Semper Fi War in the Pacific

You mean there not aliens??

PANZERWAFFE,  all the joints on all the LVTs in the museum and in period photos where it discernible have visible weld beads.  I was able to locate couple pictures in the stash of the cab/deck, to include some photos from the filming of Flags of our Fathers that show the straight edged demarcations and flush screws of the cab.  I would wager a bet that the restoration was incorrect as TM 9-775 Landing Vehicle Tracked, MK. I and MK. II states “Remove cross-recessed screws, bolts, cap screws, and stud nuts which secure the cab cover to the hull.”  The pictures will do more toward explaining than I can in words.

            I have mentally committed to moving the hatch forward.  I picked up an extra LVT-(A)4 and have sawed the cab from it to use the armored visor and provide the older mooring cleats.  I think I will attempt to replace the handles/lifting points with wire as well, the plastic is a bit oversized.  I also picked up a spare LVT-4 to donate sponsons and running gear to build an LVTA5 Modified, the spare LVT-(A)4 donating a section of upper hull/top deck to extend the bow on the A5.

            I did not get to work on the EFV but, got to work with the companies that were developing the curriculum for the training courses.  I got to watch it in the field on several occasions and it was a most impressive beast.  It is very unfortunate that GD did not have their “A-Team” on the project.  It is a complex vehicle but no way is it more complex than a V-22 Osprey or F-35B, one of which is already clocking combat hours and the other is progressing well.  I remember watching the scaled manufacturer’s competing test vehicles motoring in the boat basin and off the coast in 1993 and being told that would be on the ramp in 10 years.  Then I believe it was 2005 that was set as the target for initial fielding, that too slid to the right and come 2011 the program was canceled.  There is work on modifying the AAV continuing and some work on its potential replacement but she is slated to serve for at least couple more decades.  It is a good vehicle, and continuing modernizations will keep it current but she is long in the tooth.

            The work on those Fruil tracks is impressive, it makes the rubber track provided look pointless.  Looking forward to seeing some picks of the completed links/set.

agentg

I experimented as well, and found I got better results from one color faded with a tan or Dark Yellow.

Carl, I have to laugh sometimes at some of these folks. They travel for miles and miles expecting to see something and low and behold THEY DO!

Experience tells me if we knew half of what is being tested out there, we'd be able to explain 90% of all the sightings.

G

 

G , i have yet to try using the tan or dark yellow for fading . I've heard of it before .  Good idea . I dont really like how white lightens the O.D.

Yes , there is a lot of stuff flying around out there alright . I think at least 80 % of it is probably for training out of Nelis AFB .  The other 20 % we probably dont see ...................thats the stealth aircraft , not a UFO .

DEATTILIO - Thanks for letting me know about those screws. Had already had some bolt heads ready to put on, they were just waiting for the hatch surgery to take place. Will put those to the side and now will have to figure out what to use or how to make screw heads?

More great pictures. Can defiantly see no bolts sticking up. That first pic of the LVT4 has the off set hatches, presume it is a really late post war model? It carries the camo that I really like. Had originally thought about painting mine that way but declined, maybe next time.  This pic also shows very well that front plate (not sure what you would call it, water plane?) and how it DOES NOT wrap around on top of the glacis as the kit piece does.  Had planed on cutting the kit part down as in the picture on my build.  Will scratch some brackets that connect it to the hull, the ones you can see at the top.

Sounds as if you really set some projects up with all the conversions. Good that you have the real LVT (A)5 there for hands on reference. Later on when I start my LVT (A)1 might ask you for some good pics of that one there if you dont mind. Have been saving all the pics you have been posting so far, Thanks

Yes, the AAV has been very faithful and I'm sure it will continue.  Shame that the EFV is not getting the attention that it needs but thats usually the way.

LVT 4 update  -  Usually would not post unless finished or at least both tracks were done but wanted to go ahead and show these off.  First track complete.  They are packed full of detail more so than what the camera has captured here.  Believe the detail will really show once painted.  Think they are one of my favorite looking Friul tracks I have seen.  Will get more sets for my other LVT's.

BOW (that means front to all you Landlubbers)

Aft

Surgery / modification on the return rollers look good now with the track.

