AFV Club LVT-4 Late 1/35

[DC87]

Taking a small break from my group build I decided to start the AFV Club LVT-4 Late type. From what I have built so far the fit and engineering of this kit is superb and the detail is some of the best I have seen in plastic. This kit contains a movable ramp with connecting wires and a more or less full interior. For reference material I am using pictures of a surviving vehicle purchased from the excellent Toadman's place website.

I am going to try and enhance the interior with some scratch-building IE wires etc and possibly build an engine to do a maintenance diorama.



These are the side pontoons:





The detail and texture of the seats is brilliant and as a result they where an absolute pleasure to paint - unfortunately my camera's focus doens't show it too well :






So very impressed with this offering from AFV Club so far .

[NovYank]

I'm happy to see this on the forum!! I've had an interest in this kit since I saw it featured in a modelling magazine. But I've never dedicated enough time to the kit.

Nice to hear that the build is going along well!! I can't wait to see your progress and your interior work!!!!

[Nige201980]

Looking great so far mate are you doing any scratch building on it.

[DC87]

you doing any scratch building on it.

I am planning to scratch-build an engine as LVT's had a nice large engine housing that will be easy to show open - here is an image from my reference file:


Cheers for the comments guys.

[HobbyModeller]

Looks to be a great kit and you are doing it justice so far looking forward to more

[Paul]

Nice start look forward to seeing more

[NovYank]

There needs to be a smilie that looks like a kid on the night before Christmas. Just cringing with anticipation. That's how I feel about this build

[Nige201980]

Excellent looking foreword to watching this come together

[Coen]

HoHohohoh!!!!!
Now this will be and exciting build.
I'll be watching this one Dude.
I love AFVs kits.

[ww2hispanomodels]

Nice start! This kit looks impressive and the AFV box art are really well made. Looking forward to see the result!

[HamilkarBarkas]

Oh dear this kit has some amazing amount of detail and you even want to scratchbuild the engine - i will follow this with big interest, interesting vehicle and a very promising project

[DC87]

Thanks for the comments and following the build guys - means a lot

Both the seats are now finished and the gearbox and drive train has been built - these items are dry fitted in the photo's below:




The fit of the gearbox was very nice and it clips into the floor supports without any problem and will require next to no glue.

As you might be able to see there are some small sink marks on the sides of the wheel transmissions.

Should have the gearbox painted by this evening .

[DC87]

ENGINE UPDATE time

Basically I have constructed the skeleton of the radial engine using various thickness of plasticard.

The bits sticking out the sides are the piston mounts.

Here is a link to some info on the real engine: http://www.timemoneyandblood.com/HTML/m ... ental.html

Note the numbers correspond to the piston banks.
My effort so far:



The real deal - Stuart tank version which is the same minus the bilge pump:

[DC87]

Oh forgot to mention at the beginning of the topic that I will build this LVT as a French version used during the 1956 Suez Crisis. The difference between the French and American versions was that the French fitted a sort of reinforced floor for carrying ammo supplies etc.

Here is what I mean:


The ammo was stored underneath while the fuel above.

[Nige201980]

Great progress mate this going to be a great build

[Gav0909]

So how did the crew get into the driving compartment on these things, down the sides of the engine, or did they have to go in and out via the upper hatches?

Looking forward to seeing this come alive, especially with the extra details you are adding.

[DC87]

So how did the crew get into the driving compartment on these things, down the sides of the engine, or did they have to go in and out via the upper hatches?

I believe they used the passages on either side of the engine as they are head height so quite easy to walk through, I can't think they would have bothered to climb up to the hatches when they could have just walked on.

[schweinhund227]

Thanks for the comments and following the build guys - means a lot

Both the seats are now finished and the gearbox and drive train has been built - these items are dry fitted in the photo's below:




The fit of the gearbox was very nice and it clips into the floor supports without any problem and will require next to no glue.

As you might be able to see there are some small sink marks on the sides of the wheel transmissions.

Should have the gearbox painted by this evening .

WOW WOW WOW !!!

[NovYank]

A French LVT? That's peculiar....which is a good thing!!! lol.

All your add-ons and modifications will definitely make this build superb!!!

[Nige201980]

Just how many builds you got on the go now DC. The is brill by the way.

[gosselin2112]

Nice scratch built engine! Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the model builds up.

[chief5437]

Impressive! (In a Darth Vader voice)

[Tiger131]

loving the scratching will add a lot when its finished