Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Canadian GB => Topic started by: Buzzbomb on August 16, 2026, 03:30:59 PM
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From what I can see the Canadians did a Yeah, Nah, on the Stryker M1128 Mobile Gun System.
As I was scratching around for a what to do, what to do, to support this GB, the AFV Club Stryker MGS was in the stash.. so why not :D
So what if they did go ahead ? Oh, no idea what the brown sludge is, was on the kit when I got it as a hand me down from a mate.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/w58v6wqubiztw9hyvsfx4/CDN_Stryker_1.jpg?rlkey=i0nfm63im3n0uc85ew4xhaft6&st=sljevtqh&raw=1)
Nothing much to report really, just a session doing a few steps, out of the box so far. Really, AFV Club don't really leave much to do, this is a pretty nice kit.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mwd7mjdxvxv5ajucdn8at/CDN_Stryker_2.jpg?rlkey=vzf5v7bmkiuahl2q2l4yykj0n&st=tc4zwjls&raw=1)
Trying to think of something that might make it more... Canadian, other than colour scheme. Australian modifications always seem to include some sort of Esky/Cooler. Best I have so far is perhaps Snow chains for a Winter setting and some tinkerings with the Autoloader, which appears to be the biggest flaw of the vehicle. Maybe the Canadians did a "get out of the way... this is how you do it!"
If anybody has an idea.. throw them in the mix. Who knows, might use them.
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MEXAS? ???
;D ;D
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Nice!
... Trying to think of something that might make it more... Canadian, other than colour scheme. Australian modifications always seem to include some sort of Esky/Cooler. Best I have so far is perhaps Snow chains for a Winter setting and some tinkerings with the Autoloader, which appears to be the biggest flaw of the vehicle. Maybe the Canadians did a "get out of the way... this is how you do it!"
If anybody has an idea.. throw them in the mix. Who knows, might use them.
Yeah, DND was very keen on the MGS ... at first. The first let-down was the realisation that a big gun didn't make it a Leo replacement. But there was also a question of bailiwick (ie: should the MGS belong to the 'Herbies' or the 'Zipper Heads'?).
Part of your 'Canadianisation' process will depend upon where and when you are positioning your MGS. DND's biggest RW push for the MGS all came before TF Kandahar. Had the procurement gone through, you could use the RW LAV LORIT upgrades as your guide.
So, ISAF markings; slat armour cage; larger hull stowage bins; colour-coded Canadian Tire plastic jerry cans; light sticks in used water bottle on the antennae, etc. For crew comfort, chuck on some blue mats; bottled water cartons; Coleman cooler (alas, we don't call 'em an Esky); etc.
Maybe Gingie could chime in on available sources of 1/35 versions of the above?
For a more radical Canadianisation, consider a medium-caliber fire support vehicle. One possibility would be to go full Begleitpanzer with a Bofors 57 autocannon (akin to the Halifax class FFHs' gun) in an unmanned turret (and keep the M1128's Low-Profile Turret for another project).
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If its operating in Canada, it will need an anti-Moose device (Aussie bull-bar thingy).
{{Oh dear ! all those many many AFV Club parts - chuck half in the spares box.}}
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Maybe replace the gun with a CV90 turret, with a 30mm or 40mm gun. Or a low pressure Cockerill 90mm gun turret?
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If its operating in Canada, it will need an anti-Moose device (Aussie bull-bar thingy)...
That'd be the beauty of slat armour - the bull-bar is built into the cage :smiley:
For un-caged LAV IIIs, the standard "anti-Moose device" was a spare wheel mounted on the lower glacis 'uparmoured' with a roll of razor wire ;)
Maybe replace the gun with a CV90 turret, with a 30mm or 40mm gun. Or a low pressure Cockerill 90mm gun turret?
Nice! Were it me, I'd go for the 40mm L/70 option - especially if based in Kandahar and doing some uphill shooting!
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All great ideas so far, bit short of spares where I am so we might do OOB initially then move back and mod a bit once I finish this house/dog sitting stint.
