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I have been waiting for the start of ARC Armor to get going on this project but with the creation of this new forum I figured it was time. I have enjoyed seeing what else you all build besides aircraft and would like to make my contribution. On to the build!

Here is what I am after. A well worn LVTP-7 in desert camo operating during a CAX ( Combined Arms Exercise) at 29 Palms California during 1986.

ref_1.jpg

I will be using the 1/35 Academy kit which I believe is a knock off of the Tamyia AAVP-7.

Sub assemblies, the hull, deck and turret.

LVTP-7_bld_1.jpg

I did pinch the driver from a Tamyia AAVP-7 kit in my stash. Although the mounting for the driver figure is not included in the Academy kit so I duplicated it from spare sprue and plastic sheet.

LVTP-7_bld_2.jpg

The deck has been dry fit to plan my strategy on gluing this piece together. I eventually will be placing this on a display base.

LVTP-7_bld_3.jpg

Too bad there is no interior so you could pose the ramp open and my scratch building skills are not up to that challenge yet. So as it is, the ramp is closed.

LVTP-7_bld_4.jpg

Once I get the deck attached to the hull and the seams cleaned up I'll start attaching all the little bits to the deck such as hand rails, steps and cleats.

LVTP-7_bld_5.jpg

Did you notice that the road wheels are not all there?............... That is because I got less than half way through cutting, sanding and gluing and remembered why I only manage to build one armor kit a year. Could there be a more tedious task in all of modeling than putting together multiple sets of road wheels?........ Oh well it sure looks cool and brings back a lot of fond and some not so fond memories and I am looking forward to getting it up on my shelf.

Semper Fi,

Mark

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Just wondering. Are you sure that picture is 1986? I ask because it appears the grunts are still wearing steel pots and not kevlar. I think by 86 the steel pot would have been entirely replaced. I know in 87 when I was in boot camp we had the k-pot. Also, this is the original LVTP-7 version with the round lights inbedded in the hull, which were upgraded to AAV-7 in the 83-84 time period. Those had the lights mounted higher in the hull with square housings. They could have still been using the older ones out at the stumps, but the helmets would lead me to think earlier 80's time frame. Great project though, and the Academy kit is in some ways a little better than the Tamiya version that they based their kit on. If you want an interior, Hobby Fan does one, but it will cost you around $150!

http://www.missionmodels.com/product.php?productid=16431

Cheers

Jason

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I don't know when the EAP was started but in the late 90's they had a pool to grab equipment from just for CAX. Like a Marine car rental and we rode them hard and up them up wet (sometimes).

I sometimes miss the high desert. :thumbsup:

Nice build.

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Just wondering. Are you sure that picture is 1986? I ask because it appears the grunts are still wearing steel pots and not kevlar. I think by 86 the steel pot would have been entirely replaced. I know in 87 when I was in boot camp we had the k-pot. Also, this is the original LVTP-7 version with the round lights inbedded in the hull, which were upgraded to AAV-7 in the 83-84 time period. Those had the lights mounted higher in the hull with square housings. They could have still been using the older ones out at the stumps, but the helmets would lead me to think earlier 80's time frame.

Hey Jason,

You are right about the picture. It was taken in 1984. I seem to remember that the K-pot started showing up around mid 85 or so, however I could be wrong but i believe in early 86 there were Marines still wearing the steel pot.

As Tank mentioned this LVTP-7 would not have received the upgrades as it was assigned to the 29 Palms motor pool and was like a "Rent a AMTRAC" for visiting units and adversary forces participating in the CAX. Not only were they not upgraded they were striped of many little things normally found on FMF Tracs.

Thanks for you interest. ;)

Semper Fi,

Mark

Hey Ryan,

There is not much I miss about 29 Palms, although I do miss the sunrises and the smell of victory after we just had a bunch of Army dog faces for breakfast. :)

:salute:

Mark

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  • 2 weeks later...

Main assembly complete. A few more road wheels done as well but the are still a few more to go.

LVTP-7_bld_6.jpg

There were a few tricky seams that needed attention. Like around the bow;

LVTP-7_bld_7.jpg

and the angled joint between the side and the deck, but a bit of putty took care of that.

LVTP-7_bld_8.jpg

Next I need to attach all of the handles, handrails and various other bits before I prime it for painting.

I'm diggin not having to mask a wind screen and canopy before I paint.

