Hi, I’d like to covert the Aoshima 1:72 AAVP7 kit back into the old LVTP-7 used in the Falklands War.
What are the main differences that I must focus on? Are there any conversion kits that may help? Any useful bibliography, plans, or accessible documentation?
Thanks for the help!
No idea on any conversion sets for it. The main difference is in the front plate. The older LVTP7 had two round headlight cluster insets as opposed to the square ones on the AAVP7.
Also, the LVTP7 had a simple exhaust stack as opposed to a horizontal muffler.
LVTP7
Sorry just saw this, thanks for the info.
Didn’t the commander’s cupola change from the LVTP7 to the LVTP7A1? I thought the original had a single M85 .50 cal machine gun and the updated cupola had the 40 mm grenade launcher added next to the M85 (which was the worst .50 cal we used).
Yes, there wer all sorts of variations, IIRC. The big change, again, just from memory, was in adding the second, weapons cupola.
The USMC AmTrak Companies did not field them, uniformly, either. The Landing Plan had to cope with distributing the “grenadier” versions out equally among the assault elements.
Which was tied into the Commander’s Intent for how many of the tracks were menat to continue on as APC, past the littoral, and how many were to be retained for shuttled supplies ashore. Which was often due to the geology between low water and high water. If the ground above high water wanted tracked vehicles, you migh keep them to traverse supplies.
Yes, the LVTP7 also had a single M85 MG in the smaller TCs cupola and no smoke grenade launchers on it.
In my opinion, you’d do better getting either HobbyBoss’ or Acadamy/Minicraft’s LVTP-7. The HobbyBoss kit is supposed to come with the interior.
The Hobby Boss kits all come with very detailed, complete interiors and are great, but they are in 1/35. He is looking to make one in 1/72.