Take this with a grain of salt.
Looking through evey book on LVT's I have and my photo archive, I have yet to find a single LVT (A) 1 action/battle during or after, photo that shows the 30 cal on the front.
That being said that doesn't mean there isn't one, I just haven't seen it.

Andor, I really like the antenna mount, wass wondering where you found that.
The lights are a little high, but again that's up to you. This is from the Project LVT book by David Harper;


Easiest way to tell the difference, Army white stars, USMC none or painted over. The shamrocks are green.

My wife just brought in 2 - 6 packs of Lienies so I'm outa here,
Bob

Well here is my basic layout. Infantry moving up the flank as COED blasts a distant bunker. There is still much to be done to all the models and the base. I have primed the Sherman and that is about it. I need to add some scorched earth, foliage and the like. I also need to add some just regular grasses. Iwo was quite arid so it will most likely be mixed browns and tans... quite uncolorful!.



Cheers
-Mike C

Thats looking really good Mike. The groundwork is built up really well which gives it a sense of a disadvantaged advance. I wouldn't have that man standing so prone on top of the rocky outcrop though unless he wants to be shot. Maybe a kneeling figure taking cover on the rocks would look better? Looking forward to see your progress.

Chas

Thanks for the quick reply. I agree with your statement on the figure. That was my basic layout that I changed a little while ago. I placed some foliage and found that he didn't fit very well.

-Mike C

On a side note. I went to Arlington National Cemetary to see my grandparents' plot and came across a very interesting plaquard in the same columbarium their remains are located. It was engraved with gold letters and the unmistakable image of the Medal of Honor was engraved on it as well. It read 'Douglas Jacobson; Major, USMC'. So in my curiousity when I returned home today I looked him up and found that his actions at Iwo Jima were more than heroic, almost legendary. Here is his story (you have to scroll down quite far to reach the citation) he was a true American hero. If you are not familiar with the Medal of Honor it is the highest military honor an American soldier can recieve for actions above and beyond the call of duty. Most are awarded postumously to those who gave their lives saving their fellow soldiers.

Pfc. Jacobson Medal of Honor

This is the kind of story that inspired me to run the campaign.

-Mike C

Andor...

Not ALL Late War Amtanks were painted OD...this is a common misconception. I have a good friend who was in C/1st Amtank Bn and his entire company kept the BLUE painted tanks even when they got the LVTA4s for Okinawa...he has photographic proof that he has given me and which I have shared with my friend Dave Harper, the USMC Amtank and Armor Guru...and C/1st Amtanks did not name their vehicles or paint anything on them other than the vehicle number. Cork's amtank was C-13 throughout the war...

The Shamrocks on the back of the AMTANK are personal symbols...not unit insignia...the turret crew were probably Irish...

To paraphrase Bill Shakespeare..."There is more variation in heaven and modeling than is dreamt of on your modeling bench." ENJOY.

S/F

Pat

OK time to start with this campaign, here is a picture of my submission, a Type94 Tankette. I plan on placing it in the Philippines, knocked out with some US Army solders.

Sorry I have no clue how to put a photo in the post.

BobCard,
Thanks for these pictures, I do not have this book (but it seems as a Bible for LVT modeling)...
I will reconsider my model according to these new detail pictures. Probably will not remove the lights, but try to make the new antenna base.
Meanwhile I searched my books and you're right: It was hard to find only 1 picture that shows the front MG, all other pictures show the MG-less front armour.
BTW the tank on the right has a vertical antenna:


pjmooney,
Thanks for these info as well. Unfortunatelly Amtank modells are not so popular here in Europe, I have only some B/W pictures and drawings of these machines.

I decided to make an overall OD Amtank, probably from an Army unit. (maybe the tank on the right of the picture above)

Thanks for all the comments and replies!

Andor,

PM me and I will send you some color photos of AMTANKS that you can use as a guide. I'll send BLUE and GREEN photos for your use.

Semper Fi,

Pat

Mike,

I like your ground work for Iwo...the boulders and terrain looks perfect. I'm doing Iwo also, so we'll compare our Flame Tanks...you're doing COED and I'm doing a 5th Tank BN...so more fun than a barrel of monkeys ahead!!!

