A Photo: GMC in North Africa 1942 (edited)

As I'm putting all together for my Operation Torch LCM 3, I thought an original photo of a GMC truck could be nice to see. The photo is showing some american soldiers of the 82 Airborne preparing for a jump in North Africa, late 1942. The only visible structural difference from my Academy truck is the omission of an engine vent tube on the right hand side. Source: United States Army via WW2 Database.

Ed. Found this photo on the cover of US Special Forces of WW 2, published by Arms and armour press. The caption says photo is of paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne preparing themselves to jump at Salerno in September 1943. Our friend Google found some answer for us and it seems like this latter caption is right. 82nd did jump on Salerno from bases on Sicily, and Steven Zaloga's Osprey Vanguard No 39 says the yellow circle marking was common on Sicily. Or does some of you have any other explanation...? But it is easy to see why someone would believe that the photo was taken in North Africa as the yellow circle was also added to the insignia on American aircrafts during the Torch landings in 1942.

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 8

I thought I was too tired to work on my Torch project tonight but I did well anyway. Put a coat of Vallejo olive drab all over the truck, inside and out. After that I picked all bags out in different shades of olive greens. Added a bit of tan and yellow sand as I went in order to break up the load's uniformity.

Of course I had to test the truck in the cargo hold to see how the colours went with the landing craft's white and dark grey. Just perfect! Now all is about wrapping the whole thing up. In this photo you can see the little handles I made yesterday.

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 7

OK fellows, the load has dried and a few sacks got a tiny handle of paper although it can't be seen here. The US flag is printed on ordinary paper and will be attached to the right hand side window as a 'Don't shoot, we're the nice guys!' kind of mark. On the hood I'll put a white star on a dark blue background, I found a decal of the right size. Before I can paint the lot I'll have to paint the inside of the driver's compartment, add windows and a piece of canvas over the front grille. Now, where on earth are the little fire extinguisher i scratched before...

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 6

Loaded my GMC truck tonight. Lots of small sacks are the reason for the 6x6 to hitch a ride to the beach. Rolled a long fat string of Milliput and made about 50 sacks. In order not to make a too heavy load I lined the insides of the cargo hold with Milliput and put a lid of plasticard before covering the whole lot with my little sacks. I'll let this dry a day or so and then start next painting session. Pressed the end of a brush handle to sculpt each end of the sacks to make them stand out a bit more. A bit of water was taking the finger prints away as Milliput tends to show such blemishes quite well.

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 5

Just have to show you all I'm not sleeping but doing my best to finish this LCM. A bit of filtering and rust staining were done this evening. About time I start on painting the GMC 6x6 truck.

By the way, I got a Trumpeter LCM 3 in a parcel from UK today. Now I got all parts for a new LCM project in 1/72. Eh, you say I'm busy doing something else? Yes, I got Trumpeter's LCM in 1/48 half built and waiting for the Torch tub to cross the finish line.

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 4

I had set my mind on doing a red LCM code on the bow, just like the one in the head of this blog. The individual LCM in the photo is by the way same as Revell has included in its boxing of Italeri's LCM in 1/35. However, I changed my mind for two reasons: I will do another British LCM in the future with a red code and the one I finally choose is rather unusual. So, I did a bit of measuring on a photo copy and drew a small sketch in actual size on a piece of paper.

This sketch was pondered upon and decided to be of proper dimensions. A few pencil lines were drawn on the model.



A very fine brush, a bottle of Vallejo Model Air Black and some time later I had my code on the model.

This was repeated on the starboard side as well. Same size, same dimensions. There is a bit of retouching to do before totally done.

I have no idea if this code was placed on the stern or any other place but no other LCM from the Torch landings seems (as far as I can conclude from photos I have seen) to have had a code on any other place than on the sides.

Now, on to the fun part: weathering!

Prague, April 2012, Pt 1

 

Went for a little tour to Prague this week. By pure chance I found out about the army museum being just a few blocks away from my hotel. This great museum is a must if you ever find yourself being in Prague and is mostly on the world wars. A wall had a some posters printed to boost the British morale during the WW 2 period. The above is showing an invasion in the Mediterranean theatre of operations. But is it the landing in North Africa in 1942 or is it the invasion in South of France1944? Can't tell for sure...

This one is showing a scene from the Lofoten commando raid in 1941. British troops blew up a considerable amount of oil, trashed the harbour, grabbed a number of prisoners and brought back a bunch of willing and able Norwegians for combat training on British soil.

This one is also showing a scene from the Mediterranean battlegrounds. But from where is is supposed to be? The invasion of Sicily was the first usage of DUKW amphibious trucks.

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 2

After a good base layer of black I airbrushed brown earth in a grid pattern to break up the monotony.

As you can see the hull has now a layer of white in a number of shades. A compact layer wouldn't be fun to watch so I had to work on it a bit .

Now I'll let everything rest a couple of days, have a new look at things, touch up areas I think need a bit more paint and then carry on doing the top sides. Dark grey, anyone?

On the bench; LCM 3, Operation Torch 1942, part 1

Since mid December 2011 I have been working on an LCM 3 project. It is Trumpeter's little boat in 1/72 that's getting some extra attention. It will be loaded with an early GMC 2 ½ truck in its hold. I saw a photo in a book showing a truck being off loaded from an LCM 3 during Operation Torch in North Africa and felt this was something for me to make a model of.

The truck from Academy got a bit of extra details added as per the photo; some tube on the side coming out of the hood, a fire extinguisher and some copper wire to add some sense of detail on the winch.

A bit of extra work has to be done to make it into a Royal Navy LCM. Anti-splinter padding on the wheel-house, an anchor windlass, special ramp wire holders sticking up like horns on a rein deer.

The skegs got some extra attention. Supporting struts were glued to each side as you can see here. As far as I know the propellers should have only three blades each, not four as in the Trumpeter kit. Do I care? Nah.

And the wire holders in the front. 

A book; Amphibious Assault, Manoeuvre from the Sea

Amphibious Assault, Manoeuvre from the sea, edited by Tristan Lovering

If only buying one book on amphibious operations this would be the one, that's for sure. Covering the history of landing soldiers on a hostile coast in the old days to the recent actions in Iraq this hefty piece of old school information is not something you read while taking a bath but rather sit down by a table reading it as the text book it is on how to do it as a professional. A lot of text, a large number of good maps and a fair dose of photos makes up a must have if you're seriously bitten by the amphibious bug. Read more at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBR/is_4_38/ai_n31591250/

Much recommended.