Small Scale Military Headquarters

Sorry if this has been hashed out before, but I'm interested in your opinions of this vehicle. Also, what's a fair price for one and the availablity? Thanks.

Scott

I like it. Interior is too small and totally wrong but other then that and with some detailing on the outside it can look pretty good.

Do the Scout hatches open? If they do, is there room to stand troops up in them?

aferguson wrote:I like it. Interior is too small and totally wrong but other then that and with some detailing on the outside it can look pretty good.

Whatever happened to full disclosure?
I like it too but it is very flawed. Only one hatch opens - ONLY ONE! The driver's hatch doesn't open, nor does one of two on the turret, nor the top of the troop compartment.
The paint job is very toy like and some parts of the vehicle are just colored plastic. The highlights are the troop compartment at least exists, and the driver. Because it was such a dud they were marked to $3 at TRU last year. I would say pay no more than $15-20 for one, seriously.
I was SO excited when they announced this vehicle but it was so poorly done I have one instead of a few. I have 5 bbi Shermans so I know bbi could do armor right if they try.

If the Scout hatches don't open, that's pretty much a deal killer right there. Heck, even the FOV LAV has Scout hatches that open.

Well, since I had planned on doing a custom scheme on it anyways, I might as well attempt cutting the Scout hatches out to make them open. Has anyone done anything along the lines of opening up molded hatches?

well, i still like it...

When they were clearanced out by TRU it was a good deal. At it's regular price it wasn't.

I like my LAVs, even if they only came in Desert Camo. I think I caught a couple on half-price, but they were long gone from my area at 1/2 off.

I haven't tried to open the top hatches, mostly because the interior wasn't a selling point for me.

Not a bad deal for 1/2 price. Would look better with a actual sand flat paint applied instead of molded plastic color. Overall I think it is a cool piece of armor with the steerable double axle. This could be customized nicely as long as you can cut the hatches out without causing too much of a defect. I heard someone mention using a scoring tool to remove the doors from the Bbi Kiowa Helicopter and it looked pretty good.
Todd[/b]

Well, I AM working on two different projects involving my LAVs, but they are behind my M113 ACAV, so I don't want to give anything away yet...

Ah. Then I may have a frame of reference for a custom. Sounds good.

The only reason I want the hatches to be able to open is to have a couple Scouts popped up in back. LAVs don't often go anywhere without Scouts up and looking for enemy air.

If you were going to consider that type of work on the LAV, you might have an easier time fabricating new doors out of styrene sheet and then just drilling and filing out the old doors completely. I have the BBI LAV and it does have its merits. Like most of the 21st suff, it is a solid foundation for alteration projects.

TJ

I'm definately entertaining the idea of scratch-building the hatches, since there is a lip that wouldn't be present if I simply used the existing ones. Now all I have to do is learn how to do it!

Taking a quick look at mine, it seems the hatches should be ground down flat with the surface of the roof skin before making the holes, so that you dont make the holes oversized. I would take the turret and all the stuff in back right off before attemping surgury. There is a second roof in place as part of the rear compartment insert, so you would have to cut through that and probably frame out the holes. You may attempt to remove the innards to do this. The more you break down the model into pieces, the easier they are to work with. It is basically alot of work with xactos knives and files to get the shapes right. They dont look too big, so it might be a good beginner project. Paint would be a must too. I get pretty good results with Testors Model Master spray paints since I have been too lazy to set up my airbrush stuff lately. The LAV is still a nice piece and if the modifying isn`t your cup of tea, it is still a decent vehicle to display.

TJ

I payed $9 for mine during the 75% off sale at TRU. It is a nice piece besides the hatches not opening. Go for it!

Thanks very much for all your time and responses. The spray paint thing had not even occured to me. I was all set to go looking for an airbrush set up. I may still go that route since I have 4 FOV LAVs that need correcting. Either way, that BBI LAV is now on my must have list, and I hope to be posting photos of the completed custom before the end of 2006.

I say to just buy it!!!!

I have two of them and they are really cool!
I think it was a really cool vehicle and i hope some day they make a Striker vehicle model in 1/18 or 1/6.
HOOAH!

i would say one way to make new hatches is to build clay walls around the hatch you want about 3/8 inch clearence around it build the wall about and inch high make sure its tight to it. then fill it in with RTV sillicone from a mold kit or use some brush cleaner with zylole to brush on some 100% silicone caulk. do about a half inch thickness let set for a few days then peel your mold off. there you have a perfect copy of the top of the hatch then mix up some castable urethane, AB mix and fill it. cut trim and attatch it to a similar cut sheet or sheets of styrent. then create the hinge. cut out the existing hatch staying within the lines. CA glue it sand paint.

hope this helps
Robo

That is fantastic! Thank you very much. This is definitely getting printed out.