USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

Very cool dio so far Mac...very interested in watching this one come together!!

I’ve been watching the builds and am jealous.  All my free time and efforts are currently being poured into school.  I’ll be jumping back in come December and begin working on my Quonset hut.

Rob Gronovius

Yes, it is the Dragon 1/72 scale kit; however, I have four different ones and have not decided which of the four it will be. I am open to suggestions, the four I have are:

7221 AAV-7A1 USMC Mogadishu 1993*

7233 AAVP7A1 RAM/RS w/EAAK

7237 AAVP7A1 RAM/RS**

7319 AAVR7A1 Recovery

*Kit 7221 is Dragon's original with a diecast hull and original style suspension. The diecast hull is a bear to deal with and will have a big, nasty seam that won't fill well. It includes black vinyl tracks.

**Kits 7233 and 7237 are virtually identical with kit 7237 having the add on EAAK armor that makes it look like a corrugated tin shack was wrapped around the vehicle. I think I prefer to do the one without.

I was saving the recovery version for a diorama I never got around to doing with one of the other kits. The last three do have DS tracks and are all plastic.

My vote is for the EAAK, I remember when we removed the kits from the vehicles in the late 90s the AAVs sort of looked naked after seeing them with EAAK for years.  We removed and stored the EAAK because the EAAK was deteriorating in the constant exposure to salt water/air.  It was also taking a toll on the AAVs running gear and drive train.  The only vehicles that kept EAAK mounted were those that were deploying with the MEUs.
Word of caution with the AAVR7 kit, the R7 was never modified for EAAK so Dragon screwed the pooch by keeping the EAAK mounts on the hull.  However, if you add antennas in the proper spots and leave the recovery gear off you can create an AAVC7.
I’m working on several of these too (converting one to the artist concept of the P7 and another to an LVTEX with M551 turret armed with 105mm gun) and am looking forward to your build.

Well here's what I have so far

Thanks for looking 

Mac

Rob Gronovius

 sure that the version modeled by Dragon is a later version that came into service after MERDC was discontinued in favor of NATO 3-color or overall desert tan.

hi ROB yes you're right. just as well. i have only done one in 1/35 and i probably need more practice on a big kit before painting a little kit.

[/URL[URL=http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/kingtiger11/media/LVTP5A1/DSC00946_zps2900756d.jpg.html]

AFV's LVTP5A1 the "Bus" is a large vehicle with a lot of wheels, idlers and sprockets. Theres a lot of variations of this vehicle but I've decided to go with the US Marines Vietnam War paint scheme. 

Like the patch, can't wait to get it on my sig line.

ygmodeler4

Gary, I'll have to look into that, I guess if you're a super fast builder it can be done, though I struggle to complete 4 in a year :/

Know whatcha mean...... I struggle to complete a model a year, let alone 4!

Thanks for this Group Build, by the way. Means a lot to us old Marines that model. 

Gary Mason

SGT USMC  1984 - 1995

waynec

Rob Gronovius

I have a Dragon AAV7A1 Amtrac that I'd like to build for this GB.

i have one of those (1/72) in the stash. picked it up at a vendor's sale. working on TRUMPETER 1/72 LAV. have lower hill and turret built. thinking of doing a MERDC 4 color desert scheme since i have all the paints from doing a 1/35 M-1117.

I'm fairly sure that the version modeled by Dragon is a later version that came into service after MERDC was discontinued in favor of NATO 3-color or overall desert tan.

Thanks guys, I'll get them resized and added to the front....Gary, I'll have to look into that, I guess if you're a super fast builder it can be done, though I struggle to complete 4 in a year :/

Josiah, the badges are a great idea. I especially like how you can work your way up to expert (7th Award rifle expert myself.....). Very nice! Maybe you can find the nth Award bars to add to the Expert Badge for modelers that build more than three (i.e., a 4th award bar for a 4th kit built, etc.).  

Gary Mason

Wayne that little guy looks great, you're going to have your own 1/72 shelf army…

Rob I see a plane with beautiful lines like that and wonder why I don't build any, she's looks really cool.

Josiah thats a great badge and idea. Count me for a yes.

Yup, I think those badges would be great.

Lol! I love it! Bolo badges!

Mac, Wayne, and Rob, your builds are progressing nicely.

Sounds good to me Terry, I have not been able to start on the M60 yet, too much going on this week with papers and work.

About the badges....I like the idea of having a badge that encompasses all the builds and is fairly simple, in addition since this build is going to be decently long (end in ~ 15 September 2015) and some might build multiple builds, there is a different badge for 1 model, 2 models, or 3+ models. 