Thanks for the interest :smiley:
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All great ideas so far, bit short of spares where I am so we might do OOB initially then move back and mod a bit once I finish this house/dog sitting stint...
Remote modelling ... that's impressive!
Once you're back home, you could always play with temporary turret swaps.
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All great ideas so far, bit short of spares where I am so we might do OOB initially then move back and mod a bit once I finish this house/dog sitting stint...
Remote modelling ... that's impressive!
Once you're back home, you could always play with temporary turret swaps.
Yes the Niece goes to Ireland and we get to mind the dog ;D
Turret swap is probably where I will head.
Although, I am now considering a new backstory component that sets the timeline as during the period of upheaval during the setting of the Movie Civil War. Planning on some sort of Border guard to ensure no border breaches by either Western Forces or the forces of the "United States". So not UN but probably some sort of High Vis marking Canadian Forces. Something like a Yellow Wrap around band.
So for this type of deployment, it could stay as it is, the full MGS.
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I like your Border Guard angle. The whole RW CF concept for wheeled vehicles was about quite reaction (and be able to 'self-deploy'). Guarding the 49th Parallel during an American fracas makes perfect sense (and also gives the option of applying markings for Reserves armoured units) :smiley:
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OK, I am back.
Have to say, this AFV Club kit goes together rather well and is quite well detailed
This is it pretty much done as an out of the box build, sans a few sticky out bits, that might have broken during transport
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3nuam2hnofov6mnzy0v9i/CDN_Stryker_3.jpg?rlkey=ok9xvw6xipb1h1i2afgxdzski&st=5o1k2lir&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yhskchrn3yaxunvu7qq6c/CDN_Stryker_4.jpg?rlkey=7ym1uj6gadv899eb2hhn8ni77&st=y4vruga2&raw=1)
I am now most probably sticking with the MGS layout, as I reckon it is quite a cool looking vehicle. There is still a turret I want to try, but I will wait until I see it in place before finally moving on a design layout.
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Looking good! And, yeah, that Low-Profile Turret does make for a cool-looking vehicle :D
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Ok, we are back :D
Slapped a bit of paint on
For the backstory of providing Border security, I went for a Yellow Identification band.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g2d0as07flaykdvu3cctk/CDN_Stryker_5.jpg?rlkey=nab43snmgp14an4mcnk775fja&st=friz90bq&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/po498vz1eq3vbxfpgtdbk/CDN_Stryker_6.jpg?rlkey=e6x7zqrmerjhhdf6q2t6x36xr&st=hjuw6f3h&raw=1)
Now in resplendent gloss coat and with wheels
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nosbiybt2wfqotjxfi86x/CDN_Stryker_7.jpg?rlkey=ba6lgwd9sz96opef51vli0k5x&st=m2nhfy00&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rs6j365vky9uqw75oqghk/CDN_Stryker_8.jpg?rlkey=k6i764jdwu21k5szw53ccskig&st=s673d6p0&raw=1)
Still all out of the box, we shall see how we go when it is stowage time, however considering the sort of static role guarding a border, not too much clutter.
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Ooh! That's looking good! 8)
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Liking the paint job! :smiley:
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Very nice! And digging those yellow ID bands :smiley:
... Still all out of the box, we shall see how we go when it is stowage time ...
Black Dog does an impressive 1/35 set of accessories for the LAV LORIT upgrade. Probably way more than you need for this border guard beast but still a nice set.
-- https://blackdog-model.com/t35053-1-35-canadian-lav-iii-lorit-accessories-set-1/
-- https://blackdog-model.com/_obchody/blackdog-model.shop5.cz/prilohy/7/t35053-5.jpg.big.jpg
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Amazing work on this!
Replacing the MGS turret would be a good idea as I’ve heard nobody could ever get them to work right. I think the US military has such a stockpile of 105mm ammo that using that gun on any vehicle makes it cheaper in the long run. The Booker has a 105mm gun too and it’s been canceled after a short run. Ammo supply for the few that were built will be basically free.
