Bob Burik reviews the new Stryker M1126 ICV in 1/35 by AFV Club. This is a much anticipated modern armor release and Bob shares his knowledge about the vehicle and impressions of the kit.

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Thanks!

A very helpful review. Although for me there's not much point as I have one already shipped from Hobby Easy

Now.. I just hope there's someone out there who listen to my prayer for producing the slat armor... Scratchbuilding this one is waaaaay taking too much time..

Can't wait to FINALLY get my hands on this!

I have updated the review with a set of Stryker reference photos that Bob provided but were mistakenly left out of the review.

Thanks,
Jim

Hi Everybody:

Just a couple of comments.

I meant to mention that the Mexas bolts are sometimes in a bare silver color. This adds a little more color interest to a solid green vehicle.

Just as I wrote this review, Blast Models introduced two stowage sets to fit the AFV Club kit.

The reason I attached a few photos to the review were to illustrate a few points from the review. The first photo shows the cloth covered brake lines.

The 2nd and 3rd photos are obvious.

4th photo shows how much the wheels turn, and the commonly stowed spare tire, which one of the Blast Models sets provides, coincidentally.

5th photo is obvious.

6th photo is a tad blurry, but it shows the rear spent shell bag and the spent shell chute. Note how the bag attached to two black square knobs on the RWS. Thanks to Mike Podplesky.

The last photo shows the wheels with step rings.

Here is a list of Stryker Bde deployments (again, thanks to Mike for clarification):
2003 - 2004 3/2
2004 - 2005 1/25
2005 - 2006 172nd
2006 - 2007 3/2 (currently extended)
2007 - 2008 4/2 (currently deployed at the same time as 3/2)

Bob

We ant slat armor! We want slat armor! We want slat armor! Any of you aftermarket guys listening here??? LOL

Rob, great review and referance pictures! I enjoyed reading about this one!

Gary

Being too unskilled at modeling to make slat armor even if it were available, I find myself wishing for the Army to field Strykers with reactive armor if only to make an easier model. How's that for shallow?

Over a year ago I read something on the internet about new armor for the Stryker that was not Mexas, slat, nor reactive armor. However, more recently I read in a military publication (sorry I don't remember which) that reactive armor WAS planned for the Stryker. However, it did not say whether the slat would be replaced with reactive armor, or if the reactive armor would supplement the slat. Soooo, some of us just may get a deployed Stryker without slat. Still, I think slat is very interesting, if not cool looking, and I would love to depict it at least once, if not more.

I've seen some very cool looking AFV Club Strykers and Trumpeter Strykers painted and weathered. Some neat things can be done with the monotone green and sand or brown weathering.
Bob

Actually, Germany IBD's MEXAS armor was toted as being able to resist RPG-7s, of course taking damage in the process. This was a claim when the IBCT was in its infancy and before Strykers were even named. I'm not sure if anyone actually believed the claim.

Unlike steel, ceramic armor is a mixture of powders so it's kind of hard to get the powder ratios added and mixed exactly for the desired results. Ceramic armor is kind of like pharmaceutical drugs...change the formula and who knows what the side effects will be against this or that threat. This is why it's bolt-on ceramic armor because the MEXAS also relies on the steel hull to resist incoming projectiles. That's all I'm going to say about that.

the review was very helpfull but,
I would like to see all the "comments" or "mistakes", shown on real vehicle photos or kit part photos.
I would also like to have more info (dimensions, plans), on thw missing SLAT armor. I want to depict it sooner or later.
thanks.
Stavros