Modern and Future Aussie Armour

DOH!

I forgot to say..


1. I know we aren't buying M1A2's
and
2. I'm looking for a good LAV 25 kit...any recommendations?



Smokey

The only kit that I know of is the Revell kit which I just bought for my son's birthday. Got it at greatmodels.

The Revell Kit is just a repro of the many variations that Italeri makes , Italeri has a wide selection of the LAV-25 and comes in many variations (Tow, MORTAR, Anti-Tank, troop transport) and the aftermarket for this kit is unlimited PE from Eduard and RES, tires make it a pretty good base kit, as for paint I recommend NATO colors or a Desert Scheme w/ Aussie Markings , good luck

I did not know that we weren't getting the M1A2. Does that mean we are getting the superceded M1A1 instead?

Smokey i thought Australia was buying M1A1's......
Ever thought of building a Leapord..................

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison Smokey i thought Australia was buying M1A1's...... Ever thought of building a Leapord..................

We are!

Ex-US army ones that are being replaced by M1A2's and are surplus the US requirements. Even the M1A1 is a nasty MBT, more than a match for anything in this region.

Hopefully the gas turbines will not play up in the bush.

I have a Tamiya 1:35 Leopard lurking around that is destined to be an Aussie cat...

cheers

Mike

How about a scheme like this in an Outback diorama:




By the way, I don't know a whole lot about armor, but I thought I read somewhere that Australia had signed up for the Leopard 2A6 as its next MBT.

G'day Smokey.

Best bet re: M1A1 camo will be the same style as we currently paint the leopards - we haven't changed camo patterns for a while. The Green and Black are Federal Standard Colours, but the sand/brown is an Aussie develeped colour which can only be made by mixing. No doubt there will be modifications made to the vehicles when they hit our beach, as we have done for all vehicles we aquire.

This site has a some info on Aussie vehicles and colours.

http://www.mheaust.com.au/Aust/Austindex.htm

The ASLAV is not an LAV 25. Australia obtained a few LAV's from old Marine corp surplus, for testing purposes, but purchase order was for the Canadian version similar to their Grizzly, a wider and taller LAV vehicle. See this pic:



The wheels are also completely different (check out the comparison pic on the ASLAV pt 1 page on the full site page): http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/armourframe.htm

I've heard from my father who is in the Defence Force here in Adelaide that we will be getting the M1A1's but a conversion to diesel will be made. Apparently the only reason the yanks use the gas turbine engines is that they use the same fuel as their helicopters, thus easing complexity in the logistical requirements of their force as a whole. We, however, don't rely on 'copters as much, so a cheaper and less fuel thirsty diesel engine whould suit or conditions better.
As for further mods my father was unsure.
He's hoping though that as they are transported by rail up to Darwin through Adelaide that the information won't be classified and that we'll be able to have a look at them.

Hello! I had heard that Australia , was getting M1's. At least the Aussies , are getting a REAL TANK. Here in Canada , the " whistle heads" , in Ottawa ,are replacing our Leopard C2's , with the wheeled " Stryker ", ( 105 mm)Mobile Gun System. Which , by the way , was rejected , by the U.S. I am a real " Tread Head" , done time on , Centurions , Leopards 1A2 , C1 , and C2. A " wheeled tank", YIKES!
Frank
"PERSEVERANCE"