE mate

I saw mention of 3d pens in a post earlier this week and was wondering if they might work for seam lines?

[digger303]

Nice work on the PE mate

I saw mention of 3d pens in a post earlier this week and was wondering if they might work for seam lines?

I don't know, but the idea sounds good. I don't know very much about 3d pens except for a type promoted as a kids toy which was very course resolution and then there's the medical version used for 3d printing of flesh....don't ask me how that works !

Ps...just googled this.
What are the dangers of 3D printing?
VOCs from 3D printers include harmful chemicals such as styrene (a known carcinogen) and caprolactam (an acute risk molecule). 3D printers also emit ultrafine particles that are impossible to see with the naked eye.12 Nov 2020

We are all stuffed.....styrene is a cancer agent

[BigWall]

More nice work! The guns are looking great

[digger303]

More nice work! The guns are looking great

Thank you.
I went back and took another look at the pic and realized I haven't installed the cocking levers yet.....
Hopefully the rest turns out OK.

[RangerNeil]

Nice work on the PE mate

I saw mention of 3d pens in a post earlier this week and was wondering if they might work for seam lines?

I don't know, but the idea sounds good. I don't know very much about 3d pens except for a type promoted as a kids toy which was very course resolution and then there's the medical version used for 3d printing of flesh....don't ask me how that works !

Ps...just googled this.
What are the dangers of 3D printing?
VOCs from 3D printers include harmful chemicals such as styrene (a known carcinogen) and caprolactam (an acute risk molecule). 3D printers also emit ultrafine particles that are impossible to see with the naked eye.12 Nov 2020

We are all stuffed.....styrene is a cancer agent

Print outdoors!!

Waaaay back in the 90's Ford started moulding the seat foam for their vehicles in-house - and the release agent for the moulds was Hydrogen Cyanide!! Didn't that cause fun and games......

[Stokesy44]

Nice work on the MGs and shields

[Garion77]

Just caught up on you build. That is a really good subject and that we don't see often. It's coming along really nice with all the added work you put in it ! can't wait to see the rest

GO HABS GO

[digger303]

Nice work on the MGs and shields

Just caught up on you build. That is a really good subject and that we don't see often. It's coming along really nice with all the added work you put in it ! can't wait to see the rest

GO HABS GO

Thanks guys, Looks more impressive than I can take credit for. The Pe is OTB and it just slots together.

I ran into a little trouble cladding the hull. The corners of the stern( don't I sound all nautical ) actually have different radii from top to bottom so in order to wrap a rectangular shape around it I ended up with a gap at deck level. So after fiddling , cutting and too much sanding a fair bit of filler went back in on both sides . Yeah I stuffed and made the same mistake twice....


A little filler around the vents to try to make them seamless at the deck level.


Lastly a quick mock up.

[Tomcat64]

That's a bugger with the cladding around the stern corners but it's looking really good in that last photo mate

[digger303]

That's a bugger with the cladding around the stern corners but it's looking really good in that last photo mate

Thanks, but I was thinking that the craft wouldn't pass occupational health and safety these days.....no railings

[Quax]

I just caught up with this too, you seem to be a glutton for punishment for all this intricate stuff! I know one thing's for sure your eyes are better than mine and your hands a damn sight steadier

Paul

[digger303]

I just caught up with this too, you seem to be a glutton for punishment for all this intricate stuff! I know one thing's for sure your eyes are better than mine and your hands a damn sight steadier

Paul

Not sure that is true , but thank you.

[digger303]

It's been 2 weeks of sanding and mucking around, procrastination and generally not made a lot of visible progress.
Tonight I put on the primer and took these pic's within minutes of that. I'm not that happy with what I was trying to achieve.
Namely produce the oil can effect on the hull sides. My idea was sound I think, but the materials I chose wasn't. I used what I had being Evergreen 0.13 clear stryene, it was too thin and the cement ate through the Contacta I used in places. Plus when I went to stretch the material it placed additional stress on those glue points. So then I had to resort to adding filla which doesn't always stick too well when sanded smooth to a thin material that still flexes.
So if anyone has a good idea to help with that I'm all ears. This is how it looks now.

[digger303]

Still stuck on the hull and I changed my putty to Green Stuff. It's very sticky,but water soluble and dries very fast.


It looks messy but better.

Close up reveals the same problems still exist

This reveals that my patch up job is rubbish even after resorting to a brush applied heavy coat of Mr Surfacer 500. Really needs ripping off and redoing, but I don't know that I can do that just yet.
I think the trouble goes back to using a tad too thin Stryene sheet and the glue has just eaten through around the edges of the frame work making it super thin and me sanding as light as I can still makes it thinner so it always cracks through each time I go to patch it. Plus the filler is at times flaking off every time it flexes. I put so much time into it I might just forget it and push on.


Ps ...I did a good job on the drain holes though ....
Another mistake I made is I should have changed from contacta to possibly a epoxy or Gorilla glue and then I wouldn't have had the issue of eating away the plastic sheet.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I bet once the paint is on the only person who would ever recognize the issue you state is yourself
To me it looks like planks of armour on the side, some level and other not
We are our worst critics.
I would just push on. Watch it turn out to be the most realistic feature and you can say you meant to do that, but couldn’t repeat it if your life depended on it

[RangerNeil]

In truth Digger the photos show LCM's sides as I remember them from the late 70's. I think you've done a good job despite the early difficulties. Well done!!

[BigWall]

I think it's looking great Digger! I totally understand where you're coming from but I don't think it's as bad an issue as you're thinking.

[Tomcat64]

Ooops - I missed a couple of updates, but I think Scott is right ( ), once it's under paint I think the only person who's going to really notice it is you so I guess you need to decide whether you can live with it or need to keep tinkering.

FWIW it looks fine to me, and these things got really beat up on operations, so maybe you could cover up some of what you're not happy with with some heavy weathering? I don't know how clean they were kept but maybe add some ocean "clag" in the form of weeds & growth?

[smokeriderdon]

Gotta agree with the others. I does not look that bad at all.