Happy modeling,

Mark

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I read it somewhere that the rear prop section needs be rework to make it more accurate but I can't remember.

I have this same kit but I am converting the round lights to square which parts are included in the kit. Can't wait to see yours painted!

B

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  • 1 year later...

Wow, I can't believe it's been well over a year since I last update this thread. I've worked on and off with this build for about two years now and the time has come to git'er done.

I have started spraying the brown pattern, It will need some touch ups and I need to adjust the pattern a bit then I'll spray the black and light tan squiggles.

LVTP-7_bld_18.jpg

This is a camo net I made from medical gauze soaked in a diluted mixture of white glue. This is my first attempt at this sort of thing and I'm pleased with how it looks so far.

LVTP-7_bld_19.jpg

Thanks for looking,

Mark

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Thats lookin' good, Mark.

On the camo net, you might want to replicate the plastic strips that are woven through the modern nets. I good way to do this is just to brush on some diluted white glue and water mixture, then tear up small pieces of Kleenex (not toilet paper) and let them soak into the netting. After it dries its kind of a big blob, with just bits and pieces of the actual net showing though. Once its painted and drybrushed in greens, browns and blacks, it really looks like a modern camo net.

Good work

Jason

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Thats lookin' good, Mark.

On the camo net, you might want to replicate the plastic strips that are woven through the modern nets. I good way to do this is just to brush on some diluted white glue and water mixture, then tear up small pieces of Kleenex (not toilet paper) and let them soak into the netting. After it dries its kind of a big blob, with just bits and pieces of the actual net showing though. Once its painted and drybrushed in greens, browns and blacks, it really looks like a modern camo net.

Good work

Jason

Thanks Jason!

Yeah agree, I was considering something along those lines. Right now it looks more like a fishing net(it is a tuna boat after all... :nanner: ). I've got a couple of ideas to try out now. Thanks for the input... :banana:

Mark

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Mark,

This is just so very good..I like the way you did the camo and cant wait to see the squiggles.....Your neat work ishows your pain staking workmanship...

Looking very CLEAN and and neat ....The prostine white netting looks as if you are just about to go out fishing....hehehehe ..... :P :tease:

Seriously it is VERY STUNNING build...

I like ARMOR ....somethingn different and complicated to see and follow..

HOLMES :cheers: :D

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Mark, very nice build ! :cheers:

Your AMTRAC looks great ...

Takes me back to when I was a kid and got to sit in them at the MCAS El Toro Airshow ...

I'll keep watching your progress ...

Gregg

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  • 7 months later...

Wow, It's been a while since my last update on this build. I finally managed to get some paint work done over the long weekend. I've also started to weather it a bit. I have a few more details to add to the hull and then I'll spray a light coat of flat coat mixed with the sand color to blend it all in and give it that dusty look.

Here's where I'm at so far.

LVTP-7_bld_20.jpg

LVTP-7_bld_21.jpg

LVTP-7_bld_22.jpg

LVTP-7_bld_23.jpg

LVTP-7_bld_24.jpg

LVTP-7_bld_25.jpg

I still need to paint and weather all of the gear that will be stowed on the back of the beast of burden and I also need to paint the rubber pads on the bottom of the tracks... :jaw-dropping:

I hope it won't be so long before my next update this next time around. I'm hoping to finish this one before I hit the two year mark with this project...So much for a quick armor build... :woot.gif:

Thanks for looking,

Mark

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Ha! It appears as though you did build all the road wheels :thumbsup:

Looks good, can't wait to see more! Any work on the base yet?

Take care,

Austin

Thanks Austin!

I thought the road wheel were tedious enough but painting all those rubber pads on the tracks is a whole new adventure in monotony... :whistle:

I haven't started on the base yet but I have my little helper(my 6 yr old son) who is very keen to help me get started with that so I think we'll be starting that here shortly.

Cheers,

Mark

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  • 2 weeks later...
Thanks Austin!

I thought the road wheel were tedious enough but painting all those rubber pads on the tracks is a whole new adventure in monotony... :thumbsup:

I haven't started on the base yet but I have my little helper(my 6 yr old son) who is very keen to help me get started with that so I think we'll be starting that here shortly.

Cheers,

Mark

Very nice! Looking forward to seeing it complete! Who knows, may even give me inspiration to start on the Hobby Boss AAVP-7A1 kit I got this week...would make a nice break from building jets. Thanks for the pics, keep up the good work.

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