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Jezioro Zegrzyńskie is dam lake about 20 km North from Warsaw. It is popular place of recreation for many people and base for inland yachtsmen. It is connected with Baltic Sea via Wisła river - over 400 kms by navigable but quite difficult river (it is I belive last great not-regulated Europe's river, I hope it still remain the same) and with a Mazurian Lakes as well. One of the boat-harbors there is Rynia. We can find there quite strange construction - an old barge. Today the barge is mainly store depot for yacht's parts, equpiment and so on. But its history is quite interesting. In 50' and 60' years it was floating theatre. Actors performed plays in small villages along the river. These villages were often very poor - without electricity and so on and for villagers it was first contact with art. But it is not all... One of the sailors (and professor as well) from Rynia recently reaserched barge's history. It appeared barge was modified in Płock (name of the town) river shipyard in 50's. When he visited Płock archive he discovered the barge originally was... LCT-2135 built in 1942 by Quincy Barge Builders. As http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/18/180135.htm states: Transferred, 16 November 1942, to the United Kingdom, under the Lend-Lease program HM LCT-2135 Armor plating added in early 1944 in the United Kingdom prior to Reverse Lend-Lease to the US Navy, redesignated LCT(A)-2135 LCT(A)-2135 was assigned to LCT Gunfire Support Group for the Invasion of Normandy LCT(A)-2135 was returned to the Royal Navy after the Invasion of Normandy Placed out of service, date unknown Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown LCT(A)-2135 earned one battle star for World War II service Returned, 2 December 1946, to the US State Department, Foreign Liquidation Commission Sold in June 1947 Final Disposition, fate unknown LCT(A)-2135 A US Army captain is reading General Eisenhower's address to his armies from the bridge of LCT(A)-2135 as troops and equipment are enroute to Utah Beach, 5 June 1944. LCT-2135 carried 13 jeeps, 6 armored cars, 2 small trucks, 1 tank, and 80 men for to the invasion beaches at Normandy. LCT(A)-2135 moored at Saas-Van-Ghent, Belgium, date unknown. In 1950 Polish Navy gained a few ex-allies landing craft: 12 LCP(L), 11 LCT(5) and 3 LCM(5). There were a few ex-german landing vessels too. I hope you found this story interesting for me it is absolutely fascinating due to so different, contrast historical and culture dimensions. It is generally unknown in Poland, I found it in newest polish "Polityka" weekly. https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/historia/2120469,1,niezwykle-dzieje-rynskiej-barki.read (unfortunantely only in polish). I found such state about LCT-7074, I think "our" story is similar: Best regards, Michał.

Hi All, Initial plan was to backdate Tamiya's HMS Nelson to its 1944 fit when she bombarded the French coast just after D-Day - Unfortunately, it'll take too much work so I'll save her for another day. Keeping with the floaty thing theme though, I'll have a second go at Airfix's LCVP - This time in the RN multicolour scheme. Second go? I did one a couple of years back for the August Blitzbuild Here. A nice simple little kit which I can enjoy a second time and hopefully at a less frenetic pace... KR's IanJ

Just seen this announcement, that PoW (first) then QE will be converted to have Assault Ship facilities as well as their carrier roles. As PoW is still fitting out, she will have the work done before commissioning; with QE to be converted at first refit. Scroll down the link for reference to having "light landing craft" added. Now, do I wait for kits to come out for the carrier version and get two, one of which to convert; or do I scratchbuild a carrier and a carrier/amphib?

