Trumpeter 1/144 LCM(3) USN Landing Craft Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The LCM(3) class of landing craft was evolved from an earlier series of UK landing craft and the derivations initially adopted by the US. With the LCM(3), this would be one of the common types used by both nations. The LCM(3) can carry a 30 ton tank to shore or 60 fully loaded troops. The landing craft were stored aboard transport vessels and hoisted into the water, manned by a crew of four. With a loading ramp for a bow, the LCM could take its cargo of vehicles and/or troops right up to the beach for action.

The LCM(3) was 50 feet long, 14 feet 1 inch wide, powered by twin diesels and armed with a pair of 50 caliber machine guns.

Molded in light gray styrene, the kit features nicely scribed details on all of the visible surfaces. The kit is presented as 48 parts on two sprues, plus the hull. The kit is scaled down from the earlier Trumpeter 1/35 and 1/72 scale releases of this kit.

The kit starts with the one-piece hull which accepts the deck and frame structures. The bow ramp itself is a nicely molded and is positionable. The same is true of the armor-enclosed helm that sits atop of the rear deck.

The twin 50 caliber machine guns are mounted on nicely molded stands and the armor plating is likewise represented.

Markings are included for a typical D-Day LCM, with extra numbers provided to tailor the model to a particular craft that you might care to represent.

I'm impressed! While I'll leave it to the naval experts to comment on specific aspects of its accuracy, from where I sit, this kit looks like a very nice piece of work.

My sincere thanks to Stevens International for this review sample!