A turret similar to but slightly bigger than the standard Stryker would be pretty cool with a honk’n big 40mm gun barrel. I think Sweden uses it so get a license from them instead of reinventing the wheel again.
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Great finish! The weathering is top notch and the yellow bands look great - almost like a Chris Foss vehicle from the Terran Trade Authority.
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... A turret similar to but slightly bigger than the standard Stryker would be pretty cool with a honk’n big 40mm gun barrel. I think Sweden uses it so get a license from them instead of reinventing the wheel again.
I like this idea. In the past, I had played with M1128-style low-rise turrets mounting an inverted Bofors - 40mm or 57mm L/70 - autocannon for direct fire-support vehicles. Ukraine seems to suggest that notion might have merit (based on the performance of donated Strf 9040Cs and ex-Soviet S-60 AA guns on various Mad Max mounts).
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IIRC the Swedes have a fuse to explode the shell in an air burst inside a building or over a boat or vehicle. Pretty scary if you’re on the wrong end!
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IIRC the Swedes have a fuse to explode the shell in an air burst inside a building or over a boat or vehicle. Pretty scary if you’re on the wrong end!
They certainly would be! The 40mm rounds supplied to Ukraine are probably the older Bofors 3P type ('Pre-fragmented, Programmable, & Proximity-fused'). But FMV has just arranged a contract with Nammo Sweden AB for supplies of their PABEX ('Programmable AirBurst EXplosive') rounds for AA use as well as for the Strf 9040C IFVs.
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Thanks guys.. all great ideas.
So here we have it
Canadian Stryker M1128 Mobile Guns System, somewhere on the southern Canadian Border on Overwatch duty during the American Civil Unrest Crisis of 202?
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/u3g0z2uuqohb2yle1oi8t/CDN_Stryker_9.jpg?rlkey=g7lrakno7pd7c8ig8huci93na&st=gqgkjvpg&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/raqjy63i6zle685m9id1l/CDN_Stryker_10.jpg?rlkey=783c9dfmxj4um8fm52fc4mux0&st=d4klqufi&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/opcwds1h5vnz0phka22mr/CDN_Stryker_11.jpg?rlkey=2iyl0izo17egg54yi54xwti69&st=ipr0xpc7&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i3mr792dki9wtb76w81zi/CDN_Stryker_12.JPG?rlkey=nroqw50g7wo59fburzbwdouo7&st=hatgysez&raw=1)
Out of the box build of a very, very nice kit that really did not need much more and certainly not putting on etch for the sake of putting on etch like individual tie down points ???
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I dunno, BT, it's Canadian ... it needs at least one carton of beer! ;D
Great finish, mate! 8)
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I dunno, BT, it's Canadian ... it needs at least one carton of beer! ;D
Guy: Two-Fours are incoming. The side bins all but empty. But those circular cut-outs in the bins are there to ensure that stashed cases of Lug Tread Lagered Ale are properly air-cooled upon arrival at the border.
This vehicle is obviously pre-deployment. They'll probably hit Tim's first for coffee and doughnuts and then swing by the LCBO for the brewskis :smiley:
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I dunno, BT, it's Canadian ... it needs at least one carton of beer! ;D
Guy: Two-Fours are incoming. The side bins all but empty. But those circular cut-outs in the bins are there to ensure that stashed cases of Lug Tread Lagered Ale are properly air-cooled upon arrival at the border.
This vehicle is obviously pre-deployment. They'll probably hit Tim's first for coffee and doughnuts and then swing by the LCBO for the brewskis :smiley:
:smiley:
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A bit late to praise, but - it looks terrific! I shall try to avoid thinking about it bisecting a line of North Dakota 'technicals' on the Highway to Winnipeg...
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... I shall try to avoid thinking about it bisecting a line of North Dakota 'technicals' on the Highway to Winnipeg...
The infamous Pembina-Emerson 'Highway of Kinetic Impoliteness'? ;D