Landing Craft Mechcanized

[digger303]

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

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!!

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.

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?

Thanks for the wonderful lies and full support
Means a lot.

Moving along and after a application of texture paint, sanding I coated the inside shell itha a rust colour I applied some masking fluid too. Not the best way to do it as I found out in regards to finished results as the patches have mostly rounded patterns.


Then sprayed the base coat of grey, removed the masking, applied a lighter grey filter over the hull sides. Doing a similar thing to the cargo area with a rust filter, plus a stippling of dark rust and giving the floor plate a light going over too.

The rope should have been replaced it's become very hairy, but the high lights on the hull are showing up nicely.

Still a lot more to do yet.

I took a chance and didn't apply any gloss varnish before doing any of that and I'm pleased with how it's going so far, but I'm going to do that in a couple of days when the oils dry.

Cheers guys.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looks awesome to me
You have to say you meant to do that as it perfectly replicates a certain tub exactly...
Great rusty work too

[Stokesy44]

Looks awesome to me
You have to say you meant to do that as it perfectly replicates a certain tub exactly...
Great rusty work too

Completely agree. It looks superb, the rust effects are just beautiful.

[digger303]

Looks awesome to me
You have to say you meant to do that as it perfectly replicates a certain tub exactly...
Great rusty work too

Looks awesome to me
You have to say you meant to do that as it perfectly replicates a certain tub exactly...
Great rusty work too

Completely agree. It looks superb, the rust effects are just beautiful.

Thanks guys

[Parker]

looking great, Digger!

[BigWall]

Very nice productive leap forward! It looks great!

[digger303]

Very nice productive leap forward! It looks great!

Thanks

[Quax]

we are often the strongest critics of our own work and sometimes we're right however on this occasion, you are incorrect in your assertion (and everybody else correct) and its blinking marvellous! You've given life to a plastic object that wasn't there before! Bravo I say, Bravo!

Paul

[digger303]

we are often the strongest critics of our own work and sometimes we're right however on this occasion, you are incorrect in your assertion (and everybody else correct) and its blinking marvellous! You've given life to a plastic object that wasn't there before! Bravo I say, Bravo!

Paul

thank you your way too kind

[DRUMS01]

Hey digger, thats some nice work. With this level of detail I can't wait to see how it looks with the compartment filled and people (?).

[digger303]

Hey digger, thats some nice work. With this level of detail I can't wait to see how it looks with the compartment filled and people (?).

Thanks.
Got some people to crew it, although it will be under staffed as I donated half the kit to a friend. Unfortunately I don't have a ready built Sherman to fill it yet. Well except for a toy the missus bought me for Xmas , mistakenly thought it was a proper kit.
Thanks for looking in.

[Casper]

wow that looks brilliant digger superb weathering

[Tomcat64]

Hey digger, thats some nice work. With this level of detail I can't wait to see how it looks with the compartment filled and people (?).

...Unfortunately I don't have a ready built Sherman to fill it yet...

Oooh so you're going to build a Sherman too?? That's great

Seriously though that is really looking great - the weathering has definitely brought that to life in a big way

[digger303]

wow that looks brilliant digger superb weathering

Thank you, but you might change your mind in a minute

Hey digger, thats some nice work. With this level of detail I can't wait to see how it looks with the compartment filled and people (?).

...Unfortunately I don't have a ready built Sherman to fill it yet...

Oooh so you're going to build a Sherman too?? That's great
Seriously though that is really looking great - the weathering has definitely brought that to life in a big way

Shermans in the works.....2025...
Thanks for the kind words.

[digger303]

The weathering continues, but starting to worry I might have taken it too far in trying to introduce more than a monotone.

A friend suggested that inside the vents should be a red color, so in order to achieve that I used a cotton bud to paint them trying to keep more or less straight lines without masking. It seems painting over the varnish doesn't work well without roughing it up a little.


Also stuffed up masking the life jackets so I'm in the process of redoing that.


AND the old problem resurfaced (pun) with the hull sides cracking right through again.

I tried CA glue , but it's very hard to get the pieces to match perfectly back together. Plan B is in progress....battle damage that has been repaired.

I've also been adding a dried salt weathering to the vessel as well. Might have over done it a tad, but I'm trying to scale it back some.

[BigWall]

Nice solution with the battle damage! That's got to be very frustrating.

[Stokesy44]

I think the weathering looks superb. These things weren't built or maintained to win any beauty contests!

Shame about the shrapnel damage to the hull. Those pesky Jerry gunners eh? You just cannot trust them!

[Tomcat64]

I think the weathering looks great - especially on the decking near the vent

And nice fix on the shell hole too - that looks really well done and in character.

[Garion77]

everything looks pretty good to me !!

[digger303]

I think the weathering looks great - especially on the decking near the vent

And nice fix on the shell hole too - that looks really well done and in character.

everything looks pretty good to me !!

Nice solution with the battle damage! That's got to be very frustrating.

Thanks guys, I think you have helped a lot in me not losing motivation with this fellow.

Doing bits a pieces mostly fiddly stuff, but I'm getting closer to the finish.



The life vest are a bit bright atm, they need toning down.

And as you can see I've not gone back to the funnels yet. I ground some of the paint out of them in preparation for repainting.... then they slipped down the list some what.

[BigWall]

The paint work on the hull looks amazing! It's coming together very nicely. The repaired damage makes it look even better.

