Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Buzzbomb on October 24, 2025, 07:16:33 PM
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Australia used the Series II Land Rover extensively during the 60's and 70's, including Vietnam.
There were many local modifications. The Australian SAS did use the vehicle for exactly this function in the Long Range Patrol Vehicle fitout. Like the original SAS with many variations of fit out
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gwz7m6o4mfn8b1yv031vf/lrpv12.jpg?rlkey=hv1bbma7760la9inqug3te4fn&st=y5zgjoqx&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tk4qkmgwgtg2og9zq3k2n/lrpv11.jpg?rlkey=6bh97kdoy25iyarmw6tog540f&st=h4wbb9ca&raw=1)
So perhaps, here is another fit out.
This is the venerable Italeri British SAS combat car/Pink Panther kit, that has lanquished mostly built on the Shelf-o-doom for some time. So to get the mojo going, lets have a tinker
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mlo9ucz4jsw76qrjtnqpj/LR_Recon_1.JPG?rlkey=xun50eeascvp41mtj0zso7d02&st=bmsxisj0&raw=1)
initial thoughts and layout trials. Using the GPMG M-60 and perhaps a .50 M2, this is likely to change though as it evolves.
Upgrade the radio a bit to a more powerful AN/VRC-46 rig. Also added some battery compartments, for the radio.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g2jdj10b9y0bv9nvhzano/LR_Recon_3.JPG?rlkey=ro4luxczhw63k1ijfx433ar2i&st=zszqoz30&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0528n04kmiojycibypn68/LR_Recon_4.JPG?rlkey=u6xa4u4xzy48bndmfm1j2u5x1&st=ki4ymf6h&raw=1)
Plenty of road ahead on this build
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I'll be watching! 8)
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I’m looking forward to this one!
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New Zealand also used these in Rhodesia. Hope someone does a forward-control version soon 8)
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New Zealand also used these in Rhodesia. Hope someone does a forward-control version soon 8)
That would be cool! Finding the right radios would be the trick.
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Thanks team.
Ok, pillocking rain today, very welcome. Does mean shed time though :smiley:
Not huge amounts, but getting stuff on
I have a GPMG standing in for one of the M-60's in these shots
Brush bar has been scratch built up and front mounted Jerry cans. Peculiar to this type of vehicle, but I suppose in the deep outback, indicators would not be a high use item.
It is a quite neat spot for them really.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ijrj55o5xl02u7ckapowy/LR_Recon_6.JPG?rlkey=ud9iw7983bslg0c2ksam8g651&st=bt0dslh7&raw=1)
Stowage box in the back and rear mounted Water Jerries. Another might be mounted on the drivers side, where the green awful kit one is standing in as a test unit.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0b3egpiamkpkz7x9dxzkh/LR_Recon_7.JPG?rlkey=1tynp9dnjzibtpo22bfnylqjs&st=cfuonfn8&raw=1)
General side view testing out side mounts for either/and/or Jerry Can/Spare Wheel/s. The Roll bar has been sorted out and mounted more correctly. The bendy bits are sort of stowage point and
a mounting for a tarp covering for the radio in case of inclement weather. As we know, water, electricity and electronics never play well together.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0ybozxeajoaf8go08j6rw/LR_Recon_8.JPG?rlkey=hwpe6m1zutz6hf10rojw3lp4b&st=ic59pdl4&raw=1)
Still a bit more to go on yet, but getting along.
The rifle boxes on front wheel fenders will go back on, Antenna mount, more stuff, etc etc still to go.
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Looking like you're thinking this through nicely, BT. :smiley:
My RAMs versions will be carrying L7s instead of M60s ... But I'll still be keeping a close eye on this & shamelessly stealing ideas. ;) ;D
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It's looking good - I like the brush bar. Are you going to add the sand ladders/traction boards?
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:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
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So an update. Pretty much done, less the wheels which are a work in progress.
The Australian Bar Tread Tyres for the land Rover were a bit different to some Rover wheels and the kit wheels are not even close. So using a very, very old mould, which is producing some rather average and shoddy resin copies, let see.
