This is a diorama I am constructing for the Photo 2 Campaign. I also wanted to do an in-work post so if I am messing something up hopefully someone would point it out to me.


For a simplified explanation of the photo I am recreating.
The 2 LVT’s pictured had their one and only appearance during the Peleliu Campaign. The LVT 4 on the left was a fixture in every battle from here on out but what it carried was a “Q” model flamethrower conceived by the National Defense Research Committee. It started out for installation in light tanks but those were out of favor, they rechristened it the Navy Mark 1 and sent 5 units to Hawaii in April 1944.

The Navy than promptly turned the unit down as unsuitable for Amphibious Operations due its excessive weight. So the Army than adopted the units, but the 43rd Chemical Laboratory determined them to be too bulky and heavy for installation in tanks.

In June 1944 a Navy flame thrower detachment joined the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal which was preparing for the invasion of the Palau Islands. Their interest arose and they mounted 3 of the units in the back of the LVT 4 for trials. Testing revealed some drawbacks from the heavy vibrations when the LVT 4 operated on land and were only partially remedied by improvisation and substitution. There was a shortage of napalm which prevented the proper training of men and testing of the equipment.

The flamethrower did not see action until D+3 due to various reasons but from then on the saw regular combat. In the first phase of the battle the flamethrowers worked ahead of the Infantry and even ahead of the tanks. Upon reaching the hills the attack slackened and both provided covering support.

The units were often moved between various LVT 4’s due to track or engine problems, I have noted them on 8 different LVT’s. After the battle the tank flamethrower was finalized and these units were cannibalized.

So at D+3 these two were sitting on the beach ready to go inland. The flame throwers were first on LVT’s identified as I-A-O, I-B-O and I-C-O; from then on it was whatever LVT was handy when they put back in for repairs. Like Number 16, number 12, IA-41, IA-17 and 1A-60. A couple had some interesting camouflage, all were the blue/grey with green sections painted and another looks to be painted in a 2 tone color over the blue/grey.

This photo shows them in the original LVT-4 when they went ashore so one of the first 3 would be correct for the photo, solid blue/grey.


The LVT on the right is the LVT (A) 4 which also was a fixture in every battle from here on out but this specific one was rebuilt into a moveable radio command post.
(From USMC Monograph “The Seizure of Peleliu” by Major Frank Hough, USMC, Chapter III “D-Day on Peleliu”)
“For maintaining communications on D-Day, the advance CP relied largely on a curious experimental LVT(A) especially equipped to serve as a mobile radio station (facetiously dubbed "USS Fubar"). This performed valuable service in this emergency but developed too many weaknesses to be considered wholly successful. Establishment of the initial wire network presented almost insurmountable difficulties owing to heavy fire, lack of natural growth for raising it aboveground, and the congestion of the beachhead area which caused the wires to be chewed up by vehicles when laid on the ground.”

I have a number of photos and clips showing this LVT (A) 4 and as I go through the building process I will post those photos showing the numerous differences of the vehicle. Over all painting would be in the blue/grey solid color.
Color frame from a movie, looks kind of blue/grey to me. (This is B-6 LVT (A) 4)


So I will paint both in the Blue/Grey.
I am constructing the LVT 4 Flame Tractor first.
Here is all I have for reference to construct the flame thrower, Special thanks goes to David Harper (RIP) for his great inspiration and for getting me into the Pacific side of WWII.
I started by just trying to figure out what was what. I don’t have the manual for this so I had to trace out everything.
The photo of the unit is all I had to go by and I came up with this;


Then I remembered I did have the manual for the E14-7R2 flamethrower installed in the M4A1-M4A3 and the LVT (A) 1.




So now I actually know what all the various parts should be and what their function is. I still can’t find anything on the “Q” model gun itself and I think I’m just going to use my best guess on that.
This is the first start;




I hate the platform supports and will redo them but my biggest mistake is that the air bottles are too long. I cut off a chunk and after it dries I’ll repost new photos.
If you see something I’m missing or should change PLEASE let me know.
Thanks,
Bob

I like this project. I'll be watching with interest.

Hi Russ,
My hair is going grey as I think, trying to draw out the new supports, pipe connections and guages.
I notice I also forgot to put up a photo of the item itself;


No drawings just the photo
Fun-Fun

This is the new base/bottle area and step photos of the reduction made.





Next will be the deck and supports and planning out the piping and gauges.
Bob

Bob C.;

VERY interesting!

From the BW pic, it seems clear that the railing around the platform around the fuel tank is a curved section of pipe or tubing supported on welded-on angle or V-section iron stock. These supports give things a very distinctive look, IMO.

I can see why you might "hate" your initial outcome (presuming we're both speaking of those supports you created from copper wire...)!

It would, I think, look absolutely great if you used either some styrene angle-iron or pieces made from folded "tin" or brass strip to support a wire or solder rail! This combo would capture that distinctive look most effectively.

Just a suggestion, of course!

