I seen there is 2 types of Armour thats being used one is the triangle blocks from Hobby Fan.

But what type is the other armour is there. Who makes that conversion setup for the AAVP7A1 on the Tamiya flier about US Military Vehicles that Participated in OIF in the M1A2 Abrams kit.

It looks lke plates but not sure. It looks like it would be cheaper to buy or even scrap-build but I have never seen it or know what it's called to look for it in a search engine.

Happy Modeling
Tom
(++) 1:35

Hi Tom

AFAIK there's only one type of armor fitted to the AAV in OIF : it's called the EAAK and it's made by an Israeli company (Rafael). It's the one shown on Tamiya's leaflet, and it's the type released by Hobby Fan. The only other type of armor I can think of is the P900 that had been tested during Desert Storm.


Frenchy

Tom,
Only add-on armor for AAVP7A1, as used in OIF, is the triangular shaped EAAK armor as seen in the Hobby Fan set and on the Hobbycraft/Trumpeter AAVP7A1 kit. No other armor is used on AAVP7A1s.

As to the Tamiya Flier, it was a photo that Tamiya had made a couple years ago of possible kits that they may remake, rerelease as oif kits. The two AAVP7A1s in the photo were custom made by a modeler who works for Tamiya. Hobby Fan is currently the only set out there for the AAVP7A1. Hobby Fan is also supposed to be coming out with a full interior set as well. Trakz, from Verlinden has also announced a few sets for the AAVP7A1, to include EAAK armor and an interior.

I plan on using the Trumpeter EAAK, since the hull and running gear on the Trump kit are trash, and adding it to a Tamiya AAVP7A1. Will also add a Bradley running gear and new exhaust set-up, along with full scratch interior to get a latest model AAVP7A1 RAMS w/ EAAK.

Check out Vodnik's site for reviews off all the LVTP-7/ AAVP7A1 kits out there.
Tamiya LVTP7-A1
AAVP7A1 w/UGWS

Academy LVTP7
Mini Hobby/Hobbycraft/Trumpeter AAVP7A1w/ UGWS and EAAK

Actually there was another type of AAVP7 armor used in OIF, as there was not enough EAAK kits available for all units participating in the operation. One unit (I don't remember which one) used armor plates from other source (again, I don't remember where they came from) and added them to EAAK mounting points on their AAVP7s. Still in this version, the armor on front of the vehicle was standard EAAK.
This was the result:




And two hi-res pics:
http://vodnik.primeportal.net/images/posts/amtrac3.jpg
http://vodnik.primeportal.net/images/posts/OIF2.jpg

Pawel

Looks like the standard flat armor that goes on the upper portions of the hull that they added to the side in the absence of EAAK plates. Don't think it is a new armor set-up, just guys making due with what they had.

I'm sure Mike Mummey will report in with a good answer when he logs on, he is the resident USMC expert here.

In fact there's another available EAAK set : it's made by AEF Designs and it's a bit cheaper than the Hobby Fan set. Its reference number is KA 110. I can't say much more about it except that it looks quite OK in its box ....waiting on my shelf side by side with the HF set


Frenchy

Here's a link to the full story :
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/2003213192413

Frenchy

Yup, confims my earlier post. A couple hard charging Devil Dogs making do with what they had on hand. They took extra topside plates and modified them to work on the sides of the vehicles. UHRAY!!

Howdy all. You over estimate me Gino, I was stumped too. I had never seen that flat set up . The "Tuna Boats" either had the angle type armor or were missing some pieces with the exposed mounting points showing. I know when we left the AA to cross LD for OIF there still some pallets of unused parts left behind. Too bad we did not get that article out in the badlands. And you have another USMC go to guy, Andy Elesky, aka Tank Leader. That armor variation as seen in the photos would be neat to do. Out here.

I'm no expert on AAVs, but those plates look similar to what were added to hummers and MTVRs as armor plate before the "kits" started to reach us in OEF. Like Gino said, some enterprising young Marines probably "acquired" the materials and found a way to use them on the tracs. It would make for a unique model, that's for sure.

I'm waiting/hoping that the interior and EEAK kits hit soon, I'd like to really do up the AAV on my shelf with a lot of goodies and be able to pose the ramp down.