Bucha, Ukraine - 27 Feb 2022 - 15mm
USMC AAV-7A1 Amptrack rescue and conversion
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.
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