They didn't expect this - Marines at Peleliu

[Guest]

:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[grumpa]

:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

I think this is an excellent

Missed out these three images on the body...

[ATTACH]299243[/ATTACH][ATTACH]299244[/ATTACH][ATTACH]299245[/ATTACH]

Some attachment handles and the 30 cal barrel replacement from a salvaged kit.

Cheers,
Richard

:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

Firstly Richard let me say I think this is an excellent project of a little covered aspect of WW2, will watch progress closely:thinking:
Tony, is this a rating system?

[rtfoe]

Fellas, thanks for the nice comments and for looking in.

Daniel, keep you eyes peeled Bro, there's lots more to come as I want to finish it by June.

Mike, if it wasn't for this site I wouldn't have started from the beginning. As for Simon, he graduated but I'm still at school.:smiling3:

Mick, brings back memories for me and am enjoying it.

Tony, :thumb2::thumb2::thumb2: I feel it. Glad you like it.

Jim, someone said the same thing about it not being covered much which is a shame as a lot of blood was shed for such a rediculous target.

Cheers,
Richard

[Guest]

You bet ya.
My dad was a navy man.He was in the N. Atlantic before the war started but was sent to the Pacific AO and was there for all the major battles. He abanbon the Lexington on a rope from the fan tail.

[rtfoe]

You bet ya.
My dad was a navy man.He was in the N. Atlantic before the war started but was sent to the Pacific AO and was there for all the major battles. He abanbon the Lexington on a rope from the fan tail.

Wow, that's real life history for you. The Pacific sea battles must have been horrific. I've seen the pictures of the explosion on the Lex...lucky man your Dad.

Cheers,
Richard

[Allen Dewire]

Hi Richard,
Great to see you at this again and even better from the beginning!!! Top drawer work Sir...As usual!!!
Prost
Allen

[rtfoe]

Hi Richard,
Great to see you at this again and even better from the beginning!!! Top drawer work Sir...As usual!!!
Prost
Allen

I've got to keep you company...you and your V-2, me and my Peleliu. :smiling3:

Cheers,
Richard

[BigGreg]

Can't wait to see more... by the way are you doing some water.?

[Fernando N]

Hi Richard, good to see you here too and top work on the Amtrac.:thumb2:
Total admiration for your patience building this dio esp. the track work.

Fernando

[Steve Jones]

Richard
Great to see you have brought this masterpiece over to here. It was nice to have another look back at your stunning work
Steve

[rtfoe]

Hi Guys...my usual 7 hours behind time replies or is it ahead? :smiling6:

Can't wait to see more... by the way are you doing some water.?

Gregory, unfortunately no. This would be further inland just before the airfield.

Hi Richard, good to see you here too and top work on the Amtrac.:thumb2:
Total admiration for your patience building this dio esp. the track work.

Fernando

Fernando, thanks. I think my slowness works in tandem with patience. It gives me time to ponder a solution.

Richard
Great to see you have brought this masterpiece over to here. It was nice to have another look back at your stunning work
Steve

Steve, glad you like it and a pleasure to show it again. While I was preparing the next set of photos I worked on the figures...the next time it won't be a tease, they would be ready for painting.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

More on the progress of the LVT. After being satisfied with the corrections and details to the hull I sprayed the base coat of Olive drab. This acted as a primer, then I sprayed successive layers of highlights and dark tones of the same color mixed with either white or black. For the large side panels I sprayed in a vertical streaked pattern...



I painted the tracks and added them to the body...



At this point I tested it out on a base and planed the composition. Initially it was to be next to a shell hole with casualties being attended but I have since changed it...



Back on the work table I added rust stains...which will be in the next post...

[rtfoe]

Continuation of the build... more rust streaks and mottling...



Then I scratch built the 50 Cal and 30 Cal gun cradles and shields. The kit didn't have any. The guns came from my spares.


[ATTACH]299644[/ATTACH]

That's for now until the next painting of the guns. C & C welcomed.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi...before I continue with the build blog, I'd like to post up the latest the figures for this diorama. It's safe to say they're up and ready for priming but before that here's a snippet of the composition...

[ATTACH]300017[/ATTACH]

Actually not the final composition as I have relocated the some of the figures but its roughly like that. Basically the pose is supposed to be like this roughly...

[ATTACH]300031[/ATTACH]

The latest figures will be shown in before and after configuration:

[ATTACH]300018[/ATTACH] Before, the Panzer Grenadier and spare hands.[ATTACH]300019[/ATTACH] After, basically he has a new head from Hornet, reworked hald of a Tamiya back pack...
[ATTACH]300020[/ATTACH] The spade is typical marine tropical style.

Next
[ATTACH]300021[/ATTACH] Before, standing figure ready to baynet charge.
[ATTACH]300022[/ATTACH] After, added resin head turned to the right, readjusted arms and hands and made him kneel.

Next
[ATTACH]300023[/ATTACH] Before, flame thrower man.
[ATTACH]300024[/ATTACH] After, repositioned his legs, Hornet head, and added the other half of the reworked Tamiya back pack.
[ATTACH]300025[/ATTACH] May have to redo his left hans to grip the rifle better. This is a classic pose from an Iwo Jima image.

Next
[ATTACH]300026[/ATTACH] Before, shot gun man.
[ATTACH]300027[/ATTACH] After, calling out to his buddy. Added Hornet head, reworked arms and change of weapon.

Next
[ATTACH]300028[/ATTACH] Before, BAR Man.
[ATTACH]300029[/ATTACH] After, no change...his pose is just right only drilled out the sleeve cuffs.

That was my weekend progress. Little things like the helmet straps and gun slings will be added.

C & C welcomed.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Back to the regular programming channel...continuation of the LVT secondary armement.

[ATTACH]300159[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300160[/ATTACH][ATTACH]300161[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300162[/ATTACH][ATTACH]300163[/ATTACH] I painted the sheilds and guns seperately in Olive drab and flat black. The guns later were treated with graphite and highlighted further with steel.
I chucked a piece of rod onto my power drill and carved out the aerial supports while it spun. The attached guitar string as the antenna.

[ATTACH]300164[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300165[/ATTACH]

I created my own markings with masking tape tracing and cutting the insignias and unit numbers...

[ATTACH]300166[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300167[/ATTACH][ATTACH]300168[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300169[/ATTACH]

The chip marks were done with salt and water deposits removed after the white was sprayed.
And these were the results...

[ATTACH]300177[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300178[/ATTACH][ATTACH]300179[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]300180[/ATTACH]

At this point critics will notice that this Amtrac is an A5 with features that were found probably at the end of the war. Like the side periscopes on the turret, turret guard rails front and back and the extra aerial mounts. Also the staggard top front hatches. But I'm not into revit counting and use what I have.

Cheers,
Richard