LVT-4 Water Buffalo

Published on
Review Author(s)
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$59.99
Product / Stock #
6752
Company: Italeri - Website: Visit Site
Provided by: MRC - Website: Visit Site

The LVT-4, also known as the Landing Vehicle Tracked or “Amtrac”, was a pivotal amphibious vehicle used extensively by the United States Marine Corps and Army during World War II. Developed from earlier LVT models, the LVT-4 distinguished itself with its improved design that featured a rear ramp for faster troop and cargo deployment. This innovation was crucial during pivotal battles in the Pacific Theater, such as the invasions of Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima, where the LVT-4's ability to traverse both water and rugged terrain proved indispensable. Its versatility and robust performance cemented its place as an iconic vehicle of the war, playing a significant role in the success of amphibious operations.

The Italeri LVT-4 kit initially appeared to be a detailed model, capturing the essence of the iconic amphibious military vehicle used extensively during World War II; however, upon closer inspection, several shortcomings became apparent. The box includes three sprues of parts in two bags, a decal sheet for five different markings, a ten-page, multifold instruction sheet with 11 steps, along with five full color painting/decal placement guides. The tracks are broken into half runs on two different sprues. A small photo etched sheet with the two individual gun shields is also included. A short length string is provided for the rear door cables and is packaged with the decal sheet. The plastic is very soft, which makes it easier to cut and sand, but leads to soft details being molded into the parts.

Firstly, the quality of the molded parts is inconsistent, with numerous instances of flash that require extensive cleaning. Most of the smaller parts, like the grab handles, are full of flash. This can be frustrating and time-consuming for modelers, especially those who expect higher standards from a kit at this price point. A couple of the sprues were molded off center, so parts like the machine guns will need a lot of cleaning up. All the small road wheels were off center, so lots of sanding and scraping were needed to get them round again. The hull sides have seven injector pin marks that will need to be filled in with putty and sanded flat. The troop's seats have about 15 of these pin marks, and I lost some of the soft wood detail after filling these. The instructions want you to melt the sprocket pins into the hull to keep them attached. I tried this, but they both broke off very easily. I just glued them in place and made them non-working. Melting the two track halves together did not work either, but superglue did join them just fine. They do droop some in the back, and there is no way to tighten them up.

Another significant issue is the fit of certain parts. There are very few locator pins to assist in aligning parts. While most components come together well, there are critical areas where gaps are evident, and these demand additional filling and sanding. One of these areas is on the front where the triangle supports from the side meets the fenders. Trying to get the lower curved hull to match up with the two sides took a lot of clamping and so did getting the upper hull to line up correctly with the lower hull. The photo-etched gun shields are very nice. They bend into shape very easily but are a little wobbly when attached to the hull. Be careful when installing the front vision blocks since the instructions show them going upside-down.

Interestingly, the two versions shown on the side of the box do not match any of the versions that you can build with this kit. The decals are very good and thin. They laid down nicely after just a few applications of Tamiya’s Mark Fit Strong. The finished model is rather large for a 1/35 kit, and I easily put a jeep inside of it. This model stands taller and longer than an M4 Medium Tank.

In summary, while the Italeri LVT-4 kit has the potential to be a nice addition to a modeler's collection, it is marred by several flaws that detract from the overall experience, but one should keep in mind that this kit was first released in 2000. The $59.99 MSRP seems steep given the quality issues and the additional effort required to achieve a satisfactory build. Modelers who are willing to invest the time in addressing these shortcomings may find it worthwhile, but those expecting a seamless assembly process may be left disappointed.

I would like to thank MRC for the opportunity to build and review this kit for IPMS/USA.

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