Trumpeter 1:35, ASLAV-25 Recon Vehicle (Phase 3)

[Russ72]

Hey there blokes, its good to see a couple of other LAV projects on the go. I've been holding onto this one for a while now, itching to get it started. The Trumpeter 1:35th ASLAV.



The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), is an Australian version of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV-25) designed and manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for the U.S. Marines. The initial design was the MOWAG Piranha 8x8, however the vehicle was re-designed to meet North American requirements and US military standards to make the LAV-25, then again to make the ASLAV. It is a highly mobile, eight wheeled amphibious armoured vehicle used for reconnaissance and surveillance operations.





The ASLAVs are fitted with an electric turret, enhanced drive train, improved thermal optics, and integrated laser range finder. Selected deployed vehicles are also fitted with Remote Weapon Stations. These enhancements, together with run flat tyres, small arms resistant armour, internal spall protection, a counter Improvised Explosive Device suite and a fire suppression system, provide a battle-ready platform which optimises crew and passenger survivability.





The versatility of the ASLAV has been further increased by the use of non-permanent Mission Role Installation Kits. The kits allow the generation of several variants from a single ASLAV hull design. This is a unique Australian Defence Force (ADF) capability, with much of the design and development work undertaken in Australia.

The current variants of the ASLAV include the Reconnaissance, Personnel Carrier, Command, Surveillance, Ambulance, Fitter and Recovery vehicles.

The ASLAV capability is being supplemented with nine advanced gunnery simulators known as crew procedural trainers. The simulators significantly reduce the cost of training ASLAV crews and maintaining their combat readiness.





The Kit.











There are two marking options for this kit "Bull Ryder" and "Adrenaline Rush", I have reference pics for both options, that's all good. The painting guide however has me vexed.





The colours are a bit wrong and on Trumpeter's completed example the camo edges are a bit to fuzzy. I'm not saying mine is going to be any better, just a little different.

Officially the AUSCAM colours are:

a. Camouflage Green - Olive Drab Lustreless. Reference 7650/ADE(M) 146-1/1, November 1967;
b. Camouflage Brown - US Federal Standard 595a 30219;
c. Black - US Federal Standard 595a 37038; and
d. Pilbara Brown - US Federal Standard 595a 30109. This colour to be used as the base colour replacement for Camouflage Green, and is only approved for use on equipment permanently based in Australia's north west.

Cheers, Russ.

[Yevgeny]

Popular choice and you cant go wrong here, they looks pretty cool

[Russ72]

Made some progress on the lower hull.

Drill out some holes for the propeller guards.



Then add some bits.







Time to add the guards for the propellers. These are made up of three parts each side. All came off without breaking, one bend, but no breaks. Trumpeter did a fine job of protecting the finer parts.



So far this is the trickiest part of the build, small parts that line up without register to form a unit.



First touch of PE. So far I haven't tackled a kit with this kind of detail or part count. I plan to take my time and check reference and instructions regularly. First touch isn't stressful, more to come with bending and such.



Chain locks and reflectors, attached with my homemade CA applicator. (c/- BIGMICKSMODELS You Tube channel)



Besides the wheels, that's it for the lower hull.

Cheers, Russ.

[Nev]

Looking good mate

[kiwigav]

Nice kit Russ
might have to add this kit to the wish list

[Russ72]

Looking good mate

Cheers Nev.

[Russ72]

Nice kit Russ
might have to add this kit to the wish list

It's not bad Gav. Bloody hard to get hold of over here.

[wappynutter]

Well done so far Russ.
Keep up the good work buddy...
All the best mate..

[Russ72]

Well done so far Russ.
Keep up the good work buddy...
All the best mate..

Cheers Andy, much appreciated.

(Sorry for late reply). Russ

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

That's a bad ass vehicle right there
Progress is looking good so far, keep it up!

[Russ72]

That's a bad ass vehicle right there
Progress is looking good so far, keep it up!

Cheers Dude.

