Hi there,

I've begun the old ESCI LAV-25 kit in my stash lately after my BTR80 thus keeping alive my project on building 8x8s (done the stryker, BTR80 and now LAv25, MGS stryker and LAV command in line). I know that the kit is not on par with the latest Trumpeter releases, but anyway I dont care that much. Maybe sometime in the future I will have a go at the trumpeter versions.

I bought the kit from an ebay like website sometime ago and it came without the decals (though if it ever came with the decals I'm not so sure about their quality). So I've ordered a new decal set from echelon.

The box art:


I have taken care of the lower hull with suspension and steering:

How is this one taking shape? Im thinking of getting the Trumpter LAV Command version and would be interested to see how yours turned out.

Thanks

Des

"WOW"! an old ESCI Ertl LAV-25 (you can do it) Man it's not the kit it's the skill of the modeler. any one an go out a spend lots of money getting to most up tp date kits of those rear "Magnificent" kits, you know those all resin kits that are "Excessively Expensive".. I have seen guys talk a lot about some of the old kits and put down on some of them from time to time.
An yes some older kit aren't worth your time. See alot of gus dont have the skills to pull oss a masterpiece. So you will get those who will point out every little thing. You could over look those guys and just say "They can't Hang". An move on with your work,but I must tell you this some of the guys that point out some flaws can help you on a next project.

You will know the ones that are trying to help you and the one that are just julius of you skill.

Look around here for any one that has shown the under side as you have to fix any thing that your model is missing. An always ask an of the happy LAV builder's of the New and updated LAV-25 kit to show you and item on your LAV you fill is in "Question ".

You've started off well, so bring life back to her an keep us posted.

Hay one more thing I forgot to add. With my othere Italeri kits, I swaped the italeri kit tire set's out for the better looking Trumpeter LAV Series 8x8 Tires set (325/82 R16 XML). Eight (8) tires designed for the Trumpeter LAV-25, USMC LAV-C2, USMC LAV-AT, USMC LAV-AD and ASLAV-25 kits. Hubs are injection-molded plastic; tires are vinyl.. Or you could get a set of Legend Productions US LAV Wheel Set. This set has the look of a some what low tire. Some sets are set at a price of about 25.00 bucks or less. I think Mig Productions makes a set.

Go luck M8.

Hi again,

It's been a while since I've updated the topic. And Captin_Caveman_III thanks so much man. You've flattered me

Now, here's what I have done so far in chronological order.
i. I've finished assembly leaving the delicate handles for later.

ii. I have cutout one of the rear doors,


Repaired the door fram from inside cause it got damaged during cutout (thanks to the quality of the old plastic)


After cutout and lots of sanding, the door's frame got smaller dimensionally, so I encircled it with evergreen.


iii. Assembled the turret.


iv. Primed overall with Tamiya fine surface primer




v. Camouflaged the model in 3-tone NATO using tamiya colors. I camouflaged free hand with my badger renegade without masking. Unfortunately there is no photo.

vi. Afterwards, I have applied filters using gray and brown oils.

vii. Applied dot filter fading using oils.

This is where I'm at now. I'll send some photos later today (it's noon here) to have your impressions.

Best regards

Here are some new images:

It's been some time since I've updated this thread. My last update was in November '09.

The kit has been waiting on my shelf for a long time. I've somehow managed to ruin the model during the fading process with oils and since then everything has gone wrong somehow. I've pushed it to the darker corners in my cabinet not to see it and therefore ease up the pain

2-3 days ago, I finally put myself back together and tried to finish it up and thus get rid of it somehow.

Here's the final product. It doesn't seem to be a joy looking at it but anyway....







Some parts are still missing like the coax 7.62 (I've lost the part) and the oil/water can right side. I hope I will fix these someday...

looking good! throw some aussiemarkings on it, a few gum trees and some drop bears, and it could be one of the trials LAV's we used!

Thanks Matt.

I have remaining decals for Aussie LAVs that I purchased for this vehicle. Maybe I use them for another LAV in Aussie service.

Nice job, you turned out a great looking vehicle. One small nit to pick, the rear door on the actual vehicle is heavy enough that it won't stay open a crack like the way you depicted, they will swing full open and stay there. Not really an option because there is no interior for this kit...just like Trumpeter's...