With TWO Fries Gantry Cranes coming out in plastic from two manufactures, (Takom and Amusing Hobbies) it looks like we may be in serious need of a V2 lifting fixture in the near future.

Both manufacturers talk of offering lifting fixtures in their kits but based on the press releases they only mention tank engine and turret related fixtures.

Seems hard to believe they would overlook pairing this very interesting item with the many V2 offerings out there. (It may be necessary to make this one out of digitally printed metal to handle the weight of the missile.)

I’ve finally started my AFV Club 1/35 LVTP5A1. As I was assembling the suspension something just didn’t (doesn’t) look right. After pouring over piles of photographs and turning through the pages of original Technical Manuals the issue became apparent. The road wheels molded for AFV Club’s LVTP5A1 are what I’ll refer to as version “C.” The only examples I could find of that style are on some LVTP5s on display stateside and those used by ROC Marines. However, that style was not present on the original nor in what you’ll find in photos of vehicles in Vietnam or service of that time. The “newest” Technical Manual for the P5 variant I posses is dated 1967 so the molded roadwheels came out some time after that.

The issue is that the roadwheels molded in the kit are single piece affairs whereas the earlier version were two-pieces. This allows for wide range of options if produced for 3D-printing, especially considering the announcement of two new releases this year – an LVTH6 and an LVTE1. Both are based on the LVTP5 hull and from what I’ve read will use AFV Club’s moldings. Which means the roadwheels will most likely still be incorrect for a Vietnam era USMC LVTP5/H6/E1.

I have the LVTP5A1 kit as well as various Technical Manuals which would allow me to extrapolate the measurements for new/correct roadwheels. There are two other versions whose discernible difference is how the grease zerks (item #15 in image) are protected. These could be provided in a parts count ranging from nine to ninety. The small count reflects single piece prints (item #1 in image) as direct replacements for outer single pieces for one side of the vehicle. With 36 roadwheels per vehicle, there is a lot of mixing that can be done with differing versions of roadwheels which was common with the two early styles. Each wheel could also be printed as two pieces (items #8 and #9 in the image) similar to the real thing which would allow the modeler to build a vehicle with the rubber/replaceable (item #9 in image) portion of the wheel removed or have extra rubber/replacement parts mounted on or in the vehicle.
It will take me several days to sketch the parts. The shaft (item #2 in the image) could be attached to a wheel as done in the LVTP5 kit or could be self sourced as it would only be a 1/16 rod cut to proper length. I believe this would offer modelers a superior and more accurate part for the LVTP5A1 kit as well as the soon to be released LVTH6 and LVTE1 kits.
Below are scans from LVTP5 Technical Manual as well as link to which style wheels are molded in the kit.




http://svsm.org/gallery/lvtp5/IMG_0628

Finally finished sketching the earlier style bogie wheels for the LVTP5 (H6/E1). With the parts being only a hair over 1/2 -inch it took some time. I sketched the mounting threads on Pieces 1 and 2 with intent it allows builder to display the inner bogies without the outer rubber wheels (Piece 3). To mount Piece 3 the builder would need to snip the mounting screws. Piece 3 is sketched with mounting screw and nut but, builder can snip these if prefer to display on vehicle as a spare or in process of repairs.
Piece 1 / 2 has also has a later / alternate style grease zerk mount if worth trouble of printing them as separate pieces or as additional / alternate styles of inner bogie wheels, like the real thing. Piece 1, Piece 2 and two Piece 3’s make one set of bogie wheels. The LVTP5 (H6/E1) has 18 of these sets of bogie wheels. One vehicle set would require Piece 1 x18, Piece 2 x18 and Piece 3 x36. However, I think nine sets of bogie wheels would be a good option. This would allow the builder to use the kit’s bogie wheels as the inner portion (which are mostly not visible) and these as the visible outer wheels.
Another option, which may be more affordable would be to offer each piece as separate sets in groups of nine. The builder could then decide what pieces and of how many they need for their LVTP5 (H6/E1) build.

Sketches are not to scale as I thought I needed to exaggerate shapes/distances of the parts. All the measurements are for 1/35 scale.

Any chance you could do a set (2) of the tie-downs for the M747 trailer ramps?

