I am starting the Italeri LVT4 and using the VLS after market on her. I prepared my PE and add ons and now have started step 1. Question, has anyone else built this Baby and if so can they provide some do's and don'ts?
thanks
DJ

I haven't built it, but if ModelExpo hadn't been out of it, it would have joined my collection. I'm very interested to hear how it goes together. Can you provide some photos as you're progressing?

Thanks,
Mika

Mika--I shall provide photos of the construction effort. I put the base coat on my Italeri USMC Sherman and want to place some shots on the network once I finish the camouflage pattern. Did you get the Verlinden after market for the LVT. So far, I am impressed by it. Adds great detail to the engine compartment.
DJ

So far, I don't anve any do's or dont's either DJ. I like everything about the kit so far, except for the two-piece tracks. Haven't wanted to invest anymore emotional energy into them after wrestling with AFV Club tracks for my M45 Pershing over the weekend...

I was working on my LVT before I got into taking digital photos. Maybe I'll start and we can post them here informally in this thread for supporting each other.

Gunnie

Gunnie--great idea. The VLS material is very nice. I am still struggling with how best to display the work on the engine compartment. Did you notice several advertisements in Fine Scale Modeler with the LVT painted a light blue? I am toying with the idea of doing that. Seems to me it would be a Navy aircraft derivitive paint.....what do think?
DJ

Me too - I was thinking of doing mine that way too - to break up all the Olive Drab in the display case

Displaying the Engine is a bit tricky - tricky in how to make it look natural. Personally, a model vehicle looks bizarre with the deck panels and stuff all pulled off to show off an engine bay or interior - without attendant mechanics of such to help convey the reason for the innards showing. I usually default to whatever's visible through grills or hatches if opened up. Hides a helluva lot of work though...

Maybe if you can leave a section of the model loose so that you can remove it anytime you want - would be the best of both worlds.

Gunnie

Guys,
I have been building up the LVT kits... mostly I'll be doing the LVT-4 out of the box... only some very minor things to change about it.

I'll definitely be replacing the machine guns with items from Academy...

All of the grab handles and light guards need replacing.

One thing to be sure you want to detail and paint the doorways into the Driver's compartment before putting the kit components together. The reason is, that the doors are nearly impossible to reach with the old airbrush once the kit is assembled.

The tracks are not that bad bend them a few times and they soften right up.. I bought the Accurate Armour tracks... I actually think the Italeri ones are a bit nicer. I'll try to post some pics that show why I'd say this.

The roadwheels are a bit of a pain to clean up... there's a heavy seam on every last one of them... oh well... it takes a while.

Here's a couple of links that I found very useful.

http://www.clandavidsonusa.com/wac/afvphotos/us/lvt4/lvt4.htm

http://www.clandavidsonusa.com/wac/afvphotos/us/lvt4/lvt4.htm

Later,
Tim

I have the kit too and would certainly appreciate any "build alongs" to go with it.
DJ, as far as choosing the color scheme here's a site which will either furture complicate your ideas or help them along. I've been holding out on these for a while now. I call them my inspiration pages. Sort of use them to get the fire under me heated up...so to speak.

These are models that are done Andres Brito...be sure to check out the color schemes.

Escalia 1/35th