Hi all,
I'm currently building a LAV 25 in early OIF. The vehicle I try to depict was part of the 4th LAR and was fitted with three Gypsy racks (two on the turret sides and one on the rear left side.
Thanks to the info I got from white4doc and Frenchy in this thread http://armorama.com/forums/265275

I managed to make the racks. They are far from perfect but I guess they'll do the trick when full of stuff.





The frame is made of Evergreen 0.56mm x 0.56mm rod and the support legs are 0.75mm x 0.75mm.

Olivier

Those are great Olivier for Gypsy racks!!!!!!!!!

They came out great, Oliver. Even empty they look the part, can't wait to see them installed. This build will be doing the Ironhorse Marines proud!

H.P.

Well done, they are looking great Olivier

Thanks for the comments.
Here are some pictures with the racks fitted to the LAV. I still have a lot of stuff to add here and there and the camo net which will cover the top of the hull.









Olivier

Was this type of fuel cans with just a cross still used during OIF ?

Great stowage arrangement and camouflage is well done.

It looks great, Oliver! Don't forget to have the packs lashed to towing shackles, made it easy to get gear on and off the vehicle. The old jerry cans were gone by 2003, but you can always hide them by the way you drape the camo net on the hull. The A/4> came out perfect, I'm loving this project of yours. When you do the antennae don't forget the tape strips which identified the vehicle number within the platoon 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Thank for the comment John. I'll try to swap the fuel cans with some in my stash.

Concerning the antenna, which type was the base? The kit provides you with cylindrical bases while I have resin ones with a hemispherical base.

Olivier

This is the antenna base I remember being on the vehicle and it's also the same one in my less high def pictures. This isn't mine however, it's from Prime Portal, I wanted to find you a better defined version; there was a lot of clutter in mine and the camera I had wasn't the best.

http://data3.primeportal.net/apc/dan_hay/lav_25_coyote/images/lav_25_coyote_042_of_178.jpg

The racks look really nice. Great job on them.

The antenna base was most likely the standard type for a SINCGARS radio, like below.


The pic linked above (below) is on a Canadian Coyote LAV. I have never seen that style on a US vehicle.

Thank you Gino. So the kit antennas bases are correct.

BTW what radio system comes with the hemispherical bases?

Olivier

Do you have a pic of the hemispherical base? I am not tracking what it looks like.

I mean this type :


Olivier

Ah, OK. That is the newer, thinner SINCGARS antenna. I don't think it was around in early OIF ('03-'04) as you are depicting.

Thank you Gino. Sorry if I was not clear enough

Olivier

Oliver, I apologize for the bad link I posted, I copied the wrong picture's address and didn't double check before I hit post; luckily Gino caught it. Thanks, Gino. Man do I feel stupid, I spent 6 months looking at those mounts from the scout hatch you'd think I'd realize it wasn't a USMC vehicle... Hate to be the guy passing bad info. All comes from trying to do three things at once.

No worry about the wrong pic John. You've already been really helpful in this project.

Now I call the LAV fully loaded







I still have to add the air recognition panel and to drape the camo net all around the hull.
A thorough weathering is needed too.

John could you explain the tape stripes on the antennas, (number, size, color, etc)?

Olivier

It's coming together well, Oliver! The strips were about 6 inch long strips of riggers' tape which was 2 inches wide and OD green. The number of strips indicated the vehicle number within the platoon

1 Strip = White 1
2 Strips = White 2 (Platoon Cdr Cpt. Taylor)
3 Strips = White 3
4 Strips = White 4 (Platoon Sgt SSGT Guevarra)

They made it easy to keep track of your wingman. There were a couple of different air recognition panels within White platoon, white 4 had a VS 17 panel and an orange and OD boresighting reticle on it; IIRC CPT Taylor's vehicle carried similar panels.

Thank you again for your help John.
From the pictures in Prime Portal, I intended to depict a "standard" orange air recognition panel. I don't know the VS 17 thing you're talking about.
If I'm correct the panel comes with OD edges.

Olivier

Again !
Some pretty nice "scratch building" there .... overall great effort ... I really have to acknowledge all the details and the very convincing camo-job !

Very nice piece of work !
Cheers
Christopher

December 2005 (!) thread :
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/66116

Ca ne nous rajeunit pas...

H.P.

Thank you Christopher.

H.P. the pictures at Prime Portal show an orange panel. From the angle it's hard to tell whether or not the panel is square or rectangular.

If I'm correct, whatever the type of panel I use, one side is orange or tan, the other side is olive green.

Olivier

Old ones were orange and OD green.


The newer versions are douple-sided with one orange side and one magenta side and an OD pouch at one end to store it in.

Thank you Gino.

Olivier