Hi everyone, got a nice surprise when I walked into my local hobby shop the other day and saw this kit on the shelf:




I was very keyed up to build this kit as it is a Canadian vehicle and I am building it out of the box. I've added a few pics of the build so far with the suspension and running gear in place ( I noticed looking at the pictures I missed putting on the armored differential cover ). The kit is nicely molded and goes together well, I'll be glad to get my handas on their LAV 3 gun car when it is released.









Cheers, Jeff.

Jeff.
Good start build. I receive this model yesterday. For first look is LAV TUA on the same bad base as all Stryker (bad dimension). I also look some small detail errors but very very bad copy my MRE boxes
I don't know why Trumpeter must plagiarize from another firm?
Now I prepare PE set because stowage racks and next details is no realistic from plastic.
Miloslav

Hi Miloslav, thank you for your comments. I have to defer to your expertise on this vehicle as I have no reference material or first hand knowledge of it. I can see it has no where near the refinement of your TUA conversion. I appreciated Trumpeters efforts ( warts and all ) and wanted to build this kit sa they manufactured a dedicated Candian vehicle in styrene which no one else will do. Having said that, when I build their LAV 3 gun car I would like resin wheels, photo etch set and aluminum gun barrel to enhance the kit. Thanks again Miloslav, happy building.

Cheers, Jeff.

Too bad they molded the applique armour in place. I don't think they were ever seen with the add-on armour installed. When we had a chance to photograph them they were all 'bare' with just the mounting bosses visible. It would be quite a task to fix that on the model though - still, it's a start!



A lot more detail shots here:
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/dan_hay/lav_iii_tua/

Jim

Seems like a very odd choice of vehicle for Trumpeter. There are very few of these vehicles kicking around. Agreed that they shouldn't have put the applique armour on it.

hmm, also odd that they included the old heat shield wheel covers from the original LAV IIIs when as far as I've seen, the TOW LAVs all have the newer "Stryker" style wheels.
Glad to see a Canadian vehicle OOTB, but I think I'll save my money for the Real Model kit.

From the looks they got a lot of things wrong, but will be interested to see all put together.

Anthony

I think all in all, it will very much look like a TUA when finished. So good work Anthony

I'm watching your build and look forward to see it built, painted and weathered. I'm also on the final building stages of a Trumpy Stryker TOW, so your build is interesting nevertheless.

Hi everyone.

Well, it sounds as though this kit will go over like a lead balloon! Have a few update pics to post. Thanks Jim for the photo and link, it will be very helpful. Thanks Trevor for pointing out the wheel issue which I corrected. Anthony, I hope it looks the part built up issues aside.














Cheers, Jeff.

The TUA's are stored in a hanger at my ole work and I see them 1-2 times a week, they are waiting to go for re-build, turrets off and the new RWS Nanuck placed over the area with a new plate or hull top.

Love to see the build finished , keep going.

Anthony

Looks like the parts fit is pretty decent. I don't see any need for putty yet?

I prepare second look on this model. I can say only: Many errors.

Look at it this way all, one, we are lucky that companies like Trumpeter are bringing these modern subjects out and spoiling us all, two, if they were perfect then aftermarket companies would not have any work, three, for its price, its a pretty darn good kit and I say keep em coming.
Well done on the build, look forward to seeing more shots as you progress, I to have this one and am really looking forward to the gunned up version. Cheers

So true. I find it really funny when someone who makes a living from making detail sets to improve these kits keeps putting them down and says they have so many problems. I mean, isn't that what makes people buy AM sets? A perfect plastic kit means no need for AM sets!

Imagine if one day Trumpeter starts making perfectly detailed and accurate kits with all the PE needed... all resin and PE companies would stop making money and close down... and start thinking about the good old days when manufactures used to make imperfect kits

Hisham

Ha Ha. Please tel me if you specialist for Canadian LAVs or if you only look on model photos. I have circa 500 detail photos but for first look
I see that wheels is bad Tolls box is no correct and I see another errors. TUA is the same problem as ASLAV. Many reference pictures but model have many errors.

