Zimi Model 35201 - 1:35 ACV-P Amphibious Combat Vehicle (Personnel)

ACV-P amphibious combat vehicle plastic model kit in 1:35 scale

Zimi Model 35201 is a construction kit representing the ACV-P — an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed by BAE Systems and IVECO Defence Vehicles and introduced into United States Marine Corps service in 2020 as the successor to the tracked AAV. This is the first injection-moulded kit of the vehicle in 1:35 scale.

The kit is based on new tooling that uses slide moulds to produce clean, one-piece shapes without unnecessary part divisions. It offers a range of build options: the rear ramp can be fitted open or closed, hatches and doors in either position, the trim vane stowed on the hull or deployed for swimming, while the side cooling louvre opens to reveal the reproduced fans and internal structure of the engine bay. The roof-mounted CROWS remote weapon station is supplied with a turned brass barrel and metal components.

What's in the box:

• Injection-moulded plastic sprues
• Clear parts
• Photo-etched fret
• Rubber tyres
• Turned brass barrel and metal parts for the remote weapon station
• Decal sheet covering four marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35201
• Manufacturer: Zimi Model
• Finished model length: approx. 254 mm
• Model width: approx. 89 mm
• Tooling: new
• Skill level: intermediate

Please note: this kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

An 8x8 wheeled vehicle with independent suspension calls for care when setting the axles — it is worth checking on a flat surface that all wheels sit evenly on the ground before the glue fully cures. The rubber tyres fit onto the hubs without being cemented to the plastic, while the turned barrel and metal weapon station components need cyanoacrylate glue. Photo-etched parts are easiest to fold using a dedicated bending tool or the edge of a metal ruler, held with precision tweezers. Since the kit offers several positionable features — ramp, hatches, trim vane, cooling louvre — it pays to decide on the final look of the model before starting hull assembly.

Marine Corps vehicles are finished in the uniform green shade typical of current USMC equipment; exact colours and marking placement are given in the instructions. The large, uniformly matt hull responds well to colour modulation with an airbrush, and a brush-applied wash brings out the numerous hatches, grab handles and armour panel lines. Amphibious vehicles operated in landing conditions show characteristic salt, sand and wet mud traces on the lower hull and tyres, effects readily achieved with pigments. A matt finish best suits a military vehicle.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched and metal parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Airbrush or brushes in a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decal application and matt varnish for the final coat
• A modelling wash to emphasise armour detail
• Optional: pigments for dust, sand and mud effects

About the vehicle – ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle):

The ACV is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed jointly by BAE Systems and IVECO Defence Vehicles on the basis of the Italian SuperAV design. It won the United States Marine Corps competition decided in 2018 and is replacing the veteran tracked AAV amphibious carriers in service since 1972. The earlier Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle programme was cancelled on grounds of cost and technical complexity, so the ACV was conceived as a more conservative but technically mature solution.

The design combines amphibious capability with the protection typical of modern mine-resistant vehicles: the hull has a V-shaped bottom, the troop seats are suspended and absorb blast energy, and the armour protects against mines, improvised explosive devices, small arms fire and fragments. All eight wheels have independent suspension, and a central tyre inflation system allows pressure to be matched to the terrain without leaving the vehicle. Power comes from a six-cylinder IVECO Cursor diesel of around 700 hp coupled to an Allison automatic transmission.

The ACV-P (Personnel) variant is the basic troop carrier, accommodating a crew of three and thirteen embarked marines. Armament consists of a remote weapon station with an M2 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or a Mk 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The first vehicles were delivered in October 2020 and full-rate production began in December of the same year. The family also includes the ACV-C command variant, the ACV-30 with a turret and 30 mm automatic cannon, and the ACV-R recovery vehicle.

Original vehicle specifications (ACV-P):

• Length: approx. 8.9 m
• Width: approx. 3.1 m
• Height: approx. 2.8 m
• Gross vehicle weight: approx. 30.6 t
• Crew: 3 plus 13 embarked troops
• Powerplant: IVECO Cursor diesel of around 700 hp
• Transmission: Allison 4800SP automatic
• Drivetrain: 8x8 with independent suspension on all wheels and a central tyre inflation system
• Maximum road speed: over 105 km/h
• Water speed: approx. 6 knots
• Land range: up to approx. 520 km
• Armament: remote weapon station with an M2 12.7 mm machine gun or Mk 19 40 mm grenade launcher
• Protection: V-shaped hull bottom, mine and fragmentation protection
• Manufacturers: BAE Systems and IVECO Defence Vehicles
• Entered service: 2020 (US Marine Corps)

About the manufacturer – Zimi Model:

Zimi Model is a Chinese manufacturer active since 2023, originating from the circle around the earlier Hong Model company. In a short time it has become one of the more active players on the market, taking over the Kitty Hawk product lines and — in 2026 — selected Dragon Models tooling, released from then on under the DRAMi brand. The Panda and Toucan brands also operate under the Zimi umbrella, the latter specialising in 3D printed detail sets. The range covers 1:35 military vehicles, helicopters and aircraft, and the brand consistently tackles modern subjects previously unavailable as injection-moulded kits. Zimi Model kits are characterised by the use of slide moulding, included photo-etched frets and turned metal components.