S/F

Pat

Hey guys, Just signed up... Heres my entry..



Just bought it last night. Hope I can catch up with you guys.I will build the Colorado tank

Just a question. Since I'm just a beginner in modelling. I've decided not to do any modifications in the kit. Is it alright?? Thanks

Jerem25..

Patrick- Thanks, I look forward to seeing your work. I am going to enter a couple of things in fact. don't know what too many of them are... but I will eventually build something.

Jeremiah- Yes, you can build out of the box all you want! Welcome aboard. We all look forward to your progress. Ask anyone for info, there are some real history nuts here who are always willing to help.

Sorry for the empty post above. Well I got the picture thing sorted out so here is the picture of my entry A Type 94 Tankette.

[i

Jeremiah, looks good. I think the Dragon kit is fine OOB although i have not build it myself. Welcome to the network

Scott, interesting kit. I will follow your build with interest.

A little more progresson my Chi HA. The base coat is on. The rest of the camouflage will be brush painted as it is hard edge camouflage.

More to follow.

looking really good so far jesper! Are you going with the striped camo scheme?

my base is mostly done. i have quite a bit of scorched earth on the one side now. i think it looks pretty good and i will try to post some pics later. i a using my brother's mac as we are at the beach so i am still baby steping it!

-mike c

Ok.. Thanks guys. Youll be hearing A lot of questions from me. Since this is my second build. So I have little knowledge on modelling and the history of this tank. THanks Mike C and Jesper..

Jerem25

Jeremiah, fire away with your questions. The community will gladly help if we can. I think I have some B/W pictures of your particular Sherman somewhere. Are you interested?

Mike, I am going with the stribed camouflage, but without the yellow line in it. For some reason I dont really like that. I am using THIS book. It has a lot of cool colour profiles in it. I have the three first books in the series and is going to order the last one next week, so if anybody needs some info on Japanese armor, I can probably help.

First colour is applied to the green base colur. It is done with acrylic paint and by brush.

I've been lagging a bit on my project, not a lot of building but just doing the pre-painting before the building gets going full tilt...having seen the Italeri LVT-2 I'm thinking that I have to find a way to include it with my Sherman A2 which I will be building as Colorado. I have definitely decided to go with 2nd MarDiv on Betio. I've always been fascinated by Betio and Iwo Jima, after a visit to the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico and the months I spent at Camp LeJeune after I got blown up in Fallujah the choice was obvious for me.

Everyone's looking really good. Jesper, I think you made the right choice. I like the scheme you went with. Your progress is stunning. Have you found anything to put it with yet?

Doc, sounds like a good plan. I made it down to Quantico not too long ago. It is absolutely stunning. i'll be looking forward to your progress.

-Mike C

Thanks the start on the campouflage scheme is good. Next will be a medium redish brown. I have not yet decided how to make a diorama. The timeline is long as the tank was used from the very early days of WWII to the VJ day.
I could put it with some Russian Infantry, US troops or maybe just by itself. I have a BT-7 that could look good next to it, but I might use it for the Blitzkrieg campaign. Anyway, there is plenty of time for a second entry if I keep up this pace

Here is another update. Things are beginning to go fast now. The third camouflage colour is on now. Next is the decals and some heavy mud for the suspension. I have already started on this, so new pictures will follow shortly

Hi guys,

Reading through everyone's posts I'm thrilled to see all this attention given to this subject. I was just digging out the kit I'm going to enter and man is it ever sad! (Worse yet I bought several!) I'm building an old Bluetank/Nitto M29C Weasel. Yep, it's the infamous "all over the map scale" weasel kit. The box says it's 1/35, the hull specs out around 1/24 and the figures are 1/48!
There's darn little usable in this kit aside from the hull and the side skirts and even those will require some serious work. Seats, interior, tracks, boogies, windshield and most everything else will have to be scratchbuilt. This is all either really, really cool or really bad, haven't quite decided yet. Either way it'll be an interesting build.

Jim
Large Scale Armory