Hobby Boss AAVP-7A1

[Mence]

Chaps, not sure whether to put this in here or with floaty things, guess it belongs in both really.

More of a W.I.P. really, update as and when the urge takes me.

First pic shows assembly starting with the propulsion system used when in water, sparing use of glue ensures outer covers can swivel from open to closed.

[Mence]

Before I get too far into this I'm addressing the iffy fit between upper and lower hulls.
It's not really a complaint as I think Hobby Boss have done a fine job of getting it as close as they have.
A bit of filing and repeated dry fitting improves it and hopefully the rest of my clumsy effort will be hidden by the Applique Armour.

[jackh]

Count me in Mence

[Mence]

Hi Jack, thanks buddy!

[Mence]

Suspension has made an appearance.

All cleanly molded and fits well. Very little fiddling needed to get all the axles to line up. Quick try out suggest that the idlers are a very loose fit but that's all.

[tobias5555]

Good start, I´ll follow.

[Mence]

Hi Tobias, good to have you along

[bigjohn]

Nice Start Prof, I'll be following along as well.

[martyncrowther]

HI buddy I'm so glad you posted the this as I've been itching to see progress and mighty fine progress you have made there.

[Mence]

Hi John, good to see ya here!

Right, the kit has individual track links with seperate track pads but the fit between each link isn't that good so I inflicted more damage on my long suffering Credit Card and purchased some of these babies...



They too are indy links with seperate track pads but this time they are workable.
The tracks pre date the kit by at least five years so it will be interesting to see if they fit the kit sprockets

[Mence]

Sneaked in there bro, wouldn't be right without you for company!

[Mence]

Hi Dicky, good to see you here.
I wasn't going to post this at all as I'm not sure how long it will take because of other (preferred) builds but I suppose my ramblings may be of interest to someone?

[Mence]

Ok, snapped together a short run of track and dry fitted the two halves of the sprocket just to see the result.
It appears the sprocket is about 0.75 - 1.00mm too wide to fit the track, no big deal as you can very easily make them narrower by sanding little by little the inner faces.

Here's a pic part way through the process.

[`Boots`]

Woop woop..............i`m in mucka ;D

[Mence]

Chaps

Snap fit Dicky, they come in a little baggie and are already removed from sprues so 20 minutes had both runs assembled!
Admittedly you will need to add the track pads but you need to do that to the kit ones as well anyway.
Hello Boots, very pleased to see you here

[bigjohn]

Tracks look nice Prof.

[406 Silverado]

oh yeah, great start on this Mence. Already getting tracks together eh. Those are usually the last thing for me.

[armorguy]

The tracks look the part ! You managed it in 20 minutes ? Respect!

[rm6239]

Prof

Tracks done in 20 minutes, sign me up. Looking good mate.

cheers

Rossco

[jackh]

Tracks look good Mence, will remember them (want to have a go at the recovery version at one point).

[Mence]

Hi chaps, appreciate your company and kind comments.

Had a crack at dry fitting the wheels and tracks just to get an idea of how it might look.



Bear in mind the idler in particular is a very loose fit so once everything is properly fitted, it should look fine!

[`Boots`]

That looks well sweet mucka....................the tracks look really good with just the right amount of sag IMHO....................top work bro!! ;D

[Mence]

Many thanks Boots, happy so far...

[martyncrowther]

Lovely job Prof she looks sweet as a tuna boat

[Mence]

Thanks chaps

[406 Silverado]

At this rate she'll be done for the Feb MoM

Nice clean build so far, especially the tracks

[bigjohn]

She looks like she’s ready for business with those tracks on there!

[Mence]

Hi guys, very kind, thanks.

Rob, Feb MOM, which year were you thinking of

Not much to report really, here's a pic of the assembled roof panels and the underside of the roof itself...



Quite a few pin marks but nearly all are obscured by the panels when fitted.

And here they are, primed and installed.



And finally, here's a dodgy pic of the bottom of the rear of the fuel cell.



Note where the primer has been removed, you will need to grind a small amount of styrene away at this point if the upper and lower hulls are to mate well later in the build...

Thanks for looking!

[406 Silverado]

Very nice little update. I didn't think there was any interior parts in the kit...that is cool right there. Even if it is a basic interior, it is a starting point.

oh, this year MoM....lots of time still. lol

[spud]

oh vert cool. i think these are cool and on my list of todo one day