Here’s a WIP in which I build this unconventional machine:
It’s a PACV - Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle. In Vietnamese Quai Vat - meaning Monster!
It’s going to be build out of a kit by Gecko.
I’m starting with the interior that looks very nice and is detailed well. In fact it has so many details, that I’m wondering where did they get their references from - I sure couldn’t find all the details on the 'net.
I started building the diverse seats:
Parts are very detailed, but also fragile. Cleaning up the sprue attachment points and mold seam lines takes a lot of care so as not to break anything.
As out of the box the kit shows the hovercraft with the skirt inflated, this means that the engine is running. Thus it would be awkward not to have anybody onboard - so I have to take care of the crew. I started with legs:
The ones above come from Dragon’s “Helicopter Crew” set. As you can see the surgery is already done, but everything has to dry really well before the filing starts.
One thing I’d like to ask is what interior colour would you bet on on this one?
The kit instructions say “navy grey”, but from what I’ve seen it should be the same colour as for the outsides (Forest Green). I’d appreciate your input here!
Hello!
Thanks a lot for your comment! Now thats an easy one - the were only three of them in 'Nam. And you have three painting options in the kit… That kina covers it all, eh? OK, there were surely variations in time, but nothing a few custom printed decals couldn’t fix!
Pawel, I’d guess the interior was green like the exterior. The PACVs were British in origin and modified by the US. No doubt extensive mods were carried out on the interior, like radio/nav equipment and armament, as well as the seating.
Good catch on providing crew figures for a running machine! I do wonder what the crew wore. Helmets with intercoms would have been a must given the amount of noise the fan system produced. Would they have worn life jackets or flak jackets? Hopefully those with more knowledge will chime in!
I will be stealing your figure mods by the way! I also have this kit in the stash!
@RealG - I’m leaning towards the green interior more and more now… I read they didn’t have helicopter helmets at first, and youtube videos show them using headsets and those weird mikes hanging on their chests… As for the figures - please be my guest, if my work can help you any that would be a plesure for me!
In the meantime I’m working on the crew. I have built the radarman’s station and for the radarman I used legs from the Dragon Helicopter Crew set:
I took the torso and the head from the tank crew set, also by Dragon. Head got a neck extension:
After some sanding it fits like that:
I’m thinking about that pistol holster harness.. I think I’ll remove it. I also want to make a headset and I plan to use the “helicopter” hands for both this guy and the “driver”.
Great job of kit bashing/scratch building on the crewman’s figure. With all of the work you’re putting in,are the crew figures going to be able to be seen when this kit is completed?
Hello! Thanks a lot for your comment!
Well, probably not all, but hopefully at least some… I plan to have two side windows and the front door open. There is a video on youtube showing an M60 on a bipod mounted in the open front door “in flight”.
Have a nice day!
Paweł
It’s been a long time and the work here stalled a little, but not totally.
Some 2 months ago I shot a few photos, but they turned out pretty blurry, so maybe I’ll post just one of them - it shows the status of my work for back then. Among other things I managed to build the set harness out of kit’s PE parts and masking tape:
Since then I did some more seamwork and I made the headphones and something like hair (I’ll finish it off by painting):
Pilot:
Radar-man:
I still have to add the “muzzle”.microphones and the wiring for them and the headphones - but I think I’ll do it after painting,
The last surviving US Navy PACV NO.004 is at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, Ca. It was featured in the TV show “Combat Ships” season 2 episode 8 entitled “Amphibious Assaults” which can be found on Smithsonion channel or Paramount+. The feature begins at the 20 minute mark. It’s in original condition and they show the inside and it is gray. The museum does not have it on display and it sits in the boneyard awaiting restoration. Give it a watch if you can, it’s very informative.
Hello!
Thanks for the heads up! I tried to google that video, but it looks like you can only watch it if you pay money, which I don’t want to do. If somebody knows where I can watch it for free, I’d appreciate the info - or maybe somebody has a subscription already - in that case I’d appreciate if that person could post some screenshots showing the interior in thes thread.
Thanks again and have a nice day!
Paweł
These pictures are the definitive answer to the question. The interior is definitely gray. Great job finding these. The combat ships episode while informative, pales in comparison. Thank you Karl187!
@Karl187 - thanks a lot for the link, I’ve seen photos of the “survivor” before, but never this detailed! This will definitely help, although it’s a pity so little is left of the original interior.
@mrb865 - I wouldn’t say the interior colour is thing settled… It’s definitely gray now, BUT
This picture from a period movie suggests otherwise:
I also have this kit in the stash!
