I think a terrifying voyage would describe it better. I once had a ride in a DUKW, during the East Coast Floods in the 50's. It was on the flooded marshes of the Isle of Sheppey delivering goods to the isolated farmhouses and looking for drowned cattle. I didn't get the impression it was a suitable vessel/vehicle? for Transatlantic voyaging.
As far as epic voyagers are concerned, I sailed into a crowded Ramsgate Harbour one night in the fifties and found a mooring alongside a rather nice looking ketch, I then recognised the gentleman taking my mooring ropes, it was Sir Francis Chichester and the yacht was Gipsy Moth.

Cheers, Nerys

Thanks Nerys - was Hay on Wye of course - and yes think you are right was a DUKW type . Memory gets so bad - yours certainly appears better than mine.

Either way it must have been an epic voyage - not something I would have cared to do.

Only epic voyager I knew personally was our local stationer a Mr Redman - in a Tiger Moth purchased from the RAF after demob from WW2 - tried to emulate the first flight from UK to Cape Town - but crashed on take off some 350 nautical miles short of Cape Town!

I think I remember that book, it was not really a landing craft, it was one of the larger amphibious craft, a DUKW and if I remember correctly they had to use the pumps to keep her clear of bilge water all the way. The book village is Hay on Wye, by the way.

Cheers, Nerys

Get well very soon Nerys. I think a lot of us are looking forward to your build, especially as it has such a connection to your personal history.
Peter.

Looking forward to the build Nerys - hope you feel better soon.

Not sure if it was a LST but I saw a book long ago at the famous village of books in England (memory fails as to the name) It was written by one of the members of the crew - they bought the vessel after the war and sailed it back to America - it may well have been a smaller Landing Craft as everyone was very skeptical as to whether they would get to their destination.......... from what I remember it was a pretty epic journey.

Hopefully you will be fighting fit again soon Nerys.

Martin555.

Know exactly what you mean Nerys, 'the mind is
willing but the body is weak', the boats are waiting on the table, but the pain is taking the interest away,
'don't agree with this getting old thing,' I don't mind getting old, just don't want the associated pain that goes with it.☹️
Hope you and Alice have a pain free period of weeks.

Cheers, Pete

"a desire to get on with things but lacking the fitness or strength to actually set to and do anything"
Know EXACTLY what you mean Nerys🤔
Like the Stones sang way back when
"What a drag it is getting old ...."
Battle through 'old gal'😉👍
All the best to both of you,
Cheers, Doug 😎

Thank you, Doug, Mark, Rick and Bill for your good wishes. It's very frustrating to have a mind that is active as ever and a desire to get on with things but lacking the fitness or strength to actually set to and do anything. I don't agree with this getting old thing, it's not good for me.

All the best, Nerys

Hi Nery's , look after yourself hope your better soon.
Cheers Mark👍

Nerys my thought are with you feel better soon.
Rick

Very sorry to here that Nerys🤔 Get well soon👍
Can't wait to know if your punning clan works!!😁
Cheers, Doug 😎
Message from FLEET//
Looking forward to seeing you back on active service ASAP Commodore😉

Nerys.
Hope you are soon feeling better.
Bill ⛵️👍

To be truthful, I'm not feeling well enough to build the LST at the moment, but when I feel up to it, which I hope won't be too long, I have, as I've already said, a cunning plan to minimise cost.

Cheers, Nerys

I'm sure when you did reside to order the LST it will be on your terms.The book sounds like a good read.
Rick

I haven't lashed out on the LST kit yet, but I did buy from Amazon a book called LST388. Written by an American enlisted Radio Operator, it tells his story from enlisting in the US Navy, basic training, appointment to the LST and her activities throughout the North African, Sicilian and Italian landings which were so similar to my father's ship. Where they varied was when 388 came to the UK for the Normandy landings and by that time my father had a shore job handling ship movements on the Thames, but of course, his old ship was involved in DDay etc. Very interesting book, I would recommend it.

