To quickly build temporary runways, US engineering services built various options for the airfield. Aerodrome steel plates were M8A1 used in the Vietnam War in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s and were installed by engineering units of the US Army.Plates were connected to each other either staggered or in a row and allowed to build either separate small sites or airfields of impressive size. Most often, such coatings were used in army aviation. Various aircraft could be based on the sites created in this way, for example, combat helicopters AN-1Q Cobra, light attack aircraft, and observation aircraft OV-10A Bronco or O-2 Skymaster. Also on such sites were operated well-known B-26K Counter Invader.

The Build

As you initially open this ICM kit box I am always with their ‘double’ boxes, the first with the cover image depicting a drawing of the matting and the second inner box which assume is intended a protective shell around the kit itself. The instruction sheet basic instructions for building the PSP sections and nice two-page color chart illustrating the ICM colors.

You then see four sprue trees, each which contains twelve individual sections of the PCP (pierced steel planking) or ‘Marston mat’ as it was often called.You’ll quickly notice that instructions are illustrated with images of quarter scale models of both the CH-54 Flying Crane and the AH-1G Cobra. These two illustrations also provide typical layouts for a display or diorama.

I also need to point out that these PSP sections are not those with the large circular open holes (illustrated below). These PSP sections contain small slits in each of rows where the rain or other run-off drains away; those were known simply as the M8 landing mats.

While these M8 landing mats were originally manufactured in two small plants by wars end that numbered had grown to twenty-nine, in which over180,000,000 square feet (some 477,000 tons) had been produced.

This kit of the newer M8A1 runway matting is easy to construct as the required sections individual go together like a charm. There four interlocking pins on each end piece and once you’ve constructed the first section you will understand the interlocking method and find it both logical and easy. I hope this makes sense with the few images attached.

Painting

My approach to the constructing and painting of this section of M8A1 matting was quite simple: (1) I used my constant companion, Tamiya Extra Thin Cement #87038 (not the lime-colored top); (2) Alclad’s Aqua Gloss Clear # ALC 500; (3) I primed the matt section using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer (light gray) # 87064; and (4) for the paint, AK Real Color USMC Sand (FS 33711) #RC 228. (5) For my wash I chose Vallejo European Dust # 76-5231; (6) For my overall final finish I used Testors Dullcoat Lacquer #1160.

Some wag is going say “desert color”? Yes, as you’ll learn, after constant desert engagements over a 30+ years we learned to have one side green camouflage and the other side in a desert color. To please both sides of the house, I also painted a section in the camouflage color, using Olive Drab – Faded, AK Real Color #RC 025.

The History of Marston Matting

For a much more in-depth look at the fascinating history of the Marston matting, I refer you as modelers to the following websites for more historical background information:

• Marston Matting: https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=38645
• Air & Space Forces Magazine: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0489marston/
• The History of Airfield Matting Design: https://samenews.org/the-history-of-airfield-matting-design/
• Pierced Steel Planking: https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/07/pierced-steel-planking.html
• Marsden Matting: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Marsden_Matting

Reviewer’s Comments

I wholeheartedly recommend this kit. As I have reviewed several ICM kits and find them to demonstrate high degree of accuracy, it is not surprising that I find this small kit not only interesting because of the subject matter and very accurate. I strongly urge you to tackle this small kit—whether you’re building an armor piece or and aircraft.