LCM3 50ft Landing Craft & 4x4 Off Road Vehicle 1:35 Revell - Limited Edition The LCM (or Landing Craft Mechanised)3 50ft Landing craft was a very simple vessel, basically just a box to carry troops, cargo, vehicles etc with a small bridge at the back above the engine compartment. it is estimated over 8000 were produced by the allies and it was used in a wide variety of landings. The Jeep (yes we all know its a Jeep but Revell don't want to pay royalties for calling it such!) was produced in vast numbers (over 800,000) and saw service in all theatres of WWII. It was robust and light weight, its four wheel drive system enabled it to go almost anywhere, It is probably one of the most recognised vehicles in the world. The LCM 3 Kit. This is another Revell release of an Italeri tool which dates back to 2004. The kit arrives as one large hull part with an additional 5 sprues of parts. The one part hull moulding is impressive and well moulded. The checker plate (or Durbar plate if you prefer) for the main deck is very moulded. Three figures are provided but these look a little oversized and are only in US dress. Construction of the LCM starts underneath the main hull. The propeller shafts, propellers and supporting brackets are added. At the same time a few details such as inspection covers and drain exit holes are added to the main hull. Thing then move to creating the interior of the LCM. The rear bulk head has its ladder attachments added. The sides have some detail attached and then these are attached to the main floor, the rear bulkhead is then added. Once these three sides of the interior are together they can be added into the main hull. Various deck fittings (Lifting eyes, bollards, ventilation ducts, hatches are added at this point, along with a large deck plate at the rear. The steering hosing is constructed and enclosed in an armoured box which protected the helmsman. If modelling the US Navy version then two .50 CAL heavy machine guns and their mounts are constructed and added forward of the helm position. Next the ramp of the landing craft is constructed and added. It can be placed in either the raised or lowered position. The line supplied from the kit can then be added as the cables for the ramp. If wanted a stand is supplied if you don't want to model the LCM as part of a diorama. The Jeep This again is an Italeri Kit. However the mould for this one dates back to the 1970's. While its not a bad kit, it is certainly not upto the standards of the LCM. The figures (A driver, standing figure with a carbine, and a kneeling figure with a recoilless rifle), certainly are poor. Construction of the Jeep starts with the radiator and grill. These are joined together. Next the main body of the Jeep is assembled. The sides, back, and grill parts are added to the floor pan along with the dash area of the vehicle. After the body is assembled construction moves to the chassis. First off the front and rear axles complete with leaf spring suspension units are made up. These can then be attached to the one part chassis. Once complete the chassis and body can be mated together. Gas strut dampers are then added between the body and chassis, and the exhaust parts are also added. The wheels are attached at this stage. The wheels are a single part with separate hub to allow them to move. If wanted the next stage is to make up the engine. If you are just going to close the bonnet this does not need to be made up. The engine is a six part affair and looks pretty good for the time frame. If the modeller is going to display the bonnet open then I would suggest some scratch building of hoses etc would be needed. Finally to finish of the Jeep the bonnet is added, along with the seats, mirrors, external tools and the windscreen (can be lowered or raised). The dash,steering column and wheel are then added along with the spare wheel and rear mounted jerrican. The last item to be fitted again needs a choice. The top can be up with a two-part moulded top, or down with just the rails attached to the body. A trailer is also supplied for the Jeep in the kit. This is a one part body and one part chassis onto which the suspension and wheels are added. The trailer is finished off with some lights and mountings. Decals Decals are provided for two different countries. For US you get US Navy markings for the LCM from Operation Overlord, and decals for the Jeep used by Two Star Major General CH Gerhardt. He commanded the US 29th Division at D-Day. For the British you get markings for a Royal Navy LCM3 used during The Invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch), and a Jeep used as the Personal Transport for Rear Admiral Royal Navy Depot Portsmouth. Conclusion The LCM will make upto an impressive sized model, I am told a little scratch building will be needed to create an accurate British LCM but this is well within the means of a moderate modeller. The jeep is also a good kit and the two can be made into a great looking diorama. Overall recommended. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

Thought I'd post some pictures taken at IPMS Inspirational . . . Kev

Would anyone happen to know where I might find details of colours/camo schemes as used on RN landing craft for Operation Overlord or for the Rhine Crossing. I have a Turmpeter LCM3 and the new Airfix Higgins LCVP and was wondering if it would be correct to scale up the scheme for the LCVP to the LCM3? Thanks in advance for any guidence.

Just seen the announcement on PMMS here it just gets better and better