I'm sorry, but I don't think you understood a word I said. That's just too funny

Hisham

Nice build. That's an imposing looking vehicle.

I'm interested in seeing the turret parts but I'm guessing they molded the addon armor as well.

Paul

Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck. It must be a duck.....and not priced like a Golden Eagle!

Painted up and sitting on my shelf, it is going to look like a Canadian LAV III TUA, and only those that have worked with the vehicle extensively , or have
are going to know that there are mistakes in the kit.

To the layman that doesn't know the vehicle first hand, it is going to look the part, and not break the bank.

And Miloslav.....as Hishman said, if all kits were perfect, you would have no reason to do any aftermarket sets to update them, and therefore you wouldn't have Real Model as there would be nothing for you do to!

As it is, at less than $50CDN, the kit offers pretty damn nice value for the money.

It's great that Canadian Models are being produced now. That is the first step to detailed canadian models being released.

The funny thing as Anthony mentioned is that all of the LAV TUA's will be divested and folded into the LAV upgrade project. I guess the powers that be don't see a need for Anti-Armour vehicles. I seem to recall something similar with the tanks a few years back......

Hats off to Trumpeter.It's long past due that someone has put out some modern Canadian armour.As for mistakes,that's life!I don't have a Lav tech or mechanic among the people I know,in fact I have a nephew and sister in the Canadian forces and I'm willing to bet they won't catch anything wrong with it.Can some people stop the wining and just get on with the enjoyment of the hobby.

Guys, I don't think point out mistakes is whining.

I for one would like to know what the errors are so I can fix them on mine. I'm glad Jeff is taking th etime to take such great photos & document the build so well, and I value the input Milo has as to where the Trumpeter errors are.

I'm still having to pinch myself that Canadian kit is being produced in the mainstream, but that doesn't mean I have to give the manufacturer's carte blanche when it comes to fixing mistakes.

boy oh boy, I feel like ive just opened a can of worms. Im not having a shot at anyone , I was just stating a fact. The kit is with its mistakes yes, but, if it looks like it, and you are happy with it, then build it, its all about fun at the end of the day. As for actual accuracy, my hat goes of the people out there who make the aftermarket sets, but I just find it funny that they have a bit of a whinge about how wrong it is, if I was them, I would be hoping that every kit that came out was wrong so as I could lways have the work there to expand the aftermarket range.
For me personally, theres kits I have built OOB and others that i have used fair ammounts of Aftermarket.
I guess in the end im just trying to say that we all know that kits are not perfect, but hey, over the years we have had it pretty good with whats come out and whats coming out. If they went to the trouble the after market and detail enthusiasts went to, we wouldnt see half of what we have on the market now. I still think the Lav 111 TUA looks nice. Cheers

Hi guys, thanks for all of the positive comments and feedback on the build. I feel as though I kicked a hornets nest with this subject and that was not my intention. I simply wanted people to see the kit for what it is built out of the box and as I said I can not speak to it's accuracy.

Graeme, the fit of parts is good but as with most Trumpeter kits I've built there is a lot of parts clean-up and some Mr. Surfacer/putty required.

Paul, the tow under armor is uparmored the same as the hull.

Andrew, I know what you mean by opening a can of worms. It is a matter of personal preference for level of accuracy and what one is willing to invest in a subject, there is no right or wrong.

Steps 1 through 17 are completed, here are a few update pics.














Cheers, Jeff.

Coming along great Jeff. You are a very neat & tidy builder!

Hi Jeffery, this is coming along really nicely, and a very clean build to. Really look forward to seeing the weopons station built up, and the kit its self completed, paint n all. Top work.
To all you Aftermarket manufacturers, keep all those great sets coming, they are very appreciated, as I mentioned, I dont just do out of the box, I also like to dabble in complete detail.
Lastly I hope we all bowed our heads in silence for those recently downed in Afghanistan, we will remember them.

Looks good to me. I've just ordered mine and am impatiently waiting for it to arrive - my wife thinks that the week off work at the end of June is being used for some decorating!