Landrovers and Bedfords: the "unglamourous" Airfix/JB kits

[Weaver]

I was just looking at the Airfix/JB Forward Control Landrover Ambulance kit, and it struck me that it could make a good basis for a riot control vehicle. Take the small spare turret from the Saracen kit and stick it on the Landy with the gun replaced by a water cannon barrel.

Any other ideas for these, and the other "unglamourous" Airfix/JB kits? I'm thinking about the Airfix/JB 1/76th F/C ambulance, F/C soft top, the soft and hard top Landrover Defenders , the Bedford soft top truck and the refuelling truck.

There's also a relevant discussion about half-track versions on this thread: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,22383.0.html

[rickshaw]

There are real-world Landrover armoured cars, the Shorland.  Saw extensive service in Northern Ireland.  Made use of a modified long wheelbase series III chassis with a new armoured car body with the standard British light AFV turret off of the Ferret Mk. II and the Saracen APC:

[raafif]

I think that everything possible has already been done to the Landy -- hovercraft, giant balloon tyres for driving on water, giant cleated steel wheels for farming etc.  I have a pic of a mobile home on a Landy forward-control chassis -- possibly an ex-army ambulance -- it used standard sheet-metal parts like the Carmichael RAF fire-engines.

Some interesting Bedford RL & QL's ??  Only seen one converted as an open troop carrier like the Rhodesian Buffels and the US halftrack chassis with right-hand drive RL cab (post-war civil conversions).
what other ideas ?

[Weaver]

I think that everything possible has already been done to the Landy -- hovercraft, giant balloon tyres for driving on water, giant cleated steel wheels for farming etc.  I have a pic of a mobile home on a Landy forward-control chassis -- possibly an ex-army ambulance -- it used standard sheet-metal parts like the Carmichael RAF fire-engines.

Some interesting Bedford RL & QL's ??  Only seen one converted as an open troop carrier like the Rhodesian Buffels and the US halftrack chassis with right-hand drive RL cab (post-war civil conversions).
what other ideas ?

I intend to do my Bedford as a half-track, since it won't work for the project I bought it for. I'll be using Matchbox M3 halftrack bits on it.

A Buffel-style vehicle would be interesting and not too hard since it's all flat panels. The trouble is that there'd be so much of the Bedford kit left over that you'd still have to think of something to do with it.....

[Thorvic]

Use the landies, the 1 tonner and the bedford to create an updated SAS group, probably an early equivilant to the teams used in Iraq-91, due the landies being series III. The 1 tonner would look rather like the Jackal now in use i suppose.

You could always try cross kitting the bedford with a Fodden...

http://www.knightwing.co.uk/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?cart_id=1249721014.529&product=OO-HO_Road_Transport_Kits&pid=146

They also do the other keilkraft trucks and tailers, together with various accessories.

G

[Mike Wren]

Use the landies, the 1 tonner and the bedford to create an updated SAS group, probably an early equivilant to the teams used in Iraq-91, due the landies being series III. The 1 tonner would look rather like the Jackal now in use i suppose.
G

I'm going to do a 6x6 1 tonne FC as an SAS 'mothership' a bit like the Pinzgauer below, of course you could do standard 6x6 GS versions too.

also planning an MK in Berlin Brigade camo... 

[Mossie]

There's a thread on the Saracen & Saladin that might be useful for those kits:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21918.0/highlight,saracen.html

I've sometimes thought of converting the Bedford MK Refueler into an updated Blue Water launcher.  Remove the tank from the back, modify the equipment panniers slightly & add a simple launcher for the missile.  Oh, & tap someone up for a SAMI Blue Water!  The prototype Blue Water was launched by a Bedford RL, so it's not a big stretch to do a later mark on an MK.  I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one to think on these lines.

[Geoff]

Rickshaw- West Yorkshire plod have at least one armoured Landrover in full jam buttie scheme. No turret though it has an observation dome with wire screening.

[Mossie]

Found this Bedford MK that had been modified for the movie 'Red Scorpion'.  Has a simple grille bolted on the front to make it look a bit Ruskie.  I've  got vague recollections of hiring the video & watching at my mates when we were at Secondary School, couldn't tell you much though.  It has Dolph Lundgren in it, so you can pretty much guess how it'll be!

One for the 'continuity' spotters, notice how the guy in the wagon is on the left & appears to be holding the wheel, but you can still see it on the right!

[Silverfox]

Any other ideas for these, and the other "unglamourous" Airfix/JB kits?

For the Bedford - Guntruck! You know it makes sense!!

[Mossie]

Probably as many civvy conversions of the MK/TK have been done as military, take a look at these on the 'Travellers Homes' website:
http://www.travellerhomes.co.uk/?s=188

If you're going for real world civvy conversions of the MK's or Landy's, there are plenty to choose from, same with the Emergency set & even the Refuelling set.

I like the idea of a 4 tonner guntruck, how about an armoured cab?  There were long wheelbase, artic & four axle versions of the civvy TK, that opens things up a bit.  How about a rocket launcher on the long wheel base, Dana style howitzer on the four axle & a TEL on the artic?

[Weaver]

Any other ideas for these, and the other "unglamourous" Airfix/JB kits?

For the Bedford - Guntruck! You know it makes sense!!

There are two problems with a gun truck (or any open-topped project):

1) The erect canvas cover is moulded in one piece with the sides, including the ropes hooked over the hooks on the outside of the ribbed panels. you could carve it all off of course, but it'd be damned fiddly.

2) There is no detail on the inside of the body: no seats, floor panels, nothing. Again, fixable, but fiddly.

This is what put me off making a technical out mine, with an ACE towed Zu-23-2 mount on the back.

[Weaver]

Found this on a link from the Airfix forum, but I know absolutely NOTHING about it, other than that it's glorious!  



EDIT: actually, I do know one thing about it: the boxes on the back are Craven fibreglass motorcycle panniers!

[jcf]

Looks like a Landie had it off with an Allard J2. 

[Mossie]

My first thought was Blower Bentley.  Maybe a hill climber?