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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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USMC AAV7A1 OIF
newdriftking
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: September 20, 2008
KitMaker: 365 posts
Armorama: 283 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 11:09 AM UTC
I have this kit, will it do to depict a USMC AAV7A1 during the invasion during OIF?


marcb
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Overijssel, Netherlands
Joined: March 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,244 posts
Armorama: 1,226 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 01:12 PM UTC
Could you give the brand, name and product number?
Frenchy
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Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 05:59 PM UTC
It's the old (1999) Mini Hobby Models bad copy of the Tamiya AAVP7A1 kit. fitted with "basic" (not to say inacurate) EAAK armor :

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/mini-hobby-models-tn-80115-aav7a1--141429

Don't ask me how I know and just check out Pawel's review :

https://vodnik.net/pages/amtracs/aavp7a1wEAAK.htm


H.P.
newdriftking
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: September 20, 2008
KitMaker: 365 posts
Armorama: 283 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 06:47 PM UTC

Quoted Text

It's the old (1999) Mini Hobby Models bad copy of the Tamiya AAVP7A1 kit. fitted with "basic" (not to say innacurate) EAAK armor :

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/mini-hobby-models-tn-80115-aav7a1--141429

Don't ask me how I know and just check out Pawel's review :

https://vodnik.net/pages/amtracs/aavp7a1wEAAK.htm


H.P.



Frenchy is correct, I want to show it battle damaged and abandoned so don't want to use a more expensive model.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 11:36 PM UTC
It is a version that was used in OIF 1 during the invasion of Iraq. However, I agree that the kit is pretty crappy. It should be OK for a damaged/destroyed AAVP7A1 though.
BunkerBuster
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Washington, United States
Joined: March 29, 2017
KitMaker: 157 posts
Armorama: 122 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 11:53 PM UTC
I used to have the Wasan version of that kit. It's pretty bad, worse than you would think. I gave it to a co-worker who builds models mostly for fun. He said it's probably worst kit he's ever built. Ejector pin marks everywhere.
AmTrac1833
#431
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Florida, United States
Joined: February 20, 2014
KitMaker: 376 posts
Armorama: 311 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 01:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have this kit, will it do to depict a USMC AAV7A1 during the invasion during OIF?



Apologies for belated reply. The “straight-leg” AAVP7A1 is appropriate for the 2003 push to Baghdad. However, I too attempted a go at this kit and it was so horrible it went straight to the dump.
The EAAK may be worth cannibalizing from this kit. I may give that a try. It too has issues though. It appears to be a copy of Kirin’s resin offering which, while not accurate it was the only game in town. It looks like it was based on some of the initial experimental EAAK before being put into production. Access points on EAAK are all squared-off, none of them are rounded (external fire extinguisher pull handle, fuel cap & pressure release and personnel heater exhaust). The lower aft panels are missing the “skirt” that rises to meet the aft upper plates.
The review states the fit is sloppy but trust me, that’s not necessarily inaccurate (whether by design or accident on kit’s molding I don’t know). For example, one of our AAVs got hit in Fallujah in 2004. The RPG round managed to zing right between couple of EAAK panels on starboard side and slam right into the hull. Penetrated the hull but injuries were minimal due to internal structure/bulkheads. The Vehicle Commander (gunner) said he felt/saw a fireball erupt in the turret. His first instinct was to blow it out! Said he blew a couple times but that didn’t help so he left the vehicle. He doesn’t remember how he got out the turret, just sort of hovered/launched then ran off the bow. He didn’t even remember how he got off the vehicle, he just ran straight off the front not recalling the 12-FOOT DROP from the nose! He stayed with the unit for remainder of deployment and was plucking shrapnel out of his legs throughout the deployment.
The relationship between the AAV and EAAK can never be mistaken as precise or neat. The pain of mounting EAAK is a true exercise in misery. First thing is to attach the stand-off bosses to the hull but, leave them all loose. Some stand-offs are singles, some are doubles, some singles are short, some are long. Some stand-offs get mounted right side up and others mounted upside down. Once that nightmare puzzle is worked out, it is time to hang the armor panels. Can’t recall but (it’s been many years since I mounted EAAK), you either start front to aft or aft to front and work your way fore or aft. Mount the first panel but keep it loose. Then reach under the panel and tighten each of the stand-offs to which the panel is mounted. The tighten the armor plate down and move to next one and repeat the process for each armor plate on both sides.
No two AAVs or sets of EAAK fit precisely the same. If you compare AAVs you’ll notice that the EAAK bosses on the hull are mounted in slightly different locations. Some AAVs have cut outs in their track shrouds so they fit where EAAK bosses were welded considerably lower than what I imagine the design called for.

My tractor, 2003 for OIF I in Kuwait before the push.


Couple shots of AAVs fresh off MPF vessels at LSA in Kuwait. Getting all the serialized gear (weapons, record jackets etc..) to the right tractor was a freak’n headache!



Burik
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,303 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 02:53 AM UTC

Quoted Text





The relationship between the AAV and EAAK can never be mistaken as precise or neat. The pain of mounting EAAK is a true exercise in misery. First thing is to attach the stand-off bosses to the hull but, leave them all loose. Some stand-offs are singles, some are doubles, some singles are short, some are long. Some stand-offs get mounted right side up and others mounted upside down. Once that nightmare puzzle is worked out, it is time to hang the armor panels. Can’t recall but (it’s been many years since I mounted EAAK), you either start front to aft or aft to front and work your way fore or aft. Mount the first panel but keep it loose. Then reach under the panel and tighten each of the stand-offs to which the panel is mounted. The tighten the armor plate down and move to next one and repeat the process for each armor plate on both sides.
No two AAVs or sets of EAAK fit precisely the same. If you compare AAVs you’ll notice that the EAAK bosses on the hull are mounted in slightly different locations. Some AAVs have cut outs in their track shrouds so they fit where EAAK bosses were welded considerably lower than what I imagine the design called for.