Cheers, Nerys

"Gang aft agley," Rick
Original Robert Burns Scots-
"But, Mousie, thou art no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e'e.
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!"

English translation-
"But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!

Still you are blessed, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear"

Poor mousie has just had his house destroyed by a plough😭
😎

Remember Nerys best laid plans of mice and men and I don't know any more but go for the plan.
Rick

The thick plotens!!😮
Don't forget folks! Tune in next month for the next exciting instalment of (TAA TAA TAAA)
"Pulling the wool over the dean's eyes!" Subtitle - All at sea in an LSTee.
😎

I have devised a cunning plan and will reveal all if it works out. May have to be a week or two before I can implement it.

Cheers, Nerys

Agree 100% with both you and and Colin Mike👍
When I transitioned from Test & Development to System Design & Marketing I was all too often stuck behind a desk. OK while I was deciphering the Tender (RFQ) specifications and drafting a system to meet or exceed the specs.
But I took every possible opportunity to scarper off round the world to discuss the details with the end user Navy, also the shipyard if it was a new build rather than a refit or upgrade.
Very happy times😊
My last business trip before retirement was to the shipyard in Genoa who were building 7 ships for the Qatar navy.
Previously I had spent time in Qatar finalising the system design directly with the navy.
After that in Genoa at the yard discussing how to install it all on the ships and the frame contract.
Some of you may have seen a minor headline a few years ago "Qatar orders a new navy ..."
7 ships in 3 classes, my COMMS system design😉
That was my "Swan Song"😁
Since retirement I've been offered some consultant/adviser/document reviewer editor projects.
But after reviewing the documents I was sent I suddenly realised that, without the direct end user/yard contact I simply wasn't interested anymore.
Like Mike I'm now happy to practise my modelling and electronic skills (such as they are) and my involvement with this web site and the interaction with all you guys gives me a lot of pleasure and fulfilment.😀 Not to mention keeping the grey cells alive!😉
Cheers, Doug 😎

Been there as well Colin, Twice in fact, both were promotions from direct practical work to desk type work and I hated it. I was a prototype engineer in the optical instrument industry, however overall I thoroughly enjoyed my working life. And better still I'm still enjoying my boat building/engineering retirement.

My pleasure Nerys😊
I'm sure that sight of the kit will give you itchy fingers and an urge to get going Nerys😉
Concentrating on something like that, even just checking out the kit to make sure all the bits n pieces are there, usually bucks me up and gets me going again👍
We'll all be rootin' for ya!
Will be a real pleasure to contribute what I can, Water-slide or Vinyl numbers for instance😊
I can 'do wood' to a certain extent, e.g. my Sea Scout and Billing Boats Gina 2 restorations, even my 1/72 destroyer was originally built all balsa. Copied the hull construction technique from Dad's Sea Scout (the one I recently renovated) so I probably have the only hard chine destroyer in the universe! 😁 Well, waddid I know at 15?😜
But I will never be able to compete with the likes of Rob, Graham, Joe and yourself when it comes to taming wood! Exquisite work!👍
Best I could manage from scratch was carving the four 2cm slabs of wood in the Krick U25 kit into a passable Type 1A U-boat hull, with some help from the Deutsches Museum here in Munich. Result shown in the attached pic, with it's contemporary HMS Hotspur. Both 1/72.
Most of my stash is for Plastic Magic RC conversions. Then I know what I'm about😁
Cofion gorau, Doug 😎

Doug, thank you so much for all the help and information you gave me in your last two posts. I'll have to buy some adhesive, don't have everything to hand and I'll certainly take you up on the decals. The fact that it is not all plastic cheers me up. I built a dutch coaster a while ago (see harbour) and I disliked working with the plastic so much that I substituted a lot of wood. I use a Stanley slimknife quite a lot as well the normal Stanley knife, so have blades for both. I expect I'll order the kit in a day or twos time, but I must admit I'm not feeling too good at the moment and I may not start the build just yet unless seeing it there, waiting, may inspire me and buck me up a bit, something needs to!

