Thanks Bob,

I've been thinking about this one and it gets more complicated.

Perhaps this is the best route.

A13 as you auggest, with no added armor - shich I believe A24 has. This build is OOTB with no scratch building or AM bits.

The kit is a standard LVT4 so it'll be as I would like, two 50's, blue / grey with sand camo, and perhaps a couple of Warrior figs (LVT crew).

Do you think that works Ok and is acceptable ? I have no pics of A13

Cheers

Paul

Paul,
That sounds like it will work. No one has a photo of A13, I think that is the point. We know they numbered at least A12 to A24 so any A in-between would be logical. We know that every LVT 4 seen at Tinian had both 50’s and 30’s in a number of different combinations so your choice of mg’s is also logical. We know that the LVT’s used at Saipan were also used at Tinian so the color choices you suggested are also logical. Besides we have photo’s of that combination. About the use of the add-on armor, I believe the front plate is given in the kit and we have plenty of photos showing its use. And I think this should cover your reference requirement.
Yep look likes it a go for your idea.
Bob

Bob,
Your doing a great job as commander of this campaign. What will your next 1 be I'll sign up early.

Thanks Bob

You're the best.

I think I'll put a coat of Grey Blue XF18 on the lower hull and detail the wheels this weekend. That way I can get the tracks on without messing around later (with the upper hull).



Paul

Agree

Bob you are doing a fantastic job here, all your feedback and help is VERY helpful, and your contibution is also inspiring ! Thank you !!

Paul

Thanks Guys but I can't take all the credit, it takes everyone involved by asking and answering questions, providing guidance and especially noting when there is some excellent work going on. That’s everyone who posts; we make the campaign what it is.

Paul,
I ALWAYS have to paint the wheels first before putting on the tracks, my hands just shake too much and I couldn't paint with a airbrush for the life of me.

Thanks again guys and keep those updates coming.
Bob

Bob
Here are photos of the ground work for the diorama I just started It's called Red Beach 1 Betio.






I still have to paint the Marines either scaling the seawall or pinned down
All comments are welcomed
Tom

Tom looking good. How many Marines are you going to put on it and are you gonna use any vehicles?

Sal
No vehicles but about a dozen Marines

Tom

Thomas, that is a very nice start it reminds me of the films that I have seen whether it was Hollywood or Documentaries. Looks great, keep up the good work.

Bob

Thomas,
Outstanding work on the base; very believable tree and ground damage. Only nit picky thing I can point out is the ground over the log wall, it would be sand so just a bit smoothed down on the log where it will be spilling back onto the beach. As I said, minor and nit picky. Hard to image you could put 12 figures on that base, working into a great diorama.
Thanks for the photos and update.


An individual with the callsign; Rebilda, PM'ed with a question on Composites in Leyte. I'm answering his question here (I hope he doesn't mind) Rebilda stills needs to enlist, all you have to do is go here and click the enlist button Campaign in the Pacific

Rebilda's question;
"Now my question is: i got the nice Dragon No.6441 M4 Composite Hull PTO in my stash. And I'd love to start the build and sign on to your campaign with it.
BUT: I don't have pics of the one I'd like to do, namely ''Bushmaster'' of 763rd Battalion 96th Infantry Div. on Leyte, and don't know where to get them. Also, I never did a Diorama, so it would have to be a real simple setting. AND considering the time left, it would have to be speed build...
All that is not what you intended , right?
Is there any way I could join in nevertheless?
Greetings from Bavaria!"

If I miss anything or if someone knows something that should be included please do so.

Review and build log both by Russ Amott, whom we have not heard from way back since 9 May

Review
Build Log

Drawing


From the photo some things stand out:
No Headlights, plugs installed
Plug holders on the insides of the light guards (little tubes)
I can see a periscope guard in place on two so probably all need them
High bustle turret with pistol port comes in the kit.
On the tank behind Bushmaster There is a number below US Army, there is no number below it on Bushmaster
There is a mark around the turret, shield area, smoke hole and around the side pistol port hatch, this is the remains of the Bostik applied during the waterproofing, it is black in color, on the photo it seems like the same color of what was painted over the star.
Caps in place of searchlight top turret
Star on turret roof, just see a star tip by smoke discharger hole.

The Dragon Kit should build this OOB almost perfectly.

Remember to enlist
Keep those updates coming,
Bob

Hey Bob, and everyone else, very nice looking builds. I've been tied up at home obeying SWMBO. Not a lot of time at the bench. I'm going to have to hurry to get the figures done for Saipan. Father in law is in town right now and it is going to be a gift for him.

For references on the M4 composite, a great site to hit is http://12tharmoredmuseum.com/photoalbum_02.asp?c=44th Tank Battalion . Lots of photos of composites and other vehicles. I believe Bushmaster is seen outside the gates of Santo Tomaso university. The other three tank options from the Dragon kit are also nicely displayed.

