Another Twilight 2000 style armor what if...

[dexter059]

Hi all....again  
I did this VAB a while ago (showed to you in a sort of dio), but didn´t like the look of it. So I decided to make some kitbashing and create this thing, a different paint finish and some scratch, little since I´m not a scratchbuilder (yet). The figures are only for reference, just to get an idea of the final product. Here the backstory, remember, it´s a Twilight 2000 sort of thing :

LASIV "(Light Assault & Security Infantry Vehicle) "Escorpion"

During the mid 90´s, Chile started a big weapons deal with USA and Europe, to replace their Army´s WWII vintage systems. In addition to US supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley vehicles to boost the power of the armor units, a light wheeled infantry vehicle was sought to improve infantry units mobility and protection in urban enviroments and/or soft terrains, where the heavier vehicles were unable to operate. Many vehicles were tested, and the final decision favored the french VAB, chosen over the swiss Piranha and the spanish BMR. The vehicle was named LASIV (Light Assault & Security Infantry Vehicle) "Escorpion", and an order for 200 troop carriers and 20 command vehicles was placed.
Only 54 troop carriers were delivered before the Twilight War, since France were needed of those vehicles to cover their own Army needs. All of Chilean vehicles were used in their original camo scheme in the following duties:
- convoy escorts
- protectionn of the Presidential Palace and Military HQ
- riot control vehicles
- anti terrorist operations against the chilean communist guerrilla strongholds.

Since the original weapons were insuficient to provide enough firepower to fullfil all the previously named duties, the Chilean Army modified the vehicles adding a bow mounted turret with a .50" and .30" MG, 2 pin mounted M60 MG in the center and an aft pin mounted .30" MG. The  .30" MG were taken from old M24 Chaffee light tanks and M3 halftracks.

This vehicle belongs to the 1st Infantry Regiment "Buin", operating as security vehicle in Santiago downtown in 2006















Comments Welcome.
Best Regards  

[Brian da Basher]

That's really cool dexter and your weathering is very well done! It's nice to see some armor here too. Armor, ships. planes....it's a diverse crowd here in Whifland.

Brian da Basher

[Tophe]

It's nice to see some armor here too. Armor, ships. planes....it's a diverse crowd here in Whifland.
Brian da Basher

I love this word: Whifland (thanks Brian if this is an invention of yours) - I am not nationalistic nor army-fan while I could accept to serve for the defense of Whifland, attacked by the JMN army ...  
Especially with those roundels on our side:

[John Howling Mouse]

That's some eye-catching work you have there!

Just getting into armour this week myself.  Always helps to have such inspiration around!

 

[anthonyp]

Dexter, your armor always looks so good!  Great job!