AAVP-7A1 – Operation Iraqi Freedom
Kit Tamiya LVTP-7A1, scala 1/35
The base kit has been modified/improved by:
– scratch building interiors
– replacing the turret with the one in Verlinden kit VP 501 (this too has been modified because it wasn’t highly accurate)
– scratch building the front breakwater, side racks, EAAK supports
– adding accessories from Tamiya kit “Modern US Military Equipment Set”.
Figures are from Dragon kit “U.S. Tank Crew“.
A lot of reference pictures for the model have been found at the Marines Training and Education Command web site.
February 2010 – A few years after the model was completed I decided to make the diorama richer. Scroll down to view it.
February 2010
In the new version of the diorama I have enhanced the two crew members (from the Dragon kit “U.S. Tank Crew”) using parts from the Verlinden conversion kit “US Tank and AFV Crews Iraq” (p/n 2434).
I have also added the two figures from Verlined kit “Souvenirs Iraq” (p/n 2395).
Finally I have included a Kawasaki KLR 250 bike and its biker, both taken from the Dragon kit “US Light Infantry” (p/n 3009).
Since the biker was ODS era, I updated the figure with a new torso taken from the Verlinden conversion kit “Modern US Iraq – Afganistan Figure Conversion Parts” (p/n 2177).
For this diorama I have built my first palm tree, using the technique proposed by Chas Young in Armorama (see his tutorial here).