Bob
Thanks for the information about the sand and the kind comment about the diorama. I counted the Marines I am going to use and the count comes to ten. Should be finished in a week or two.

Thanks

Tom

@tsweeney- Tom, I just gotta love your ground work. The look of the logs is particularly great.

@BobCard - I went back in this thread looking for that picture of Destroyer that you had up and it's gone. Even though it was only black and white I wanted to check out and reference any abuse that the markings had received. I've googled like mad and only found one picture of Destroyer and it was all but useless.

I tried my luck at making the air intake cover and lower part of the stack but it's just not turning out right. All my spare drums have walls that are far too thick for the scale. I found a piece of Evergreen rod but it displays the same problem. I'll see if I can find a brass rod with thinner walls at the LHS tomorrow. Might even try my hand at bending some PE sheet to make the lower part of the drum. In the mean time I started working on painting the rubber on the wheels.



Cheers,
Jan

Hi Russ thanks for the update, family always comes first.

Thomas, Great if you get a chance to do an update on the figures please do so, figures are my worst subject and mine are fast approaching.

Jan
Sorry about that, must have been one of my cleaning days.
Here is Destroyer back;


And a fuzzy Dagwood;


And Diablo


To maybe help a bit more.

Remember you won’t see the inside of the barrels because of the screen on top to stop certain things from going in, and that the rear stack is attached to the rear plate and not standing off.

Good Luck
Bob

Thank you Bob. I really appreciate you reposting the pictures. I'll see if I can't find some model railroad screening and see how that might work. I've copied the images for future reference. It'll be interesting to see if I can't create a b & w image that sort of matches the one you provided.

Cheers,
Jan

No, I don't, we're family, right?!

Thanks so much, all. Try to make it up to you with my sherman.
Two things I came up with, lookin at your lovely pic. As I'll start the build within a week from now and while on vacation without internet access, I'll ask now
one:what length do the sherman-antennae have? both of 'em the same, too?
two: there doesn't seem to be a dark, oily (or whatever) area, where the gun tube meets the turret. I seen this on some sherm-builds and figured it to be some kind of recoil-run area or something. Do i nedd to paint a few mils in gray or just all tube in olive drab?
:)

Jan, basically the sceen shows a Sunday? Mass. Bunch of guys sitting in chairs......I know thats not what you mean. There is some small markings that were mainly painted over by the bar and stars, not sure what it says;

Those little spots appearing on the side seem to be where bolts for mounting siding were welded on and then later cut off. The one above the star even looks to be rusting a bit, there is a run line from it.

Leo, welcome to the Campaign,

Your questions;
one:what length do the sherman-antennae have? both of 'em the same, too?
Not sure but I'll bet I have the info somewhere, just might take me a bit to find that one. If anyone knows please let us know.

two: there doesn't seem to be a dark, oily (or whatever) area, where the gun tube meets the turret. I seen this on some sherm-builds and figured it to be some kind of recoil-run area or something. Do i nedd to paint a few mils in gray or just all tube in olive drab?

From network 54

Robert Lockie
WW2 US antennae were 109" or 118" except for the SCR193 and 506 command sets, which has a 180" whip.

Dan Fong
It looks that way right off the assembly line.
That portion of the gun tube is the surface that the bushings in the gun cradle ride on when the tube recoils and returns to battery. It's a close fitting tolerance between the bushing and bearing surface and must not be painted to be free moving. It's most likely chrome plated to give it a hard surface so that it will be long wearing.




I see it on the photo before install but the projected end of the shield looks to be covering it, your choice on that one.

If you look at the tube on Bushnmaster about half way there is the mark for the weatherproofing. And I don't see a change where a recoil would be.


Welcome aboard,
Bob

And my update for the weekend,

I finally finished the composite and for the rest of the week I'll be painting them.



And the set up, I think I'll stick to this one as it is,


Looking forward to seeing if anyone had a chance to work on their projects. Memorial weekend for me is next week.
Bob

Ok! Bob, I am jelous nice job. Cant wait to see the final product.

Bob Rippy

To quote Jules Winnfield: "you know what they call a quarterpounder in europe? They call it a royal ts. it's 'cause of the metric system..."

That would be a scale 277 or 300 centimeters, a I right? So I cut off a 5.77 or 6.25 centimeter lenghth of wire?

Also: They stand up straight in real life? Or do they have a slight slack (say in the tilted position my beloved bushmaster lies)?

Just noticed: you're building the exact same sherman I intend to build. No copycat intended, hope it's not a problem. Won't reach your level anyhow
The OVM tols you used, I found some by a company called formation models. Lovely stuff. Are those the same? If so, forgive my blunt question, do I use the same layout you did?

I know, this is bordering on harassment. It's all so damn new, it's my fourth serious tank-build let alone a group build...

