I asked Deans to quote me for the LST kit with sufficient adhesive to build her. He has added a tube of filler and a booklet on the use of the adhesive and the total is £349.87. I am far from being a skinflint but do think this is a bit excessive for a kit listed at £295. Opinions please.

Cheers, Nerys

Good for you Nerys and when you get LST you will be thinking of your Dad as you build her.
Rick

Sorry to hear that Nerys🤔 but can commiserate and identify.
COPD is robbing me of my stamina.
Dad would have said 'All my get up and go has got up and went!'

Glad you are still going for the LST368 kit👍
Otherwise you would have had that 'What if?' feeling rattling around in your head.
Keep us informed how it goes please. How about a build blog??😀

Thanks for the reminder about 'Peking', must check if there are any updates.
Work on her ground to a halt, as so many other things, when COVID 19 broke out.
Hang in there Nerys.
Pob un o'r goreuon i chi'ch dau (I hope!😉)
Cheers, Doug 😎

Evening Doug, I'm afraid being under the weather is a fact of life for me these days, just look forward to the days when I actually feel like doing something, but they are getting fewer and further apart. I expect I will get the LST kit quite soon. I've lived LST368 ever since I was about ten and although my sister never saw her she feels the same as I do. Together with 'Peking' ex 'Arethusa' it's all part of our family history.

All the best, Nerys

Mornin' Nerys,
Very sorry to hear that you are under the weather again☹️
GET WELL SOON. AND THAT'S AN ORDER COMMODORE!!
Whatever you decide to do re the LST 388 kit we're with you👍
If Ron remains stubborn tell him there's a bunch of guys (or old crocks😁) ready and willing to troop round and duff 'im up a bit!!😁
BTW Do you know if that museum in Southsea has a web site?
All the best, Doug😎

Thank you all so much for your support, Alice has suggested much the same thing, that I should ring them, query the extra charges, then throw in the sentimental bit. If I do build her, it won't only be for me, my sister has a lot of feeling for 368. Amongst my father's papers, she has a lot of drawings my father did of her in various harbours and beaches around the Med, and is most annoyed because the D Day museum in Southsea has one of his drawings that she hasn't. The museum says that it depicts 368 on the beach in Normandy on D Day, but he had left her before then , so we think it is one he drew in the Med.

Cheers, Nerys

Count me in lads👍
This is too important to Nerys to let money get in the way.
I just hope that the kit is better made than some we have heard of🤞
Will check my Manxman propshafts tomorrow and report back pronto.

Nerys, don't forget that that 14% included shipping a big 'eavy box from Peterborough to Munich😉
It was only the 3% Paypal surcharge that peeved me. Had only seen that before with AmEx. But then, AmEx, Paypal and all the others who give us purchase security gotta live too!
(I expressly exclude Wirecard from the above statement!🤔)
I was only peeved that it wasn't declared until right at the end😐
But an Admin charge for online orders is just downright cheeky😠
Cheers, Doug 😎

Well said Bill, if it helps I'll share the cost.
Cheers Colin.

Nerys.
I agree with Newby.
Drop them an email.If you don’t ask you don’t get.
This is clearly an emotional journey for you and is important.
If they don’t drop the admin fee then I for one will pay it for you if you buy it.
Bill

Nerys I know the comments are not good but I would try and get in contact with them to have a conversation about the boat and what it means to you.Not sure it would do any good letting them know that others on this forum have not had good support from them.
Rick

Having read all the comments about Deans, I am very dubious about buying from them. I think I might if it wasn't for the extra charges imposed. For instance, Doug paid approximately 14% extra for post and administration. Interesting thing is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about them. For the prices they charge, one would expect perfection or something approaching it. At the moment I'm not feeling well enough to take on another project, Deans or anything else, but I do have this overwhelming desire to build my father's old ship, so, watch this space.

Cheers, Nerys

"They seriously need to improve their customer service.😏 "
All these comments are making me highly suspicious!
I also have the HMS Manxman kit, fortunately also some highly detailed plans of Abdiel, the class leader, at various scales.
When the kit arrived I carefully checked all the parts (several with a micrometer) to make sure all were present and correct, which they were.
Although, I agree with comments re the finish of some fittings.
But I accepted that this enables the modeller to exercise his expertise and to finish and paint to his imagination and requirements, rather than simply 'unpack and stick on'.
Where's the challenge or fun in that?
Now I'm suspicious and will unpack and check out the propshafts, using the ceramic hob for a 'rolling test'. More on that later!
If the test goes pear shaped I won't bother demanding replacements, but I may mail Deans with my comment (don't expect any response though🙄), as I have sufficient brass tube, silver steel stock, phosphor bronze bearings and toolery to make my own.😊
From the outset I had decided to use my favourite brass prop supplier, Raboesch, anyway. Never yet seen kit props which were decently finished or balanced!
My only gripe when I bought the kit was to be charged an extra 3% because I paid via PayPal☹️ If I'd known that I'd have paid by SEPA bank transfer! All in all for a kit 'listed' at €446 I ended up paying €509. ☹️ Never again!