All the best, Nerys

Belay that with the decal Nerys!
The RN hull numbers were totally different🤔
As seen in the pic I posted, from unloading in Anzio when your dad was in command.
So, if possible scan from plan in the kit the section of the bow where the number is to go, and measure the distance between the plating where it was applied.
So I can estimate the size of the white disc and the numbers.
Cheers, Doug 😎
G'night All, sleep tight💤💤💤 - don't let the bed bugs bite😁😁😮

Hi Nerys,
The kit is not quite all plastic, at least not in the 'Airfix' sense of plastic!
Extract from the Deans kit description (with spelling correction🙄)-
" Details of the kit scale 1/100 L 1.03m beam 160mm The fibreglass hull in this kit is with full rubbing strip detail. Computer generated LASER CUT 1.5mm H I Ps plastic forms the main tank deck and basic superstructure A complete set of fittings are included in the kit with all detail parts such as weapons, deck fittings, etc, cast in light alloy and resin "

So the constituents of the kit are as usual and the comments I posted re my Manxman kit will apply. I'm certain there will be some wooden parts to stiffen the hull and support the decks, as in the pics from my Manxman. Even the 1.5mm printed plastic decks are usually mounted on top of a ply support deck. See my pics. Otherwise the PS deck would sag😠

Have a look at my list of glues used and see if you have them all.
In particular the thin liquid PS cement with a brush is extremely useful for gluing long edges in the superstructure parts. It takes tooo long wiv da toob stuff🤔
Contacta Professional is the one with the long thin metal snoot!
Great for spot gluing tiddly-widdly parts on a Revell or Airfix kit but not much use for a Deans kit.
The Contacta Liquid Special, in a glass bottle with a brush attached to the cap, is much better,
quicker to apply so the glue at the start isn't going off 😮 before you get to the end of a long part. 😭 Even on Airfix, Revell, Trumpeter and co I use the brush when gluing the long hull seams.

PVA you won't need, but a good two part epoxy is a must! As described below/above?
(You never know in which order the site will display some threads, depending on which part of the forum they are in!🤔)
CA is OK for 'tacking' parts together for a trial fit, but follow up with the PS cement for strength.
So, with addition of some Revell Contacta Liquid Special (or Humbrol equivalent) and some Revell Plastic Putty, for filling/smoothing joints in the superstructure parts as necessary, you'll be Good to Go! As our ex colonial brothers would say😁
Another tip! Unless Deans have improved the printed PS superstructure parts sheets, so that you can press the parts out, get a good stock of sturdy scalpels or preferably Stanley type blades in. You're gonna need 'em. Mind yer fingas!!

BTW: If you want to change the pennant number from USS 388 to just 368, as your father's ship was, I can help.
Send me the height and length of the 388 number block, or even better with a scan of the decal itself, then I can make you some with the correct number and font type.
Least I can do. I still owe ya one for the Port & Starboard socks!😊
Alles gute, Doug 😎

Having bought several Deans kits, and not one from Ron himself, wait till they come up on Ebay and the like, in the instructions of all his kits, he mentions which adhesive is best for the job, not brand names, just glue, and going off your list Nerys, it appears you have most of them, all my Deans kits have been built with, 2 part epoxy resin, Titebond II, CA glue and P38 car body filler, and maybe Revell conta plastic cement for the plasticard S/S, you don't need nuffing else😊

Cheers, Pete

Hi Doug,

Just checked our adhesives and we have, Revell Contacta Professional, Bond Together two part epoxy, ordinary superglue and Titebond pva which I use on my wooden boats. Would you suggest I supplement those in any way before venturing forth into LST construction? which is all plastic.

cheers, Nerys

Well done Colin.Right a desk is not for everyone and nothing wrong with hands on.
Rick

Many congratulations Colin. Well deserved promotion.