Thanks again. You'll have your peace soon, I'm off to vacation as I said

Thanks Bob

Leo, Yep pretty close to each other, just different markings.

Personally, my feelings on antenna lengths are, that looks about right and cut. If someone ever took out a measuring device to check the length I think a good smack on the back of the head is in order.

The pioneer tools are the Formations ones, excellent site for those hard to find items, like the no pistol port version of the turret needed for some variations of the Composite. Layout of the tools is the same, I believe in the Bushmaster photo some of them were removed for use, like the shovel.

Don’t worry about the harassment; I’m just glad I could help.
Have fun on vacation,
Bob

Tom, wonderful base! I'll be starting on my Tarawa base soon and I've been searching for modern/color photos of the Betio and the other islands. Did you use a reference for the colors? The colors and vegetation you've used look really good.

Jan, you're really pumping me up for my next build for the Sherman Campaign - Dragon's 1/72 M4 Normandy kit. I can't wait to start my first braille scale!

Bob, I agree with the others! Excellent campaign and even better tanks and base!!! I debated starting the campaign so late, but I'm really glad I did. I've so enjoyed reading about Tarawa and Colorado. I keep going back to the photo of Colorado from S. Zaloga's build article - #8. Directly below and to the left of Tex Rudloff's left hand - how would you interpret the white spots? From what I've read, Colorado received at least two hits from Japanese guns on the front hull. Are these "white" spots on the image missing paint from an impact? It almost looks like there's a dent directly below his hand. Also, how would you interpret the black color on the opposite hatch and antenna pot? I'm still learning how to "read" black and white photos, so any help is appreciated!

My figs are finished and I'll try to post photos tomorrow. I've finished the base coat on Colorado as well as a bit of fading with the airbrush and some of the detail painting. Hope to move on to a coat of future and the decals soon.

Michael

First I am remiss in my duties, here is the Junes listing of monthly items for the Pacific;

June

June 1, 1943 - U.S. begins submarine warfare against Japanese shipping.
June 4-5, 1942 - Turning point in the war occurs with a decisive victory for the U.S. against Japan in the Battle of Midway as squadrons of U.S. torpedo planes and dive bombers from ENTERPRISE, HORNET, and YORKTOWN attack and destroy four Japanese carriers, a cruiser, and damage another cruiser and two destroyers. U.S. loses YORKTOWN.
June 5, 1944 - The first mission by B-29 Superfortress bombers occurs as 77 planes bomb Japanese railway facilities at Bangkok,Thailand.
June 7, 1942 - Japanese invade the Aleutian Islands.
June 9, 1942 - Japanese postpone further plans to take Midway.
June 9, 1945 - Japanese Premier Suzuki announces Japan will fight to the very end rather than accept unconditional surrender.
10 June 1945 OBOE Six Operations commenced with amphibious landings by the Australian 9th Division at "Brown Beach", on the island of Victoria, Labuan; "White Beach" at the south-east tip of Muar island and at "Green Beach", north of Brooketon.
June 15, 1944 - U.S. Marines invade Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
June 15/16 1944- The first bombing raid on Japan since the Doolittle raid of April 1942, as 47 B-29s based in Bengel, India, target the steel works at Yawata.
June 18, 1945 - Japanese resistance ends on Mindanao in the Philippines.
June 19, 1944 - The "Marianas Turkey Shoot" occurs as U.S. Carrier-based fighters shoot down 220 Japanese planes, while only 20 American planes are lost.
June 21, 1943 - Allies advance to New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
June 22, 1945 - Japanese resistance ends on Okinawa as the U.S. Tenth Army completes its capture.
June 28, 1945 - MacArthur's headquarters announces the end of all Japanese resistance in the Philippines.

For a more detailed listing go to;

1942
1943
1944


I’ll get to questions after I have a minute to research,
Bob

Michael,
Not so sure about the frontal hits. This photo was taken a bit further in the Campaign then the water bath on the beach when they received the hits. I believe this is at the end but not sure. The black you refer to is probably just shadow.

I can’t remember exactly what was burning when they returned to the beach; I thought it was on the rear deck. Anyway the damage to the front right light guard appears to have happened just before the beach and somewhere in there might have taken a hit but I can’t see any specific spot. The light spots are probably sand from beach explosions.
Here is a group of beach photos that show they moved down the beach;
Looks like they started by Burns-Phillips




And moved all the way down to almost the main pier
By the last photo you can see the white spots accumulate. Of course I could be wrong; I just take what I can see.
A lot of the vehicles are knocked out and returned to service and it’s hard matching photos to a specific time of the battle without a bit of guess work.
My Deloris is a perfect example, 1st knocked out on the point between Red 3 / Green Beach and finally ended up a third of the way down Red 2.
Basically it’s up to you, there is something defiantly there, just what is the question.

Hoped this helped,
Bob