Reviewed by Brett Green

Italeri's 1/35 scale LCV Landing Craft will be available online from Squadron.com

Italeri continues its commitment to water-borne military craft with its brand new 1/35 scale LCVP Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel. This is another Higgins boat design, smaller than Italeri's earlier release, the LCM, but also widely used by US and British forces in the Pacific and European theatres.

Italeri's LCVP comprises 154 parts in grey styrene, including three American crew figures. Two lengths of thread and decals complete the package.

The outer hull is an impressive single moulding, with the inner skin being supported by 20 internal ribs. This method of construction, although possibly tedious, will ensure an authentic appearance for the interior of the craft. Surface texture is very good and details are nicely rendered

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The hatch for the engine room is supplied as a separate piece. The ambitious scratchbuilder might even feel like opening this area of the boat and adding engine detail. The loading ramp is hinged to permit the choice of raised or lowered positions.

Handy extras include two life preservers, bumpers and various grapplng devices. Two lengths of twine are also supplied to rig the gate and the bumpers. Three US Navy crew figures are a very useful addition. Two of the figures man the .30 cal guns, while one pilots the boat.

Decals are supplied for Pacific and D-Day LCVPs, including a multi-coloured camouflage scheme for the British boat. In addition to specific markings suggestions in the instructions, the decals have generic numbers to permit other specific machines to be depicted.

In common with their earlier LCM, Italeri's 1/35 scale LCVP is well detailed, dimensionally accurate and should quite easy and fast to build. The inclusion of British markings, and the colourful schemes applied to US Pacific boats, will make the it tough to decide on a subject for your landing craft!

Recommended.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample

Images and Text Copyright © 2005 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 25 August, 2005
Last updated 26 August, 2005

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