Hürtgen Forest - Game Video

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Project Entry by oriskany

USMC AAV-7A1 Amptrack rescue and conversion

February 28, 2023

Tutoring 6

Skill 6

Idea 6

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I’ve been having a blast lately “rescuing” and restoring old miniatures and adding them to my “first line” 15mm table forces.

These were old LVTP-7s, rather beat up, with missing turrets and in the old 1970s-80s configuation where honestly they weren’t that useful. I wanted to update them to the newer USMC AAV-7 variant so I could use them in Desert Storm or OIF scenarios from the 90s and 2000s.

Picked them up in a “twenty bucks for the box” buy/swap at the local club.

Original state (three big green ones in back). The smaller sand one in the front is a Fields of Valor toy, but in 10mm. Basically, I want to make those three 15mm greens look like the 10mm sand.

First thing to go were the turrets. One was missing anyway. The original LTVP-7 turrets are also only really useful in Beirut 83, Grenada 83, and in Argentinian service in Falklands 82.

Scratch-built turrets to the AAV-7 model. Hatches, commander, and .50 cals from the bits box. everything else (including the Mk19 AGLs) are scratch-built from scrabble tiles, plastic broom bristles, toothpicks, and electical tape.

After first airbrush.

Final result. A lot of mold bubbles to fill in, flash to shave / sand down. New stowage is scratch built. New front heasdlight plate scratch built. Surf propellers at rear were missing, scratch-built. Side armor upgrades scratch-built. New commander added in new hatch / turret. For $1 a piece, I'm not too displeased with the result.