Calling all "Higgins Boat" landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) fans

[robertmelvin]

Hi, folks.

I guess this is my "coming out of retirement" post. LOL. My first build since getting back into modeling after 30+ years away. I'm starting with the Italieri 1/35 LCVP. The reviews I've read indicate it is a great kit and I figured it would be a good one start with.
I'm sure that any number of you have built this kit and I wanted to ask if there are any tips I should be aware of before I start. Did any of you find any real problems with this kit? Any traps I should be aware of? Also, is the PE detail set (I forget who makes it) worth bothering with?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

Bob

[commodore4]

This kit isn,t to bad .You have to be careful putting the inside framing together. My kit was warped badly in those places.I was able to work around it and I now have a very fine well detailed LCVP sitting on the T.V.. The kit leaves a lot for detailers and it doesn,t really look to bad sitting there next to my LINDBERG kit of the same type . My LINDBERG kit is r.c.d though, using micro electronics and I hid it all under the well deck cargo ! There is a million and one ways to go with this model . I am going to use the ITALERI kit to convert to a houseboat that used to be three slips down from me in the marina I lived in while out in the state of CALIFORNIA .That was one neat houseboat ! I had the biggest boat there in the form of a forty four foot RIVER QUEEN built specifically as a liveaboard houseboat. Out of steel no less ! There was a fellow who had a liveaboard converted from an LCM 6 and it was neat too ! I recommend the kit you have heartily and with no real reservations except the warpage issue . Good luck commodore4

[James Hood]

Rigging the cranks and pulleys for the ramp is a place where one should pay special attention, in this opinion.

Other than that, it was quite straightforward.

[robertmelvin]

James, I was very satisfied with that kit, especially since it was my first kit in over 30 years. I'll try to post a pic or two of my finished build.

Bob