Hi everyone,

Does anyone out there have an interest in the Riverine craft from the Vietnam war?

I'm on the look out for scale drawings of the various boats used by the US forces. One day, I plan to make one of each.

I have been on with a couple of scratch builds for a few years now, but have had to put them on hold due to a new job and a new home. I will soon have my new modelling area up and runing, and hope to get back on schedule soon.

I've posted a few images in the gallery section of kitmaker.net if anyone is interested (under "fordy"). Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

I'll try to post a few images here....





Above is my attempt at a Monitor in 1/35. It's made from a lump of wood, some 50mm drain pipe, a lot of plastic card and some steel wire! Approximate dimensions only - guesswork based on images availble on the web.



A start at a PACV in 1/35. All from plastic card. I'm a little worried about tackling the curved areas for above the cabin and the engine/prop shaft - any suggestions please?

Happy modelling,
Fordy

Dear Fordy
Very nice piece of Scratch
impressive really

keep working
seb

Hi J Ford

First I would like to Welcome you to Armorama!
You scratchbuilt models look good and you'll see that there are a number of Riverine Forces Fans (me included).

You'll see you will get good feedback from the guys!

Have you painted the Monitor already or is it still "raw"?

As for your question about the curve next to the cockpit / cabin I would suggest small sections of plasticcard and for the engine make a thick block of plastic card and then sand away until the proper shape is achieved!

I am looking forward to see your progress and please keep in thouch - drop by Warships too

Skipper

Damn Fordy, that is a pretty impressive introduction!
Love your Monitor, make sure you post some pictures of it when it is painted.

Erik

And welcome to Armorama

I am a Brown Water Navy fan too. As stated above, there are a few of us here. Great looking monitor and the HooverCraft is looking good too.

I have all the plans and pieces for either a Monitor or an ATC. Might do a Zippo Boat. Just need to get started on it, sometime...

Gordon "Treadhead" Rain has been working on an ATC(H) a while back too. His was coming along great, but haven't seen him here in a while.

Both your projects look good, but I particularly like the hovercraft. I've just always had a thing for these crafts. Can you point me to where you got the plans for it. I'd love to try something like that one of these days.
Keep us posted with your progress.

Those look darned good. There is an outfit called Masterpiece modles in the US Northwest who have released a Program 5 CCB . I have one, a little pricey but very nice.

I have all those things in my garage but they'll never look like your monitor! You're being too modest there Fordy. Great models, look forward to seeing more pics.

Welcome to Armorama. You do nice work. Very impressive.

Chuck

Excellent stuff mate... The "Dark Side" strikes again!

Don't know if you have this one book marked yet. It is a site with all sorts of info, drawings, plans, pics, etc. on almost all of the BWN boats used.

River Vet

Thanks for the link Gino. The photos are great and the music is fantastic.

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your kind comments and the welcoms to the site.

This site is excellant, covering a great range of interests, and, a lot of quality models.

I will soon be back up and running with my modelling, so I will post updates as I can.

Regards,
Fordy

Hey Fordy,

Nice work on the Monitor. Check out my pics in the member gallery - under DaveF. You'll see my scratch-built PACV.

"... His was coming along great, but haven't seen him here in a while. ...."

Yeah, yeaaaah.............I know ...I not only haven't been around lately, but I am indeed guilty of "coming along great", but not following through...main reason being that after a fairly decent amount of work I ran up against a rather LARGE design faux paus, all my own fault, but it really threw a wrench in the 'works' for me....

Your build looks absolutely wonderful so far. And, to be quite honest, I'm surprised you're looking for any scale drawings at all. Because, you've obviously already done a bang-up job of it already!
In fact, I want to ask you where you got the drawings/schematics you used to get as far as you've done. And what I'm talking about {more specifically} are details such as the excellent work performed in this shot...

Your work so far is quite impressive and anyone else who is also into the Brown Water Navy as I am {and several others here} is someone I would just love to share info with.

Your photos in your Gallery show that you are also adept at chronicling your progress.....and you said you've " been on with a couple of scratch builds for a few years now ", I don't suppose you have any of the earlier in-progress shots available do you?

Tread.

PostScript: You also asked for some assistance in regards to your PACV...I have a whole set of actual plans draw up for the PACV in 1/35th scale at my home in Colorado, but unfortunately I won't be back there till early next Spring.....so if, as you say, the PACV project is a long term bit of mental focus, then I would be more than happy to share that info with you then

There is something published on the PACV. In Spain some years ago was published an article in a magazine which I saw published by someone (squadron or osprey) maybe one year ago in english. It explains how to build it as well as giving plans in 1/35.

I have a copy of it in Spanish (it is mostly images so they speak by themselves) and the scale plans are big. If you are unable to find the book or article get in touch with me and maybe I can help. I don´t think I will be able to help anyone until I go back to Spain (28th of September) but maybe I am wrong and still have in my hard drive a copy of the scanned article. Some time ago I send a couple of copies of the plans because the spanish magazine was out of stock and it still wasn´t available the one in english.

This year I found some photos of the interior of the real thing and from what I remember the interior of the one made in the article is wrong. I have to look were I have the photos but as soon as I find the photos of the real one I can send them so that anyone who wants to build it can use as references.

Hope it helps.

Howdy Angel

I was one of the proud recipients of your kindness "some time ago"...the set of plans I am referring to are indeed the plans you sent to me. I was just trying to 'pass it forward' so to speak.

As I'm sure our good fordy will attest, the PACV is a rather large untaking. I would be interested in getting those new interior pictures whenever you get the time Angel. I can add them to my R&D stuff...maybe one day when I get the cajones to take the project on, I can use all the wonderfully helpful stuff you were so kind to send.

Back to the ATC I was building, the main 'issue' I ran up against was the difference in deck height between the Monitor style configuration, and the somewhat higher Tango boat style. I was also atempting to create a 'conversion' kit at the same time.......oh, the plans of mice and men....

Tread.

PM me,

I have the PACV drawing in 1:35 scanned and able to email.... I also have various (including BWN) craft line drawings in PDF form. (full book is 4-5 files)

Matt

Hi Gordon!

Nice to hear from you.

Hope to see soon more photos of your craft. Mine will have to wait more because over here in India I cannot do anything and don´t know where I will end by the end of this year.

As soon as I find the photos of the interior of the PACV I will tell you so I can send them to you.

If I find the scanned article I will try to translate it while I am here otherwise I will do so in October (once I go back to Spain).

Have a nice weekend.

Hi everyone,

Firstly, please accept my apologies for the late response. I appreciate all of your comments, encouragement and assistance. I am now single after nine years and have been through a bit of an awkward spell with a few major changes - not necessarily a bad thing, as I can now concentrate on my modelling projects!!!!

Secondly, I will e-mail everyone in person early next week, and will try to address any points rainsed (feel free to contact me off-forum too).

Regards,
Joe

Hi Fordy

I have just come accross this thread and I am absolutely amazed by your standard of work, brilliant!

i too am interested in 'Nam riverine subjects, both French era and Vietnamese/ USA era.

Look forwards to seeing it finished.

Cheers
Dus,

Whow, this is absolutely amazing! I love seeing scratchbuilt projects in the making so thanks for sharing and I can't wait to see it completed!

Fordy,

Excellent scratchbuild!!

I am inspired by this huge project .

How long has it taken?

Lookin forward to seeing more progress photos

Michael