I'd like to do an AAV7A1 with EAAK and an interior but I'm having a hard time deciding between which aftermarket company to use. Lack of time, research materials and scratch building skills for such large projects have lately limited me to building OOTB with "drop in" interiors/engines/aftermarket. So here is what I've been mulling over.

Even if I order directly from Hong Kong, the Hobby Fan EAAK and Interior are going to run $150 which is still pretty high. I love their stuff, especially their figures but the high cost really isn't justified when there are alternatives out there.

A.E.F. Designs has an EAAK and interior set which would be about $100 for the two. My first and last A.E.F. purchase was about 10 years ago. Needless to say I wasn't impressed. However, I've read some favorable reviews of some of their more recent accessory sets but haven't found any reviews of recent vehicle sets. Looks like many of the interior details are molded into a single piece hull.
A.E.F. AAV7A1 interior
Here is their description: "Includes: Complete one piece lower hull will floor plate and hull side details cast in. 40mm turret well and fire wall are cast as a one piece assembly. 40mm turret interior details provided. All other vehicle interior details are also included, seats, fire extinguisher system, storage boxes and racks, ammo cans and other details. For Tamiya AAV-7, kit #MM-159."

Then there is the Trakz interior which has been forthcoming since early 2005. Last update I could find was an early 2006 release. Anything new on this set?

Based on Vodnik's reviews, the Trumpeter/Mini Hobby EAAK while cheap, doesn't sound like it would be worth the hassel.

If the A.E.F. is worth it, I'd most likely use the savings to purchase the Blast running gear to build an updated AAVP7A1 RAMS/RS.

I guess it ultimately comes down to how much I'm willing to spend but I'd love to hear what you guys would do.
Thanks,
-Sherb

Helllo, while I have no experience with the AAV7A, I have used both the AEF and Hobby Fan sets for my current project, the IDF M163. AEF has pretty good detail but the Hobby Fan set was superior. I have also been looking at the AAV7A1interior and thinking about doing one. Right now I would have to say, save up for the Hobby Fan set. The AEF stuff is good but the Hobby Fan stuff is great!

Just my two pennys.

The pictures of the AEF interior look pretty promising, but Id like to see the rest of the kit. As usual with AEF, they never really give you good pictures of their products. Do you have any pictures of the hobby fan interior??? I also have an AAV7 sitting in the closet, and like you was wondering about the interior kits.

Gary

Here's one, from LuckyModel.com :



If you need more, just PM me your e-mail. I've got a few more larger pics on my HD...

HTH
Frenchy (currently waiting for his set...)

Yeah, I was somewhat surprised they actually had a pic of this one. Usually it's just a photo of an actual vehicle. I can't imagine that the AEF set will be anywhere near as comprehensive as the Hobby Fan one.

Here is a link to a guy building one with the Hobby Fan interior on a Czech modeling site.
Hobby Fan build up

Anyone catch that AAV7 that was posted a while back over at the VLS site that was split down the middle? I've always wanted to do something like that to show off ALL the details inside. Even with the big roof hatches and large rear ramp, so much of the detail would get lost.

Hey Frenchy, thanks for posting the pictures! After seeing those up close, and looking at that web site, I think my vote goes to Hobby Fan. The AEF Designs one is nice, but IMHO, the Hobby Fan has more details. Sometimes when you spend your prescious time building a model, its worth it to spend a little extra money and buy the better kit. I know from experience, its annoying when you skimp to save a couple of extra bucks, and spend a month on a project like that, and the end result is just not what you hoped for. In that instance, its worth it (to me anyway) to buy the better kit. Thats my advice. I'll be off to Lucky model now to look up that kit and have one sent to the US myself.

The AEFs a bit too high for a domestic casting. About the same tech that goes into a model car body. And the really good ones cost less than that. It would be a seriously expensive mold, but I still couldnt justify the price for domestic, maybe %75 of that

Better late than never


Hats off to the unknown (at least to me) builder !

Frenchy

That's the one. Thanks Frenchy!
I've always wanted to do something like that ever since seeing those cutaway M113s and Bradleys in the Tamiya catalogs.