Australian Recon Series II Landrover

[Buzzbomb]

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



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



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.



Plenty of road ahead on this build

[Old Wombat]

I'll be watching! 

[Kerick]

I’m looking forward to this one!

[raafif]

New Zealand also used these in Rhodesia.  Hope someone does a forward-control version soon

[Kerick]

New Zealand also used these in Rhodesia.  Hope someone does a forward-control version soon

That would be cool! Finding the right radios would be the trick.

[Buzzbomb]

Thanks team.
Ok, pillocking rain today, very welcome. Does mean shed time though 
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.


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.


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.


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.

[Old Wombat]

Looking like you're thinking this through nicely, BT. 

My RAMs versions will be carrying L7s instead of M60s ... But I'll still be keeping a close eye on this & shamelessly stealing ideas.   

[Frank3k]

It's looking good - I like the brush bar. Are you going to add the sand ladders/traction boards?

[Claymore]

    

[Buzzbomb]

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.



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.



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


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 

[Claymore]

Loving the detail! 

[Old Wombat]

 

[apophenia]

This is looking seriously good! 

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