In Box Review of Croco 1/72nd Scale
U.S. LVTP-5 Amphibian
Project: Leonid Shilin, Master: Alexandr Klymchuk
Unknown kit no.
By Ray Mehlberger
Available on Ebay for $39.90
Unknown kit no.
By Ray Mehlberger
Available on Ebay for $39.90
HISTORY:
The LVTP-5 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel) is a family of amphibious armored fighting vehicles used by the Philippine Marine Corps and formerly, the United States Marine Corps. It was designed by the BorgWarner company and built by FMC (Food Machinery Corporation) along with a few other companies.
It was first accepted into service in 1956. Some 1,124 basic units were produced, plus the specialist variants, and many saw action in the Vietnam War.
It was an evolution of the LVT-1 to LVT-4 World War II era Landing Vehicle Tracked series, but was considerably larger and could carry 30-34 combat-armed troops. A smaller design based on the M59 APC was also produced as the LVT-6, but only a handful built. The LVTP-5 was replaced in service by the LVT-7 family.
The most common type was the LVTP-5, an armored personnel carrier, with mine-sweeper, command, recovery and fire support variants, the latter mounting a 105 mm howitzer. An anti-aircraft version was prototyped, but never saw service.
As of the mid-2010s, the sole remaining state user of the LVTH-6 was the Philippines, who used 4 of them for their naval infantry force. As of 2013, Philippine LVTH-6s came in a "digital"-style camouflage pattern.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1956–present
Used by: Philippine Marine Corps, 4 still in service as of 2016, Taiwan, Republic of China Marine Corps, Chile, United States,South Vietnam
Mass: 37.4 t
Length: 9.04 m (29 ¾ Ft.)
Width: 3.57 m (11 ¾ Ft.)
Height: 2.92 m (9 ½ Ft.)
Crew: 3 +34 passengers
Main armament: .30 caliber MG
Engine: Continental LV-1790-1 V-12 gasoline of 704 hp
Power/weight: 19 hp/tonne
Suspension: Torsilastic
Operational range: 306 km on roads (190 miles), 92 km in water (57 miles)
Maximum speed: 48 km/h, in water (30 mp/h), 11 km/h on roads (7 mp/h)
The LVTP-5 (Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel) is a family of amphibious armored fighting vehicles used by the Philippine Marine Corps and formerly, the United States Marine Corps. It was designed by the BorgWarner company and built by FMC (Food Machinery Corporation) along with a few other companies.
It was first accepted into service in 1956. Some 1,124 basic units were produced, plus the specialist variants, and many saw action in the Vietnam War.
It was an evolution of the LVT-1 to LVT-4 World War II era Landing Vehicle Tracked series, but was considerably larger and could carry 30-34 combat-armed troops. A smaller design based on the M59 APC was also produced as the LVT-6, but only a handful built. The LVTP-5 was replaced in service by the LVT-7 family.
The most common type was the LVTP-5, an armored personnel carrier, with mine-sweeper, command, recovery and fire support variants, the latter mounting a 105 mm howitzer. An anti-aircraft version was prototyped, but never saw service.
As of the mid-2010s, the sole remaining state user of the LVTH-6 was the Philippines, who used 4 of them for their naval infantry force. As of 2013, Philippine LVTH-6s came in a "digital"-style camouflage pattern.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1956–present
Used by: Philippine Marine Corps, 4 still in service as of 2016, Taiwan, Republic of China Marine Corps, Chile, United States,South Vietnam
Mass: 37.4 t
Length: 9.04 m (29 ¾ Ft.)
Width: 3.57 m (11 ¾ Ft.)
Height: 2.92 m (9 ½ Ft.)
Crew: 3 +34 passengers
Main armament: .30 caliber MG
Engine: Continental LV-1790-1 V-12 gasoline of 704 hp
Power/weight: 19 hp/tonne
Suspension: Torsilastic
Operational range: 306 km on roads (190 miles), 92 km in water (57 miles)
Maximum speed: 48 km/h, in water (30 mp/h), 11 km/h on roads (7 mp/h)
THE KIT:
Croco is a model company based in Riga, Latvia. They mainly manufacture 1/72nd scale resin models.
This kit comes in a generic brown box that has a hinged lid and locking tabs and is scotch taped shut.
The box art is a separate sheet glued to the lid. It shows a color illustration of the LVTP-5 as a side view. It is overall olive-drab and has a white circle with a skull on it at the nose end of the side of the hull.
At the bottom of the box art it says the Project Author is Leonid Shilin and the Master is made by Alexandr Klymchuk.
Croco is a model company based in Riga, Latvia. They mainly manufacture 1/72nd scale resin models.
This kit comes in a generic brown box that has a hinged lid and locking tabs and is scotch taped shut.
The box art is a separate sheet glued to the lid. It shows a color illustration of the LVTP-5 as a side view. It is overall olive-drab and has a white circle with a skull on it at the nose end of the side of the hull.
At the bottom of the box art it says the Project Author is Leonid Shilin and the Master is made by Alexandr Klymchuk.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds a whopping 441 tan resin parts, a decal sheet and what is intended to be instructions.
These instructions are lacking in any assembly step sequences of the hull and suspension and consist of a single sheet printed on one side that has a black and white photos of all the parts in the kit. There are a few numbered arrows pointing to some parts with no assembly drawings. A good reference source with photos will be needed by the modeler to aid in building the kit.
If this is supposed to be the instructions, nobody could ever assemble this kit using them. I contacted Mr. Shilin and told him he really had to come up with decent instructions and he said he could not do so….groan.
The kit holds a whopping 441 tan resin parts, a decal sheet and what is intended to be instructions.
These instructions are lacking in any assembly step sequences of the hull and suspension and consist of a single sheet printed on one side that has a black and white photos of all the parts in the kit. There are a few numbered arrows pointing to some parts with no assembly drawings. A good reference source with photos will be needed by the modeler to aid in building the kit.
If this is supposed to be the instructions, nobody could ever assemble this kit using them. I contacted Mr. Shilin and told him he really had to come up with decent instructions and he said he could not do so….groan.
The tan resin parts are in 3 zip-locked clear cello bags.
They include the individual tiny track links (25 trees holding 8 links each).
They include the individual tiny track links (25 trees holding 8 links each).
The suspension consist of the drive sprockets, idler wheels, road wheels, bogies, large and small rods (to use for wheel axles I think?), and various other suspension parts.
The hull tub is one piece
The hull roof is also a one piece casting.
Additional parts consist of the rear loading ramp, a couple of ladders and various hatches.
The decals complete the kit.
The molding looks very good with good surface detail and minimal bubbles in the surface of the parts. I shudder at thinking of assembling those teeny weeny individual track links. If ever I get good instructions I will build this thing.
It definitely is not for the novice or beginning modeler and would not be a weekend project.
I recommend it, in spite of the poor instructions. Detail is crisp and good, with only a few pour lugs to remove.
I want to thank Leonid Shilin of Croco for this review sample.
He can be reached at his Email address:
It definitely is not for the novice or beginning modeler and would not be a weekend project.
I recommend it, in spite of the poor instructions. Detail is crisp and good, with only a few pour lugs to remove.
I want to thank Leonid Shilin of Croco for this review sample.
He can be reached at his Email address:
Sniff23/inbox.Iv
He does not have a web site.