Review of the Tamiya AAVP7A1

This Tamiya model kit was a gift from my uncle who now lives in America. On a visit back to England in 2006, we went to the model shop to buy some toys for his son and he very kindly paid for the model too.

Though simple in the construction of the main hull, it did test my skills, mostly in the time and patience it took in wrapping and securing the string around the top of the vehicle, as it kept bending or un-wrapping it self from the strut I had just done as I started a new one. The tracks went on like a dream for a change! And it has moving parts, firstly the commander’s turret, the two top main compartment hatches and the front flotation device.

I air-brushed this model in October 2008. I airbrushed it with Tamiya acrylic paint XF-59 desert yellow. I painted the tracks XF-64 red brown and used Revell matt black (8) for the road wheels and 752 (blue) on the sights. I used Humbrol Enamel white satin (130) for the lights and rope that runs around the top of the vehicle. On the commander I used Tamiya XF-67 NATO green on the helmet and jacket (and rucksacks on the side of the hull) whilst leaving the sleeves XF-59. I used Humbrol acrylic 61 for the commander’s skin. For the tools on the side of the hull I used Revell matt black (8) and Humbrol metal (11). Finally I used Revell 31 & 30 for the brake and signal lights.