Are there significant differences between these mechanisms in the early and late (LVTP-7 and AAVP-7)? I can't find a photo of it LVTP-7 on top. Whether they had anti-skid on top and the hatches of the landing?
In addition, I found an interesting fact - cargo hatch support posts on early LVTP-7 had no inner wall and had a П-shaped appearance. In addition, the photo shows that the upper hatches of the landing suspended on 5 loops not 3 as done on the model.

The 33 foot RIB couldnt keep up !?????? What was pushing it!?

Returning to our 7a - I continued to search for "ears" and square bar to mount the intake plenum in the open position. and here's what I found:).
early Museum LVTP7 - no ears (can be lost?).

...the photo clearly shows their location, circled in red, blue-incomprehensible area.
On the model of the Academy in this place the antenna !
And I'm still busy with mass production-8 square bar and 20 ears:))

EFV never became a production model ?:(

...I think that early vehicle in the museum is an LVTPX12, the experimental vehicle before accepted for service and re-designated as the LVTP7. Several of the Technical Manuals show the intake plenum without those ears. Initial production P7s may have not had those ears, instead relying on the lifting eye to secure them in the open position. The ears may have been added later in the production and added as modification to earlier vehicles. All the LVTP7 images I’ve looked through have only one of those ears.
I’ll do some hunting through my files, I might have the precise measurements of those bars stashed away somewhere.

That blue circle is where the receiving antenna was located for the old radio system, prior to SINCGARS in 1995. The hole is still in all the hulls, it is just plugged now.(

And the only photos are very strange cars - i never seen the like.

The process and the result you can see in the photo.

The bracket is not glued yet, it needs to be positioned accurately

Talking about prototypes, here's another one : AAV + UT-25-30 unmanned turret :

The pictured turret variant is fitted with a 25mm Bushmaster M242. It can be fitted with a 30mm MK44 Bushmaster II gun as well.

Don't forget the ill-fated AAV Survability Upgrade program

I guess the hull top looks weird because the hatches are half-open...

I had opportunity to attend demonstration of that turret on range at Camp Pendleton. It was mounted on a 6x6 LAV. Very impressive. I also have the data brochure they handed out for the AAV/Elbit turret somewhere in one of my binders. Unfortunate about the SU because she rode better than a Cadillac!

The hatches are in their “resting” position in that picture. The spring is installed with the hatches at 90° so it springs open or closed when released form either of the locked positions. The springs have a hexagon cross-section and the twist is visible when the hatch is either secured in the open or closed positions. All the kits have the springs molded as round rods. I found the approximate size and replaced the kit’s version of the spring, I even made sure to put the twist in it. It will probably go unnoticed, but I know its there.

Now I'm a little distracted.... From experimental machines, I was particularly interested in LVTEX-3 in the version of the engineering machine and the fire support machine with a turret from Sheridan. I could not resist and tried on an old turret from Sheridan Tamiya on the body P7. And I think I know what kind of project I'm going to build......

But with this machine, one problem - catastrophically little information.

Danny can probably help with some details, if I am not mistaken this is his build years ago.

Little information works both ways. No one can prove you wrong on the details either. In a similar vane while talking about tuna boats, one day hope to have a LVTAA-X1, a LVTP-5 with the mounted M42 Duster 40mm guns.