Landing Craft Infantry (Large) Royal Navy "98" - 1/350

[robgizlu]

Well it's been a while since I wrote a thread so with the Autumn term well underway here goes with Black Cat Models' second iteration of the LCI (Large).

These vessels ran from 1 - 349 and a large number were requisitioned by the Royal Navy.

It differed from later variants in having a lower angled bridge rather than the round "Castle" from the later variants that I depicted here

 

 

I really enjoyed the last kit so "98" will be the second and there'll be a third along soon.

 

I stumbled across the "Sprue Cutters Union" podcast recently which features amongst others, Chris Meddings, a superb modeller and ediotr of the E-magazine Ship modeller.  It's well worth a listen though light on maritime subjects.  Much discussion was recently had about the inspirational effect of original photos and the boost they can provide for modellers - I agree.  We are lucky to have some superb images of LCI RN 98 courtesy pf the Imperial War Museum collection.  She was delivered and commissioned  by the RN in November 1942 - likely sailed across the Atlantic by a British crew from her place of building at Hingham Massachusetts.

 

 

Here she is in UK waters at a site unknown and certainly unrecognised by me.  She remains in "USA" colours that I take to be Ocean Grey hull and Haze Grey topsides.  It's notable how grubby and worn she is.

 

 

 

I find the photos very evocative and have wanted to build her since I first saw them.

 

Here's a further photo of a sister vessel with a slightly different scheme though likely same colours

 

 

"98" is unusual in having her main mast aft and a fore mast at the bridge.  Here's a plan diagram indicating that some might have been fitted with Staysails though I've found no photographic evidence to support this

 

 

References

 

Nav Sourcehttp://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/15idx.htm

 

Landing Craft Infantry and support - Rottman & Bull - Osprey Publishing

 

Weathering Brief

 

I plan for this to to be as mucky and worn as the photos illustrate

 

So here's the kit which is very similar to the previous release 

 

 

 

 

Decals will clearly need to be sourced from somewhere else!

 

The Black cat instructions are pictorial and very user-friendly

 

 

 

 

 

I'd previously formed a base whilst working on "375"

 

 

The sea sculpt is acheived by simply pressing in the hasp of the padlock multiple times

 

It's a pretty straightfrward job to free the hull from the casting cradle - so it's an off and nice to be blogging again 

 

 

 

 

 

More soon 

Thanks for looking

Rob

[dnl42]

Looking forward to another wonderful build. 

[JohnWS]

Hi, Rob.  Great to see you back with another ship.   I'll be following along to watch the master at work.

 

John

[Goji308]

Pulling up a chair and I’m looking forward to your project.   All the best to you.  

[Courageous]

A nice little subject to start the ball rolling there Rob. Your builds are always a must to watch , carry on good sir .

 

Stuart

[beefy66]

Great to see you back building on here again and another very interesting subject will be taking notes.  

 

Stay Safe 

beefy 

[Faraway]

You have just gained another ‘watcher’. As you know I’ve just taken delivery of this kit, so I’ll hold off building until I’ve watched your progress. 
So chair drawn up.

Jon

[Mcdood]

If this is anything like 375, it will be a great model, looking forward to seeing it develop. 
Martin. 

[longshanks]

Hi Phantom

Enough swanning around matey, time to get down to some real work.......  

 

Stay safe and avoid the numpties

 

Kev

[Faraway]

@robgizlu I forgot to ask. Where do you get the styrofoam from ?

Jon

[robgizlu]

Thanks Fellas - that is a nice welcome back!!

 

8 hours ago, Faraway said:

@robgizlu I forgot to ask. Where do you get the styrofoam from ?

Jon

 

Jon - 4D Models https://modelshop.co.uk/  the dark grey is not as easy to work with as the pale cream but easier to sculp with sand paper and tougher - on balance I prefer the softer cream coloured variety.

HTH

Rob

[Iceman 29]

Glad to read you again, Rob, this is going to be a great topic! 😜

[Adm Lord De Univers]

On 27/10/2021 at 20:17, robgizlu said:

Jon - 4D Models https://modelshop.co.uk/  the dark grey is not as easy to work with as the pale cream but easier to sculp with sand paper and tougher - on balance I prefer the softer cream coloured variety.