I hope this doesn't trigger you!

AmTrac1833
#431
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Florida, United States
Joined: February 20, 2014
KitMaker: 376 posts
Armorama: 311 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 04:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text



I hope this doesn't trigger you!





That's freak'n awesome!!! That trac even has the cut outs in the shroud. Looks like step one is done 😵. Awesome!
md72
#439
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Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
Armorama: 289 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 05:10 AM UTC
Well, gee, I guess I should say thank you. I couldn't find this listing when I entered my stash into Scalemates. Now that I found it, turns out it's a waste of space.
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 07:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Well, gee, I guess I should say thank you. I couldn't find this listing when I entered my stash into Scalemates. Now that I found it, turns out it's a waste of space.



Uh-Oh... THAT'S happened to ME, before...

Not on "Scalemates" mind you, but just here at home...
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 07:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I have this kit, will it do to depict a USMC AAV7A1 during the invasion during OIF?



Apologies for belated reply. The “straight-leg” AAVP7A1 is appropriate for the 2003 push to Baghdad. However, I too attempted a go at this kit and it was so horrible it went straight to the dump.
The EAAK may be worth cannibalizing from this kit. I may give that a try. It too has issues though. It appears to be a copy of Kirin’s resin offering which, while not accurate it was the only game in town. It looks like it was based on some of the initial experimental EAAK before being put into production. Access points on EAAK are all squared-off, none of them are rounded (external fire extinguisher pull handle, fuel cap & pressure release and personnel heater exhaust). The lower aft panels are missing the “skirt” that rises to meet the aft upper plates.
The review states the fit is sloppy but trust me, that’s not necessarily inaccurate (whether by design or accident on kit’s molding I don’t know). For example, one of our AAVs got hit in Fallujah in 2004. The RPG round managed to zing right between couple of EAAK panels on starboard side and slam right into the hull. Penetrated the hull but injuries were minimal due to internal structure/bulkheads. The Vehicle Commander (gunner) said he felt/saw a fireball erupt in the turret. His first instinct was to blow it out! Said he blew a couple times but that didn’t help so he left the vehicle. He doesn’t remember how he got out the turret, just sort of hovered/launched then ran off the bow. He didn’t even remember how he got off the vehicle, he just ran straight off the front not recalling the 12-FOOT DROP from the nose! He stayed with the unit for remainder of deployment and was plucking shrapnel out of his legs throughout the deployment.
The relationship between the AAV and EAAK can never be mistaken as precise or neat. The pain of mounting EAAK is a true exercise in misery. First thing is to attach the stand-off bosses to the hull but, leave them all loose. Some stand-offs are singles, some are doubles, some singles are short, some are long. Some stand-offs get mounted right side up and others mounted upside down. Once that nightmare puzzle is worked out, it is time to hang the armor panels. Can’t recall but (it’s been many years since I mounted EAAK), you either start front to aft or aft to front and work your way fore or aft. Mount the first panel but keep it loose. Then reach under the panel and tighten each of the stand-offs to which the panel is mounted. The tighten the armor plate down and move to next one and repeat the process for each armor plate on both sides.
No two AAVs or sets of EAAK fit precisely the same. If you compare AAVs you’ll notice that the EAAK bosses on the hull are mounted in slightly different locations. Some AAVs have cut outs in their track shrouds so they fit where EAAK bosses were welded considerably lower than what I imagine the design called for.

My tractor, 2003 for OIF I in Kuwait before the push.


Couple shots of AAVs fresh off MPF vessels at LSA in Kuwait. Getting all the serialized gear (weapons, record jackets etc..) to the right tractor was a freak’n headache!






Absolutely GREAT PHOTOS!!!
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 07:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text





The relationship between the AAV and EAAK can never be mistaken as precise or neat. The pain of mounting EAAK is a true exercise in misery. First thing is to attach the stand-off bosses to the hull but, leave them all loose. Some stand-offs are singles, some are doubles, some singles are short, some are long. Some stand-offs get mounted right side up and others mounted upside down. Once that nightmare puzzle is worked out, it is time to hang the armor panels. Can’t recall but (it’s been many years since I mounted EAAK), you either start front to aft or aft to front and work your way fore or aft. Mount the first panel but keep it loose. Then reach under the panel and tighten each of the stand-offs to which the panel is mounted. The tighten the armor plate down and move to next one and repeat the process for each armor plate on both sides.
No two AAVs or sets of EAAK fit precisely the same. If you compare AAVs you’ll notice that the EAAK bosses on the hull are mounted in slightly different locations. Some AAVs have cut outs in their track shrouds so they fit where EAAK bosses were welded considerably lower than what I imagine the design called for.






I hope this doesn't trigger you!




YOWZA!!! I just LOOOOVE photos of the "modern" US stuff!!!
hoplocat
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: May 29, 2007
KitMaker: 119 posts
Armorama: 53 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 24, 2019 - 01:41 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I have this kit, will it do to depict a USMC AAV7A1 during the invasion during OIF?







This kit is good for a hot day out in an inflatable pool. If I'm not mistaken, it comes with a motor and propeller.

Or if you are into kit bashing/ sci-fi / what if modelling then its a great base to start.

Go with the Hobbyboss series.
 _GOTOTOP