All the best, Nerys

Congratulations Colin.
Regards Bill

Gee wiz ,how did that happen, trouble with seniority, they try sticking you behind a desk, now me I'm a hands on kind of guy.(well I try).
At least when I was a working prototype engineer nobody told me what to do, they usually just gave me sketches and ideas, and if I was extremely lucky I got actual working drawings. When they promoted me to office duty I really hated.
Cheers Colin.

"Is the red dress for Alice Doug. I like your style. "
Well it's certainly NOT FOR ME Commodore Colin!!😠
BTW: Congrats on your promotion👍
Welcome to the 'Flagged echelons'😊
Fly your Flag with pride.
Cheers, FLEET// 😎

Hi Doug,
I misunderstood i thought it was a plastic kit.

Sorry Nerys please ignore my post.
I have lost the plot yet again.

Martin555.

"I only use the liquid poly and a cheap plastic filler."
Careful Martin!
Your U-Boat is a pure plastic static kit.
Be a shame to try and sail it after you took the time and trouble to put all those beautiful 'oles in it!😮😭
My experience of Deans kits, designed to be sailed, is that they also include a quantity of wood; hull stiffeners (crossbeams) and to make a ledge around the hull to fit the decks to.
Epoxy will definitely be needed to fix the shaft tubes and rudder stock tube into the hull and for the aforementioned load bearing wooden parts.
Selection of appropriate pics from the Deans Construction CD for the Manxman kit attached.
Plasticard is used for the superstructure and a mix of resin and white metal for the fittings.
So just plastic cement and CA won't cut all the mustard I'm afraid🤔
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS I'm sure that Nerys (and I😉) can make a tidier job than the examples from Deans!!

Is the red dress for Alice Doug. I like your style.
Cheers Colin and Caroline.

Nerys and her minions Colin😁😂🤣
😎

Not an unusual collection Nerys.
A bit pricey though, 24.19, his mark-up of course!
I'm sure you can find cheaper alternatives in a super/hypermarket. I'd be surprised if you or Alice didn't have a stock of CA and epoxy glues and some fine filler anyway😆
Although I prefer Revell Plastic cement, in the brush-bottle for seams and large parts, Plastic Magic in the pinpoint dispenser (long thin metal snout😉) for fiddly bits, classic 'in de toob' for filling internal seams etc.
And Revell Plastic Putty for very fine filler.
As for CA and epoxy I like the Deluxe Materials selection.
Take a look at their Application Guide.
For small dollops of epoxy I like the UHU range.
Always have one of each on hand;
max strength mucho thumb twiddling 90 mins, fast 5 mins and quick 😮 before it sets 2 mins.
So, add the 8.85 Admin charge🙄 (if you order online) to Bill's quote your price shouldn't be more than about 318.35 with P&P. Even adding the 24.19 for the above materials list your price should not have been more than 342.54!? Did I miss something?

Otherwise you're back to trying to buy a hull, check out Fleetscale if they are still around - or maybe MOULDBUILDER can make you one!!! 😊 Now why didn't that occur to me before???🙄
Plus a BIG pile of plasticard and profiles and the plans from Vintage Model Plans.
Then the motors, props, shafts and tubes, rudder, fittings and .......!
Reckon it's worth going for the kit Nerys😉
Would take much longer to find (if possible) all the bits for a scratch build, let alone putting it all together! 'Bill the Scratch' can surely advise there😉
Time is money Nerys👍
Never mind the torpedoes; Go for the kit!😁
Cheers, Doug 😎

When it comes to plastic I believe you are the master and we poor mortals your minions.
Your enlightenment helps us all.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Nerys, just a thought when and if you order from Deans I just hope they don't follow this web site, just make sure if do contact them by phone you act dumb and comment you have no knowledge of such a site
all the best with your build
Michael

Hi Nerys,

As you probably know i have been working on my Type 7c Submarine U552 and she is a plastic kit.

