Trumpeter seems to have several options with the LAV. Are any LAV-25 kits good out of the box for Desert Storm? Or do I have to backdate a kit to make that happen? Is that realistic to pull off a backdate?

Bob

The Trumpeter LAV-25 released in 2005 (00349) might be a good place to start.

It could probably use an Eduard or Voyager PE set, replacement resin wheels, and an aftermarket M240 for the turret pintle mount.

Trumpeters kit# 00349 USMC LAV-25 Piranha


Just don't use the barrel out of the kit, it is fluted.



Two different types of turret mounted MG's

I'm building one for early OIF and so had a look at the Eduard PE set to detail my model. My conclusion is do not waste your money on it! While some parts are useful because Trumpeter omitted them (wire-cutters for instance), a lot of others are useless because wrongly designed (engine grilles mesh which is wrong pattern).
I can't comment about the Voyager set.

Trumpeter does not provide any turret MG in the kit (neither the coax, nor the roof mounted one). You can find M60A3 in a Tamiya set. For the coax MG, Trumpeter released a set with a M240 and the M242 chain gun from whioch you could borrow the MG barrel.

Be aware that as the gun is moveable, there is a nasty gap behind the mantlet. Alos I would recommend to start the axles assembly by the rear ones otherwise you might face a problem of wheel alignment as the front wheel "legs" (sorry for the poor technical term )go too deep in the hull.

Olivier

Great info there Pete and Olivier. Thanks for taking the time, I have noted all this for when I get around to my build.

I'm sorry for intruding on this thread, but I have the Trumpeter kit and the same doubts as Robert. In addition to everything said, what are the best early type wheels in resin? If I'm not wrong for Desert Storm they had the early narrow wheels. Thank you.

Pablo

Here's an option :



Another option : Panzer Art 1:35 Road Wheels for ASLAV-25/Lav-25 Resin set RE35-221 :


H.P.

Thank you Henri-Pierre.

Good kit. Built one in 2007.... Fit was perfect.

The supplied wheel made many modelers fume and rage when the kit came out. If you have any old M1 kit, you can rig a MG. There were some pics with those rigged MGs.....

Thanks everybody. So the tires are of a different pattern for ODS or people just don't like the material?

I'll be doing someone's vehicle and I am waiting for pics, but I'm sure I can figure out the 240.

And the barrel is not supposed to be fluted for ODS.

Bob

Trumpeter barrel is a hermaphrodite, fluted on top, straight below. New barrel is defintly needed.

The tires in the kit are the correct type, but they are vinyl. Some prefer the resin replacements. There is also no spare in the kit; which most vehicles carried.

The fluted barrel was not used until after ODS. For an ODS vehicle, the barrel should be smooth.

PMMS has a great review of the kit here.

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out. I'm sure it will be awesome.

Robert, I will pm you a message on FaceBook, but bottom line, I got you covered on a barrel.

In my box, there is another fluted barrel in the bag for the figures parts. It is marked ASLAV-25. Unfortunately it is not suitable for DS time frame.

Olivier