HTH

I use this type from 4d models too, but I take it outside and take a lighter to it.

 

David

[robgizlu]

Thanks for all your kind comments - you ARE a nice bunch 

 

Solderman (Jon) nice to see a face .  I rather think it should be obligatory.  

 

So having attended the Avon show back in August and being very impressed with the standard of entries, as a little divertissement - I dug this out of the back of the cupboard and it's has occupied me for the last few months in between lots of non-modelling events and sheer overload at work.

 

 

Should just say by way of chat that I've been to the cinema twice in the last 5 days - not having been for at least 4-5 yrs previously 

Saw "No time to die" which was enjoyable and worth seeing but more importantly saw Dune yesterday.  Wow, in fact thrice Wow.  Spectacular and outstanding particulary with Hans Zimmer's soundtrack on a cinema set up.  Highly recommended, can't wait for part 2 which apparently has now been green-lighted given that this part one has reached a threshold of success.

 

So back in the marine modelling groove I managed to get a few hours in today.  I'll air my reflections about this particular vessel so that should anyone build "98" after me they can work with disagree or add to my analysis.

As I said in the previous thread - we are lucky to have 2 very fine IWM images which to me at least are highly inspirational.  "98" was an early version so let's go back to the pictures and analyse what needs adding or subtracting fro the Black Cat base kit

 

 

Blue - Small derrick that needs adding - peculiar to "98".  No bow anchor visible

Red  - No Landing/beaching ramps present at this time

Black - 2 masts, once again peculiar to the very early vessels with a third at the bow that I presume was there to rig an aerial.  The main (aft) mast is surprisingly wide and robust

 

These vessels were brought across the Atlantic and the hull grime is testament to a well used "working vessel".  The items just foward of the bridge on the outer walk are chairs for troop seating.  She still carries US style rafts.  Some pics show RN Carley floats instead

 

 

Yellow - These are definitely depth charges that don't appear on later variants certainly not those pictured around D-day. This ship arrived UK in Nov 42 and you wonder what it's duties were up till D-day.  Whilst training for beach landings would have been obligatory, I wonder if she was used on escort duties or harbour defence given the 4 x 20mm oerlikons - it would certainly explain the depth charges.

Orange - I intially thougth this was another depth charge but under higher magnification it's larger and appears to be an oil drum?

 

White - I've no idea what this round wheel shaped object is.  ?emergency wheel - anyone got any ideas?

Red -  there's an object on the covered deck gangway - no diea what it is ??  I initially thought that these hatchways were cloth as per the Fairmiles but they do seem to be solid.

Notably there are no chimney vents at the aft superstructure and jst abaft the bridge structure - other vessels had these ( Parts 65 and 68 for the LCI 125 Black Cat build)

 

Here they are on 127

 

 

and here's another IWM photo of an unnamed LCI at ?Malta showing the chimney stovepipe (yellow)

 

 

Black - she's carring depth charges in a different la out.

Red - Evidence that the ship's dinghy was stowed amidships on occasions.  some pics fail to show the dinghy or it's propped up againt the one of the fwd Deck hatch covers.

 

So - on with the build.  The number of superstructure portholes varied, "98" appears to have only one each side which is drilled and then presented with a scuttle.

 

 

I spent quite a bit of time running the reverse side of a no11 blade along the flat sides to remove the printing "lines".  Some fine sanding sticks further complete this and it seems worth doing.

 

Black Cat Models don't do 20mm Oelikons with barrels raised.  This is how they appear most commonly in wartime photos so with apologies to Ben - I've opted to use a mix of Micromaster who provide "raised" oerlikons and Black Cat.  In truth the Micromaster are more detailed and have casing bags.  The Black Cat have straighter barrels and are slightly less fragile.

 

 

All the LCI variants seem to share these fiddly girders at the bow

 

 

The IWM photos show that the masts were tapered and I find the Master 1/700 offerings ideal for these smaller 1/350 vessels

 

 

Heights were proportioned from the schematic plan pictured earlier 

 

 

BTW the Superstructure and bridge sat very squarely and neatly with only the minimum of sanding needed.  That Ben makes exceedingly good Models!