[Russ72]

Some progress has been made on the upper hull. I wasn't sure how to move forward. The top hull has Anti Slip on the horizontal surfaces, and with all the bits and pieces hanging off this thing, the painting of the camo could be a problem later on. I ended up building the larger elements and then penciled on the camo pattern to see where things were at.





I then had a go at some Anti Slip. I masked off an area at the rear and used Liquitex "Ceramic Stucco" brushed on. I then tried something similar on the front of the hull and used Mr Maskol to cover hinges, handles, etc. The rear section turned out okay the front just didn't look right, so I scrubbed it off. Result, there'll only be a little bit of Anti Slip at the rear unless I spray the camo on with Tamiya unthinned and at to high a pressure.







I added some bits, and left some bits off so that camo masking would be easier, I also painted under some bits. So far the P.E. bits haven't been a problem, made my first bends with the Tamiya bending pliers. All's going well.



This was some unfortunate moulding, take care.





So this is where I'm up to.





Thanks for looking.

Cheers, Russ.

[Tiger131]

looking real nice like the texture looks spot on

[Russ72]

looking real nice like the texture looks spot on

Cheers mate.

Just not confident or practiced enough to take it any further. Next time maybe.

[gustavlekstal]

Sucks that it didnt work infront. Looks great.

[Tiger131]

im the same my vehicle should have it on but aint got the balls to attempt it

[schweinhund227]

Maybe the Liquitex GESSO whipped up with a stiff brush would yield better results ?


Nice progress thus far and looking forward to more soon !

Later buddy!

[Russ72]

Cheers Tiger and Gustav.

I plan on doing an Abrams some time in the future so i'll get another chance to have a go at the Anti Slip. It hasn't beaten me. More videos (or re-watch) and practice is required.

Thanks Norm. When I was at the store where I get my Liquitex from I couldn't remember what the recommended type was. Gesso is on the shopping list. Their texture gels never go to waste.

Russ.

[SyntaxModels]

Looks great! I love the Lav and the ASLAV, personally I prefer the ASLAV just because I'm an Aussie .
Good stuff mate, Can't wait to see it finished!

[kiwigav]

Looking sweet mate

[Russ72]

Hey there folk.

Thanks for the comments, and apologies for not getting to this sooner, work has become an unrelenting monster over the last couple of weeks. I'm not up to date on where everyone else is at, so I had a quick look around this morning and so far I've seen some impressive stuff.

This is a kind of combined update as I seem to have either not taken some photos, or lost some somewhere.

Build wise, things went fairly smoothly until the turret baskets.





Parts were delicate, and as you can see I had a breakage, not a big problem. I was pretty rubbish at fitting the PE mesh, so there are a couple of, not joins. I'm going to fix this with stowage.

Unfortunately I have no photos to show you of my crapness at this, or the rest of the build process.

I can jump on to painting. Poor lighting in the initial photos does not correctly reflect colours used.

[robertw]

Sweet camo man! Did you use white tack?

[SyntaxModels]

Looks good mate! Can't wait to see this done!

[Filmman586]

Looking Great!

[schweinhund227]

Wow that Camo is perfect.... dude !

Awesome.

[gustavlekstal]

Nice work and its not a real build if you dont break anything! Great work with the camo.

[Yevgeny]

Looks very neat and tidy. Good progress

[Tiger131]

Superb camo work and the light in the last picture is better bud shows your build off a lot better

[Russ72]

Cheers Fellas, much appreciated. I got the decals down this weekend past so I'll get a couple of more shots up soon.

Sweet camo man! Did you use white tack?

Hi Robert. I used a product called "Selleys - Ezy Tack". It is white, so it might just be a repackage of White Tack.

Russ

[Russ72]

Gloss coat down, decals on. Detail painting started. Wheels friction fit. Starting to look the business.









Cheers, Russ.

[SyntaxModels]

It is indeed starting to look the business Russ! It looks great, can't wait for it to be finished!

[schweinhund227]

Very cool !
inspiring !

[UKguyInUSA]

Looking fabulous so far, mate!

[Russ72]

Leo, Norm, Martin. Cheers Fellas.

[Yevgeny]

Looking great indeed. Neat job