Reedoak does them:

http://reedoak.com/#!/1-35-US-Navy-aircraft-tie-down-in-locked-position-set-of-12-units-without-chain/p/63415434/category=15593074

Thanks, I didn't realize they were the same ones.

I second that! I have two A2's and an A1 that I have begun work on. Upper front control arms would be great! Proper covers below the battery box and the fuel tank would be welcomed as well.

How about the door and back panels** for a standard ISO 6'-6" x 8' x 8' TRICON shipping container?

We could get all other needed wall panels by cutting up a standard 20' container kit and with any luck one 20' container would yield enough stock to build 3 TRICONs.

F.Y.I. - You already have the container connector blocks digitally created and in your Shapeways catalog.


Hans-Hermann Photo


Mike Koenig Photo

** Since fork lift access on these smaller containers is front to back rather than cross-ways you might have to do a dedicated floor panel as well.

Take not that these Tricons have two double doors. Tricons can have up to 4 double doors.

Tricon Specs.

http://www.cmci.com/products/standard-platforms/6_5-tricon

So if we were then to do a double door TRICON the same 6'-6" x 8' endwall (with doors) would work for both ends. We would only be asking Mike to design one endwall and one floor piece!

A complete set of three Tricons would require a total of six endwalls with doors and three base plates!

Been hunting high & low for these! Such a simple item and they're everywhere yet none available in 1/35. Each platoon had one on the ramp, it was the platoon "office."

Interesting. Thank you for the link.

What was inside the "office"? A table, a chair, a notebook?

Hi Michael, would you be able to do a triple T45 rocket launcher assembly and separate rockets in 1/35? I see a double in 1/56 scale already.

Some example CAD files:

https://grabcad.com/library/rocket-launcher-mk-7-1
Cheers,
Colin

Typically a file cabinet a field desk & couple fold up chairs. On inside of doors was the Up/Down roster which gave status of each AAV in platoon (land/water/turret/comm) on one door and key board on other. Also all the brooms to sweep the ramp.
Tight space kept it from being the "hang-out" - well that and Gunny (platoon Sgt) of course.

For the past few days I've been working on the Tricon container. Instead of just a side, some doors and floor I've done up the whole container.

A BIG TRUMBS UP TO YOU on the Tricon!

Please let us know when they become available. I have an empty flatrack just waiting for some work to do.

Still have more work to do. I need to find the best way to arrange the container so it doesn't cost too much.

What ever happened to the M14 rifle case for the M48. I didn't see it uploaded. Did I miss it?

Rob

I uploaded it but forgot to put it up for sale. I need to add a second set to it. With just 2 cases the minimum price is $7.50. Hopefully adding a second set would make it a bit more worthwhile without adding too much cost. I have also uploaded a test of the Tricon container and, in the current configuration, it would cost about $90. I'll see if flat-packing it reduces the cost. Unfortunately that may lead to problems with machine space.

I'm also surprised that we've made it to nearly 50 pages! When I first started the thread I never thought it'd get this long. With 1,219 (currently) replies and over a quarter-million views, I think this might be the second longest thread on Armorama!

$90 a piece or $90 for a set of three?

Maybe you should reconsider letting the buyer supply the side and roof panels from one of the popular plastic kits???

Congrats on the success of your site. I hope it is proving worthwhile & successful for you in other ways as well. I think I also congratulated you way back when this site passed 100K hits.

Cheers
Mike

It would have been $90 for the whole container with separate doors. Over $100 for it as a kit with separate walls, doors, ceiling and floor but now only $35 for 4 doors and a floor. I can provide the walls and ceiling separately but unfortunately that costs $60.

Great effort all along the way mate!
Congrats to your achievements, always cool to look in here what the guys n u come up with!
/Stefan

The 2 Tricon sets are up! One set with just doors and floor and another with walls and ceiling.

Also, I just finished and uploaded a Helmet Hardtop for the M1101 and M1102 trailer. I didn't have one on me so I had to go by just the trailer dimensions so I hope it fits whatever kits it will be used on. The hardtop is available here https://www.shapeways.com/product/5MZQEMFFA/1-35-helmet-hardtop-for-m1101-and-m1102-trailers-m

Michael, I have the kit and can measure it. I'll try to take some by the end of the st.

Regards,

Eric