Trying to bring some order to this build I detached all the pieces needed in the (likely vain) hope that I will only need to prime and paint everything in one single go.  Because Ben has designed generic sprues so as to cater for a  3 LCI variants - there are a lot of pieces that are left over - invaluable for the spares box to detail future builds 

 

So - first primer over everything....

 

 

and I've found a use for used lateral flow tests..........

 

 

Here she is primed 

 

 

and here's "My study in grey"

 

 

I'm enjoying this - I think they were wonderful craft - utilitarian and essentially throwaway, though many survive still.

 

HMS Colombo has been released and those Big Boys came round and made me..................

 

 

Coming soon to Matthews shipyards.

 

And very finally - after listening to the "Sprue Cutter's Union" podcast, when they lauded VMS varnishes, I thought I'd try some, and true to their recommendation I found the satin sprayed beautifully on the GR.5 build.

 

 

Highly recommended!!

 

Thanks for looking and don't forget Dune  

Rob

[Courageous]

51 minutes ago, robgizlu said:

not having been for at least 4-5 yrs previously 

Saw "No time to die" which was enjoyable and worth seeing but more importantly saw Dune yesterday.

Now that's just freaky, this mirrors my own recent cinema activity and although I enjoyed Dune like first time round, I wasn't prepared a part one ending. How the h@ll did I miss that, hope we haven't got to wait to long for the next part.

Back to the build and she's moving along quickly.

 

Stuart

[Adm Lord De Univers]

Thanks for the Dune and Bond recs, seems like I'm going to the cinema - twice - then. Were those depth charges present at dday? Seems slightly strange to have them with troops onboard, but useful for using these ships in a different role outside landing and/or as a decoy in aerial reconnaissance?

 

David

[robgizlu]

22 hours ago, Adm Lord De Univers said:

Thanks for the Dune and Bond recs, seems like I'm going to the cinema - twice - then. Were those depth charges present at dday? Seems slightly strange to have them with troops onboard, but useful for using these ships in a different role outside landing and/or as a decoy in aerial reconnaissance?

 

David

 

David - they do not seem to be present on most of the D-Day ships.

Rob

[beefy66]

On 11/2/2021 at 8:21 PM, robgizlu said:

Saw "No time to die" which was enjoyable and worth seeing but more importantly saw Dune yesterday.

 

Watched Dune at the weekend not at the Cinema and was a little bored by it but as missus b keeps telling me I am turning into a right old grump so have just ordered a Grinch suite for Christmas and told her no presents for her this year I think they said 6 weeks before the cast can come off.  

 

Seriously good information you have here on these very important ships Rob and looking forward to more progress carry on Sir grand Job.  👍

 

Stay Safe

beefy

 

 

[Courageous]

3 minutes ago, beefy66 said:

6 weeks before the cast can come off

Who's, yours or Mrs B?

 

Stuart

[beefy66]

11 minutes ago, Courageous said:

Who's, yours or Mrs B?

 

Mine she does not take no for an answer no matter how hard I try.  

 

Stay Safe and if the missus picks up the rolling pin RUN

beefy

[robgizlu]

Yes.....quite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks fro looking

Rob

[beefy66]

These little ships just seem to fly together great work so far and very neat paint job.👍

 

Stay Safe

beefy

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

The thought of sailing one of those across the Atlantic does not fill me with glee!  Lovely work, though

[Danny L]

Hi  Rob,

Another  great  model  on  the  way.

 

Below  are  some  comments  on  a  couple  of  things  and  a  potted  history  on  LCI(L)  98.

 

Regards

 

Danny

 

 

Blue - Small derrick that needs adding - peculiar to "98".  No bow anchor visible

Portable  anchor  davit.  It  does  not  show  up  in  many  photos  but  the  deck  fitting  for  it  does,  a  piece  of  tube  about  12  to  18  inches  high.

