introduction

Hobby Boss took the 1/48th scale scene by storm with their recent Sherman and T34 releases. Less well known was their LCM-3 release in 1/48, which was just as well-produced.

the set

This Eduard set is contained on one average-sized fret and a small acetate film. As usual the instructions, which in this case run to just two sides, call out exactly what is to be replaced, filled in or removed.

Knowing little about LCM's, but having the base kit to hand, I'll attempt to describe what's on this set and whether or not it's an improvement over the basic kit part.

The first replacement that Eduard offers is in the area of the wheelhouse. This structure is closed up on the Hobby Boss kit, although the roof is an open structure and so some detail can be seen through this. Even so, little enough is offered by Eduard, the improvements being what looks like a map shelf, and a new Control board for the helm with acetate film for the dials. It is a vast improvement over the kit part which is curiously abysmal, given the quality of the rest of the kit? The door of the wheelhouse can also be replaced along with it's fittings, although there is still no option provided to have this depicted open.

Moving onto the loading/unloading ramp, there are new brackets provided for it's sides. There are brackets also provided to enable you to fit two handrails to the inside of the hull, a feature which Hobby Boss didn't provide at all.

New brackets to hold the four lifebelts are provided, which are much more in keeping with the scale, although the lifebelts themselves probably need replacing, as they're a bit over-simplified.

Moving on to the outside of the hull, the large perforated lifting brackets are replaced by Eduard, but it's really difficult to see exactly why? The ones provided by Hobby Boss are exactly the same size and shape, and only ever so slightly thicker being of course, styrene. I have to say that they really didn't need to be replaced. There is a new bracket provided for the fire extinguisher, and also a dispenser cone for it, which will take careful forming.

The rest of the Eduard set is all for the two .50 cals on the deck., New barrels are provided, which again, will require very careful annealing and forming, new handles, sights, ammunition boxes and brackets, and photo etched ammunition belts to use if you wish.

in conclusion

A brief look at a brief set! This set does offer some improvements over the kit supplied parts, but at $19.95 I fell I can only recommend it with reservations... and they're mostly centered around the price, since Eduard supply other sets with 2 or even 3 frets for the same price.

My thanks to Eduard for the review sample.