Check this pic out. Is this the RV (recon)? The reason I ask is that on the roof there seems to be a shield w/ windows I have never seen before.

Yes. It's an RV. I can't place the armored windows, though.

Jed

Could it be a TAGS (transparent armored gun shield)?

That's what it looks like to me too. The same one that is being installed on M1 Abrams.

Yeah it looks like the TAGS.....But it could be a local mod.

Also looks like it has a more refined bar armor kit, with the standard Mk1 Mod1 sandbag applique armor to boot.

These shields have been used now for the past 1 - 1 1/2 years in Iraq. 1/25 got them about 1/2 way through their deployement. The shields are mounted to the coupula. With the chicken shield and the Hatch opened to 105 degress it gives the gunner almost a full 360 degrees of protection. They do resemble the TAGS.
The only thing is this looks more like a FSV than an RV due to the fact that there are 3 UHF antennaes instead of the 2 that are mounted on the RV. However the mount for the FS3 looks like the standard yolk that is used with the LRAS3. Is there any other pics, and do you know where the pic originated, is it in theater or is it back in the states?

Ric


Hoping this pic will turn out. it is a pic of an FSV that belongs to 3rd BDE. It shows the Shields for the VC.

The Stryker in this pic appears to have 3 antennas also:



looks like 2 of the new thin SINCGARS antennas with one of the old composite ones

This is a pic of an ICV. The thinner antennaes are the UHF antennaes. The thicker one on the right rear is an EPLRS antennae. The thinner antennaes are replacements from the originals. The unit is the one who replaces them when the other bases go out. When the Strykers are issued they have the old thick style antennaes mounted.
When you look at the first pic posted there are a total of 4 antennae on the vehicle. There is two on the left, one on the right and 1 inbetween the air sentry hatches which is the EPLRS on the RV/FSV chassis.

Ric
PS I have finnaly figured out how to post pics

Ric, I don't remember exactly where I got the photo from the web, but I am pretty sure the photo was in Iraq.

In the pic by Jeff showing the ICV it appears the air guard soldier is poking out between two shields. I have never seen these before. Or are they something else? I heard that there was to be something added in Iraq by a contractor to replace all the sandbags the soldiers were using (like in my first pic here). Could this be it? Or am I completely missing the boat and this is what Ric is describing in the first place?

Bob

Yeah, I wasn't sure if the older composite antenna was for EPLRS, or something else.

The blast plate that you are refering to Rob is a blast shield that came around about a year or so ago. It replaces the Sandbags, gives better protection and saves some weight on the vehicles. Some crews are still using the sandbags, but its not recommended because when a blast goes off it turns all that sand into a big ol Sand blaster. Not good at all. All the vehicles in the 172nd Got these new blast shields prior to deploying. The blast shields around the coupula came in a little while before the new Blast shields. It also appears that the first pic is from the 1/25ID. While they were there they did not have the new FSV's so it is an RV but it does not explain the extra antenna. Here are a few more pics, if you look up at the top of the vehicles you will notice the blast plates. Depending on the variant it will depend on where the blast plates are located.
Ric


MCB



FSV

Interesting photos and comments, Ric. It seems to me that by the time the Trumpeter Stryker model hits the shelves it will be nothing like the Strykers currently fielded. But that does not mean we can not depict earlier Strykers.

I just hope Eduard picks up the slack and does the slat armor. I know many of us want to model combat deployed Strykers, and I am not aware of any that were deployed without the slat armor. Whatever happens, it sure looks like there will be plenty for aftermarket companies to do, and for any other plastic companies that follow Trumpeter.