 

Black - 2 masts, once again peculiar to the very early vessels with a third at the bow that I presume was there to rig an aerial.  The main (aft) mast is surprisingly wide and robust

Bow  mast.  “Antenna  Pole  Starboard  for  boats”  97  to  136.  161  to  187.  239  to  318.

 

Orange - I intially thougth this was another depth charge but under higher magnification it's larger and appears to be an oil drum?

“55 Gal  gas  tank”.  Some  carried  more  than  one  in  the  stern  area.

 

White - I've no idea what this round wheel shaped object is.  ?emergency wheel - anyone got any ideas?

Wheel.  It  could  be  a  “spare”.  Just  above  the  rudders  there  is  a  “Steering  Gear  Room”  and  a  large  piece of  kit (motor and hele shaw pump ?)  with  a  wheel  on  it  of  a  similar  size.

 

Red -  there's an object on the covered deck gangway - no idea what it is ??  I initially thought that these hatchways were cloth as per the Fairmiles but they do seem to be solid.

Oerlikon  spare  gun  barrel  box.  It  was  supposed  to  mounted  on  the  deck  but  some  were  mounted  in  this  position.

 

 

LCI(L) 98

LCI(L)  98  Left  the  USA  towards  the  end  of  December  1942  and  arrived  in  Plymouth  in  the  middle  of  January  1943.  One  of  the  first  LCI(L)  to  arrive  in  the  UK.

 

Remained  in  the  Plymouth  Command  until  the  end  of  April  1943.  While  there  she  went  to  Appledore  where  a  series  of  trials  were  carried  out.

 

In  May  1943  she  moved  to  the  Portsmouth  area  and  came  under  Force “J”.  Temporarily  attached  to  200  LCI  Flotilla.  The  rest  of  this  Flotilla  was  made  up  of  LCI(S).

 

Still  under  Force “J”  she  sailed  to  Chatham at  the  beginning  of  August 1943  to  be  converted  to  a  “Stand-by  HQ  ship”.  The  refit  was  completed  on  the  15th  September  and  for  a  short  period  she  was  classed  as  a  “Landing  Craft  Control”.

 

She  left  Chatham  around  the  middle  of  September  and  went  to  Southampton.  After  moving  to  Cowes  in  October  1943  she  was  reclassed  as  a  “Landing  Ship  Headquarters”.

 

LCH 98  was  one  of  the  first  four  LCI(L)  to  be  converted  to  LCH.  The  other  three  were  167,  168  and  239.

 

Still  part  of  Force “J”  LCH 98  moved  a  short  distance  to  Portsmouth  in  February  1944.

 

Around  the  15th  April  she  became  part  of  “K”  LCT  Squadron,  Assault  Group “J” 1,  Force “J”.

 

On  the  6th  June  she  was  operating  off  Nan  Green  Beach,  Juno  Area.  The  CO  was   Lt  L.F.  Stinton,  RNVR  and  the  1st  Lt  was  S/Lt  F,  Baines,  RNVR.  On  board  was  Commander  R.F.C.  Struben,  RN,  the  DSOAG  Nan  Green  Beach.

 

LCH 98  remained  in  Normandy  until  the  third  week  in  August  1944  and  then  returned  to  Southampton.

 

At  the  end  of  October  she  became  part  of  the  Support  Squadron  Eastern  Flank.  Allocated  to  HMS  Turtle.

 

On  the  1st  November  she  took  part  in  “Operation  Infatuate  II”  as  part  of  the  Support  Squadron  Eastern  Flank.

 

By  December  1945  she  was  back  in  Plymouth  and  part  of  280  LCI(L)  Flotilla,  Plymouth  Command.

 

LCH 98  Sailed  for  New  York  in  early  January  1945  for  redelivery  to  the  USA  arriving  around  the  beginning  of  March  1946.

Edited November 19, 2021 by Danny L
date

[robgizlu]

Danny - always great to hear from you and your knowledge and insights are invaluable !

 

Thanks for all of the above - This sort of detail is what makes ship modelling so rewarding.

 

The round of drinks I owe you at the bar is rapidly expanding 

Best 

Rob