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LVT2 Iwo Jima

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  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: New Port Richey
LVT2 Iwo Jima
Posted by deattilio on Friday, June 6, 2014 3:39 PM

This depicts an LVT2 of 3D Amphibian Tractor Battalion during Operation Detachment.  The kit is Italeri’s 1/35 LVT2 but, it is loaded with every chunk of AM I could get my grubby little paws on – laundry list below photos.  I learned a lot of lessons from this build that I will be able to use on the remaining platoon or so of LVTs that I have in the stash.  Probable the most time consuming portion was assembling AFV Club’s LVT Track (Workable) which resembles the real thing so well I will have to use it on a future build.  Unfortunately fitting it to Italeri’s kit was apparently not AFV Club’s intent, the teeth on the drive and idle sprockets had to be removed from the portion that was in contact with the track –learned after assemble of tracks and hull for that added challenge, and I wound up breaking both sides in a couple spots.  Lesson learned for next build.  I have Fruilmodel sets for the LVT too but, they will be hard pressed to mimic the rackety appearance that AFV has captured so well.  I drilled each of the nubs on the cab and replaced them with countersunk screw heads, replaced the engine deck nubs and replaced them with bolt heads.  Although not readily visible I put a full interior, using Verlinden’s LVT4 interior but trimmed, cut and sanded to fit.  If I use another of these I will do more work as it is not well done and only captures an LVT interior in basic shapes.  I used Bison Decals which required me to do additional work on the side cab armor.  I had initially installed and painted the Eduard provided armor but found that the decals were too long, so I took the set from the TRAKZ resin set and spliced in a section to the appropriate length.  I know figures would add much to the model but that is a subject I haven't got much experience with and once the cab was secured it was pretty much a sealed no figure deal.

My next LVT will be a P7 for the Orphaned Armor GB but will not be quite this involved.  Time to head back to my Mustang for the Braille GB.

 

 

 

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/deattilio/slideshow/Models/LVT2%20Iwo%20Jima

 

AFV Club LVT Track (Workable)

AK Interactive Headlights/Taillights

Bison Decals LVT2 and LVTA2 on Iwo Jima

Eduard LVT-(A)1 PE set –for armored engine deck vents

Eduard LVT-2 PE set

Eduard LVT-2 Floor Plate

Eduard LVT-2 Louver Bulkhead

Eureka Tow Cable for M4 Sherman

RB Models 2m Antenna

RB Models Browning M2

Tamiya Allied Vehicle Accessory Set

TMD Large Shackles

TRAKZ LVTA2 Detail Set – for side armor

Verlinden US Small Arms Ammo Boxes

Verlinden Cal.30 & Cal.50 Ammo Cases

Verlinden LVT-4 Update Set – for interior

Verlinden Bolts Screws and Fasteners

Voyager Model LVT-4 PE basic – for machinegun shields

Voyager Model US M1919 Machine Gun

 

 

WIP:
Trying to get my hobby stuff sorted - just moved and still unpacking.

 

"Gator, Green Catskill....Charlie On Time"
 

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Virginia
Posted by ygmodeler4 on Friday, June 6, 2014 4:16 PM

Another great one!  It's a shame you can't see more of the interior. I really like the Eagle Globe and Anchor as part of the display too.

-Josiah

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: On my kitchen counter top somewhere in central North Carolina.
Posted by disastermaster on Friday, June 6, 2014 10:44 PM

Man, I really like this. http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/smiley_faces/respect-smiley-face.gif?1302011415

Very good work all-around.

 https://i.imgur.com/LjRRaV1.png

 

 

 
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, June 7, 2014 12:49 AM

Beautiful Build!!!! Are the AFV tracks merely time consuming, or difficult as well?

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Saturday, June 7, 2014 2:11 AM

Love this one. I do like Amtracs. The only thing this vignette needs is some figures in the vehicle. That would really push it over IMO.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: New Port Richey
Posted by deattilio on Saturday, June 7, 2014 10:28 AM

Thanks for all the kind words, inspiration for the next LVT.

 

Stik,
      The AFV tracks are time consuming with a tad of difficult just for fun.  The hardest part was getting the first several started but, once you get about five links assembled it starts moving along a bit quicker.  They are rickety, just like the real thing and flop around and collapse between the grousers.  Life would be much easier had they provided a mold or jig to help; I tried using the mold that comes with the Fruil set but that didn’t work well.  I wound up placing the length between a machinist ruler and a ruler from a combination square and using a bamboo skewer across the top and down the middle to keep the track level to the deck.  Also there was the slightest amount of flash that kept the track pins (T4) from fitting in their slots (T1 & T2), I actually broke several before figuring this out.  Dry fitting the pins to the spacers was enough to clear the flash as it was nearly invisible without the loupe.  Cutting the pieces from the sprues and cleaning the minor amount of flash took two or three evenings and assembly took three days.  I had to step away often it made my eyes hurt and caused a crink in my neck after a while.  But, the finished thing looks and acts so much like the real thing it is worth the effort and will be on another of my LVTs in the future.

