Build Review of Esci-Ertl 1/35th Scale LAV-25 “Piranha”
Kit no. 5033
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1980
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1980
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The LAV-25 (Light Armored Vehicle) is a member of the LAV II family.[2] It is an eight-wheeled amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle built by General Dynamics Land Systems and used by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army.
During the 1980s, the U.S. Marine Corps began looking for a light armored vehicle (LAV) to give their divisions greater mobility. In April 1981, the United States Department of Defense opened submissions to the LAV program.
Three contractors were down selected: Alvis – A Scorpion 90 and a three Scorpion APCs, Cadillac Gage – A V-150S (a stretched V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando) and a V-300, General Motors of Canada (General Motors Diesel)– a license-built copy of the Mowag Piranha 8×8.
The Marine Corps evaluated the three LAV submissions. In September 1982, the General Motors submission was selected. GM was awarded initial production contract for 969 LAVs. The Army type designated the 25 mm gun variant as the M1047.
The Army sought 2,350 of the 12.7 mm (.50) caliber-armed light squad carrier variant, and at one point was expected to be the LAV's biggest buyer. Congress canceled funds for the LAV-25, causing the Army to drop out of the program. The Marine Corps managed to secure enough funding to buy 758 LAVs in six variants.
The LAV entered service with the Marines in 1983. The Army borrowed at least a dozen LAV-25s for use by the 82nd Airborne Division, 3 squadron-73rd Armor for a scout platoon during the Gulf War. These LAV-25s were returned to the Marine Corps after the conflict.
The USMC ordered 758 vehicles of all variants. LAVs first saw combat during the invasion of Panama in 1989 and continued service in the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan.
The table of organization and equipment for a USMC light-armored reconnaissance battalion includes 56 LAV-25s, 16 LAV-ATs, 12 LAV-Ls, 8 LAV-Ms, 4 LAV-Rs, 4 LAV-C2s, and an unknown number of LAV-MEWSS vehicles.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored reconnaissance vehicle–infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin: Canada/United States
In service: 1983–present
Wars : U.S. invasion of Panama, Persian Gulf War, Operation Uphold Democracy, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Designer: General Motors Diesel (later General Dynamics Land Systems)
Manufacturer: General Motors Diesel (later GDLS)
Standard variant:
Mass : 12.80 tonnes (12.60 long tons; 14.11 short tons)
Length: 6.39 m (21 ft 0 in)
Width: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height: 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew: 3+6
Armor: Welded steel
Main armament: M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun with 210 rounds of ammunition
Secondary armament: Two M240 7.62 mm machine guns with 660 rounds of ammunition, one mounted co-axially and one pintle-mounted on the roof
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V53T of 300 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight: 19.5 hp/ (16.0 kW/t)
Transmission: Allison MT653
Suspension: 8×8 wheeled
Operational range: 660 km (410 mi)
Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
The LAV-25 (Light Armored Vehicle) is a member of the LAV II family.[2] It is an eight-wheeled amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle built by General Dynamics Land Systems and used by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army.
During the 1980s, the U.S. Marine Corps began looking for a light armored vehicle (LAV) to give their divisions greater mobility. In April 1981, the United States Department of Defense opened submissions to the LAV program.
Three contractors were down selected: Alvis – A Scorpion 90 and a three Scorpion APCs, Cadillac Gage – A V-150S (a stretched V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando) and a V-300, General Motors of Canada (General Motors Diesel)– a license-built copy of the Mowag Piranha 8×8.
The Marine Corps evaluated the three LAV submissions. In September 1982, the General Motors submission was selected. GM was awarded initial production contract for 969 LAVs. The Army type designated the 25 mm gun variant as the M1047.
The Army sought 2,350 of the 12.7 mm (.50) caliber-armed light squad carrier variant, and at one point was expected to be the LAV's biggest buyer. Congress canceled funds for the LAV-25, causing the Army to drop out of the program. The Marine Corps managed to secure enough funding to buy 758 LAVs in six variants.
The LAV entered service with the Marines in 1983. The Army borrowed at least a dozen LAV-25s for use by the 82nd Airborne Division, 3 squadron-73rd Armor for a scout platoon during the Gulf War. These LAV-25s were returned to the Marine Corps after the conflict.
The USMC ordered 758 vehicles of all variants. LAVs first saw combat during the invasion of Panama in 1989 and continued service in the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan.
The table of organization and equipment for a USMC light-armored reconnaissance battalion includes 56 LAV-25s, 16 LAV-ATs, 12 LAV-Ls, 8 LAV-Ms, 4 LAV-Rs, 4 LAV-C2s, and an unknown number of LAV-MEWSS vehicles.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored reconnaissance vehicle–infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin: Canada/United States
In service: 1983–present
Wars : U.S. invasion of Panama, Persian Gulf War, Operation Uphold Democracy, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Designer: General Motors Diesel (later General Dynamics Land Systems)
Manufacturer: General Motors Diesel (later GDLS)
Standard variant:
Mass : 12.80 tonnes (12.60 long tons; 14.11 short tons)
Length: 6.39 m (21 ft 0 in)
Width: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height: 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew: 3+6
Armor: Welded steel
Main armament: M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun with 210 rounds of ammunition
Secondary armament: Two M240 7.62 mm machine guns with 660 rounds of ammunition, one mounted co-axially and one pintle-mounted on the roof
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V53T of 300 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight: 19.5 hp/ (16.0 kW/t)
Transmission: Allison MT653
Suspension: 8×8 wheeled
Operational range: 660 km (410 mi)
Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)
Esci-Ertl was a toy manufacturer located in Dyersville, IA. They went out of business and sold the plant to another toy manufacturer.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Piranha that is posed against an all-white background.
It is overall dark-grey with black USMC 521594 on the sides of the hull.
The side panels repeat all this.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Piranha that is posed against an all-white background.
It is overall dark-grey with black USMC 521594 on the sides of the hull.
The side panels repeat all this.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains tan plastic parts. I don’t remember how many trees or parts there were, originally, before I built the model and the instructions don’t include part tree drawings.
The instructions are a large 17 ½” x 22 ½” sheet, that is printed on both sides. It gives the history of the Piranha, 5 assembly steps and a 5-view profile drawings.
The decal sheet has three license numbers on it three times each of: USMC 521594, USMC 521566 & 523048 all stenciled.
I have added the Verlinden brand dry-transfer decal sheet No. DTMI 306 to the kit, of U.S. Army Stenciling no. 1.
I put a lot of extra parts into an old pill tube.
The detail is excellent.
I have yet to paint and mark the model.
This kit contains tan plastic parts. I don’t remember how many trees or parts there were, originally, before I built the model and the instructions don’t include part tree drawings.
The instructions are a large 17 ½” x 22 ½” sheet, that is printed on both sides. It gives the history of the Piranha, 5 assembly steps and a 5-view profile drawings.
The decal sheet has three license numbers on it three times each of: USMC 521594, USMC 521566 & 523048 all stenciled.
I have added the Verlinden brand dry-transfer decal sheet No. DTMI 306 to the kit, of U.S. Army Stenciling no. 1.
I put a lot of extra parts into an old pill tube.
The detail is excellent.
I have yet to paint and mark the model.
Highly recommended.