LVT(A)-1A "Crocodile"

[Old Wombat]

This build is inspired by Mr Jeffrey Fontaine, who sent me a number of Saladin turrets from Tamiya M113A1 Fire Support Vehicles amongst some other odds & ends.

The base kit is an Italeri LVT(A)-1 Alligator which I am in the process of modifying, like the Australian army M113A1s, to mount one of the Saladin 76mm-gunned turrets.

Obviously, the vehicle being an amphibian, where to put this build is something of a quandary: Sea or Land? Land or Sea?

I settled on "Land" because it really only travels through the water to get from the transport ship to land, where it does most of its work. Although this Royal Australian Marines version is going to be operating in the flooded rice paddies & rivers of Vietnam as much as on firm dry land.

Photo's have been taken of these early stages & will, hopefully be posted tomorrow ... later today.

[Weaver]

Nice one.

I started a 1/76th Buffalo with a Scorpion turret, but it got stalled before it got very far.

[Rheged]

The name Crocodile has always suggested a flame thrower to me........as in the Churchill Crocodile.

[Wardukw]

I like this idea..I had all of italeris LVT's and the idea of a Aussie version with the Saladin turret would make perfect sense to me ..it's a mod I could see them doing.

[rickshaw]

The Australian Army did operate LVTs after WWII.  They took part in one of military disasters when during their annual camp the 15th Northern Rivers Lancers, in March 1954, was marred by disaster in Stockton Bight.  They never mounted Saladin turrets but they did operate LVT(A)4s.  The vehicles lost by foundering were five LVT(a)4s, one LVT4 and two DUKWs. 

[Old Wombat]

The name Crocodile has always suggested a flame thrower to me........as in the Churchill Crocodile.

Crocodile works because it's an Alligator with more bite.

[Old Wombat]

First images.

Phase One - Basic Turret Fitment:






Phase Two - Turret Ring & Rear Superstructure Extension Installation:






Phase Three - PSR + Primer:

[Old Wombat]

I like this idea..I had all of italeris LVT's and the idea of a Aussie version with the Saladin turret would make perfect sense to me ..it's a mod I could see them doing.

Why am I not surprised, Wardukw?

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice, and it looks very plausible, too. 

[PR19_Kit]

A fascinating vehicle, the LVT(A)-4.

Prior to starting on my 1/35 Challenger 2 (I'll get back to it soon, promise...) the only armour model I'd ever built was an Airfix LVT to which I'd added a turret, I think from an article in the old Airfix Mag.

[NARSES2]

Looking good and it shows how big the LVT was.

Must admit my first thoughts on seeing the title of the article were the same as Rheged's and I half expected a flame thrower version. You now have me thinking of an LVT AVRE with a turret mounted Petard Mortar and hull mounted flamethrower issued to the Commonwealth Corps for the Invasion of Japan.

[Wardukw]

Guy 😁😆..yup I had a heap ..Now it's a little pile 😊.
Ya know what your building here makes sense..ya I know already said that but I've been thinking..when they stuffed the Saladin turret on the 113 they buggered its amphibian ability..putting it on top of the LVT gives them that ability back..so very very cool ☺

[Old Wombat]

Thank you all, gentlemen!


Quite a weird looking thing, the LVT, on dry land. Apparently they were quite stable in the water (when there wasn't a storm blowing) but bucked like a rocking horse out of it.


No Churchill Crocodiles in the RAM by the 1960s, so no confusion, there. May have to think about getting them into the RAM for the final island-hopping stages & the landings in Korea in early 1945.


Nothing further done at this stage, I was seconded to SPR (sand-paint-repeat) duty on a cot ... Apparently I'm going to be a grandfather () sometime in early December.

Hopefully I'll get the turret finished to primer tonight.

[zenrat]

A Grandwombat.  Congratulations.

[Old Wombat]

Thanks, Fred!


Failed to achieve modelling goal. Bugger!