Theres the 1 model badge

That was the 2 model badge

And the 3+ model badge.

Let me know what y'all think. Of course I'll scale it down to be smaller when I add them to the front page if these are fine by you guys

Looking great as usual, Wayne!

Got a bit of progress tonite...she's starting to look...plane-ish 

LAV ready for priming as soon as it gets above freezing.

Josiah I'll start on my LVTP5A1 today, a lot of builds going on and I'm looking forward to doing one for the Marines. Terry

Well I started my Pelieliu diorama I made the main building in the airstrip

That's all for now

Mac

Rob Gronovius

I have a Dragon AAV7A1 Amtrac that I'd like to build for this GB.

i have one of those (1/72) in the stash. picked it up at a vendor's sale. working on TRUMPETER 1/72 LAV. have lower hill and turret built. thinking of doing a MERDC 4 color desert scheme since i have all the paints from doing a 1/35 M-1117.

I agree, I do not like the look of the EAAK, I do however like the AAV with mounting bosses better than a smooth side, so my vote is kit number 3....however if you want to show use how to work some magic in 1/72 I'd be all for number 1.

ygmodeler4

Glad to have y'all aboard Rob and Jsmyth! I'll get you added to the roster. Rob Dragon's offering is 1/72 correct?

Yes, it is the Dragon 1/72 scale kit; however, I have four different ones and have not decided which of the four it will be. I am open to suggestions, the four I have are:

1. 7221 AAV-7A1 USMC Mogadishu 1993*
2. 7233 AAVP7A1 RAM/RS w/EAAK
3. 7237 AAVP7A1 RAM/RS**
4. 7319 AAVR7A1 Recovery

*Kit 7221 is Dragon's original with a diecast hull and original style suspension. The diecast hull is a bear to deal with and will have a big, nasty seam that won't fill well. It includes black vinyl tracks.

**Kits 7233 and 7237 are virtually identical with kit 7237 having the add on EAAK armor that makes it look like a corrugated tin shack was wrapped around the vehicle. I think I prefer to do the one without.

I was saving the recovery version for a diorama I never got around to doing with one of the other kits. The last three do have DS tracks and are all plastic.

Yeah, maybe. Dunno how long this one will be, but, I work on it daily, so hopefully my Weapons set arrives from Hong Kong soon. I fused the fuselage front and back tonite, but, that's pretty much it for today. Oh, I did have to put down a tiny bead of putty to take care of a pesky seam. Sanded and polished it up and it's gone.

Glad to have y'all aboard Rob and Jsmyth! I'll get you added to the roster. Rob Dragon's offering is 1/72 correct?

Rob S...great progress so far...I guess I should hurry up and make a badge by the rate you build.

Happy Birthday to all of you fellow Marines out there. Count me in on this build please. I am going to look in the stash to see what I want to build. Thanks

I have a Dragon AAV7A1 Amtrac that I'd like to build for this GB.

Looks great Nathan, those seats are real stunners!!

Alright, time to add another Eph-Phour to the mix. Got started on this big boy the other night:

Yeah I know the box art is a squid machine but I have the help of this awesome Furball sheet:

I'll have to pic one of the bottom 2 shcemes, not sure which yet. I decided to just use some Resin seats from Quickboost and do some scratch work in the cockpit, as I don't feel like working with a huge chunk of resin on my phirst phantom kit. Got them painted up using Tamiya Nato black as a base, and painting the rest of the details using Vallejo paints. I'll be using the kit ejection handles for sure though!:

Next I detailed up the burner cans with small strips of plastic on the ends of the petals and made some rivets in each one. Pretty subtle under some black primer:

I also had to remove the boiler plates from the slotted stabs, and restore some lost panel line and rivet detail:

Next on the list was adding some details to the gear doors:

Back with more soon hopefully. 

Got some minor progress tonight. Sealed the front half of the fuselage around the cockpit. I had to pry out the front seat to allow the fuselage to close. No probs. It went back in just fine. Sealed well and I don't think there will be any putty needed. Maybe just a minor bit to seal the spine on the rear fuselage, but, we'll see after it sits overnight. My only real issue so far is the shallow panel lines usual with Hasegawa along with Hase's hard hard plastic. I will prob spend a few hours running over all panel lines with the scribing tool. I fear the molds are getting worn? 

You'll love that kit Josiah, very good Tamiya classic!!

Well here are the sprues of mine...

I will be trying my best to replicate this M60 that my dad took a picture of on his way over to Desert Shield/Storm