Introduction:
The Logistic Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR), designed and manufactured by Oshkosh Defense, is a family of heavy-duty military logistic vehicles of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) based on a common 5-axle ten-wheel drive chassis.
I Love Kit offers LVSR family variants as 1/35 scale plastic kits. The first thing many modelers do after buying a model of a wheeled vehicle is to look for the resin replacement tires. Far superior to vinyl tires usually supplied in plastic kits, resin tires are better detailed, easier to clean and paint, and do not crack over time.
DEF Model recently released a set of resin replacement wheels to upgrade the I Love Kit offering: US LVSR MKR16 Tractor Sagged Wheel Set (DW35176).
Review:
The set comes in a large side-opening cardboard box.
The box contains two plastic bags with 10 resin pieces, 5 masking sheets and masking instruction leaflet.
Closer inspection of the resin pieces confirms a perfect cast. DEF Model is well-known for their quality control and this set is no exception; there are no defects in the resin, no air-bubbles or seam lines to clean, with sharp details all around.
Check out the magnified image of one of the wheels… tire sidewall markings are clear and every inscription legible, the rim details perfectly defined. Wow!
The carrier blocks are very easy to remove; a pair of side cutters and a modeling blade can easily do the trick. Since the blocks are located on the bottom of the road wheels, no visible detail is compromised during cleanup.
The wheels in the set are depicted sporting Michelin XZL 16.00R20 tire. This is an all-terrain, all-position radial tire designed for special service and tactical vehicles, with dimensions of 1343 x 438 mm (52.9 x 17.2 in) and the approved rim width of 254 mm (10 in). The tire features non-directional tread with open shoulder design.
There are numerous reference images on-line showing Michelin XZL 16.00R20 in detail and I had no problems comparing the real thing to DEF Model 1/35 scale offering. DEF Model tire authentically reproduces the distinctive Michelin XZL tread pattern, perfectly delivers sidewall details with all the markings and inscriptions easily identifiable… higher magnification also shows the tiny Michelin man among the sidewall markings. Absolutely amazing details! Also, with the dimensions of 38.30 x 12.50 mm, the tires in this set are perfectly sized 1/35 scale copies of the real thing.
The wheel rims feature series of bolts and central tire inflation system (CTIS) nicely delivered, as well as hub details with Oshkosh marking clearly legible. LVSR wheels are usually fitted with rim protectors, but they can be seen without these as well.
Wheel protector covers are supplied with LVSR from I Love Kit (part F25) and these can be used with DEF Model wheels. DEF website shows how to position the covers optimally (link).
There are five slightly different road wheels in the set, two each, labeled A to E on their carrier blocks. These wheel variants have differently oriented rim and sidewall details in relation to the tire ground contact. By fitting wheels A to E to the same side of the vehicle, these would not look identical and repetitive, adding to the realism of the model.
The wheels in this set are depicted with a slight sag at the tire ground contact. The compression of the tire serves to convey the weight of the vehicle. One more thing to mention is the sidewall “stressed skin” effect which occurs due to flexible radial sidewalls. The effect is clearly visible on real tires and DEF 1/35 scale version replicates this very realistically.
Fitting the wheels:
The set is designed as a direct replacement for the I Love Kit and the resin wheels have the same rear opening as the kit wheels for fitting kit parts F24/F33. Therefore, no alterations are necessary when fixing DEF Model wheels to I Love Kit model.
Wheel masks:
A welcomed addition to the set are 5 pre-cut masking sheets. These can be used when painting the wheels, allowing airbrushing without overspray. Also included is the instruction leaflet which shows two different ways of applying the masks and painting the wheels.
Conclusion:
US LVSR MKR16 Tractor Sagged Wheel Set (DW35176) is a very impressive resin set designed as a direct wheel replacement for LVSR kits from I Love Kit. The set includes 10 road wheels, perfectly cast and with beautifully delivered details. The road wheels are supplied in five slightly different versions, offering variation when fitted to the same side of the vehicle. The wheels are well sized and can be easily fitted to the model. Pre-cut masks which help in painting the wheels are a bonus.
Altogether, this is a great set of wheels, which provides a big improvement to the kit vinyl tires/plastic rims. Highly recommended.
A big thanks to DEF Model for this review sample:
