[ɡɒdˈzɪlə!]

tigrazor

audentes fortuna iuvat.
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Messages
371
Hi all,

Some weeks ago a LHS had this little kit for me for a very special price (-10€ off!). As you may know, Im a bit japanophile - and what can go wrong with a Tamiya kit?! ;) A friend came up with a simple, but very convincing idea: what about a footprint of Godzilla next to it in the sand?!

http://plamoya.com/bmz_cache/b/b2f2418e ... 00x333.jpg

It features a metal chassis.


A little history
- directly taken from the instruction sheets:

With the HMV Hayate and Type 73 Small Utility Vehicle fitted with little armor and having poor defense capabilities, in 1997 the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) began development of a new high mobility light armored transportation vehicle. Designed to be strong against guerilla and terrorist forces, the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) was deployed to JGSDF regiments from 2002.

Capable of accomodating 4 personnel, the JGSDF LAV was fitted with a 160hp liquid-cooled 4-cycle 4-cylinder diesel engine, allowing it to reach top speeds of 100 km/h. Weighing 4.5 tons, it could be used as a long distance transportation vehicle utilizing Japanse public roads and highways, and was able to be carried by a CH-47J helicopter or C-130H transport aircraft for emergency air drops.

Taking advantage of its superior durability, maneuverability and small size, the LAV is capable of providing critical access to the front line and undertaking vital transportation operations during confrontations. The gun mount on the roof can be fitted with a 5.56mm MINIMI* machine gun or Type 01 Light Anti Tank Guided Missile.

Vehicles deployed to the Iraq town of Samawa in 2004 were fitted with reinforced bulletproof windshields and extra equipment such as wire cutters, updating it to the standards of light armored vehicles of other nations. Many vehicles also featured an armored cover around the gun mount for extra protection. Due to the historical significance of the JGSDF Samawa reconstruction mission, the JGSDF LAV gained much international attention in 2004.



As always, I created the base from white glue/water/sand mixture, added some wood dust here (there was loads left when I created the Godzilla footprint) and thats it so far. This kit builds itself literally. Some figures will be added to the dio - ICM Russian patisan (archeology professor), soldier from MENG (from the "Far Easteners" set) to create a little scene around the LAV:

lav01_zpsb3162f0a.jpg

lav02_zps0e176e66.jpg

lav03_zps675f1bc3.jpg

lav06_zpsc4e7973c.jpg

lav05_zps205ea158.jpg

The footprint seems to be a bit too flat, Ill take care of this. ;)

lav04_zps91b70c79.jpg
 
Many thanks. :)

I continued with detailing the base a bit using old Hasegawa "Zero" decals, copper wire and thin metal pins as well as a resin crate. The lettering means "15th Army Corps" btw. in case someone is asking. ;)

The LAV itself is a real dream to build and comes with some TS-70 paint (Tamiyas "JGSDF Green"). No complaints from my side so far about the build of the LAV.


lav02_zpsbbdd4f93.jpg

lav03_zpsf103fe2d.jpg

lav06_zps7fa7916e.jpg

lav01_zpsc2862677.jpg

lav05_zps6ba62518.jpg

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Thanks Ron & J.

Just got some additional accessories and some figures this weekend. ;)
 
Many thanks, PG.

Some more progress here. This weekend, there was an expo and I got some additional diorama stuff from BlackDog (CZ) for example. You can never have enough of this, can you? What had been done additionally so far?!

-Washing for the footprint (darker look, fresh earth)
-additional layer of clear paint/brown washing 1:1 in the puddles
-painted the driver, hes supposed to sit on the boxes, having a meal or something (not sure about it atm)
-painted the female soldier, insignia was scratched from paper and a tiny dot of dark red paint

The photographer is missing, Ill tell you later about him.



lav17_zpsf31a3d4e.jpg

lav16_zpsec75c908.jpg

lav21_zpsa7569479.jpg

lav20_zps84a27057.jpg

lav19_zpsf5593dc6.jpg

lav18_zpse1199607.jpg
 
Fun with flags!" :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he6xz19186o

lav23_zps7d47608c.jpg

MRE - Meal refused by the enemy:

lav22_zps8ea27893.jpg



And last but not least the slightly changed BlackDog photographer. That strange piece of plastic and putty is a former Gebirgsjäger cap - a good base for a basecap that I dont have in my stash in 1/35:

lav25_zpsf72baabc.jpg

lav26_zps1136fe30.jpg



Dr. Jones sr.:

lav24_zpsee963608.jpg
 
Hehehe... No fleshburn, just a washing gone a bit wrong. ;)

All fits together very well, but the ejection marks are obviously something that shouldnt be there. Especially the 5 doors have them, as well as the inside of the MG stand. Would be insane to sand those - the doors shouldnt be a problem, though.

lav14_zpsa5eb8055.jpg

lav13_zpsa85be40d.jpg

lav11_zpseb9c9b59.jpg

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The hardest part is done. The LAV needs only small detailing like mirrors, windows, decals, cockpit etc. Tamiya says XF-58 for the cockpit, Ive chosen Testors Italian Green (imho its the better choice for the airbrush job).


Cockpit color:

lav21_zpse9d6cda4.jpg


Doors I

lav20_zps7312c344.jpg


Doors II

lav18_zps9ad9b758.jpg



Doors III

lav16_zpsa51a04f2.jpg



Cockpit:

lav17_zps66050252.jpg



Chassis taped:

lav15_zpse2786c07.jpg
 
Done. Here are the gallery pictures:


Diorama complete

lavfertig17_zpsa9a85948.jpg

lavfertig09_zps0d81e902.jpg




Details:

lavfertig14_zpsba6287b5.jpg

lavfertig16_zps3bc15be5.jpg

lavfertig18_zps6e8ae694.jpg

lavfertig15_zps33797c0d.jpg

lavfertig11_zps53ad1f6b.jpg

lavfertig12_zps51c6c52d.jpg

lavfertig08_zps9ef193f6.jpg

lavfertig07_zps1ef705e5.jpg

lavfertig10_zps29bda38a.jpg

lavfertig02_zps8429a8b5.jpg

lavfertig05_zps536a6bf6.jpg

lavfertig03_zps4098bb79.jpg

lavfertig06_zps8ecad2d4.jpg

lavfertig04_zpsbb7a624b.jpg

lavfertig01_zps52d70689.jpg



Thanks for looking!
 

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