This is my first post on Model Shipwrights. I am a tank guy.

This is build I did for a local Veteran. I purchased the Lindberg kit as a quick build for him...what a understatement. Upon looking over the kit, and noticing it was NOT a LCT-5 NOR LCT-6. I was willing to settle for a LCT-5, but I really needed a LCT-6. A proper LCT-6 came in limited quantities...1/700 (too small for the Vets eyes) and 1/72 (way too expensive, especially considering the kit you get for that money). That left me with Lindberg's 1/125 kit...sigh. So, in the interest of "doing it good enough" I found some schematics for the rear half and scratchbuilt. And scratchbuilt. And did a little bit more scratchbuilding. 120hrs later, I have something to give him for X-mas. I will let the pictures do the talking and will answer questions as needed. I would be VERY happy if a major model company did the LCT-5/6 in either 1/72 scale or, even 1/100. (And remember, the Lindberg kit ORIGINALLY was a MOTORIZED kit...)



What I started with...well, the box top anyhow.

Where's the pictures?

This is the kit after all the scratchbuilding. Sorry, no in-progress shots, I was not thinking of documenting this. Honestly, this is a conglomeration of "well, I will fix just ONE more thing" and it snow balled...and everything black, white, or green is scratchbuilt.



I built a new mast because I could not stand to look at the kit offering...



The mast where it will go, but unattached. It is leaning too far back, due to lack of glue...

























Now, not everything is perfectly to scale. I did have some sense of timeliness as Mr. Lager is no young man and I would have hated for him to pass on before I could present it to him. He was 18 years old when he was on LCT-519 at D-day...so you can do the math...

The beginning of painting.



I originally made a wood base for it to sit on...

...but the wood base was not meant to be as it would not fit, with the ship, inside the case I needed to use. The finished, mounted, and cased build ready to give away.



and the beauty shots...

And I just came back from giving the model to Lowell Lager, US NAVY WWII Veteran. He served on LCT-519 at the D-Day landings as the supply clerk for the 4th LCT Flotilla and is one of the 2 last living members of the crew.

Now, that must have been a touching experience!

Also many compliments on an excellent build.

Cheers,
Joe

And so the ugly duck became a swan. Nice build from nothing Jacques. It sure looks like Mr. Lager is a very happy camper. Not only for his gift, but that some one remembered a time ago of stolen youth. That OLD OLD kit is, well old and shows the limits of the day. But it looks totaly like a different kit now. I P/U that kit about 10 years ago, wanted only the bottom hull. Converted it to a barage in 1/35th for a large 3 tier dio.. It sits in the, one of these days cabnit, along with another. So one of these days.

Wow, what a beauty, you sure did an incredible job on what wasn't even all that great a kit when it came out 50 years ago! Not only was it originally motorized but you even had to build the motor.

Great job, you really turned a sow's ear into a silk purse. Al

What, no Soviet tanks in there!? Very impressive work Jacques!