Tiger,
      I totally agree and was thinking the same thing throughout the build.  I haven’t used figures in previous builds so it past time to tackle that challenge.

 

WIP:
Trying to get my hobby stuff sorted - just moved and still unpacking.

 

"Gator, Green Catskill....Charlie On Time"
 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, June 7, 2014 11:22 AM

Sounds like a few of the other AFV Club track sets that I have assembled. Well  stillhave two more Italeri Amtracks in my stash, the -2 and the (A)4. Those tracks look great. I guess that I will need to pick up a coulple of sets of them.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Saturday, June 7, 2014 1:22 PM

Terrific job!

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, June 7, 2014 4:14 PM
stikpusher

Sounds like a few of the other AFV Club track sets that I have assembled. Well  stillhave two more Italeri Amtracks in my stash, the -2 and the (A)4. Those tracks look great. I guess that I will need to pick up a coulple of sets of them.

Honestly Stik I would stick to the Friul tracks for the LVT they are less likely to make you insane.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Saturday, June 7, 2014 5:32 PM

very nice,subtle weathering looks good

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, June 7, 2014 5:53 PM

Mikeym_us
stikpusher

Sounds like a few of the other AFV Club track sets that I have assembled. Well  stillhave two more Italeri Amtracks in my stash, the -2 and the (A)4. Those tracks look great. I guess that I will need to pick up a coulple of sets of them.

Honestly Stik I would stick to the Friul tracks for the LVT they are less likely to make you insane.

Fruils are too damned expensive... they are out of my price range.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Saturday, June 7, 2014 6:41 PM
stikpusher

Mikeym_us
stikpusher

Sounds like a few of the other AFV Club track sets that I have assembled. Well  stillhave two more Italeri Amtracks in my stash, the -2 and the (A)4. Those tracks look great. I guess that I will need to pick up a coulple of sets of them.

Honestly Stik I would stick to the Friul tracks for the LVT they are less likely to make you insane.

Fruils are too damned expensive... they are out of my price range.

Expensive yes but well worth the price of admission Stik. AFV Clubs tracks are usually the same tracks that ModelKasten puts out with the same problems and as deattilio pointed out can break really easy. And also remember the trouble Doog had with his AFV club tracks with his M48 build a while back where they fell apart after he put a oil based wash on them. IMHO Friuls may be expensive but they can go together in a couple hours (both sides being an hour each). I do believe they come with replacement drive sprockets and idler wheels to replace the flimsy plastic kit supplied ones. And on top of that they don't fall apart when a oil based wash is applied. When I get back to my Italeri LVT-(A)1 I'll be using friul tracks on it.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Maine
Posted by Stage_Left on Sunday, June 8, 2014 3:31 PM

Wow very nice deattilio!

Dave

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 7:38 AM

Beautiful work on the LVT2 and the base ain't too shabby either! I love the rust streaks and the overall weathered but not totally beaten all to heck look.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: New Port Richey
Posted by deattilio on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:04 PM

It took some serious restraint not to go crazy with the rust, one it was amusing and two after UDPs to Okinawa and other similar areas, items seemed to rust just 5-seconds shy of instantly.  I've seen photos of these looking like little more than rolling Cheetos but not that would come across well on a model.

Concerning the AFV Club tracks, they're fairly stout, I was yanking on them much harder than I knew I should have, mostly out of frustration going over the top of the idler.  I still plan on using my set of Fruil tracks, I paid for them, they're going on an LVT but the AFV Club offering has more finesse.

 

WIP:
Trying to get my hobby stuff sorted - just moved and still unpacking.

 

"Gator, Green Catskill....Charlie On Time"
 

 

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Kincheloe Michigan
Posted by Mikeym_us on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:47 PM
deattilio

It took some serious restraint not to go crazy with the rust, one it was amusing and two after UDPs to Okinawa and other similar areas, items seemed to rust just 5-seconds shy of instantly.  I've seen photos of these looking like little more than rolling Cheetos but not that would come across well on a model.

Concerning the AFV Club tracks, they're fairly stout, I was yanking on them much harder than I knew I should have, mostly out of frustration going over the top of the idler.  I still plan on using my set of Fruil tracks, I paid for them, they're going on an LVT but the AFV Club offering has more finesse.

I believe those AFV Club tracks were really meant for the AFV club LVT-4.

On the workbench: Dragon 1/350 scale Ticonderoga class USS BunkerHill 1/720 scale Italeri USS Harry S. Truman 1/72 scale Encore Yak-6

The 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron the only Squadron to get an Air to Air kill and an Air to Ground kill in the same week with only a F-15   http://photobucket.com/albums/v332/Mikeym_us/

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