LVTA5

Here is my kitbashed LVT(A)5 (Landing Vehicle Tracked Armoured). Its a combination of the Tamiya M8, the Nitto/Bandai LVTA4 kit. I also used Verlinden 30 cals., "Accurate Armour's LVT Alligator" tracks and lots of scratch interior with Plastistrut, styrene,soldering wire, parts box and miscellaneous "hardware store" parts (including the tip of a superglue cap for the drivers Plexiglas periscope shield) . The Nitto kit is terrible but gives a good base for the variety of LVTs that were used during the second World War and Korea. Major changes included moving the hull 30 cal to the correct side and fitting the M8 turret with the elevation stabilizers and power traverse hydraulics.

My references were Squadron Signal's "Amtracs in Action", George Forty's "United States Tanks of World War II" and I even took a trip to Camp Pendleton to see the five or so LVT's they have on display in their mini-museum. Also see George Forty's "World War II AFV's and self propelled Artillery" and Fred W. Crimsons "U.S Military Tracked Vehicles"