Hi Gang,

just got my HB LVTP-7 kit. As usual with HB kit there`s no painting instructions for the interior. Does anyone know an online suorce for LVTP interior shots? Was there a big change in the interior between the LVTP-7 and the AAVP-7?

H.-H.

Hi

Just take a look at Brett's walkaround pics of a Taiwanese one :

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/3535

Here's a US one :

http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/AlleghenyArmsAndArmorMuseum/LVTP7ArmoredAmphibiousAssaultVehicle/index.htm#12

HTH

H.P.

Hi H.-H,

I did a full build article on the LVTP-7 for SMMI many years ago if you can find it...

The kit interior is 80-90% accurate, as not much has changed through the years. Quick points:

-- dont install Halon bottles/system
-- change drivers console to one with dials (but you can barely see this so may not even want to bother)
-- install radios behind "cage" There should be 2 units. If you can find the Verlinden "NATO radios" set, that works perfect. Or I just used a couple of extras from Academy's M151 kits. (not totally accurate but again, you can barely see it)
-- interior is overall "sea foam green" like most modern US armor. Lower deck/ramp interior is dark green. (these colors havent changed with AAVP-7)
-- Hobbyboss didnt provide much of the vehicle tools/gear, so there is quite a bit missing, but if you pack it with troop gear nobody will be the wiser.

other notes:
-- glass in turret is a pain. Just best fit, and then file/sand/polish smooth to the exterior.
-- dont forget glass in TC periscope (hatch behind driver)
-- all 3 hatches need inside/outside levers
-- remember-- Water Jet deflectors are CLOSED on land!
-- track should touch all road wheels BUT LAST TWO
-- center bench seat can be left out (stowed on side with fuel tank)..or just one of the two.
-- pack interior and exterior with gear..remember these carry a crew of 3, PLUS at least a squad or more of Marines. Toss in some fireteam specific stuff if you want..such as a mortar team, engineers, etc.

hope that helps some!
Andy

ah, still had pics in my photobucket account!
hopefully this will help some too.

@ Frenchy: Reliable as allways, merci bien
@ Skyhawk: Precious hints I will look for the changes.
BTW I plan an LVTP-7 from Grenada, I wonder which MERDC scheme was used? Hard to see on b/w pics.

H.-H.

Good points Andy but I think HB is a LVTP-7A1 and not the original -7 like in your model. So the driver console should be correct.

Olivier

Maybe you can compare these two Urgent Fury pics :





H.P.

So I will go with green/brown MERDC. Did anyone notice the .50 cal. M2 on the M151 in the background?
H.-H.

P.S. Andy, which green did you use for the interior?

HB made both. The kit I used was from Hobbyboss.

If its an A1 he is doing, then the interior is accurate as is through the late (~1995/96) AAVP7-A1 and RAM/RS. Once SINGAR radios came in things shifted around a bit. The Eduard interior set is for a SINGAR equipped vehicle (though they don't address the antenna mount change).

I used some Model Master green lighted with white. Ive heard Sky works well also.

Andy

Here are two possible pre-SINCGARS set-ups :





from http://panzerfaust.ca/AFV%20interiors/lvtp7a.html

H.P.

I didn't know of this one, thanks. It looks like HB have covered the full family.

Olivier

Not quite, we're still missing the command variants (AFV Club makes one with HB parts combined with resin) and the AAV7A1 MICLIC. Also they could combine existing parts to make earlier versions of the ARV. And there is at least one version of the add-on armour packages they haven't done yet.

Plus the various prototypes, hey they will do a T-72 with AU-F1 turret so why not amtracs prototypes!

Cheers,

Christophe

Talking about this one, it looks like a disapointment...

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/218582#1837153

H.P.

Yeah, I had read that thread.

I'm still reserving my judgment until I've seen the kit, I can live with the lack of interior.

Cheers,

Christophe

HermannB, there are some appreciable differences between the LVTP7 and LVTP7A1/AAVP7A1. I too added the HB LVTP7 to the stash to build a hybrid I had the opportunity to tinker with (bow plane, UGWS, EAAK & RAM/RS suspension on the old hull) and was also disappointed in HB’s lack of attention to detail concerning the interior. The most glaring inattention is the driver’s station which is considerably busier looking than the later P7A1 station. The fuel tank is also different; on the P7 it is integral to the hull and was more prone to cracking and lacks the myriad retaining straps that are found on the P7A1 due to it being a removable fuel cell (with much labor). The shape of the bulkhead at the foremost of the cargo area is also slightly different, lacking the cut-out for the later added Halon bottles and having slightly differently shaped access panels especially the lower panel. Just forward of the battery box and aft of the turret has a busy amount of screens that does not appear on the 7A1 variants. The radios, as previously mentioned were the RT246, R442, R442 and RT524 that remained until the mid-1990’s when we modified to the SINCGARS. Missing are the mounts for the four KY57s, three of which were lined up to the right of the radios and one was mounted above the RT524/lower KY57s against the hull. The antenna bases/mounts are also beefier than what I have found on any of the kits; the antennas were actually mechanical and when you switched a channel on a radio you could hear the mad clicking in the antenna and watch the dial under its base spin (from the interior).
The pictures of Grenada P7s I have seen showed them in the Forest Green & Field Drab MERDC scheme, several Marines I had the privilege of serving with had served in Grenada and shared their pictures occasionally.
As far as the interior, we always and incorrectly referred to it as Sea Foam Green. The closest match to my eyes and that I use on my P7s is Model Master’s Pale Green scaled down with Insignia or Flat White.
Skyhawk, nicely done AmTrac! I have a couple in the works at the moment but intend to add Academy’s kit to the stash and back date it to an LVTPX12, the experimental version of what eventually became the LVTP7.




http://s10.photobucket.com/user/deattilio/slideshow/Amtracs/AAS
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/deattilio/slideshow/Amtracs/UDP
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/deattilio/slideshow/Amtracs/Misc%20Tractor

Hi Daniel,

thanks for the insight, I will keep this points in consideration. I will go back to the "drawingboards" and start collecting offline sources. As always the "easiest" projects turn out to be the heftiest.

Hans-Hermann

Daniel, (former Tuna Boat operator) please contact me at: mummeyme(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Just started building the interior, begin with the "old" fuel tank.I also got Tankograd Publications LVTP-7 book with some good outside references. Really looks like a "fun" build.

Thanks to all
H.-H.

P.S. I guess nobody does a turned barrel for the M85 machine gun?