Some of you may remember almost 2 years ago, when I was in Iraq, I built an M1127 Stryker RV for a customer. Recently,the customer contacted me to ask if I could do another. The first one was destroyed in his last move. So I set to building it and added a small base to display it on.
Here is what it is based on, M1127 Stryker RV from 25 ID, 2-14 CAV, A Troop Commander’s Vehicle, A66.
Below is my second rendition of it. I used the Trumpeter kit with Eduard add-on armor plates, slat armor, blast panels, and Rhino device. I scratched the lower armor plates protecting the wheels, the frame and sniper screen, and the Duke antenna, along with the armored glass on the rear. It was placed on a simple display base of a road section with a couple barricades with some debris somewhere in Iraq. I finished it off with a name plate that reads:
Fantastic job! I especially like how the slat armor came out. I have the Trumpeter, and AFV Club versions of the 1127 in my stash, but I haven’t built them yet because of the slat armor. Yours came out great!
Slats great…I remember the original…back for more pain! I remember the funky decal on the original. I think this one is a bit nicer than the original. you did some nice street work. The jersey barriers look great…nice touch with the flattened boxes. The mesh looks better this time…then again you have access the the full Heavy Studio with this one [;)]
All in all another jaw dropping build…fantastic…5 star…(I am running out of words)…OK…Nice
Thanks Mike and Nate. Yes, I am a glutton for Slat punishment. I still have an M1126 ICV and M1128 MGS to do for myself. Believe it or not, I am considering Slat for them too…not any time soon though!! I too think this one came out better. I especially like how the sniper screen came out.
Yeah… drop-dead gorgous and I don’t know how you do as many as you do in the time that you do but, I have to agree about the usage of gauze for the netting on this one.
Thanks for the comments guys. This one actually took me a while. I have been working on it since early August. I wasn’t totally happy with the netting either. Its actually cheese cloth (same as gauze I guess) died the sandy/dark brown color by soaking it in espresso. I couldn’t come up with anything else for it though. Oh well, it is as it is. I think it turned out well.
Gino, I have to compliment you both on the outstanding build here, and on showing how to take an honest critique and own it. Man, I hope that everyone learns from your mature example.
The build is just terrific–I have to agree; it looks almost like a boat of some sort! It amazes me how these things get jazzed-up with all the extra armor and slats and whatnot–doesn’t all that extra weight adversely tax the transmission and engine or suspension at all? It must be a real dog to drive too?
To be honest, the gauze looks pretty close to the real thing for my money. And I love the Jersey barriers. In the end, it doesn’t really matter if you’re nuts about the gauze–I’m sure the customer was happy to have another great Stryker!
Have to agree with Mike on this one Gino, I liked your first rendition and the 2nd is even better. Always good to have a pleased customer at the end of the process as well! [B]
Thanks ygmodler4. Glad you like it. The cheese cloth represents camo net that is put up over the crew hatches to provide a sniper screen. It obscures the crewmen so a sniper can’t get a clear shot at them from above. It does have the added benefit of providing shade as well.
Forgot to mention that, regardless of what I think about the RPG slats, a fine build indeed, Gino…
As for camo netting, that’s always a quandry for a modeler because you have to balance authenticity and visibility. I’d love to accurately portray a howitzer position everytime, complete with camo netting, but if it’s done “by the book”, you can’t see anything under the net… The only way to get both is to do it with the crew about to put up the net, unrolling it from the top of the turret or prime mover, rolling it back up on “Prepare to March”, or un-azzing the AO and driving out from under it in a Hasty Displacement… Frustrating, at best…