Overview

Another couple full days and should have the other one done   Am now deciding weather to paint the lower hull and attach tracks or continue to build and install the upper hull / cab area then add tracks last?  My original intention was to put tracks on last especially since there will be some possible filling to do once the top is put on.  Problem with this is, the way the tracks pin together being 2 separate pins to connect the links, the two track ends will have to be connected / put together before assembly on the model.  That means leaving the sprockets off and attaching them with installation of the track.  Because of this everything behind the track will need to be painted and the track will be best put on without the top in the way.  Will give these two options some thought.

ANDY - The only 1/35 scale LVT kits I know of are:  Italeri - LVT-(A)1, LVT-2, LVT-(A)2, LVT-(A)4.                Cyber Hobby - LVT-4 (the one I'm building now).  AFV Club - LVT-4.   All these kits look and have the same parts as the one I'm building now except maybe the AFV kit.  Not sure what it looks like or how well it is.  The Italeri kits are pretty good overall.  So far no big problems and easy modification work if you choose to do so.  There are also LOTS of upgrade kits for all of these.  You should build one.  Your figure work would really make a beautiful build with all the figs you could use.

Dragon makes a bunch of 1/72 scale LVT's but not sure which ones, know nothing about the 1/72 side of the house?

Rob- I have to tell you I hollered 'Holy sh*t' when I first saw your pictures of completed Friulmodel tracks on one side.  L-O-V-E 'em!!! You made the right decision to use Friulmodel for your LVT especially that the tracks are very visible unlike most armors except for Char Bis.  I will have to do the same if I build one...

Thanks for the info about LVT kits.  Will keep eyes for those at upcoming shows.  Of course figures are a MUST for me.  Am afraid it will take me a year at my snail pace. LOL

NO worries, I don't do 1/72 anyway... too small for my age.    

Deat,,,  great pics,,,,   excellent reference material.  Thanks for sharing!

Rob,,,,     wow,,    and another    wow!      Those tracks are great....     I would say they are absolutely worth the effort.            They are going to look splendid on the LVT                especially since they look splendid now!

Rob , those are some really cool looking tracks ! It sounds like whenever you put the tracks on there will be some kind of problem involved .Ohh , what this "front" stuff Marine/Coast Gurdman  ?

Well ? 

PANZERWAFFE,  those Fruil tracks look awesome, they better capture the rickety look of the tracks than those rubber offerings did.  I too will have to purchase couple more sets.  If you need any particular items photographed on the LVTA1 I’ll try and get them for you.  Unfortunately, there is not much of an interior for any of the LVTs in the museum aside from the -3C, most rotting away after decades of open storage/display at Main Side of Camp Pendleton before being snagged by the unit and rescuing them from a trip and possible near permanent residence in a back lot at Barstow Logistics Base.  Once I get the pictures I took last week uploaded I will post the link for my Photobucket album so you can sift through which are the most relevant to needs.

deafpanzer,  as PANZERWAFFE advised the Italeri kits are all good kits and remain the only game in town for the –2 and –A2 variants as whole kts in 1/35.  Revell also does an LVTA1 and have read good reviews about it as well.  There are some 1/35 LVTA1 and LVTA4 along with 1/48 resin kits LVT2 and LVT4 available.  The 1/35 has a cost comparable to the injection kits but the 1/48 exceed the price of 1/35 injection kits.  I got extremely lucky and came across one of the 1/48 LVT2s for cheap and snatched it up, the detail on that kit is very well done.  The manufacturer’s name escapes me andit, along with the majority of my stash is in storage and not readily accessible.  My Unicorn though is Verlinden’s resin LVT1, I have not seen one offered for a very long time.  Of all the kits I have had the opportunity to acquire or read reviews about, the AFV Club LVT4 is probably the best.
Moving from 1st generation tractors, AFV Club does an LVTP5 that is also well done.  After market options includes interior, along with conversions to other variants such as the R1 and H6.  The current generation has been done a great service as of late by Hobby Boss, to include an R7.  I have several of their -7 AmTracs and all are exceptionally well done and only possessing minor flaws.  Academy’s LVTP7 was an easy and fairly accurate rendition but is eclipsed by the newer Hobby Boss LVTP7.  Tamiya’s LVTP7A1/AAVP7A1 was/is a decent kit, and for many years the only game in town but it too has been relegated to the side lines when compared to Hobby Boss AAVP7A1s.  Worst in the 1/35 line up though is the Mini Hobby Models offering, at least providing injection molded EAAK as its only saving grace as a worth wild purchase.  I have also come across a 1/48 AAVP7A1 but have not picked one up yet.  Dragon has done a decent job on the P7 in 1/72 although the running gear on their RAM/RS does not line up properly in comparison to the real thing.  They too offer an R7 but they put EAAK armor mounts and EAAK on the kit, which no actual R7 was ever fitted with.
Although the LVT1 is nearly impossible to find, it was molded leaving only one version of the LVT not yet molded in the main stream.  Borg Warner’s LVT3 and later LVT3C still lacks any representation on the modeling front.  Unfortunate as it participated in the Okinawa campaign and was instrumental to the Inchon landings in Korea.  It was also the AmTrac type used in the filming of John Wayne’s Sands of Iwo Jima.  Hopefully a manufacturer will pick up on its absence and provide it in 1/35 scale sooner than later.

