I am looking for info or even better, 1/35 line drawings, of the LAV-25, specifically the turret and even more specific, the hatches. I am looking to build the kit with the hatches OPEN (GASP!) and want to know not only what interior detail to add to the hatches, but also how much I need to enlarge the openings in the turret to make it more realistic. (What are thos holes...1/48? Horrible)

Any help appreciated.

Jacques,
The hatches are open on the turret. Are you talking about the 2 hatches located on the hull in the rear. If so, just cut sheet stryen the same shape as the original ahtches and make hinges and replace. I have one currently on the work bench, but havnt cut the new hatches yet. I can take some pictures of what I have later for you.
By the way, Eduard's new LAV-25 photo etch set is really nice for the kit and has lots of extras compared to the older set.

ok, I screwed up and posted twice...I guess this can be the live wire...

and Pete, sorry you are involved with the 24th ID... (In my days in the NG, we recieved some VERY heavily used equipment from the 24th..in 1996 I believe. SO I have a place in my, er, heart for all those guys!)

Anyhow, I meant the turret hatch openeings. If you put a 1/35 figgie in it, those hatch opening are just too small, or else the Marines never want their crew jumping out the top (a possibility I suppose) I wanted to open them up correctly, but have no refences for it.

I left the 24th in 95', SO THAT WHERE ALL OUR OLD JUNK WENT TO!!!!! J/K We did get rid of all our ITV's around then and recieved more Bradley's to replace them.

On to your dilima, There was an article way back when is FSM and a guy corrected the pld ESCI kit. The article is now in a Kalmbach book. I have the book at home and when I get there, I will see what the title was and if the article had info on that.

Hey Pete,

Yeah, the article you are looking for is by Cookie Sewell or Steve Zaloga (Can't remember which off hand.) It from the July 2001 FSM. I have it, as you may have guessed. It does not cover the turret roof, oh how I wished it had...

I may have to see if I can get ahold of a copy of the Hunnicut book afterall.

And By the Way, my unit recieved a whole bunch of your crappy 24thID M109's thankyouverymuch. I was a 64D then (M88A1 recovery Spec) and spent plenty of time pulling those piles of crap back into the MATES area for AT. But the real secret is we also recieved a bunch of old M548A1's from the South Dakota NG that were WORSE. I believe we had a standing total that it took 2 M109's to make a good one, but the M548's had a range of about 3 miles before something broke. :-)

I made a copy of the article that appeared in Fine Scale Magazine a few years ago for you. Let me know you address and I will ship it to you.

well, thanks for the offer, but I have the mag that the story was in. Thanks again.