LVT-4 Water Buffalo
 

Hi,

I'm starting a new thread with a model I've been building a while now. It's AFV Club's LVT-4 Early version with few extras such as Voyager basic set, Eduard interior set, Aber metal barrels for machine guns and AFV Club aftermarket tracks.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00227_64NR.jpg

At the first stage, most of the cockpit was completed.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00229_feDT.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00231_CRP3.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00233_n2oF.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00237_eL0r.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00239_GCw8.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/0...00241_eupD.jpg


When it seemed to be ready for some paint, I took some time to pay attention to some reference material in hand and it appeared that many of the interior elements are still to be added before I could reach for the airbrush.

So here we go:

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/8...22069_qCho.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/8...22071_NeFs.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/8...22073_G8mZ.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/8...22075_MoQl.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/8...22077_9tFQ.jpg


Gear selector had to be scratched as well because original broke in two and half of it went missing.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1192/8...22079_RKdu.jpg




Until next update,
Kristjan

Nice start!
Waiting for more )

Excellent attention to detail Kristjan.

Keep the images coming.

Michael

great job so far Kristjan love this super detailing work :thumb:

Abdin

Than You, everyone.

Now the interior, seen on previous post has been painted and weathered. I made a few photos of radio also, because it sits on its locker and although its hatches are open, it will be sparsely seen. Sides of the hull are not glued on yet, because I plan to fill the side compartments with some random stuff, and these are not ready yet. Dashboard is another thing yet to be made. Otherwise the drivers compartment is finished.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28715_1e1z.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28717_gHbQ.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28719_B3AS.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28721_hlkf.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28723_gqBN.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28725_VUty.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28727_lX8k.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...28729_7dG7.jpg

Little update about my LVT build.

To complete the interior, I've also finished the dashboard with gauge cluster. Instead of going with AFV Club's clear sheet with dials, I chose decals from Archer Fine Transfers. These were covered with Micro Kristal Klear.
I added a sloppy cable as well inspired by some photos I have. It seemed to be nice detail to add.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...29859_Pogl.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...29861_JBYj.jpg


Side compartments were filled with some random stuff - mostly jerry cans.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...29863_ZTgO.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...29865_cpa6.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/1...29867_GBaJ.jpg


Next step will*be gluing the sides on, so the hull will finally be shaped up.*

Continuing with Water Buffalo.

So Finally the hull has been glued together. It fitted quite nicely, only problem there was that left hull side piece was warped and I did notice it just after it was painted and weathered. So there was no way I could use hot water to straighten it and only thing to do, was just to glue it on with patience, step by step and and to hope it will come up alright. And luckily enough, it did. Next thing to do was to add dashboard and cables to connect it with electric box.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30289_LAQm.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30291_EWUk.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30293_JzFQ.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30295_lDWi.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30297_MpsJ.jpg


Even though the sides fitted nicely, the belly side of the vehicle needed some filler and sanding. I added strip of resin welding just where front and aft part of the chassis joined together to sort out the gap and minor unevenness of the two parts.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30299_T4px.jpg


I also started with side sponsons. AFV Club offers only two variants of additional armor - nothing at all, or full side plating. Since my vehicle was only partially armored, armor plates and fittings had to be scratch built. Bolt detail are still to be added to armor plate fastenings.
Track tensioner cover plates were replaced with Voyager ones and these went on, after some altering, just nicely.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30301_pIEI.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...30303_kQTW.jpg



Kristjan

Hi again!

As the hull is together and most of the interior finished, I'm continuing with roof.

I'm planning the middle section of the roof to be detachable, so I added 2 magnets on both sides of the cabin walls. Sometimes glue doesn't hold magnets enough and they tend to fall of, so I secured them with Tamiya Epoxy Putty. Roof itself has steel strips added to the respective corners.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31217_uDtS.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31219_wTHu.jpg


To deal with the large part of upper deck, I first removed plastic fenders and then cut the piece in three.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31221_fqRa.jpg


Here are the upper section of roof glued on to model and Voyager etched fenders added.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31223_9UIO.jpg


And here are the fenders gently beaten up.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31225_bn1N.jpg


Fenders had to be secured underside using styrene angles on inner edge. In real life there were no such supports and I hope to hide these under the mud or something like that.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31227_CmYi.jpg


The detachable section has been glued together of five pieces. I added weld details using Archer's resin weld beads. I also replaced original bolt detail with flush screw heads on the edges. Headlight guards had to be made of scratch because the ones in Voyager set are 1mm too high and look off. Antenna base is from Aber too.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31229_pTzu.jpg


The inner side of the roof is detailed with welds and bolt heads. Its not accurate, but should be enough to look convincing.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31231_wpxZ.jpg


And that's how it sits on its place. Even though the lower corners aren't held by magnets, the upper part holds it quite firmly.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31233_8gp9.jpg


The rear lights are molded in one piece to hull details and are opaque. I figured I could do better by drilling these out and replace them by transparent ones made of transparent sprue sections.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31235_nn5T.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31237_0ydB.jpg


Here's the overall look to the model right now. I have few question marks concerning the antenna used on real vehicle. To make rear ramp openable with its cables, has to be figured out as well.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31239_7xEk.jpg



Kristjan

Shortly after the last update I posted here, I studied the photo further and discovered that the co-driver's hatch on my model is on the different position than showed on the photo. Looking the photo it appears to be on the same line to the driver's hatch, while on the model it is located slightly backwards. There was a slight inner dilemma, whether I should address this problem, or ignore it, but I felt brave and after a considerable amount of exacto-blade terror on the part, I relocated the hatch to the correct position. After that there were a lot of filling and sanding and then restoring the bolt heads and weld beads that were destroyed during the process.

On the photos the cut seems to be empty, but it is actually transparent super glue and there's no gap there.

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31247_2XKU.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31253_Oa0D.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31255_37UA.jpg

http://static1.album.ee/files/1193/2...31257_jnfB.jpg

Hi Kristjan

I have been following your build and you are doing an excellent job on it.

By moving the co-drivers roof hatch forward you have made a true LVT-4 early. The roof hatch was moved back when the machine gun was put in and the view visors in the LVT-4 late.

I'm not familiar with the AFV club LVT series, but I read they are excellent kits. All my kits are Italeri LVT and I used them to scratch build a lot of different versions by chopping them up to do it.

If you like LVT's have a look at my scratch built LVT's in my web page.
http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/sc...?sort=2&page=1

Cheers,

Ralph