by Mark Taylor
1/100 LSM-156 (Scratchbuilt)
Here is a nice card model that a friend of mine designed from blue prints and photos. This Landing Ship Medium number 156 was my best friend's grandfather's ship when he served late in WWII in the Pacific. He was present for the invasion of Okinawa aboard No. 156. The model is fully card and paper, with edge coloring by acrylic paints to add to the realism. Some fittings are white metal, brass and resin like the single 40 mm bofor, the four 20 mm orlikons, cable reels, handrail stanchions, and draped hoses. The rails are painted denim thread, and the main mast is styrene plastic. The cargo is two Johnny Lightning Sherman tanks in matching 1/100 scale and the potable water tanks and fuel drums are resin castings by John R Haynes fittings. The canvas covered boxes are wood blocks, with painted fabric "tarps" made from cotton tee-shirt fabric. All in all it was a very satisfying and fun build. We presented my friend's grandfather with his ship recently on Father's Day and it was a real delight to see his face.