PANZERWAFFE

     CARL - Thats another great set of pics of the Jeep  Cant make up my mind witch I like best, likem all.  Just let me know which one you want on the finished builds on page one, was not sure if you wanted me to wait for stowage to go on?  Could be up to claim a badge already.  Did you score the tecture on the seats or is it just paint?  Think they look good which ever way you did it.  I'm really looking forward to see what you do with your Sherman now

Thanks for that link about the tracks.  Tony had sent me that a little while back and I've had pretty good success with his method.  Was looking more at trying to go just paint with this set.  Have not painted a set of Friuls yet.  Thanks for looking

Joe is a great name for that old trusty fella.

ANDY - These tracks have been really eaten up some time, that's for sure.  Have been working on them all day today straight and have made much better progress than last night.  Only have 20 more links to go and will have one track complete   Think these tracks are very cool looking.  Might be able to get a pic up tomorrow with the one completed track fitted on the LVT?

I read this earlier but forgot to reply Rob , I'll use the picture below for your page one . When i add the storage we can update it . On the seats i drug a # 10 hobby knife across them horizontal and vertical then spread some testors liquid plastic cement over that to desolve the hard edges . i used MM enamel fs 34159 , sac bomber green qs the base color on the seat covers and dry brushed a lightened shade of that color over that . I agree "Joe " will be a good name for the jeep ,funny how it came up due to Andy's marriage offer . I may draw it on the jeep someplace .

CARL - Should not be too much a problem when the tracks are put on.  There usually is no problem with Friuls because you have the completed model then put the tracks on and the last (single) pin just slides in.  Because of the "2 pin" assembly from the middle of the link the track has to be completely built before putting on the model.  Believe I will just continue with the construction and put tracks on toward the end.  Will just leave the sprockets off until it's time to put on the tracks.  Will just have to take more care when putting on the tracks.

OHH Yea you scallywag, will deep six the "front" and that should round things off Fore to Aft.

Thanks for the explanation of the seats.  Like how they came out  That's a great picture and have updated the first page.  Proud to have it displayed now under completed builds   and that badge looks good on you.

DEATTILIO - That sounds great with the pictures!  You don't know how much I appreciate it   Not sure when I'll build the (A)1 (maybe after the 4 if time permits?) but the pics will be very valued

Only have 13 more links to assemble and the second track will be done.

Deattilio-  Thanks for more information about the LVT kits out there.  I am now determined to get one only if I see a good deal at upcoming shows or online.  I am trying not to get more kits for a while except for upgrade sets and more figures of course.  But LVT is now at the top on my wish list...

Sounds like you live and breath by LVT laws... LOL 

"OHH Yea you scallywag, will deep six the "front" and that should round things off Fore to Aft. "

HAAAA HAA HA HA ! ! ! ! Thats cool Rob.

Hey  guys , i started clean up on the old Tamiya M4A3 yesterday . That kit is ok but its showing its age now . i'm going to look around for a.m. stuff . I have a resin dry storage turret (without the loaders oval hatch) i wanted to replace the later wet storage turret that comes with the kit ..............but i'm not sure thats accurate . At least nothing i've found says that the the M4A3 had any thing but wet storage of the ammo . Just sayin .....................

Ive started painting the OD, I have most of it painted, I'll finish off the rest tonight after work, should have pictures in the next couple of days.

