The punch list on the diorama is shrinking. On Saturday, Jeff Hammer stopped by and installed most of the remaining barbed wire sections.
Meanwhile, I started scratch building the Landing Craft Tank Mk 5 (LCT) number 2227. I decided to use styrene parts applied to an acrylic base. I cut the acrylic base on my laser. I also used the laser to cut some of the larger styrene parts. However, the laser cannot cut small parts, especially those with sharp angles. So it was time to…
GET TO THE CHOPPA!
It has been a while since I scratch built using stryene since most of the work on the Aquia Line I do with wood. I have an old NWSL Chopper that has seen better days. But it did a good enough job for this model.
One of these days I need to upgrade the the Ultimation Slicer. It is a great tool. I have the Ulimation Sander and Repeater. That is an excellent tool for working with styrene and wood. Some of my friends have heSlicer and say it vert handy.
I used some photo-etched stanchions and 0.015 inch phosphor bronze wire that I had on hand to make the hand rails. They are very sturdy with just CAA. I had a set of stairs and some plastic ladders in my spare box that worked.
I printed some additional parts such as the life raft, watertight doors, bollards, and vents. I added lots of punched styrene disks and other small plastic parts.
The LCT lost its ramp during the fighting due to a mortar strike after the tanks unloaded. It became beached in the shallow water for quite a while. Its anchor also malfunctioned. While it was stranded, it received numerous hits, some which created holes. But none of the crew were injured, as they stayed in the armored part of the hull until they could get moving again.
