Hi David!

I found only one small pic of interior. It seems to be grey.



I recieved mine kit few weeks ago and started construction. Hope to show you my progress soon.


Anton

Anton,
I found that photo too but if you look at the windows it's a different set up to the model. If you look at the two photos they are different versions of PACV. I think the first photo and the model is the PACV on it first tour in 65 - 67 and the second photo from the second tour after they were refitted back in the States.
But I do agree with you about the interior colour and I think that's what I paint it.




Thanks for all the interest guys and I will keep you updated as it progresses.
Cheers
David

Second photograph is of a US Army ACV, not a US Navy PACV. Easiest way to tell is the dual machine gun tubs on the ACV and the single twin machine gun tub (same mount used on the PBR) on the PACV. I believe the US Army ACV was based on the larger SK-6, while the PACV was based on the SK-5.

Lastly, though I have seen pictures of what I now know is the Army ACV, "back in the day,"I never quite put two and two together that they had their own, separate hovercraft... Gotta find out about this one! Very similar to the PACV (due to both vehicles' lineage no doubt).

Never heard of resin kit for this vehicle.
Prize review etc, where can I find more information on this kit ??

Heya, David,

Any further progress on your PACV?

Also, a buddy of mine at my club says that some of the details on the kit are wrong... Any evidence to support or contravene this? Not having the kit just yet, I could not say one way or the other... someday, though!

No doubt, it is a long shot, but my Holy Grail kit has been one of these babies in styrene...in 35th scale, of course. Given the cost of plastic kits these days --- and this would certainly be a lot of plastic, the cost would probably be more than the resin kit!

Anyway, keep up the good work, David. Looking forward to your progress --- paint, crew, accessories, and base. And thanks a bunch for the details you provided via the actual PACV crewman --- an actual crewman must have been tough to track down!!

Lastly, though I have seen pictures of what I now know is the Army ACV, "back in the day,"I never quite put two and two together that they had their own, separate hovercraft... Gotta find out about this one! Very similar to the PACV (due to both vehicles' lineage no doubt).

Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

No rush to answer, but I've got a few questions:
- was there a lot of clean up required on the kit before you could build (as in giant casting gates)?

- what is the seam detail like on the inflatable skirts?

- is the PE portion of the superstructure sturdy enough so that you can rest the roof ("overhead"?) upon the PE and have it look good without gluing it down? Or will you have to glue it? I ask this thinking about showing off the interior...

I have been in contact with Roy Adair who was an OiC on the PACV during their first tour in Vietnam, I asked him some questions about the cabin layout and he very kindly answered them for me below is his reply.
I have posted this to help anyone else who maybe working on this model.

David - It is my pleasure to do what I can to help you with your project. A little background first. The US Navy had three PACV's for use in Vietnam. They were originally deployed in 1966 and I was a PACV OinC with that unit. At the end our our deployment in December 1966, all three craft and all the personnel were returned to the US. The craft were overhauled and modified and new crews were trained and subsequently redeployed to Vietnam for approximately two more years. From viewing the pictures of the model that you sent, it is the modified, later version that I just mentioned, not the one that I operated. The real giveaway is the deck planks on the exterior upper surface of the hull that allows people to more easily move about when outside the cabin. Another difference is that of the "puff port" located on the port and starboard sides of the hull...these were meant to allow air from inside the cushion to escape under the operator's control to help maneuver the craft at slow speeds. But now I will answer your questions in order:
1. The interior was the color gray
2. The "pilot" (not really a pilot, as that infers aircraft) or operator sits in the right seat and the radar operator/navigator sits in the left seat, looking forward. The picture of your model shows the radar scope on the right, which is incorrect.
3. The normal crew was 4: OiC, nav/radar, engineer, and gunner. Sometimes we would have an additional crewmember such as an assistant gunner or line handler. We could take maybe 2 or 3 passengers inside the cabin, but we did not have the passenger seats that are shown in your model, so passengers would just have to stand. Toward the end of our deployment we operated with US and Vietnamese Special Forces and each of the craft would be assigned a Vietnamese rifle squad. These personnel would ride on the exterior walkway, close up alongside the engine nacelle, and hang onto a handrail. This was before the extended deck were installed as you have on your model.
4. We did not have the helicopter style helmets. As I recall, only the gunner wore a helmet when manning the twin 50 in the turret, but it was just a regular helmet. I think I've seen pictures of the later crews wearing the helicopter style helmets, however. We all wore flak jackets.
5. As for the interior, I already mentioned that the radar should be moved to the left side and the instrument panel to the right. In the version that you have, the passenger seats are probably okay. In the center of the cabin, below the turret, there should be a stand for the gunner. I also see that you have a couple of M-60 machine guns and they would be mounted in the middle windows on both sides of the cabin. In our version of the craft, we had a table at the back of the cabin that ran the full width. The radio was mounted on the table and it also provided room for our nav charts and other paper work.

* now I never knew that the Army ever used anything like that. Where did they use them? (I'm guessing in the Delta) Also what unit used them?
gary

Gary,
The US Navy PACV's were part of Task Force 116 this wesite has this to say
There were a total of (7) PACV's sent to Vietnam. Task Force 116 employed (3) experimental Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle (PACV). The craft operated in the Mekong Delta during 1966-67 as PACV Division 107. The (3) Navy PACV's (Chassis Serial #'s 004, 017, 018) were first deployed in 1966, brought back to the U.S., reworked, and redeployed to Viet Nam late in 1967.

During 1968 there were 3 separate PACV's deployed by the Army. They deployed to the Dong Tam area to work with the U.S. 9th Division.

Although able to move with great speed over shallow marshy areas, such as the Plain of Reeds, the PACVs proved to be too noisy and too mechanically sophisticated for riverine warfare in South Vietnam. The (3) Navy PACV's were finally turned over to the Coast Guard in San Francisco.
David

P.S. reminds me of something else. I think it was in War Zone 2 or maybe 3 that actually brought is air boats like they used in Florida. Maybe a dozen or so, and they were all pretty much shot to pieces in no time.