I only use the liquid poly and a cheap plastic filler.
If i have at attach anything else such as metal to the plastic then i use a little drop of super glue.

So i personally think you don't need all the other stiff he is trying to sell you.

Martin555.

I don't think wanting to make sure you get the best price is over reacting .
Rick

Thank you all for your posts on this subject, hope you don't think I'm making too much fuss over this, but I hate the thought of being taken for a ride.
I asked Deans for a breakdown of their charges and this is the list of adhesives they said I would need.
Humbrol poly cement 12ml 2.57
Plastic magic 40 ml 4.99
Roket rapid CA 20g 3.29
Roket Hot CA 20g 4.13
Humbrol model filler 4.06
Devcon 5min epoxy 28gm 5.15
I am a novice when it comes to plastic kit building so I would welcome advice on this lot. Should I say no to the adhesives and just go for the kit and take the forum's advice on adhesives. I must admit I cannot see why I should need such a variety.

Cheers, Nerys

Brilliant Bill well done👍
(Henceforth your nickname is BB 😁😂🤣 not to be confused with little lead pellets😮)
BTW; Re VAT, don't know what Boris and co decreed but here in Germany VAT has been reduced by 6% on some items mostly food and other essentials, and 3% on everything else.
It's a bit some and some for model supplies😐
Valid for purchases from anywhere in the EU, BUT only until the end of the year.
There's been a sudden rush of new car registrations😉 Vroom vroom Maisie 😁
Cheers, Doug 😎

Well done that man.
A good exercise in verbal contact getting the right result.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Nerys.
I agree with the other comments.As I have said before. I will not buy from Deans again after they messed me about.Plenty of other places to get good adhesive at better prices
So,as an experiment I went on line and put up all the details and it shows....
Cost of the Kit....£295.00
Admin Charge....£8.85.

You then have to email them to get a postage charge or at least it did on my system.I didn't bother with that.
I then rang them and asked for a verbal quotation over the phone.
I was quoted....
£295.00 for the kit including VAT which incidentally is shown at 20% when I thought because of Covid VAT had been dropped to a lower figure(but not 100% positive on that one)
I asked for a P and P price and was quoted £14.50 to sunny Devon.
I then asked if that was the total price or were there any other hidden charges and was told quite emphatically that was the final price.Total price quoted to me on the phone was £309.50.
I advised them I didn't do On line transactions (white lie) and would they take payment for that amount over the phone and was told yes.
I didn't buy it but if they can offer me that then no reason why they shouldn't do it for you.
As I also said previously this boat clearly means a lot to you,dont miss it for the sake of an admin charge if they charge it annoying as it is.I will gladly chip in to pay it.

Give it a try.
Regards Bill

I agree 100% with Steve and Martin Nerys.
Just get a quote for the kit only with delivery.
Then look for a Deluxe Materials stockist where you will find all you need in the way of glues, sealers, resins (including EzeKote😊) and fillers etc.
From DM's web site you can download several pdf application guides, glue charts etc etc😉
https://deluxematerials.co.uk/collections/glue-charts
There's also a distributor list or you can always find dozens of offers on the usual two big web markets👍
Good luck🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎

Yes. Typical of Deans.

Hi Nerys,
I agree with Steve £50.00 it taking the you know what !

As for advice on adhesives, filler, and how to use them, i am sure the good members on here can help with that.

Martin555.

As I said before Nerys, you will get NOTHING out of Ron Dean, helpful as he appears to be. It wouldn't be so bad if you were paying for a decent product.
Unfortunately, he has cornered the market on a large number of kits and sometimes there is no where else to go.
However, I'm sure you will be able to get necessary adhesives, filler and advice on how to use them for a lot less than £50, other than from Deans.
Hope this helps.
Steve