Overall, pretty much this is it. Went ahead and build a more elaborate Roll Bar and stowage cage.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/omoo5wdiy9ll2jx3z1n4h/LR_Recon_9.JPG?rlkey=5oqq3y34hsh1fge2ch220a7t7&st=z9tb2j20&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wb7eu3q48nqq8270jisk3/LR_Recon_10.JPG?rlkey=ypxlg9mic9u0aazizaeyta513&st=3c41aczw&raw=1)
The round bits are the spare wheel carriers. I decided that mounting on the brush bar would compromise cooling a bit, even though there is plenty of pictorial evidence saying it was quite often done.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r8e2o87149gntgf73pcgc/LR_Recon_11.JPG?rlkey=4fljn8hwuxfe1lym9gvsnj1zz&st=vd86ib3y&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/svkxgn7gtomg05w654mc6/LR_Recon_12.JPG?rlkey=quve9ijbv4hbect8w0ldlavle&st=vs176k0s&raw=1)
To the paint shop next.. after I put on the wing nuts for the tool clamps which the pictures told me I had forgotten. And the Antenna mount. That too
Build up some webbing to be used as a bit of stowage
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kltlexcfx00066du573gd/LR_Recon_web.JPG?rlkey=7i1uh4iy0md29mpiniccxa1at&st=nm6vj3bj&raw=1)
So the paint shop next. After I put on the wing nuts on the tool clamps the pictures told me I had forgotter. And the antenna mount ???
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Loving the detail! :smiley:
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:smiley:
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This is looking seriously good! :smiley: :smiley:
And good call on the spare tire mounts. Based on your SASR photos, obviously they could carry spares directly in front of the radiator ... but that just looks wrong ???
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Progress shot of the paint work in progress. Pretty much only now waiting on a set of decent wheels. The rather tatty copies on it are place holders for the a much better set.
That will be it for a couple of weeks, pending the wheels.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yqc566gw1ta1vgnxxv7q0/LR_Recon_13.JPG?rlkey=df638ux6m0wtd33opjmui8pg5&st=2btxoo77&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ya55t8d9p3tykgx6qdash/LR_Recon_14.JPG?rlkey=w2ksqn7xml3m1h5de0hyvc2r4&st=p1a7n5dc&raw=1)
Its bench mate at the moment is the Airfix 1/35 GS Cargo truck. A positively spiffing kit, easy build and looks great. The cargo is a load of 3D printed resin 4 Gallon Flimsies in the transport boxes.
Calling this one done.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d6qsxmzm5riy5v4c9z01p/LR_Recon_CTW.JPG?rlkey=15iu0yub8vg8yt2ca0teiqa7n&st=wf2of1q9&raw=1)
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Coming along nicely, BT! :smiley:
Good to hear the GS is a nice build, as I have one (?), maybe two (?), floating around the stash. ;)
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The Land Rover looks good! Nice and dusty.
The GS Cargo truck looks great! For a sec. I thought Airfix reboxed the Gecko kit, but luckily it's either an in-house design or an ICM subcontract.
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Nice job all around! I like your work on the copper roll bar and the wire basket. Did you solder it or CA glue it together?
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That will do that. Although not terribly happy with some of the weathering choices around the wheels. May need a redo. Or not.
Maybe just a brush down will do. Out of scope for this thread any.
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ne5j2uls6z5eotivmv379/LR_Recon_15.JPG?rlkey=8w2262gaf2qsvhwsz86d3feo4&st=x7im3rtt&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t7wd5a9v3ba5j0phzonz9/LR_Recon_16.JPG?rlkey=hsc1naf64ybs08fpuka7pncbv&st=ui26zyi7&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pdtr9u4lp4rocasrbxaxk/LR_Recon_17.JPG?rlkey=0wuar2gf5xru5bym52ej7cvrr&st=a10l7x3x&raw=1)
Thanks all for the kind words
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Nicely done, BT! :smiley:
(Although the images are a bit too dark to get a really good look at the detail. ;) )
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Very nice and reminiscent of the WMIKs we used to operate - although our vehicles carried a GPMG up front and either a 0.5” HMG or 40mm GMG on the roll cage weapon mount. :smiley:
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Thanks team
(Although the images are a bit too dark to get a really good look at the detail. ;) )
Sheer laziness, using the phone rather than walk inside, get the SLR Camera out and jigger about with depth of field etc etc. ;D
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Great stuff! I wonder what motorcycle the tires on the front bumper would be for? I'm guessing something local & civy - or did the SASR have an issued bike like an Armstrong MT500?