After finishing "Bad Mofo in Iraq" (a USMC Abrams M1A1 AIM), I saw a AAVP-7A1 on the Boston Commons during "Marine Week" and decided to build one. The results are below from the Hobby Boss kit (with Real Model gear stowage, Friulmodel tracks, guitar string radio masts and a lot of MIG Gulf Sand pigment):






And just so there's no hard feelings, my dad was a proud Jarhead, so I use the term with pride and love.

Nice job Bill ! But I wonder if it's actually possible to have the troop compartment top hatches open this way...I've always seen them closed or "completely" open like this :



Frenchy

Great Bill
Why did you use Fruil ??
The tracks provide by HB are not good ???
Maybe some strap to be more realistic underneath the bags ???

Cheers
Seb

Thanks, Frenchy. The hatches are open for display purposes, but you're right that they wouldn't be open this way normally. But with all that [auto-censored] piled up, what else can they do, LOL?


Thanks, Seb. The kit tracks are nicely-formed, but have to be glued together individually. The "sag" just didn't look right to me. The Friuls weathered up nicely and look very realistic in comparison to photos I've seen.

The straps for the bags crossed my mind, but they usually don't show on the photos I've seen. Of course, Frenchy is going to post a bunch of photos to make a liar out of me, but heck, that's his job!

Wow Bill! It looks excellent, the weathering is spot on! This makes me want to build one as well. How would you rate the HB kit?

Got any plans for more modern armour?

(Blushing) Thanks, Anirudh. I found the kit excellent. There were a few minor fit issues with the side skirt/splash guard, and the wire mesh grills are incorrect (they lack the tabs seen on the real thing, but I didn't feel up to spending $18 for the Eduard upgrade). But heck, you get a full interior (less engine compartment) and that's like another $40-$50 in most other kits. The rear ramp doesn't include any means for being opened or closed, and the gunner's hatch is also limited to either the open or closed position, but I suspect that it could be modified with some fine metal wire.

The tracks, as noted above, are Magic Track quality, but come in two pieces, so expect a lot of work (they are attached to sprues and need to be cut away and cleaned up). The Friuls are no picnic, as you have to put a white metal hex nut over the open portion after you slip in and glue the wire holder, but I generally prefer metal tracks hands-down to styrene ones.


Well, Bronco's new up-armored Humvee would give me a chance to do some NJ National Guard, and the Hobby Boss Leopards look very nice, too.

Thanks, Juan! Much obliged for the kind words. I've become a real believer in AM resin gear stowage sets. They really "make" a model come alive.

Well Bill
I dont see pics from Frenchy so fare, you are lucky

Better late than never Seb





It's up to you Bill (your rucks look OK to me)...

Frenchy

Great work Bill! Pleased to see you enjoying some modern armor. The paint job looks very good and nicely weathered. I personally dont see an issue with your crew doors, it looks like they are resting on some kit. Excited to see your next build now Bill!

Bill
Talking about the roof top hatches, David Harper in his book "Vehicles of the USMC in OIF" (a must-have if you ask me) explains that "Often times the Marines carried in these AAVs would only open the left roof hatch and they would fire their weapons from the moving vehicle when targets presented themselves. The commanders turret ../...would cover the Amtracs right side."

HTH

Frenchy

Frenchy, I just don't think I'm up to adding the straps, LOL! Not with 50+ kits in the stash, some of them major, I mean MAJOR projects (RoG's Flower Class corvette, 1/2 dozen WW I fighters with all that rigging, and of course a $%#&-load of tanks and other AFVs).

I've enjoyed doing the modern stuff, I feel no weight of choices as I do with WW II German AFVs ("is this the late Ausf. B or early Ausf. C???").

As to the roof hatches, they will be closed if I enter it in the AMPS show next weekend, though someone will likely try them.

And Rob, at this point the Bronco Humvee looks very good, though I might be tempted to build an M1A1 SEP if I could come by a kit for $25. Ditto for the Hobby Boss Leopards.

As to the new RAMS AAVP, well, it's too expensive right now, and needs AM tracks, so I'll pass for the time being (maybe ask for it for Christmas).

Hey Bill,
GREAT job on the tuna boat! As to the track issue for the RAM/RS you have, look at the AFV Club track. It's L-to-L, and has seperate shoes and pads JUST like the HB kit, but its available in "early" and Late" style and goes together FAR superior to the kit tracks. I used them on a tuna boat I did last year, and have a set lined up for the RAM/RS I'm going to do, and at about 15 US bucks a set, it beats the hell out of Fruils.

Rod

Hi, Rod, I will def use those styrene tracks if I do the HB RAM/RS!

Looks great Bill. Good job on it.

Thanks, Gino, Semper Fi!

Hi Bill and all you others,

Bill, I really do like your build of this tuna boat ! The weathering effects really look on point for me and the tracks are state of the art, much better than the HB ones are.
Since I'm building an HB AAV ram/rs at the moment I know how horrible the kit provided tracks are. I switched to the AFV Club ones, they are much better.
Hopefully I can show some pic's of my build in the near future.

Cheers Alex

Thank you, Alex, for the kind words. I would def try the AFV Club tracks for a RAM/RS build. I had great luck with the Bronco "big foot" tracks on my "Bad Mofo in Iraq" build.

Please post some photos of your build when you get a chance.

Hey Bill,
seems like I have missed this one. coming along nicely!
the only thing I noticed are the brown stripes on the backpacks. they look a little... well... airbrushed...

@frenchy, are the last pics from 2003? I didn't know the ILBE was fielded back then. plus I've never seen 'em in woodland camo...

Cheers, Max

Hi, Max,

They're actually hand-painted in OD. One problem with the Real Model gear set is the straps are too thick, so you get waaay too much modeling and a false shadowing. I would recommend anyone using this set to tone them down with a sanding stick (a lot of work in resin), or get the Legend set, which I think it actually better in the backpack department, though RM has better "shapeless sacks").

I think he is actually talking about the covered rucksacks. The stripes look too straight and do look airbrushed. You can see what I mean in this pic.


The camo pattern should be more random and curl around a bit.

What color should the covers be besides brown stripes and sand base?

Yes, they are too airbrushed and I'll correct ASAP.

The third color on the 3-color DCU camo is a khaki green color. The closest out of the bottle match I have found is Testors Model Master SAC Bomber Tan. You can take a khaki color and add a bit of green to it to get close as well.

Thanks, Gino. I actually felt bad my airbrushing wasn't getting the effect I wanted, LOL!

Hi Max
IIRC, both were dated 2003...But I'll need to confirm this

Frenchy