AFV interiors?

[seadude]

I want to buy a wheeled AFV (Armored Fighting Vehicle) model kit soon, but I'm not sure which one to get. I need one with a good amount of interior space. Either the:
a) Boxer
b) Stryker
c) LAV-25

I realise there's numerous versions of anti-tank, ambulance, recon, NBC, anti-air, etc., etc., etc. for each one. All I want is just the "basic" unit so to speak. Is anybody familiar with the REAL vehicles and can tell me how much interior space the Boxer, Stryker, and the LAV-25 has? From what I have seen on the Net so far, I am temporarily leaning toward getting a Stryker model kit.

[scooter]

I realise there's numerous versions of anti-tank, ambulance, recon, NBC, anti-air, etc., etc., etc. for each one. All I want is just the "basic" unit so to speak. Is anybody familiar with the REAL vehicles and can tell me how much interior space the Boxer, Stryker, and the LAV-25 has? From what I have seen on the Net so far, I am temporarily leaning toward getting a Stryker model kit.

Not a lot.  What is there is taken up by gear, equipment, bodies, etc.  This shot grabbed from Wiki should give you an idea of what it looks like.

And it may look like a lot of space, but remember, this is an *empty* shot.

[Go4fun]

Yeah. by the time you stuff the crew, their duffle bags and packs, ammo, radios, rations, snacks, personal kit and other brick-a-brack in any AFV it's like riding in the back of a rock truck with bad shock absorbers.
And that's on a smooth road.

[kerick]

I know from personal experience the M113 was god awful. The vibration and noise from the track was crazy.

I know your looking for wheeled vehicles but the M113 had quite a bit of space inside. Stryker has a lot of "floor space" but the roof is low. Its derived from the LAV family so I suspect the LAV is similar. The basic LAV has a two man turret that would take up almost half the space. Stryker doesn't have a turret so that would open things up quite a bit.  Boxer, I'm afraid I'm no help.

What is your intention for this project? That would help us give proper advice.

[rickshaw]

From the pictures I've seen, the Boxer, despite it's quite large size is quite cramped internally.  The thickness of the armour array is such that what is a large vehicle becomes a small one inside.   Then, as noted you put some burly, well fed, European soldiers inside plus their personal equipment and of course their weapons and ammunition and it becomes quite cosy.   One of the big consumers of space is AT rocket/missile launchers.

This is a common problem with most IFVs and APCs.  They get filled up quite quickly and why you'll often see them festooned with personal kit outside, to try and make a bit of space and comfort on long advances.  They end up looking like Gypsy Caravans.

[seadude]

What is your intention for this project? That would help us give proper advice.

To turn something like this:




..........Into something like this:

[Dizzyfugu]

Ambulance or command version of the respective tanks might offer more space, e. g. the M577; higher roof and more space:




Tamiya even did a kit:

[scooter]

Ambulance or command version of the respective tanks might offer more space, e. g. the M577; higher roof and more space

Ambulance version of the Stryker gives you about another foot. of head clearance.  The command version is more radios, computers, and less personnel on the same chassis the troop carrier

[Weaver]

There's a Canadian version of the 8x8 LAV called a Bison that has a taller, wider troop compartment with no turret, which might make a good basis for a camper conversion. Not sure if there's a kit of it, however.

http://www.military-today.com/apc/bison.htm

[NARSES2]

An unrelated question. Should that guy be resting his rifle muzzle down next to the M577 ?

Just looks wrong to me, but then I've never been in the services

[Go4fun]

An unrelated question. Should that guy be resting his rifle muzzle down next to the M577 ?

Just looks wrong to me, but then I've never been in the services

Short answer? Not "No" but "HELL no"!  He'd also need a box to repace his butt after I finished chewing him out for that because he doesn't have a magazine, (Empty or otherwise) loaded in it.

[scooter]

An unrelated question. Should that guy be resting his rifle muzzle down next to the M577 ?

Just looks wrong to me, but then I've never been in the services

Short answer? Not "No" but "HELL no"!  He'd also need a box to repace his butt after I finished chewing him out for that because he doesn't have a magazine, (Empty or otherwise) loaded in it.

Agreed on the no muzzle on the ground (He should have had slung it on the track carrier), but when I was in Iraq (2005), theatre SOP was "Carry your weapon, unloaded (no magazine), with a loaded magazine at the ready" along with always wearing your helmet inside the wire, until late October of that year, unless it interferes with your duties (PMCS on vehicles, maintenance, &c)

[kerick]

Let him take it to the range and fire it with a rock stuck in the end, he'll learn then!

[GeorgeC]

An unrelated question. Should that guy be resting his rifle muzzle down next to the M577 ?

Just looks wrong to me, but then I've never been in the services

I am finding it quite stressful not being able to give him a career-changing bollocking....

[jcf]

How do you know it's his weapon? Could be the photographer's.