I know the Stryker hs been discussed often and many of us are eagerly awaiting a 1/35 version from someone (Trumpeter, AVF, DML whomever).

My question is on the anti-rpg slat protection that is all around the vehicle.

I was looking at photos of it in a recent modeling publication and sat dejected as the complexity of the design and relative thinness of the bars (especially in 1/35) is WAY beyond my modeling capabilities. A Stryker set in an OIF diorama absolutely needs this protection.

Does anyone out there know of a manufacturer who is even contemplating reproducing this? Although injection plastic and resin have come along way - in my mind only photo-etch could even come close to the scale thickness.

So, any news along the grapevine about this?

Thanks.

Havn't heard anything about the slat armor, my guess is that the aftermarket companies are going to wait until the kits start coming out before making sets and thats IF they do decide to make sets.

Heya, Guys,

Dave Harper, of Hard Core Models and VLS/Trakz, makes use of a 3-D stereo printing process for very complex 35th scale parts (I have their Sherman turret cages on pre-order)...

In a recent e-mail on Planetarmor.com I asked about the possibility of his company utilizing the 3-D process to manufacture the slat armor for the upcoming Stryiker kits. He said that it was a possibility, and given Dave Harper's amazin' track record, that's good enough for me! So indeed, their is hope, friends!

I know that as much as I want it, I won't be building that slat armor package myself! Just got the new Osprey book on the Stryker and it has some excellent photos and illustrations... Would also love to see the ambulance version --- I wonder what other variants are in the works...?

Much Aloha,

Johnny B.

Probably the useless AGS version, and the TUA (TOW Under Armor) and Recon versions.

HI

It is my understanding that the Cdn LAV III variant is in the works.

Tom

It would probably have to be PE. Accurate Armour did a nice looking job on a couple of British subjects:

Warrior slat armor

Challenger 2 slat armor

Paul

There is no model producer that has even shown a production version of the Stryker kit yet. Trumpeter has only shown a resin master of their kit and it was inaccurate and is going to be about 5 months behind schedule of their proposes release date of September 2006.

I don't think any after market producer would take a chance an produce a set of PE slat armour based on non-existent kits...it just doesn't make marketing sense.

Personally, I will wait until an actual kit is in a box, reviewed by someone that knows the vehicle, and sold before counting proverbial resin or photo etched chickens.

I believe you mean the MGS, ATGM, and the RV

What makes you think they are worthless. They are good vehicles that will work out just fine if used the way they are ment to.

The Warrior slat does not seem as complicated as the Stryker slat would be. More importantly, I believe there are/were Warriors with slat available in the UK to inspect for the purposes of developing a kit. I think I recall seeing a short photo reference article in Military Modelling showing the slat Warrior. This does not seem to be the case in the US. I live near Ft Lewis and there are no slat Strykers there. If there are other slat Strykers in the US they are rare, at least at this time. So, I think it will be hard for an AM company/person to get access to do a good one.

However, someone that is willing to do a slat AM kit might be able to get in touch with some of the Concord photojournalists who have been in Iraq and probably have more than enough of the right kind of photos to do this right. I have seen enough Strykers up close with some leftover parts of slat and other detailed close ups of slat to know that to get this right you really have to have access to a real one to get a good perspective. It is very difficult to interpret photos with limited angles and lighting/shadows to figure out mounting points, blast plates, and hinged access parts.

The slat and the mounting brackets are not the only parts that have to be depicted. There are large portions of blast panels that they mount to, and then there is the extended exhaust that would need to be done in PE too. Many, but not all slat Strykers have extended light mounts too. The sad point is, such a kit done correctly would probably be even more costly than the Accurate Armor kit. But, I will buy at least one. I love the look of the slat Stryker. And I would want to show a slat Stryker next to a non-slat one.

Bob

Given that a set of Dave Harper's awesome LVT tracks, made by this same 3-D printing process is a princenly $89.95 (slowly saving up for a set), I can only imagine that the slat armor could be something in the area of $150.00 or more... If this was the only option, pricey as it is, I would consider saving up for a set like this as it would make for a truly, er, striking, Stryker...

That being said, I would hope that one of the (3) model kit manufacturers promising us a Stryker kit has got the stones and the tech to slide-mold (insert technique) the slat armor with the kit. I think a lot of people --- myself included --- REALLY want to build this particular variant...but few of us want to fuss with building a fragile mini-erector set cage out of PE brass...

My two cents...

Much Aloha,

Johnny B.