Ref pics on the construction info CD:
Also agree, very small with lousy definition and many out of focus. Typical example attached.
Manxman was my first expensive kit buy from Deans, and it will also be my last.🤔
If at all, in future I will only buy the hull, as I have also done from Fleetscale with no problems at all😊

On a happier note Nerys I could find no fault with the hull.
Excellent detail moulded in, and believe me as one of my all time favourite ships, going back to my childhood and the Airfix 1:600 kit, I have done some intensive research on Manxman and the whole Abdiel class. Hence my acquisition of the detailed plans😊
If you really want to 'scratch' LST 368 at a reasonable scale (1:96 or 1:100) I found you some plans. ,
https://www.vintagemodelplans.com/products/full-size-printed-plans-lst-1-class-tank-landing-ship-scale-1-96-suitable-for-radio-control
The 1:96 plan is in English, the 1:100 plan in French, mais je pense pour tu c'est pas de problème! N'est ce pas Nerys?😉
Maybe you can persuade Ron to sell you just the hull? As he does for several other models.
The hull would be the worst part to accurately scratch☹️ Look under the 'Moulddeans' listing on Dean's site.
I only have to think of the agro I had scratching my all balsa 1:72 H class destroyer hull back in the mid 60s, long before moulded GRP hulls were available (or I could have afforded one anyway🙄).
Another link to a 1:245 plastic kit-
https://www.hobbylinc.com/lindberg-l-s-t-landing-ship-tank-plastic-model-military-ship-kit-1:245-scale-hl213-12
All the very very best for your endeavour Nerys🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi Mike,
only other LST kits I could find are an ancient Lindberg 1:245 (Box scale?🙄) plastic kit,
For example
https://www.amazon.com/Lindberg-Models-LN213-L-S-T-Landing/dp/B00OJ2535C
or a 1:350 kit from AFV.
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/afv-club-se73515-lst-1-class--1169535
The Lindberg kit still appears on the usual WWW sites, but at ca 16" / 406mm LOA it's a case of Plastic Magic to RC it.
If Nerys decides to go that way I can maybe help, Plastic Magic is one of my foibles😁
At a reasonably large scale it seems that Deans is the only game in town!☹️
Cheers, Doug 😎

I bought the Trumpeter Hood along with Deans 4 screw RC package. A tidy sum for both including this surcharge, but still cheaper than elsewhere. The kit they supply for the upgrade is generally ok, except for the motor mounts, which are very cheap vac forms, and the prop shafts. All of the other parts are from MPA And Roboesh and the like. The prop shafts were a rough piece of brass tube with a threaded coat hanger in the middle. Needless to say, three of the four were useless. Deans were far from helpful so I purchased new ones myself to save the heart ache. I will not buy from them again. They seriously need to improve their customer service.😏

Re Deans.
Yes,after all the comments over the last few days it’s ironic that there is a six page spread about them Including “Running a tight ship”
Regards Bill.

Go for it👍
However seeing some of the other negative comments I must say I had a bad experience with Deans last year, you may remember in my Crash Tender blog I had to re- thread a brass 3 blade prop, this was because I was sent the wrong one however we had a month of email correspondence ending with me not dealing with Deans Marine ever again.
So you have to make your own mind up, doesn't any body else do the kit?

What would you expect about a prominent advertiser Steve?🙄
😎

Good or bad?

Big article about them in this month's Model Boats

It seems that Deans isn't listening to the buyers about the quality of there products and customer service. I don't think that's a good idea in today's market. I would think they would want to help as much as possible as social media and word of mouth are your best salesmen or your biggest enemy.
Rick

Hi Nerys
I'm pretty much a scratch builder now and for the bits I can't build, use suppliers such as Shapeways.
An example of Dean's instructions told me to "drill a hole through the roof of the roof of". Needless to say, I am still looking for a part called the 'roof of'.

Steve

Thanks for the comments on Deans. I must admit, much though I would like to model my father's old ship, I am rapidly being put off by the thoughts of carriage charges, admin charges and the general comments on quality. I'm not a skinflint by any means, but it does seem as if someone is taking advantage. Perhaps a set of plans and a scratch build will become the order of the day.

Cheers, Nerys

I'm surprised at an administration fee the costs of the products are high now.
Better to put it in the price up front than add to the cost at check out.
Rick

I am afraid I have to agree with Steve.
In the past I have many problems with Deans,with either faulty parts or parts missing.
Customer care is not their best attribute and I was almost made to feel the guilty party.
I am sure many others have had nothing but total satisfaction.I can only speak as I find.
This admin charge does seem a bit of a con to put it mildly.
Regards Bill

From my experience you'll not get anything from Ron Dean.
I made the mistake of buying HMS Manxman from him some months ago and like you was charged an admin fee on top of the shipping.
The hull is good, but the fittings, both white metal and resin were of poor quality and required much fettling.
On top of this the 'plans' are all over the place, as are the photographs on the DVD.
I should have learned from previous experience when buying the drive train kit for HMS Hood. I dared say that one of his in house prop shafts was bent and before he would replace it he wanted it returned for examination in case it ws my fault. Didn't help when I described it as threaded piano wire. I bought one from elsewhere and it cost me all of two quid.
Hope this helps.
Steve

Very interesting Doug, I've been quoted £18.75 for delivery. I'll ring him later.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nerys,
"administration fee of £14.75"
Odd! I have seen an admin (repacking🙄) fee for On-Line orders mentioned in their Ts&Cs (without a specific sum) but have never seen it on an invoice!
JFF - I put the LST in my cart and then checked the final total, including delivery to Germany.
Result shown in the attached screen clip. Delivery charge only - no Admin fee!?
If I were you I'd call them and check on that🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎

I've just been looking at Deans ordering details and see that they charge an administration fee of £14.75. I've never found anyone charging this before, surely it should be included in the price of the kit. Can anyone tell me the justification for this charge.

