Have spent the last few weeks working on this kit. Big thumbs up from me. The parts are crisp, well fitting and extremely detailed. Paints used were Tamiya Nato Brown, Nato Green and Nato Black. Tracks were weathered with Tamiya German Grey and Tamiya Red Brown. Dusting was applied using AK Light Dust Pigment.
I couldn’t find many images of this vehicle as being very dirty or even scratched for that matter. So I’ve gone with one that’s seen a bit of work in the field and will probably go in for a wash at the end of the exercise.
From looking at the photos on the 'net I also get the feeling, that the tracks are older style, don’t know if they are correct for the vehicle like yours.
well spotted. Yes I did put the tracks on backwards, big goof on my part and I didn’t realise until I had glued them all on. Can’t tell you how annoying that is. I have contempalted pulling them off and redoing them, but don’t have the patience right now. Perhaps next weeks job
You don’t have to tell me, I know that feeling all too well :-). I just thought I’ll write it up for other people building a model from this kit (or similar). Well if you decide to redo it - respect. One thing worth checking is if those tracks are correct for the machine - when I tried to find a picture of an Amtrac most of them have track with square pads, not chevrons. Maybe you could put on square pad tracks - just a thought? Anyhow, like I wrote, the model looks good, something to be proud of. Good luck with your next projects and have a nice day
Looking good. Hobby Boss really hit the mark with their LVTP7/AAVP7 kits. They are excellent.
Other than the track, the only other think I would change is the inside hatch color on the UGWS. It should be NATO green like the other hatch interiors.
Yes, the chevron block tracks are the correct ones for the version. The ones w/the square block tracks are the AAVP7A1 RAMS/RS version. The RAMS/RS upgrade added a Bradley engine, transmission, and running gear. You will notice they have upper return rollers (like a Bradley), which this version does not. The road wheels are also smaller on the RAMS/RS versions.
Excellent build Battle Tweety! Love this camo scheme, usually you see these in their desert sand colors. Just the right amount of weathering in my opinion. I have several of these kits in my stash and I need to get one out soon.
Ah. “Queequeg’s coffin.” Used, in days of old, to teach about buoyancy and displacement.
And, they do not float very high out of the water, either, only about a foot of freeboard.
Probably more amazing that, 7/8 submerged, they move at all.
Seeing them roll off a stern gate is somewhat dramatic, as is recovering them over a stern gate. That latter being dicey for the the gate and ship moving separately to how the 'Trac floats in the same ocean.
Yup, they can be pretty sporty going into the water. The below video shows how it is in calm seas. I have been told they go completely under and you pucker until they bob back up in a little rougher sea states.
Yep it can be pretty scary watching those things. When I was in, we used the M113 which had a freeboard of about 11cm. They could only go on perfectly calm lakes though, no ocean going. The amount of preparation and checking before going waterborne was a huge effort. I can only imagine what its like on these beasts.
I’ve seen a video before of an AAV coming ashore, but being caught by a following wave in the surf zone, which Ibelieve ended up pitching the craft end over end. Somehow though, once it rights itself it continues on to the shore. I can’t imagine what it must of been like being inside that craft.
Holy mother of god. I would not like to be in that beast when that happens. Incredible vehicle the way it can right itself. hats off to the test crew on that drive.
Probably just a typical load-out of Marines on board.
That’s one of the variables you sweat on the Operations side of planning Landings. You have to look at the Surf Forecast, the weather forecast, and the Beach Profile and try and guess where there will not be “surf traps” like that to assign on the Landing Lanes as you divide up the Landing Beach.
Mind, the 8-10 Marines on board are just the current batch being ferried ashore. There are often more back on the ship to bring ashore, too. LPA and LHD and LPD can carry more Marines than amtracs, so the LSD has to supply the vehicles to go to the other ships and load up there before going ashore.
Nicely done! YAT-YAS! Those are markings for Team-6 at Assault Amphibian School Battalion - the team that was responsible for training the Amphibious Officer and Amphibian Unit Leader courses. I’ll dig through pictures but they used to get filthy.
Once the RAM/RS startted getting fielded, the community refered to these older AAVs as “straight legs.” They were around for a long time before all the Battalions completely transitioned to the RAM/RS.
For the tracks, the “Big Foot” tracks (square pads) were fielded beffore the RAM/RS was introduced so, the “straight legs” had these style tracks as well. However, by time RAM/RS was fielded the chevron pads were long out of the supply system.
This was the self-righting test at Monterey Bay CA. They actually flipped her a couple times. Tractor was all set up for the test with 5-point harnesses and oxygen tanks for “just in case.” When they hit the beach the crew popped the hatches hooping and hollering wanting to go back and do it agan.
We attempted a similar test at Camp Pendleton but even during a storm swell the waves did not get high enough. All that happened was we plowed the bow right into the deck and that HURT! The tractor we used was missing the access door for the hydraulic tank/ventilator aspirator so each time a wave came over top a tube of water the shape of the access hatch would go shooting across the driver’s face - which was also cold.
