In Box Review of Croco 1/72nd Scale Resin
PACV Hovercraft (U.S. Army)
Kit no.
Project-Leonid Shillin (author) & Alexandr Klymchuk (master)
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2021
MSRP: Available on e-Bay for $69.99.
Project-Leonid Shillin (author) & Alexandr Klymchuk (master)
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2021
MSRP: Available on e-Bay for $69.99.
HISTORY:
A hovercraft, also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and other surfaces. Hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the hull, or air cushion, that is slightly above atmospheric pressure.
The pressure difference between the higher pressure air below the hull and lower pressure ambient air above it produces lift, which causes the hull to float above the running surface. For stability reasons, the air is typically blown through slots or holes around the outside of a disk- or oval-shaped platform, giving most hovercraft a characteristic rounded-rectangle shape.
The first practical design for hovercraft was derived from a British invention in the 1950s. They are now used throughout the world as specialized transports in disaster relief, coastguard, military and survey applications, as well as for sport or passenger service. Very large versions have been used to transport hundreds of people and vehicles across the English Channel, whilst others have military applications used to transport tanks, soldiers and large equipment in hostile environments and terrain.
Decline in public demand meant that as of 2018, the only public hovercraft service in the world still in operation serves between the Isle of Wight and South-sea in the UK. Although now a generic term for the type of craft, the name Hovercraft itself was a trademark owned by Saunders-Roe (later British Hovercraft Corporation (BHC), then Westland), hence other manufacturers' use of alternative names to describe the vehicles.
The standard plural of hovercraft is hovercraft (in the same manner that aircraft is both singular and plural)
A hovercraft, also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and other surfaces. Hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the hull, or air cushion, that is slightly above atmospheric pressure.
The pressure difference between the higher pressure air below the hull and lower pressure ambient air above it produces lift, which causes the hull to float above the running surface. For stability reasons, the air is typically blown through slots or holes around the outside of a disk- or oval-shaped platform, giving most hovercraft a characteristic rounded-rectangle shape.
The first practical design for hovercraft was derived from a British invention in the 1950s. They are now used throughout the world as specialized transports in disaster relief, coastguard, military and survey applications, as well as for sport or passenger service. Very large versions have been used to transport hundreds of people and vehicles across the English Channel, whilst others have military applications used to transport tanks, soldiers and large equipment in hostile environments and terrain.
Decline in public demand meant that as of 2018, the only public hovercraft service in the world still in operation serves between the Isle of Wight and South-sea in the UK. Although now a generic term for the type of craft, the name Hovercraft itself was a trademark owned by Saunders-Roe (later British Hovercraft Corporation (BHC), then Westland), hence other manufacturers' use of alternative names to describe the vehicles.
The standard plural of hovercraft is hovercraft (in the same manner that aircraft is both singular and plural)
THE KIT:
Croco is based in Riva, Latvia. They manufacture model kits in 1/72nd scale resin with PE sets included in some.
This kit comes in a sturdy generic brown box that has a hinged lid with locking tabs. It is not shrink-wrapped.
The box-art is a separate sheet that is glued to the hinged-lid.
It has a red-border that has white: PACV Hovercraft (U.S. army), Scale 1/72, Project-Leonid Shilin (author) and Alexandr Klymchuk (master). There is a black line-drawing of Croco’s logo, a crocodile and “Only good accessories” on it.
It has a faded black and white photo of the PACV cruising down a river.
Croco is based in Riva, Latvia. They manufacture model kits in 1/72nd scale resin with PE sets included in some.
This kit comes in a sturdy generic brown box that has a hinged lid with locking tabs. It is not shrink-wrapped.
The box-art is a separate sheet that is glued to the hinged-lid.
It has a red-border that has white: PACV Hovercraft (U.S. army), Scale 1/72, Project-Leonid Shilin (author) and Alexandr Klymchuk (master). There is a black line-drawing of Croco’s logo, a crocodile and “Only good accessories” on it.
It has a faded black and white photo of the PACV cruising down a river.
The instructions are a single-sheet printed in black and white on both sides and folded twice to fit the box. There are 12 black and white photos. One photo is of all the kit parts, except the clear sheet for windows and the PE fret. Eleven photos show various assemblies with kit numbers and arrows pointing to them.
This is rather a poor way to do the instructions as it is vague and confusing and does not show the PE placement at all.
There are new crew figures included. Molding is exceptional with only pour lugs to remove from some parts.
I want to sincerely thank Croco for this review sample. Croco can be reached at:
There are new crew figures included. Molding is exceptional with only pour lugs to remove from some parts.
I want to sincerely thank Croco for this review sample. Croco can be reached at:
Their products can be viewed at:
Highly recommended.