As a former marine myself, serving in the Taiwanese Marine Corps, building one of AFV Club’s LVT series always takes me back, it’s like being on the shore during a landing ... This is my sixth LVT model, the previous ones all representing Taiwanese vehicles, but this time I wanted to make a realistic model of a United States Marine Corps vehicle from Vietnam, 1969. The LVTP-5 (Landing Vehicle Personnel Tracked) was first accepted into service in 1956 and some 1,124 vehicles were produced. As well as the United States and Taiwan, it also served with the Philippines, South Vietnam, and Chile. It saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, where it carried up to 34 marines into battle in each vehicle.
The Kit
AFV Club’s LVTP-5A1 was first released twenty years ago, but it still a very fine kit. I dressed mine up with the additional resin crew and sandbags from Hobbyfan (ref. HF516) and some M16 rifles from their M113 kit. Like any kit, improvements can be made and details added, but, as I always say, the most necessary ingredient for any successful modeling project is patience!
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Military Modelcraft International.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Military Modelcraft International.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
VIVE LA FRANCE!
Daniel Brooker returns with France’s ‘What-if’ Cold War Super Tank.
T-28
Fernando Olszewski joins the MMI team with a Small-Scale stunner.
COMRADES IN ARMS
Łukasz Orczyc-Musiałek returns with an ambitious World War II project.
KRAZ-6446 With Semi-Trailer
A descendant of the KrAZ-6322 6x6 heavy utility truck, the KrAZ-6446 was developed in Ukraine, specifically designed to haul semi-trailers.
Small-Scale Airbone
Ján Moravčík builds S-Model’s BMD-1.
Desert Beetle
Rob Ferreira builds Ryefield Model’s new VW.
The Edge Of Darkness
Roger Hurkmans depicts Dutch volunteers on the Eastern Front.
Amtrac
David Chou builds a USMC LVTP-5 from the Vietnam War.
Super Stupa
The Editor builds Tamiya’s new kit with some help from Eduard.
'Toujours Pret'
The Editor paints and weathers Panda Model’s Stryker Dragoon.