ASLAV-F Fitters build log
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 19, 2010 - 09:01 PM UTC
Lookee what arrived in the mail from Arms Corps Models/Mouse House today!!!
Yep, their new ASLAV-F Fitters conversion. This resin upper hull conversion set is for the Trumpeter US LAV-F fitters vehicle. These can be picked up cheap off ebay, i think I got the base kit for USD$20 with free postage.
Anyway, this conversion is EPIC!
Here are some teaser shots:
The conversion is a new upper hull, and a mountain of other bits to get an accurate ASLAV-F.
Not sure if i'll be doing an Iraq or Afghanistan vehicle at this stage, I guess i'll see if I can find some images of something appealing.
I got the conversion direct from Mouse House, cost was $130.
So my build log will follow, feel free to chime in!
Sam
Illinois, United States
Joined: March 29, 2009
KitMaker: 1,135 posts
Armorama: 1,030 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 19, 2010 - 09:21 PM UTC
Thats awesome. I will def be getting that. But Sam, watch the blogs in a bit because guess what I finally started?
I can't wait to see your work!
Currently taking back the fight to beat modeling ADD
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 28, 2006
KitMaker: 2,672 posts
Armorama: 2,475 posts
Posted: Monday, December 20, 2010 - 01:47 AM UTC
Nice!
The casting looks very good, now if we can get them to mold one with the Canadian roof line for the rear hull...
cheers
One of the serious problems in planning against Canadian doctrine is that the Canadians do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligations to follow their doctrine.
---From a Russian document
------------------------------------------------
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - 04:43 PM UTC
South Australia, Australia
Joined: November 06, 2010
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 474 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - 11:48 PM UTC
NIce pics. some there I didnt have. I received mine yesterday, have a Lav R ready to be a donor kit, a few other bits n pieces, and will be starting my build in the next day or two!
Will blog mine as I go. This looks to be a great kit and cant wait to start!
Adam
Aussies in Afghan diorama (PMV & T55)
South Australia, Australia
Joined: November 06, 2010
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 474 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 04:57 AM UTC
Quoted Text
NIce pics. some there I didnt have. I received mine yesterday, have a Lav R ready to be a donor kit, a few other bits n pieces, and will be starting my build in the next day or two!
Will blog mine as I go. This looks to be a great kit and cant wait to start!
Adam
sarted my build log - check it out
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/169096&page=1#1419162Adam
Aussies in Afghan diorama (PMV & T55)
Australia
Joined: August 12, 2009
KitMaker: 93 posts
Armorama: 91 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 12:38 PM UTC
gidday Sam, got mine in the post as well, not wrong about a mountain of parts huh.
Will be watching your blog for sure, dont think I will get mine done as fast as yours. You are a modelling speed demon, and thats a compliment. Cheers mate
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 - 09:53 PM UTC
Finally made a start!
Hull together, no dramas here at all. Just a light sand on the mating surfaces, then glued together with regular CA glue. Trumpeter molded fairly heavy weld seams on the hull, so I removed these with a gentle sand. Im kinda manic about any gaps on the hull join, so Tamiya puttied all the joins between resin and plastic.
I glued the suspension components together with regular glue, then set the steering geometry according to the Ackerman Principle, then CA glued the living daylights out of it. NOTHING is gonna move with the suspension now.. there is method to my madness, more to follow on this later. Wheels just placed on at present to check that they all touch the ground (they don't).. i'm yet to have a LAV kit of any kind from Trumpeter where all the wheels touch the ground on the first go.
Anyway, here are some shots so far..
Seal Solutions spider mount for the RWS, another Arms Corps Models kit, not included with the Fitters conversion, but available via ACM.
Heres some shots with the fitters with the other ASLAV's in my cabinet (or on the bench, in the case of the PC)
Sam
Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 - 10:28 PM UTC
Look good family of ASLAV
I should get one of these.
Cheers
Seb
Australia
Joined: August 12, 2009
KitMaker: 93 posts
Armorama: 91 posts
Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 - 11:06 PM UTC
Nice collection mate, looking forward to seeing these all completed, will you have these at the hobby expo this year?? Love to see them in the flesh, cheers
South Australia, Australia
Joined: November 06, 2010
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 474 posts
Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 - 11:29 PM UTC
Looking real good there! I wish I could of used my seal solutions mont too - bought it and all but then found out they didnt use them in Iraq on the fitters vehicles:( . So its an Afghan vehicle for you ?
Looking forward to see how you tackle some the harder stuff.
Melbourne could have a squadron of these things on parade by the soundsof it - will there be a variant not represented?
Adam
Aussies in Afghan diorama (PMV & T55)
Queensland, Australia
Joined: December 23, 2003
KitMaker: 1,016 posts
Armorama: 745 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 04:39 AM UTC
The ASLAV-R will be ready as well team.
Jason
Arms Corps Models is closed.
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 07:33 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Looking real good there! I wish I could of used my seal solutions mont too - bought it and all but then found out they didnt use them in Iraq on the fitters vehicles:( . So its an Afghan vehicle for you ?
Never say never!
2 Iraq fitters with Seal Solutions:
After speaking to Jason about this one, he thinks that it wasnt actually fitted, it was just placed on the vehicle as they couldnt find the shipping crate for the mount, and it was easier to ship it on the vehicle!
Quoted Text
Melbourne could have a squadron of these things on parade by the soundsof it - will there be a variant not represented?
Adam
There could well be - but they will all be yours! I dont compete any more - I just go along to catch up with people and spend absurd amounts at the trade tables!
SD
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 08:31 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The ASLAV-R will be ready as well team.
