In Box Review of Nitto Kagaku 1/35th Scale U.S. "Alligator" LVT(A)5
Amphibious Tank
Kit no. 15084-1500
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
I paid $7.08 for my kit years ago when it was reduced in price from $9.00 at some store I bought it at. Price tags were still on the box.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
I paid $7.08 for my kit years ago when it was reduced in price from $9.00 at some store I bought it at. Price tags were still on the box.
HISTORY:
The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) is an amphibious warfare vehicle and amphibious landing craft, introduced by the United States Navy. The United States Marine Corps, United States Army, and Canadian and British armies used several LVT models during World War II.
Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles. The types were known as amphtrack, "Amtrak", "amtrac", etc. (portmanteaus of "amphibious tractor"), and "alligator" or "gator".
The LVT had its origins in a civilian rescue vehicle called the Alligator. Developed by Donald Roebling in 1935, the Alligator was intended to operate in swampy areas, inaccessible to both traditional cars and boats. Two years later, Roebling built a redesigned vehicle with improved water speed.
The United States Marine Corps, which had been developing amphibious warfare doctrine based on the ideas of Lt. Col Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis and others, became interested in the machine after learning about it through an article in Life magazine and convinced Roebling to design a more seaworthy model for military use.
Both the US Navy and Roebling resisted the idea of a military design, the US Navy because it felt conventional landing craft could do the job, and Roebling because he wished his invention to be used only for peaceful purposes. Roebling was persuaded after war broke out in Europe, and completed a militarized prototype by May 1940.
The Bureau of Ships requested a second prototype with a more powerful engine, and the USMC tested the design in November 1940. Impressed by the second prototype, the Bureau of Ships placed a contract for production of 100 units of a model using all-steel construction, for a more rugged and easily produced design, and the first LVT-1 was delivered in July 1941.
Another 200 units were ordered even before the first production units were delivered. After more improvements to meet requirements of the Navy, made difficult by Roebling's lack of blueprints for the initial designs, the vehicle was adopted as "Landing Vehicle Tracked" or LVT.
The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) is an amphibious warfare vehicle and amphibious landing craft, introduced by the United States Navy. The United States Marine Corps, United States Army, and Canadian and British armies used several LVT models during World War II.
Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles. The types were known as amphtrack, "Amtrak", "amtrac", etc. (portmanteaus of "amphibious tractor"), and "alligator" or "gator".
The LVT had its origins in a civilian rescue vehicle called the Alligator. Developed by Donald Roebling in 1935, the Alligator was intended to operate in swampy areas, inaccessible to both traditional cars and boats. Two years later, Roebling built a redesigned vehicle with improved water speed.
The United States Marine Corps, which had been developing amphibious warfare doctrine based on the ideas of Lt. Col Earl Hancock "Pete" Ellis and others, became interested in the machine after learning about it through an article in Life magazine and convinced Roebling to design a more seaworthy model for military use.
Both the US Navy and Roebling resisted the idea of a military design, the US Navy because it felt conventional landing craft could do the job, and Roebling because he wished his invention to be used only for peaceful purposes. Roebling was persuaded after war broke out in Europe, and completed a militarized prototype by May 1940.
The Bureau of Ships requested a second prototype with a more powerful engine, and the USMC tested the design in November 1940. Impressed by the second prototype, the Bureau of Ships placed a contract for production of 100 units of a model using all-steel construction, for a more rugged and easily produced design, and the first LVT-1 was delivered in July 1941.
Another 200 units were ordered even before the first production units were delivered. After more improvements to meet requirements of the Navy, made difficult by Roebling's lack of blueprints for the initial designs, the vehicle was adopted as "Landing Vehicle Tracked" or LVT.
THE KIT:
Nitto Kagaku is a model company based in Japan.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a LVT(A)5 posed against an all white background. Similar to how Tamiya does the majority of their box arts too.
The tank is overall olive-drab with a large white star on top of the bow, a medium-sized star on the hull sides and a small one on the turret sides. It has the white serial no,. USMC 570269 on the forward end of the sides and on the left side of the nose with a white 018 on the right.
A crew member is standing in the open-topped turret and another crew member is looking out the driver's hatch.
Both wear light blue-gray shirts and steel helmets with cloth cammo covers.
Trees are not alphabetized, but are illustrated in the instructions and have part number tabs next to the parts on them.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 5" page format.
The instructions are all in Japanese.
Page 1 is a lot of Japanese text.
Page 2 to the top of page 5 give 8 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 5 has a 3-view just showing the stars, but the serial numbers are strangely blacked out.
Page 6 is the parts trees illustrations.
A second 8 1/2" x 11" sheet, printed on one side only has assembly instructions text in English.
Nitto Kagaku is a model company based in Japan.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a LVT(A)5 posed against an all white background. Similar to how Tamiya does the majority of their box arts too.
The tank is overall olive-drab with a large white star on top of the bow, a medium-sized star on the hull sides and a small one on the turret sides. It has the white serial no,. USMC 570269 on the forward end of the sides and on the left side of the nose with a white 018 on the right.
A crew member is standing in the open-topped turret and another crew member is looking out the driver's hatch.
Both wear light blue-gray shirts and steel helmets with cloth cammo covers.
Trees are not alphabetized, but are illustrated in the instructions and have part number tabs next to the parts on them.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/2" x 5" page format.
The instructions are all in Japanese.
Page 1 is a lot of Japanese text.
Page 2 to the top of page 5 give 8 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 5 has a 3-view just showing the stars, but the serial numbers are strangely blacked out.
Page 6 is the parts trees illustrations.
A second 8 1/2" x 11" sheet, printed on one side only has assembly instructions text in English.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 4 olive-drab trees of parts and a loose olive-drab hull tub, 2 steel rods, black vinyl treads (only item in a cello), the decal sheet and instructions.
The kit contains 4 olive-drab trees of parts and a loose olive-drab hull tub, 2 steel rods, black vinyl treads (only item in a cello), the decal sheet and instructions.
The first olive-drab tree holds: the hull sides and lower roof panel, headlight guards, capstans etc. (18 parts)
The second olive-drab tree holds: the upper hull roof, hatch doors, bumper, grab handles, driver's seat etc. (30 parts)
The second olive-drab tree holds: the upper hull roof, hatch doors, bumper, grab handles, driver's seat etc. (30 parts)
The third olive-drab tree holds: figures, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels etc. (66 parts)
The third olive-drab tree holds: figures, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels etc. (66 parts)
The fourth olive-drab tree holds: turret parts, main gun, machine guns and their shields, mantle etc. (24 parts)
The machine guns are poorly molded and have sink marks in the side of them.
The machine guns are poorly molded and have sink marks in the side of them.
Because of the poor machine guns I bought the Combat Series brand 1/32nd scale cast brass 30 cal machine gun and it's cradle set to replace the machine guns in the kit. I also have my own company's (Armor Research Co.) 50 cal machine gun in white metal and brass PE that I could use too.
The kit decals.
The loose olive-drab hull tub and black vinyl tracks in a stapled clear cello bag with 2 steel rods complete the kit's contents.
Nice detail.
Recommended.