WW2 - Sounds good and look forward to seeing her with some color

CARL - Not sure if that turret would be accurate or not?  Can take a look in some of my reference books and try to find out for ya.  You should have no problem finding update sets for that guy.  The hard part will be to figure out which set / sets you want to get

Finally!!!!  Finished both tracks.

Not the most exciting picture but I am glad they are done.  Glad the Friuls come with extra links, had ruined 4 links throughout the construction.  Still have a small handful of extra links left to put in the extra parts box.  Did a few dry runs of trying to get the tracks on and off, it's kind of tricky.  Might have to rethink putting them on before continuing the build?  Will think about it tonight.  Tomorrow my casting set should be here so hopefully will be giving casting the hatches a try. 

Rob , hard to say if you put the tracks on or after ???? They do look great thogh . I was G would come along and have answer on the M4A3 turret .

I finally have the rope on the front bumper . I say finally because this is my 3rd attempt.

Thanks G ! I did do some research and thats what i came up with .......but i was hoping there might be a ono off out there that you knew about . Thanks again and do work to hard at the "honey do's " .

Looks like my job for the next couple of days will clearing off snow . You dont get that very often in L.V. do you !

Sherman tracks . Any of you guys used Broco workable tracks for the M4 ? I was looking on sprue Bros . and the price looks good , $10 -$15

Never tried the Bronco tracks,,,,     throw the question out on the Armor forum and see if  you get any bites....   I would be interested in the consensus as well.      The rope on the bumper is a nice touch too,,,  very nice indeed.

Rob,,,  nice track work ...  !!!

G , i figured you had snow there ever so often . It must be a heck of a mess for the drivers down there . Question , would you know what tracks would be correct for a M4A3 dozer in a Pacific campaign ? The kit comes with what looks like T54 tracks with track extensions . The T49 tracks look interesting .

Bill , after reading about the fun Rob had with Friuls i figure i might have as difficult a time with the Bronco sets but for half the price .I'm satisfied with the rope , now to add some storage .

Carl,, I hear ya pal,,,   if you do try the Broncos, be sure to give a grading....            the rope looks fine, , , will be looking for the storage         !!

Carl- The rope looks pretty good!   WIsh I can answer your question... never tried indy tracks from Bronco but I always wanted to try since they cost half of Modelkasten or Friulmodel tracks.  If you get it, I will be very interested to know how they come out. 

G - Thanks for the info on the Sherman's.  I'm taken notes for when I get to work on my M4A2.

CARL - The rope is a great touch and it looks great  I would like to know about the tracks also.  Have many times looked but have not touched. 

My casting material has arrived but have had no time today to try it out, hope to soon.

Thanks Bill ,Andy and Rob Thanks for the answer G . It sounds like every after market indy link track set has a draw back of some kind . I'm going to bite the bullet and order some .

Happy casting Rob .

I'm ready to make a big order from Sprue Bros .............if i do i'm ordering the Broco's .

Thanks guys

Hey guys i did some work on the bogeuy wheel tires . I figured since this is a M4 dozer that the rubber would be cut and scraped up .

PANZERWAFFE,  as promised I brought home the disc and uploaded the pictures to photobucket.  The top link is to the LVT Museum and the following two to the LVTA1 and LVT4 folders that are in the Museum folder.  Those Fruil tracks look awesome and are going to are sure to look stunning when complete.  I finally got some work started on MARDI GRAS, working on moving that hatch forward.  I submitted my capstone paper for my BA last night, immediately after I moved from my computer desk and over to my hobby desk and saif hello to all my paints and tools.  The girlfriend called my a dork but, I’m good with that.  No work homework to shackle me to the computer desk will allow me to put some hours in to completing some builds.

Shellback,  what method did you use to get the bogeuy wheels to look realistically worn?  That will go a long way to improving the looks of the AAV I am working on.

LVT Museum

http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/deattilio/LVT%20Museum/

LVTA1

http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/deattilio/LVT%20Museum/LVTA1/

LVT4

http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/deattilio/LVT%20Museum/LVT4/

Detail . Glad to answer . After i got rid of the mold seam down the center of the wheel i used the "V" shaped file (all tools shown below) to cut the grooves , this left some ridges of plastic sticking up so i cross sanded (at a right angle to the wheel ) with a 220 grit sanding stick . This will leave some dust in the grooves so i cross brushed it with the small steel bristle wire brush . Both the sanding and wire brushing will ruff up the plastic surface .