Bob

Thanks for the suggestions Bob.
I actually purchased some angle iron PE that I was going to use, and even went so far as to finally get one of those hold n folds.
Who sells the styrene angle iron, much prefer to use that. I have the square styrene which popped in my head for a second. I suppose I could actually make it but it's a pain to make such a long perfect cut to glue 2 pieces together. I'm not quite that good, might be after all this.
Thanks again for the suggestions,
Bob

Bob C.

I am pretty sure that Evergreen does these forms (angle irons of different sizes, rods, I-beams, etc.) - I buy these at my local hobbyshop, who sells a fair range of styrene sheet and rod goods.

Alternatively, you may well be able to find some brass or aluminum channel "iron" in your hobby or craft shop - Again, my same LHS sells this sort of stuff, too. The metal versions are used by the RC and plane folks, so...

IF you have a Hold n Fold tool... it is very easy to create some by folding either sheet brass or beer (soda) can aluminum cut into strips of the right length. OR, you can do what I do - use thin sheet styrene - probably 0.010 inch, in your 1/35 case, and use my Hold n Fold to bend that! Works quite well!

IF you ar forming channel iron from styrene sheet, you'll need to cement the channel-ends to something to prevent the channel from unfolding...

Have fun with it!

Bob

Have to wait for my new tank is baking so thought I'd better update;
Bob, tried your suggestion about make the angle iron out of stryene, and after cleaning up the mess and getting all the glue off my fingers I decided to go with the PE....

Ifinished off the platform and added on the lower supports.





Thats when I noticed the tank lost the proper proportions again so decided to make another and is baking as I type this, better go check before I burn down the kitchen...

Thanks again for the suggestions Bob, had to give it a try,
Bob

I'm impressed and amazed. So far, it looks very good. I'm sure some aftermarket company is watching all this as well, and will copy your hard work.

Russ in this case they are more than welcome to it.
I know I can get it at least close, Haven't quite mastered the finer points and am also on a shoe string budget.
Re-making things over if messed up means I have to check stock first since I can't buy anymore.
Still is a lot of fun trying to work things out,
Thanks for looking,
Bob

Hi Bob. Interesting build. I enjoy your Pacific stuff. Good start with the turret basket, I'd love to know where you get all of the information on the PTO. Keep up the good work

Jaymes

Hey Jaymes, thanks for the comments.
About the info, I read a bunch and do a lot of searching.
More than happy to share what I have but like I have to tell my Wife every day; "I cannot read minds"
Sure glad she doesn't check up on me.
Just let me know if you need any specific info or references and I'll send it along.
Thanks again for the comments,
Bob

Time for another update;
For reference


Here are the 3 main pieces so far; (4thwill be the pipe construction)


And together:



And how they will fit in the LVT;




Still need piping to the front tanks, under the deck final items and of course the pipe construction for the main tanks.

Thanks for looking,
Bob

Here is the setup for the piping. I plan on using the stock Styrene I have, glue them together and just drill a hole to fit the pipe through. Sure would be a lot stronger than gluing each individual piece together.
Here is the layout


Depending on how this turns out and room to work I may or may not put in the individual lines for the gauges.
So this will be this week’s work plus the piping for the front 2 tanks.

Sure is good to know I'm doing so well I have everyone speechless.
Bob

Bob, I'm really speechless

Awesome work out there.

Wow !

Stunning scratch build there and a thoroughly researched subject.

Stef (#6)

Seeing how you have it planned out makes a lot of sense. This is a great tutorial on scratching complicated details. Can't wait to see how the piping all comes out.

Guys, thanks I really appreciate the comments.
Piping up-date
Almost finished, just have to attach the last piece;



Just an example of how I made the individual parts;

The 2 parts connected ready to be installed.


For one thing they are too large but I don’t have anything smaller and I had a bad enough time getting them unglued from my fingers to glue them to the model. Just too big & cubby fingers.
Another thing I learned is that I now have a great respect for scratch builders; besides the expertise in construction they must have one hell of a stock.
Thanks for looking and any comments are welcome.
Bob

Holy crap Bob!

That is some plumbing work there!









~ Jeff

Thanks Jeff.
I'm kind of debating if I should continue or move past this spot and finish the piping on the sheild.
Thanks for looking,
Bob

Beautiful work. Congratulations! Bravo! Chapeau!

Gianfranco

Bob! Wowee! I WILL follow this one for sure. Superb work mate.

Phil.

Don't know if I've said it already. This is fantastic. It looks sci-fi, too! Great work!

Guys, thanks for the comments, looking and especially posting.
I’m feeling a bit better on how this is turning out from your comments; I’m just too picky on my own work I guess.
Thanks for taking the time,
Bob

This is good stuff. Saw some pics when researching my own LVT of the flamethrower version. Brave decision to scratch one together, much respect and it is looking very neat. Know what you mean about cubby fingers my old man once told me I had fingers like bananas !