Jason
1 Please. And MEAO "comms" set with Duke!
SD
Queensland, Australia
Joined: December 23, 2003
KitMaker: 1,016 posts
Armorama: 745 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 11:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
After speaking to Jason about this one, he thinks that it wasnt actually fitted, it was just placed on the vehicle as they couldnt find the shipping crate for the mount, and it was easier to ship it on the vehicle!
Well I stand corrected. Sorry.
I'm going to have to have a serous chat to my RAEME source about this one. I was told a couple of times they went fitted except for trials and shipping!!!
Cheers Jason
PS photos soon of the "DUKE".
Arms Corps Models is closed.
South Australia, Australia
Joined: November 06, 2010
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 474 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 12:22 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
After speaking to Jason about this one, he thinks that it wasnt actually fitted, it was just placed on the vehicle as they couldnt find the shipping crate for the mount, and it was easier to ship it on the vehicle!
Well I stand corrected. Sorry.
I'm going to have to have a serous chat to my RAEME source about this one. I was told a couple of times they went fitted except for trials and shipping!!!
Cheers Jason
PS photos soon of the "DUKE".
Looks like "ANVIL" was also fitted with sirens and flashers? And has a different exhaust to the one in the resin conversion. But no sharkfins front and rear (which I thought all Iraq cars had). Also what Antenna base / mount is that used in the one in front of the utility box? (Jas what part number on any of the kits is it?).
I wont be adding a seal mount, It seems to be an exception to the rule, so will stick with whats common, but I am quite jealous I didnt recognise these pics as Iraq and not Afgan ealrier as I have both myself.
Nice work Sam.
PS ASLAV R - anyone got any pics of it doing a recovery in Afghan ?
Aussies in Afghan diorama (PMV & T55)
South Australia, Australia
Joined: November 06, 2010
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 474 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 12:28 PM UTC
On the pic of the Fitters with dukes attached, are those slave cables on the engine cover? how common to see them stowed externally if not in place while on patrol?
Adam
Aussies in Afghan diorama (PMV & T55)
Queensland, Australia
Joined: December 23, 2003
KitMaker: 1,016 posts
Armorama: 745 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 12:55 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Looks like "ANVIL" was also fitted with sirens and flashers? And has a different exhaust to the one in the resin conversion. But no shark fins front and rear (which I thought all Iraq cars had). Also what Antenna base / mount is that used in the one in front of the utility box? (Jas what part number on any of the kits is it?).
The Sharks fin are/were fitted. It depends on when the photo taken.
The exhaust has the guards removed for the Bar Armour.
That antenna is the same one that is on the rear right of the 25's. I can't say ant more on that subject. But there should be a couple in the MEAO comm's update kit. It is a coil spring base style.
Slave Cables are usually stowed outside for a quick jump. Placement comes down to the crew.
Cheers Jason
Arms Corps Models is closed.
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 03:33 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
After speaking to Jason about this one, he thinks that it wasnt actually fitted, it was just placed on the vehicle as they couldnt find the shipping crate for the mount, and it was easier to ship it on the vehicle!
Well I stand corrected. Sorry.
I'm going to have to have a serous chat to my RAEME source about this one. I was told a couple of times they went fitted except for trials and shipping!!!
Cheers Jason
PS photos soon of the "DUKE".
Been doing a little further digging re Fitters vehicles and their ARN's..
And this is ARN 16226 in Afghanistan.. of course with an RWS fitted. Its also got sharks fins front and rear, but no sirens and flashers.
ARN 16227 had an RWS in Iraq, P135 of MB4 shows it being loaded onto a flat bed, at the end of OBG(W)4 in Iraq.
ARN 16228 also had an RWS fitted in Iraq, P106 of MB4 has a shot, no bar armour fittings either.
ARN 16229 in Afghanistan, taken earlier last year (2010), with Duke style 'comms' gear on the hull front:
SD
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 09:49 PM UTC
South Australia, Australia
Joined: November 06, 2010
KitMaker: 537 posts
Armorama: 474 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 10:29 PM UTC
Nice pics. very tidy work.
What camera are you using ? your photos are very clear - are you using a tripod?
Adam
Aussies in Afghan diorama (PMV & T55)
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 10:46 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Nice pics. very tidy work.
What camera are you using ? your photos are very clear - are you using a tripod?
Adam
Thanks!
I take my shots with a Nikon D700, with an AF Nikkor 28-105 lens, set to macro. I mount it on a Manfrotto tripod, and take the shots with the camera set to F29 for max depth of field.
The shots straight from the camera are OK, but I sharpen them up with Photoshop, as well as colour balance etc.
SD
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 02, 2011 - 07:53 PM UTC
Victoria, Australia
Joined: November 03, 2008
KitMaker: 294 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 - 08:02 AM UTC
Back at work after the Xmas/New Years break, so not a lot of progress.
I got the drivers' windscreen basket assembly built. Stunning bit of casting this!
SD
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 28, 2006
KitMaker: 2,672 posts
Armorama: 2,475 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 - 08:26 AM UTC
Nice update, looks real good.
Quoted Text
On the pic of the Fitters with dukes attached, are those slave cables on the engine cover? how common to see them stowed externally if not in place while on patrol?
Adam
As a former EME tech, it was quite common to have the slave cable readily available. Not one of those things that you want to bury under alot of kit. Especially at 2am when you have get up to boost someone's generator when they let it run out of diesel and killed the batteries trying to get it started because they were too lazy to fill it up when it was light out and now the poor tech has to bleed the entire fuel system 'cause it sucked in air...don't get me going
cheers
One of the serious problems in planning against Canadian doctrine is that the Canadians do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligations to follow their doctrine.
---From a Russian document
------------------------------------------------
