Italeri

1/35 LAV-25 Air Defense

Kit Number 6274

Reviewed By Hugh Gilmartin, #39490

What is in the Box, 250 parts that were pink tan in color and 6 clear parts separately bagged.

MERITS

1. Topical subject matter, given current involvement in Iraq.
2. Parts are clear of defects and flash.
3. Cost is reasonable when compared to other kits.
4. Relative ease of assembly, not much filler needed.

DEMERITS:

1. Instructions need to be improved as far as parts placement goes because a lot of dry-fitting was needed.
2. Desired more decal and paint options.
3. No interior options.

As I had a severe case of advanced modeler’s syndrome deciding on what model to do next.  Therefore, when John Noack went looking for the modelers to do armor, I jumped at the challenge.  I liked the fact that this was a relevant subject given our involvement in the Middle East.  I further liked the fact that this kit appeared to be an easy build, parts were clean thus needing only assembly and paint.

In this construction, I went by the OOB rules of IPMS thus only assembled the kit and made no modifications or additions.  Only one major seam on the top of the main hull had to filled and sanded.

My two problems with this kit, at the start, were a lack of good reference photos and to lack of clarity of the assembly steps.  I had to do extensive test fitting before I assembled the parts, especially the suspension units. 

I also note there is no interior options for this kit.  I had to scratch build a panel for the bottom of the turret before painting the interior flat black.  Then closed up the turret totally as there was no way to do an interior.

But my main gripe to this build is the large number of small parts, 150 of the 250 parts.  Most of these were for several other versions of the LAV-25 and were not used for this model.  However, a large number of small parts that were used seemed to get lost in the carpet, very frustrating for a builder working under OOB rules.

This brings me to a question I have of armor modelers.  Do you guys have a deal with eye doctors for eye wear?  I kept having to find small parts again and again which increased building time.  Which in this case ended up to be about 24 total construction hours.

Returning to model construction, the hull assembly came first.  As previously mentioned it was closed up due to lack of interior parts.  Next came the small parts on the hull, that proved so frustrating to me.  Then the suspension was done which required dry-fitting of the parts to ensure that the part placement was correct.

Next came the turret that is the main focus of this version.  This took much longer than I expected, due to the fact I had to assemble separate gun barrels (5 in all) into one gun mount, then assemble the two Stinger AA missiles in their boxes and install them on the outside of the turret.  Finally the assembly of the windows.  Which being armored glass were applied from the outside in, not like the auto models I am used to.  With the assembly of the wheels and their placement the model was ready for paint.

After all was done.  I stepped back and made the observation that was repeated in my club meeting.  This model does look like something out of Star Trek or Star Wars.

I enjoyed the challenge of this kit.  A welcome change from my usual planes and cars that I model but I will leave the armor kits to those with a greater interest and who love them more than I do.

I rate this kit an 80 out of 100 points possible due to the kit's average instructions, lack of paint and decal options and large number of small parts.  This kit is NOT for the kids but for more experienced modelers-nevertheless this is a good kit of a relevant subject.  I enjoyed the challenge.  My thanks to Testors and Italeri for the nice review sample

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