[digger303]

The paint work on the hull looks amazing! It's coming together very nicely. The repaired damage makes it look even better.

Thanks BW.
The hull sides weren't meant to have that much texture however trying to fix the hull I was using what ever came to mind.....I was desperate.

[Garion77]

As mentionner by Joe, the painting of the hull is amazing. So is the weathering. Can't wait to see where it will be at when I come back in a week from vacation.
Keep up the good work !
Cheers !

[digger303]

As mentionner by Joe, the painting of the hull is amazing. So is the weathering. Can't wait to see where it will be at when I come back in a week from vacation.
Keep up the good work !
Cheers !

Thank you.
You might be a disappointed as this is my last post until Wednesday as we are going away for a few days.

[Stokesy44]

The figures will just need a good wash and dirtying up to look fine. The wide shot at the start of the post looks superb

[Casper]

weathering looks perfect

[Garion77]

As mentionner by Joe, the painting of the hull is amazing. So is the weathering. Can't wait to see where it will be at when I come back in a week from vacation.
Keep up the good work !
Cheers !

Thank you.
You might be a disappointed as this is my last post until Wednesday as we are going away for a few days.

Well I'm leaving this morning (Saturday) and coming back next Sunday ! Enjoy it on your side !

[cor]

Thats some very realistic detail going on with the rust and salt. It looks like a study in weathering - a good project for realism on a subject you dont see a lot of.

It would look awesome filled with guys about to hit the beach under fire.

[ForeverPlasticKits]

A fabulous build, your LCM is so realistic!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Fantastic work, just fantastic

[Kevthemodeller]

How on earth have I missed this

Digger the hull cladding is superb, completely authentic

[digger303]

How on earth have I missed this

Digger the hull cladding is superb, completely authentic

Thank you.
It didn't come out too bad despite the bad judgement on the materials used and a first attempt at doing the oil can effect.

[Donkeywalloper]

I'm with kev on this, how did I miss such a superb build.
What a masterclass.

DW

[digger303]

I'm with kev on this, how did I miss such a superb build.
What a masterclass.

DW

Thanks DW.....masterclass might be stretching it a bit, but I appreciate the thought. I've got to get back to this as it has been languishing lately. Mainly due to other projects getting in the way and me not having the will to force myself to get get seated at the bench. The main Mojo sapper is not having the room atm it's awfully crowded in the cave atm. Hopefully Sunday I will make some time.

[DRUMS01]

Everything looks great! Perhaps an easy fix for the vests would be a darker wash to both bring out the details and also tone them down followed by a custom lighter paint mix dry brush. I'm sure you have a good handle on it regardless what I suggest. Keep up the good work as I can already see a diorama cooking.....

Ben

[digger303]

Everything looks great! Perhaps an easy fix for the vests would be a darker wash to both bring out the details and also tone them down followed by a custom lighter paint mix dry brush. I'm sure you have a good handle on it regardless what I suggest. Keep up the good work as I can already see a diorama cooking.....

Ben

great suggestions I'll give it a try.

[digger303]

Everything looks great! Perhaps an easy fix for the vests would be a darker wash to both bring out the details and also tone them down followed by a custom lighter paint mix dry brush. I'm sure you have a good handle on it regardless what I suggest. Keep up the good work as I can already see a diorama cooking.....

Ben

This is as good as it's going to get this time around. Finding it a bit tricky to fix the shading omission now the figure is installed.


And this is a different way of chipping using Vms Chipping product. Basically you apply the special paint wait for it to dry. Then wet it and gently scrub away what is not wanted. Different colors are available, I'm only using 2 here. As it's my first run with this I have no idea if it is going to be good. We shall see tomorrow.

[BigWall]

Nice! I can't wait to see how the chipping paint works for you.

[digger303]

Nice! I can't wait to see how the chipping paint works for you.

Here's the same shot after I removed what I didn't need.


A very soft brush and not too much water is whats needed to gently remove the paint other wise it it comes off too quick. Also paint it on thinly because thickly applied it won't break up and the whole lot will just roll off under your brush. However I'm a fan of this method irregular scratches and patches are easily achievable. Plus it's quick !



PS... Sorry the color in the pic got washed out a little due to my crappy photography skills, but you get the idea.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Loving the subtle ness of surfaces irregularities, rust and weathering
Replicates the subject well

[digger303]

Loving the subtle ness of surfaces irregularities, rust and weathering
Replicates the subject well

Some aren't too subtle, my skill was lacking at some points of the build. However pretty happy overall trying out new things and techniques.

[BigWall]

It's looking great!

[digger303]

It's looking great!

Thanks Dw, But kinda looking forward to the end of this soon.

[Garion77]

you're too hard on yourself... the details are subtle and everything is coming out pretty good and realistic despite the problems you encountered with hull at the beginning.

[Tomcat64]

That's coming along really well mate - and interesting to see how that new chipping paint works too

[Kevthemodeller]

Some very nice salt water weathering techniques there Digger

[digger303]

Garion77 Tomcat64 Kevthemodeller

Thank you for your encouragement it helps to keep me motivated .

[digger303]

Completed

[Garion77]

amazing ! after a lot of work ! Congratulations !

[Garion77]

Garion77 Tomcat64 Kevthemodeller

Thank you for your encouragement it helps to keep me motivated .

You're welcome ! I've should have said the same for my hellcat build. All the messages, even the smallest one, helps pushing through