Hey everybody. I'm looking for some help on boats for a 1/35 'Nam dio, I'm interested in using a small boat in my next 'Nam diorama. Like a PBR, a RAG...I'm not really up on my boats, but I think you know what I'm talking about. All the small types that they used for running ops in Vietnam.

I'm wondering if there is any way to make these from scratch. Obviously it could be done, I realize that, but I wouldn't know where to start. I would like to be able to use one of these in a dio, but I don't want to buy an expensive kit. Is there the possibility that anyone could offer any helpful links or tips to something that might help me out here?

Thanks.

The only kit I know of is Tamiya's PBR. Outside that you're right you're in scratch land.

I would do some research first on what types of boats were used on patrols. Then once you have found one that fits your diorama and your building desires go search for plan or spec drawing. Those are your key. You can reduce the drawings down to the appropriate size and build from there.

Also be aware that Dragon has the LSSC (Light Seal Support Craft) which is a pretty decent kit if I may say so.

hey,
Monogram has a 1/48 ragboat, but it can be hard to find. best bet is the two mentioned earlier.
good luck,
jake

Hey man there is a few options.

One thing I suggest is getting Osprey's Vietnam riverine Craft 1962-75

You can use Tamya's PBR
Dragon's LRRP boat if you can find it.
Other options are converting the LCM 3 or simply scratch building one

Hello Matthew
It might be worth checking out your local IPMS as I know that over here in the UK they have the own SIG. I've seen some of these guy's work at the local show's & a lot of what they have on display they have to scratchbuild.
Also if you can find a copy of Riverine History of the Brown Water Navy in Vietnam by Jim Mesko published by Squadron/Signal is a very good book.

Matthew,
I'm not sure where you are locateded but I have run across plans for a building a PBR on ebay. It was a long time ago, but try searching on there. If I remember correctly it was a larger scale for a RC model, but can be scaled down. Worth a shot, good luck. The Tamiya kit is pretty easy kit I did one a while ago.

Brian

As already mentioned Tamiya kitted the PBR in 1/35 and Dragon the LSSC in 1/35 as well. The Monogram RAG boat in 1/48 had also once been in a set with a Huey as part of the Rambo movie promotional packaging. Its not been out for awhile, but can be found at a decent prices if you have some patience.

As for scratchbuilding there is a quite a bit of info out there. The Osprey book is a very good resource. There are also quite a few websites:

Mobile Riverine Force Association http://www.mrfa.org

Don Blankenship's Mobile Riverine Force website http://www.rivervet.com

Don's website has pages of the NAVSHIPS 250-242 that have some two or three view drawings of some of the larger boats. Some of the really small stuff was pretty much derived from commercially available boats. You could probably scratchbuilt it from some old info on those manufacturers.

At the very least those websites might get you started. I'm a 1/72 modeler so pretty much my only option is to scratchbuild with the exception of a few very rare and in most cases, very rough resin kits.

the Tamiya Pibber is a good kit, I would recommend that as a starter. The dragon effort is also a good build but it would take either excellent painting and/or figures to make it stand out as it is a fairly simple kit.
In saying that I like them both.

I appreciate all the suggestions about the various kits. I would definitely love to get my hands on one of those kits, but I really don't want to put down the money. Don't get me wrong, my hobby budget could afford it, but I have the money slated for other things, so......hence the wish to build it from scratch.

I'm pretty sure I want to go with the PBR (pibber), or the LSSC (I'm a bit confused with this one, it seems the same as the STABs, Seal Team Assault Boats, but I'm not sure). The RAG boats are also pretty nifty looking, but I think that is a bit big for my purposes.

I will take a closer look at the links provided, thanks everybody.

(btw, in the off chance that someone has one of these kits, and doesn't want it, I'd be glad to take it off your hands... )

Hello there, try looking up a company called Master Models, they currently make three Viet Nam Riverine craft, they are 1/35 scale but may be on the expensive side due to being resin kits. Check out Trak-Link.com, James Weschler is currently building one as a build blog. Good luck.

Hi Mathew ,have you thought about downsizing a bit maybe a rubber boat with out board and a couple of seals ready for drop off just a thought going on the tight budget

You could try scratching a Boston whaler as used by Navy Seals http://www.sealtwo.org/zero/bostonwhaler.jpg a little smaller then the LSSC and bigger then a rubber dingy if that of any interest to you.