The LAV-3 series of Light Armoured Vehicles has been in Canadian service since the late 90’s, and has served in many International Operations in support of Peace Support Missions and with the current operations in Afghanistan.
CONTENTS
All parts are crisply molded in grey and green resin and offer the modeler the chance to show a heavily stowed Canadian LAV-3. The accessories can be used with both Real Model’s and Trumpeter’s LAV-3 kits.
REVIEW
This set from Black Dog includes a number of items commonly found on a well stowed Afghanistan Canadian LAV-3. The set includes turret stowage with replacement turret baskets stuffed full of kit, hull stowage with a new coiled up tow cable, and crew & vehicle stowage with excellent sharp details. Some stowage is specifically fitted to the vehicles’ back stowage box, or as crews call it the ”Hibachi” , but with most of these replaced by a stretcher they can be used with a scratch built one . The turret baskets in the kit fit nice and snug to the turrets from Real Model and Trumpeter, with only a shave of the antenna mountings on the Real Model turret, don’t worry the rear basket has the antenna mount, as well as some of the individual items like the cots, water cans and tarps. The back turret basket is missing the mast for the laser warning receiver which will have to be added, with a little work this should be fine.
CONCLUSION
This accessory set could be used by model builders for many other kits as well. The only thing that is missing that will have to be added is the cargo straps on some parts to secure all the kit to the vehicle on the resin parts, but these are easily added. This is a high quality accessory set and it is very worthwhile and I give it high marks as an ex- LAV guy. I would like to thank Fireflymodels from the UK for sending the sample.
Recommended Reference: LAV-3 In Afghanistan from Real Model
SUMMARY
Highs: Well molded parts with crisp details.Lows: Missing cargo straps and the mast for the laser warning receiver, but can be added later.Verdict: A highly recommended resin kit worth picking up.
About Anthony Sewards (recceboy) FROM: ALBERTA, CANADA
Served with the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) for 26 years. Was chief gunnery instructor on the Lav-Recce (Coyote), Lav-3, Leopard C-2 / Leopard 2. And various small arms from pistol to .50 cal. and 84mm .
Have been working behind the scenes with REALMODELS, BLACKDOG, MENG,LEGEND,HOBBY ...
Looks like a good product. Although to get the Laser Warning receiver to fit might take alot of work. trying to fir the stowage around it and make it look natural could be a chore.
I like the molded on tarps around the side bins, saves alot of work.
Thanks for the review Anthony!
cheers
Rick
The set is very detailed, but for the mast : drill , insert, cover with putty all good.The set includes 2 sets of 4 cots , that will look great on a C-2 Mexas or a Leo 2A4M or a 2A6M, and with the other goodies will make the beasts look the part.
Anthony
I don't think it will be that easy.
There is a sleeping bag valise right over top of where the mast goes. To make it look natural you almost have to remove the bag as having the mast sticking thru it won't work.
cheers
I'm going to drill a rod into the valise and drape an orange air-ID tarp over it. It will give the impression of the LWR and cover the 'modified' stowage.
Black Dog should really consider re-casting this part with the LWR, or at least with a hole for the kit part to go into.
I don't think you'd have to cover the LWR. I think your idea of drilling a hole in the valise for the mast would work- you'll probably have to shave off some resin to seat the "head" and then back fill with putty. A good LAV CC would never cover his LWR, there's still some laser-sighted weapons in Afghanistan.
But Trevor, you can't just drill a hole and show the mast coming *through* the sleep bag valise. You'd still need to add your own stowage on top of the valise to cover the area.
I agree about covering the LWR, though there are photos of LAV-III with gear piled over top of the mast. Maybe that's what BD was going by...but their stowage isn't piled high enough to cover the LWR.
It's not the first time BD forget a mast of some sort. I've got their 72nd AAVP/EAAK set; it's gorgeous, and it'll look great in the end (depending on my own contribution...) but they forgot the SINCGARS masts and just plastered stowage all over the EAAK pieces. I've had to make room in one camo net and remove some ammo cans to create something that looks like the tops of the antenna masts... It'll be OK, and it's easier than the LWR error here, but they seem to be silly mistakes.
Olaf
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