by Nye Nava
1/700 HTMS Chang & HTMS Phetra (Pit-Road/Loose Cannon Productions)
HTMS Chang was ex-USS Lincoln City (LST-898), the LST-542 class. A ship was laid down 15/10/1944, launched 25/11/1944 and commissioned 29/12/1944. During WW-II, she was served in Asia-Pacific theater and decommissioned 9/05/1946, in the Philippines . USS LST-898 was recommissioned 26/08/1950 to served in Korean War. A ship was named USS Lincoln County 01/07/1955 and decommissioned 24/03/1961.
On 03/08/62 USS Lincoln City was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy and commissioned 31/08/1962, renamed HTMS Chang. A ship name is a large island in east coast of Thailand , where the historic scene of “ Battle of Ko(island) Chang”, which engaged with French-Indochina Fleet in 17/01/1941 morning. After 42 years of services she was decommissioned in late 2006 I made this kit together with HTMS Pangan with slightly different in weapon and deckhouse arrangement and finished in a month later.(May 2006)
HTMS Phetra (phe/tra) was ex-USS LCT-1089, the LCT-Mk6 class. A ship was laid down on 24/04/1944, launched 10/05/1944 and delivered 20/06/1944. After the war ended, a ship was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy 09/05/1948 and decommissioned 09/11/1948, renamed HTMS Phetra, a ship name is an island in an Andaman Sea . She is in service till this day.
A tiny kit is Loose Cannon Productions resin kit, contained 2 ships in a box with few parts which easily assembly. Too thick parts were removed and replaced with more crispy materials. Onboard and dockside equipments come from Battlefleet Model, spare box and scratch. Crew comes from Eduard pre-painted naval figures.
