I have seen articles bashing the Italeri and the ESCI kits. I am wondering if there is a kit out there that doesn't have to be cut to pieces and put back together again to make it accurate. If not, which one of the LAV kits is the lesser of all the evil I have heard about?

Drew - the Italeri kit isn't as bad as all the bashing that goes on about it, and is a damn sight better than the ESCI kit. As with any Italeri kit, you're going to have to build the model - with all that entails. Aftermarket wheels are called for in any serious build-up of the model because their molding technology could not produce visually acceptable renditions at that time. Other than that, if you're careful and take your time, you can turn out a very nice representative of the LAV-25.

Gunnie

Actually, I enjoyed my build of the Italeri TUA a number of years ago. A-M tires, some PE and a 1980's Verlinden crew spiffed it up quite nicely. I intend to build the -25 as well as the -M up one of these days too.

Some 'work' is required, but I give it/them 2 thumbs up.

The ESCI profile is way off, but might be good for spare parts or a basis for the Command version on the Italeri hull.

Thanks,
Kevin Keefe
Mortars in Miniature

Thanks for the info guys. I just don't understand some things about the model industry (forgive me, I am new). There are some great accurate models of some real obscure vehicles. I think thats awsome by the way. My beef is you take something that is as popular as the LAV-25 and there isn't an accurate model of it. In a few years after I get tired of building all the modern stuff I want to build I will love the change the less populare vehicles bring, but just don't understand why there isn't a good LAV out there

Drew, The Italeri cum Revell kits are very good. I'm currently finishing a side by side review, one fully detailled the other slightly, for Military Modelcraft International. These should pass in the next couple of months so if you aren't pressed for time try and look for this. I've covered all the small deatils, and once again the Italeri kit will build into a reasonably accurate model straight OOB.

HTH

Jack

This is because when the USMC first announced that they were using the LAV family of vehicles, Italeri and Esci rushed to be the first one out with a kit of it (they did the same race for the Leopard II and HMMWV). Back in the Cold War era, Defense Department officials and the Marines didn't allow just anyone to climb around on new technology and equipment and take necessary measurements. These companies had to rely on photos of the vehicle and cursory inspections done at trade shows. The vehicles they inspected were also pre-production prototypes and not the production models delivered to the field.

Then the critics and modelers who operate the actual vehicles pan the kits as inaccurate. Because of this, they don’t sell well. Kits don’t sell well so other manufacturers don’t make another LAV.

Heck, you could shrink down a Stryker on display with Jimmy Neutron's shrink ray, make an exact copy of it out of plastic and box it up. By the time the vehicle is in production and out to the infantry battalions, someone would be panning the kit as inaccurate. And they would be right.

Drew - I agree with Captain Jack too. I've had no problems whatsoever building the Italeri LAV-25 and correcting some minor details to make an accurate model. That's what modeling is all about - I was happy to have something to work with. Hell, a local advertising agency paid me a ridiculous amount of money to photograph an Italeri LAV-25 I did in 1995. I certainly didn't break a sweat building it. Have at it - it's fun. Echoing what Sabot said, I'm surprised they did as good of a job as they did with what little they probably had to work with...

Gunnie

I am looking at doing a LAV-C2 conversion of the new Trumpeter kit, and originally expected to do a scratchbuild conversion. Then I found out about the old Esci kit. Could anyone tell me how useful the old Esci Command LAV rear deck section is, and whether it might be suitable for use in a conversion? I'm looking specifically at the raised "box" portion over the crew compartment, including hatches and cupola. I've never seen the Esci kit, and didn't want to spend $$ for a kit on eBay just to find out how bad it was... Thanks!!

-Will

How does the Trumpeter kit compare to the Italeri?

It's much more accurate. It still needs some details added and slightly corrected, but it's much better than ESCI or Italeri kits. If I remember correctly Italeri kit included some very simpified interior parts - Trumpeter kit does not include any. Hatches can be positioned open, but there is nothing inside the hull to see.

Pawel

Avoid the Esci/AMT/Ertl kits at all costs, as the hull angles are completely wrong. Italeri's is better, but it has been surpassed by the new Trumpeter item. Trumpeter's kit is actually very nice, and it's quite inexpensive. No interior included (I guess you can scratchbuild, or swipe the partial interior parts from the Italeri kit, or go the aftermarket route if you want one), but it looks quite good, and the soft plastic tires have a good tread pattern, which was impossible to achieve with the styrene tires in the Esci and Italeri kits. The axles have the correct offset from right to left, too. The gun tube is odd, having the flutes in one side but not the other (maybe they thought you could have the smooth side up for an early vehicle, and the fluted side up for a late one). In any case, there are some very good aftermarket barrels available.

Or wait a bit. Trumpeter has announced a LAV-C2. Check out Perth's New Kit News:
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/trumpeter.htm

Cheers,
Jim