Cheers, Nerys

Nery's ,enjoyed reading about your dad he seems to have had a varied and interesting life .

Cheers Marky👍

It is wonderful that we can remember the Men and Woman who protect us over the years .Rick

Yes Doug, on reflection, I think you sent me that photo when I was burbling on about LSTs a while ago. I probably said at the time that it was the cover photo for a monthly magazine during the war. I think it was called 'Defence'.

Do you mind if I blow my father's trumpet a bit harder. During the fifties, he wrote the definitive work on RN heraldry, 'Crests and Badges of HM ships'. Published by Gale and Polder. He hand drew every ship's badge and gave a write up on the ship, battle honours etc. It took him several years and you can occasionally find a copy on Abe books. It went to two editions.

Cheers, Nerys

BTW Nerys, maybe if you speak to Ron Dean nicely (flutter your eyelashes a bit😉)
he'll get one of his bods to make you a set of decals for 368!?
Just a thought.Ouch 🤕 Now I'd better go and lie down again!
😁😎

Happy memories Nerys, its good to remember what is important in our lives.
Cheers Colin.

I know now after reading your text you do need to build 388 for you and your father .
Rick

That's a MUST Nerys😉 We'll all be egging you on (How do you like your eggs by the way? Fried boiled or scrambled?😋😁)
You know, I'm getting a Deja vu feeling!😮
Started when I read your post "My father is in your first photo. He is the taller of the white caps standing on the starboard side of the ramp."
I thought Aye aye?! I've already read that some time!
Looked in my Pic archive and there was the same photo, so we've obviously discussed this before Nerys.
Anyway now the kit is out there's no excuse anymore 😉 So go for it.
Look forward to the Blog and progress reports.
All the best, Doug 😎

It sounds to me that you have to build her. I am sure we will all follow the build.
Peter.

Hi Nerys.
That’s fascinating and thank you for sharing.
This type of information fascinates me and should you buy a model of her I for one will follow with great interest.
Regards Bill.

If anyone is interested I can tell you a little more about my father and 368. He was appointed to LST411 in late '42 as first lieutenant and sailed on the Queen Mary to New York to stand by her whilst fitting out at Bethlehem Shipbuilders, Quincy Ma. They sailed early January '43 for Bermuda for training and working up. A week or two later, he was promoted to Lt.Cdr. and given command of 368. On completion of training they sailed for the Mediterranean complete with an LCT on deck. They had to build a wooden scaffolding on the bridge to be able to see over the LCT's superstructure.
After my father left her following the Italian campaign, Anzio, Salerno etc. he was appointed to Thames TURQO, handling ship movements in the Thames around D Day.
A few months later, there was a knock on our door in Barry, it was my father's steward from 368 and he had come to tell my mother that 368 had come into Barry for refit. My mother duly fed and watered him and said that she would contact my father. He came home from Tilbury that weekend and to my delight I was taken to visit LST368 in Bailey's drydock, Barry the following day. In fact over the next fortnight, I visited her several times.
So, if you have managed to get through this dissertation, you will understand why I have more or less, a compulsion to build the model.

Cheers, Nerys.

Hi Mouldbuilder, I had a slight connection to Vospers. Back in about 1949, when mate of the barge yacht Santille, we had two new props fitted by Vospers at Gosport.

Nerys

I think building the LST388 would not only be a good model but when running it you would have your father on board.
Rick

Thanks for your reply Doug. My father is in your first photo. He is the taller of the white caps standing on the starboard side of the ramp. He was Lt.Cdr. A.E.Weightman. Your other info is also very interesting. I expect I will go for this and will of course keep the forum updated.

Cheers, Nerys.

It must add another level of interest when building a model if there is real history behind it. Good luck with this one Nerys if you decide to continue.
My surname is Vosper. You would have thought I would have nautical connections really but the nearest I get to it is the shower.😀

Lt. Cdr. 'Livingstone I presume' Nerys 😉
HMS LST 368 info and pics
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/12276.html
https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160368.htm
USS LST388 info and pics
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160388.htm
https://www.google.com/search?q=LST388&client=firefox-b-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=GbbQcT2RoolX3M%252C24FWUzJGrcITVM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kT33EH8GtunBaMulX5Ot8Capw1Dwg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSzaSY1uzqAhWRyaQKHU_nAQkQ9QEwCHoECA4QFQ&biw=1920&bih=949#imgrc=GbbQcT2RoolX3M
😎