Introduction
The HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) and its “cousins”, the PLS (Palletized Load System, M1074/M1075) and the LVSR (Logistics Vehicle System Replacement, MKR15, MKR16 and MKR18) have for a long time been favourite model subjects of mine. Thus, when the Chinese company “I Love Kit” announced two variants of the LVSR family, the MKR16 and the MKR18, I felt an instant craving to get the latter version. Having read the article on Wikipedia on the LVSR, I also was not in doubt, what vehicle, I wanted to model, since one of the vehicles shown on the Wiki page is visually very attracting. Also, the US Marines Corps worked closely together with the Danish Army in Afghanistan (see my book on the subject “Danish Leopards in Helmand – from the Crews Perspective” during the ISAF mission from 2007 until 2014. You can find all the resources I have on the LVSR in the link below.
This page complements my similar page on LVSR online resources. If you have any resources, you want to share, please post them there: LVSR Resource Page
The planning process
When planning to build a complex model like the LVSR MKR18, I try to find as many resources as possible. Pictures of the real thing, if possible Technical Manuals or other documentation which helps in assessing whether kit parts are correct. Rule of thumb is, manufactures cut corners, so in principle every part needs to be assessed to see if it is useable, or needs modification. Thus, every picture is a bonus in this respect.
My intention with this project is to make a model resembling the vehicles in the two pictures below. The main differences between the ILK LVSR MKR18 kit and the vehicles below are the armoured cab and the MCTAGS (Marine Corps Transparent Armoured Gun Shield) armoured “turret”. The MCTAGS is a standard item in the USMC inventory, and can be seen on vehicles like the Hummer, the MTVR 6x6 truck and the LVSR.
When preparing a model project, I always try to gather all relevant aftermarket parts in order to make my model as accurate as possible. Currently my shopping list looks like this:
ILK LVSR MKR18 #63550: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/i-love-kit-63550-lvsr-mkr18-cargo--1523449
DEF.Model US LVSR MKR16 Tractor Sagged wheel set #DW35176 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/defmodel-dw35176-us-lvsr-mkr16-tractor-sagged-wheel-set-michxzl-1600-r20-10-wheels--1576964
Legend MCTAGS turret #LF3D016 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/legend-productions-lf3d016-mctags-turret-w-rs-cover-set--1122791
Small Designer “LVSR Cabin Armoured Closed” LVSR Cabin Armored Closed – 3D-WILD
EMP3D LVSR Suspension add-on set: https://emp3d.eu/en_US/p/LVSR-MKR16-suspension-add-ons-set-135/5754
Items currently wanted:
• Clear parts for the extra front LED lights as seen in front of the vehicle in the reference pictures below.
• A recovery triangle as seen in front of the vehicle in the reference pictures below.
• The Technical Manual for the LVSR. If you have it, please share 
Resources:
The HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck)
The PLS (Palletized Load System, M1074/M1075)
LVSR (Logistics Vehicle System Replacement, MKR15, MKR16 and MKR18)
My LVSR resources
“Danish Leopards in Helmand – from the Crews Perspective”
Construction
Generally speaking, for me the construction phase contains at least two steps. The actual building of subassemblies is one step, and the other is all the time spend assessing the kit parts, and evaluating, what is needed in terms of correcting faulty parts or adding detail not present in kit. Sometimes, this added detail needs to be scratch build, and sometimes, the aftermarket parts will help you out.
The first subassembly I have built is the C-section chassis frame (Step 13 in the instructions). By implication, it is the foundation for the other subassemblies of the kit, and thus it is a paramount importance, everything is squared away in the frame, as any imperfection will cause other parts to be out of alignment.
Comparing the kit parts with pictures of the underside of the real LVSR reveals, unfortunately ILK did not do their homework properly. There are significant differences between the chassis frame of the real LVSR MKR18 and what you get in the kit. The chassis frame errors are in two places. The C-section beams of the chassis frame are connected to each other with among others three H-shaped square tube beams, which on the real LVSR are situated between the second and the third axle. In the kit the third of the three H-shaped beams is situated between third and the fourth axle, which is wrong, at least on the MKR18 variant.
Furthermore, in the kit these three H-shaped beams have the same width, but in real life, all three beams have a different width, see pictures below.
Also, the transmission part is wrong. It should have a flat bottom unlike what the kit gives us. I made a quick modification of the part. It is not a 100 % accurate, but better than the kit part.
In this picture, you can see the completed chassis frame with two of the TAK-4 suspension units. I have managed to keep the chassis frame straight from the front to the last of the three H-shaped beams. From there, the chassis frame is beginning to bend a bit. I hope, I can straighten the rest of the chassis frame, when I add the Load Handling mechanism.
Summing up having built what you see in the pictures:
Generally speaking, the ILK kit is a nice, well detailed and fairly accurate representation of the Oshkosh LVSR (Logistics Vehicle System Replacement) MKR18 Cargo truck. Minor errors exist in the kit, some of which will only be seen, if you place the completed model on a mirror. The casting of the plastic parts in OK, but not as well done, as what for instance AFV Club or MENG provide. If you know the AFV Club Stryker or M60 kits, you know, what I mean.
If you wonder, why I bother about the appearance of the parts in the chassis frame and in suspension units, which will not be easy to see, when the model is completed, then my intension is to place the completed model on a mirror, so these fine details indeed will be visible.
To be continued …
Kit (Trumpeter) has the best truck models out there in my opinion. They are very detailed and look great when done.
