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 here, too! 

[kerick]

The copper roll bar is a nice touch already. Personally, I'd stay with the M60 guns and skip the M2. But that's just my $0.02 worth. I'm looking forward to more of this one!

[Rick Lowe]

I now have Cutting Mat Envy... and Space to Work With it Envy... 

Just a thought; wouldn't the roll bar go behind the seats, forward of the rear bulkhead, and not through the fuel tanks?
Or am I missing something (which is all too likely)?

Someone also once told me not to get too fussy about filling the seam along the tops of the fenders, as there's a small gap there in real life.

But coming along, and it's always good to see something come back off the Shelf'o'Doom...

[Wardukw]

Interested in this I am ..watching this I will be..commenting ? .probably. 
Definitely actually 😆

I don't really believe I'm saying this as a firm lover of the MA duce but Ken's right Bri ..I'd go with the 60's ..ya can carry a crap load more ammo and ya only need one type then for the machine guns ..crew weapons if this is Vietnam then that's L1A1's or Ar15's ..not sure but possible Sterling or Owen SMG's for dog knows why ...but ya never know 😊

[buzzbomb]

thanks for the encouragement.. that was the initial 15 minutes work to start the thought processeses. After looking at some more pix later last night, I agree the M2 is a goner, fully M-60 (Although there are pix of these fitted with .30 MG as well) As I agree with Phil.. standardise ammo.
Rear dual mount though did creep into the thought processes. Stop it 

Plenty to move forward with for fitout of store, brushbar, Rollbar cammo net cage..

Oh dear.. this might be bigger than I first though 

Just a thought; wouldn't the roll bar go behind the seats, forward of the rear bulkhead, and not through the fuel tanks?
Or am I missing something (which is all too likely)?

Full on correct, the current Roll bar placement was due to being easier to drill a hole in the tank to fit the bar while I get the size right for the bar and to test the aesthetics of a roll bar. The resulting hole will get covered with an "Inspection plate" or some more gubbins once the bar is refitted into the correct place.
Bear in mind I am a lazy modeller... easy path is the best path. Mostly.

[Rick Lowe]

Fair enough.

Bear in mind I am a lazy modeller... easy path is the best path. Mostly.

You're Preaching to the Converted... 

[kerick]

Needs a wire cutter bar in the front. I know I'm not helping!

[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.

[Rick Lowe]

  

[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.     

[Rick Lowe]

shamelessly stealing ideas

You mean 'Networking' and 'Cross-Pollination', surely? Or 'Sincerest Flattery'... 
'Convergent Evolution' is another which springs to mind...

[Wardukw]

Buzzy mate that's another weapon option for ya ,,the L7 would work equally as well as the 60 ..hell in that photo ya posted you can see which looks alot to me like a M1919 30cal in the back fitted with a flash hider so they weren't that picky about what they'd use.
It's very likely that that M1919 was a Mk 21 Mod 0 "borrowed" from US Navy personnel who looked away for to long 😆
The Mk 21 Mod 0 was a M1919 converted to 7.62mm NATO from the original 30:06 .
It also used the same disintegrating link ammo has the 60 ...ahhh more choices 

[Old Wombat]

shamelessly stealing ideas

You mean 'Networking' and 'Cross-Pollination', surely? Or 'Sincerest Flattery'... 
'Convergent Evolution' is another which springs to mind...

Oh, no! I can't write that! 

Honesty decrees that I must state that what I am doing is absolutely "shamelessly stealing ideas"! 

We'll have none of this euphemism nonsense 

[Wardukw]

shamelessly stealing ideas

You mean 'Networking' and 'Cross-Pollination', surely? Or 'Sincerest Flattery'... 
'Convergent Evolution' is another which springs to mind...

Oh, no! I can't write that! 

Honesty decrees that I must state that what I am doing is absolutely "shamelessly stealing ideas"! 

We'll have none of this euphemism nonsense 

😀😀😀😀