¹⁄35

LAV-AT: Lesson in Frustration?

Conclusion

A. With the reissue of this kit from 1991 Italeri is offering an interesting example of modern wheeled vehicles. Although the LAV-AT is not the most built version, the whole LAV series are the most common used armored vehicles in our time.

Even if we overlook the described inaccuracies, the poor fittings and sometimes too simplified reproduced parts have to be taken into consideration. The kit would have deserved more care in those areas from it’s producers and also a sprue with an interior. Even if these “updates” would make the kit a bit more expensive, it is something the customer would appreciate and understand.

I do not understand Italeri’s policy of releasing average kits, especially as we know they CAN do better, as they are neither good for their image nor for the modeler. Such bad news are quickly spread around and people will keep their fingers off from Italeri products which will bring them into financial troubles.

B.  The kit had been donated from the Austrian distributor and I had to finish it for the IPMS Austria magazine.

All the painting mess happened 2 evenings prior to photographing, which could not be postponed. My lesson from this and 2 other projects I almost messed up is, that it is sometimes not possible to finish a project in time and one has to be strong and wise enough to accept this and make a cut and continue relaxed on another day and time.

Werner (tankbuster)

PS: thanks to Jim who provided me with some useful links of the Gulf War where this vehicle has been in used too.

Copyright ©2002 - Text by Werner Kampfhofer. Photos by Wolfram Bradac. All Rights Reserved.