Howdy Fellas,

Gino, many thx for the kind words. Even though neither probably applies.......I still owe you a 'fiver' for the thought...

As to your input John, I don't in any way take it as a "negative". On the contrary, I warmly welcome another set of eyes on this project since my reference material is somewhat lacking. Although, another kind member (95bravo) has come to the rescue with what promises to be, a pretty helpful video.

Since I've already committed to the Trumpeter kit I have no intention of switching now. But your accuracy input regarding the Italeri offering is quite helpful. Maybe mother, who's planning on sharing in the pain, can profit from this and choose the Italeri kit instead.
The funny thing about all this is that I plan to depict my Tango with a Seawolf Huey sittin on it's helo deck unloading/loading something or other. So the boat will be sitting quite low in the water. If I'd been half the "modeling master" I'd have savced myself the trouble of building a full-hull version of my wee beastie......now wouldn't I?

Anyway, I've learned a tremendous amount so far on this endeavour, and plan to learn a whole lot more!..........isn't that what it's ALL about?....

Tread.

{Updates coming........}

Tread, I really want to thank you for sharing this project. I've never been a big fan of BWN, but after seeing all the pics, I realize there was a lot more to it than I thought. I'll probably pick up that old Squadron book on the subject now. Keep the pics flowing !

Hi Gordon!

Any pics of the work so far?

Skipper

Howdy skipper,

Many thx for your interest, I wasn't entirely sure if you liked the BWN subject matter. Glad to hear you're curious.

I've been trying to get enough progress done to justify some 'in-progress' shots. I've been a bit bogged down with getting the accuracy of the hull down to at least a close proximity of the original plan. Our good jRatz has cast his critical eye upon this build like the flaming eye of Sauron, so I have to at least try to get it close......... just pullin' yer leg John.

But as an update; I' ve taken a page out of my fine woodworking books and decided to build up the exterior hull applique floatation buldges by laminating multiple layers of .80 sheet styrene cut to shape on either side of the exterior surface of the main hull (this takes multiple overnight clamping exercise's).
Once these laminated layers are sufficiently cured, I will proceed to file and sand these to an approximation of the form of the finished Tango hull, and then begin the process of applying putty and sanding it to the right shape. Once this is performed to my satisfaction I will then turn the completed new main hull section upside down and trace the outer perimeter of the main deck outline out of .40 sheet stock making sure to maintain a frontal reference point based upon the internal 'tub'.
Once this is cut from the sheet, I will then place the prebuilt 'tub' onto the traced out pattern lined up with the premarked reference points and commence to trace out the inside 'tub' demarcation line. Then I will place this new main deck piece on top of the reconfigured lower hull and glue it down.

At this point I will have the complete new lower section built and ready for the addition of the new (already cut) upper 'tub' walls and raised main deck section (the section that the wheelhouse sits on top of).

That's all so far.......just as soon as I take some pics, I will share them.

Tread.

Before I was attacked by the Sub Fever I was making all the available (at the time) PT's, MTB's, Elco's and Schnellboots in 1/72, and finnaly a PBR (Tamiya) woke me up to that interesting area!
I must agree that Apocalypse Now helped a little

And yes, I am really curious how your project will came out
As I have told you on a different post, I have a similar project (still in the project fase, but with all the models needed in the BoxPyle) for a Portuguese LDM (similar to US LCM6) used in our Colonial War in Guinea-Bissau and in Angola in the 1960's and 70's

Skipper

Howdy skipper,

Thx for stopping by Your mention of the smaller watercraft start's up my diesel engines there pardner. I still think a Campaign / Group Build focused in that direction would be a surprisingly good idea. And, to be perfectly honest with you, if it doesn't 'sell' here, there are other places to toss it on the table.
This is not meant as a shrug to Armorama. All it is is an attempt to give the kind of effort involved with a nifty little build like this a proper home. After all.....it is called Armorama......right?

Heck skip....you could run the flag up on this to include U.S. and Confederate 'Iron' and 'Tin' clad ships, not to mention an amazing assortment of 'coast hugging' early century ships........don't ya think?

My recent pushing for a BWN build could easily be twisted and turned to include the blockade runners of the U.S. Civil War vintage. You could even (apologies skipper, I've just come home from a long day, and am a bit tuckered out, so my synapse's are a likewise 'tired') get really CRAZY and expand that to early sailing vessels............
{..........rubbing temples......}

Nah!.....never mind.

Tread.

True true Gordon!

We could make it almost time unlimited, just paying attention of the purpose of the boat :-)

Well, my efforts for a BWN campaign had "failled" and the Campaign was kind of "merged" with Lestweforget's Welcome to the Nam Campaign...

I still don't know what will be my entry...
All I know is that would be a "wet" one

Skipper

You know...until I began hanging around you guys...I would have never even considered it. But you know, I've developed this...urge..to build one of those crazy things.


Momma momma can't you see?.....what Armorama's done to me...momma momma can't you see?.......your left...your left.......your military left!

Howdy fellas,

".......the Campaign was kind of "merged" with Lestweforget's Welcome to the Nam Campaign........."

Hey, nothing wrong with that pard'. Merging it with the 'Welcome to the 'Nam' Campaign is a good idea as well. Maybe entering a couple of BWN piece's might whet some appetite's........ya never know.

And Steven said.....

".....But you know, I've developed this...urge..to build one of those crazy things......"

If I can be of any help to you in that regard 95bravo, don't hesitate to ask. I've done a decent amount of research regarding the ships of that period (Ironclads), and have really grown a real admiration for them. There are several I have in mind, but have a particular interest in the ironclad paddlewheeler's and masted ironclads.
If you give me a wee while I'll try to download some pics into my post later if you're interested?

Tread.

Oh, and here's a quick pic of the sheet of 0.60 sheet stock I've marked for cutting out the hull plates that will be laminated to the sides of the LCM hull to form the applique floatation buldges. There will be 10 (ten) per side.......

Ahoy All!

Yes Gordon
I also considered this merging of Campaigns a good thing
Actually, they are the same :-)

Skipper

Thanks Gordon!
You can just plan on me asking questions then.
I noticed that Squadron has a bunch of ironclad kits on sale this month. I might just pick up one or two.

See ya
Steve

"....You can just plan on me asking questions then....."

No worries Steve, and if you want to pick up a model of one of these beasties that's dandy. Maybe I could coax you into pulling some measurements off of it for me...

I've been working on some preliminary drawings for a couple of ironclads I found interesting. The first is the USS Lafayette Union ironclad. She was a converted Army transport steamboat which had a pretty descent career serving at places like Vicksburg.



I just think her lines are quite interesting....

This other is the USS Osage. She is of the 'Neosho' Class of ships, another unique configuration of a both a stern-wheeler and a monitor configuration. In fact, the Osage is credited with the first use of a periscope in naval combat (a trivia question I was going to post over on the Warship 'JEOPARDY' thread.... ).



I just find them very interesting.......

Tread.