What may be of passing interest (the video) is that at the beginning the footage shows some FV 432s in the experimental short-lived Warminster (School of Infantry) camouflage scheme; also shown on the Wombat equipped version a little later on.
Shown here sans foliage and cam nets:
Thatās a great pic Brian! Never seen that before.
I actually remember seeing them like that; I think a whole battle-group - centred on the then Infantry Demo Battalion - were finished in those colours. My Takom kit awaits such a scheme! When? Hmmmm.
I forgot to add there was one pictured on an Airfix magazine some time ago, and a black & white pic on the Profile Publication series:
I have a Takom FV 432 as well but itās the Bulldog version from Iraq I think.
And we are now at the point where we cant stop rubber boats crossing the channel let alone blunt the spear tip of an army charging across Europe.
I am reminded of a story about a helicopter simulation developed in Australia; several American helicopter pilots were invited by the Australian Army to try it out, and they were flying over the Outback when they spotted a group of kangaroos, so in typical flyboy fashion, they buzzed them The kangaroos scattered, which was to be expected, but not the flurry of MANPADs that came up from the rocks where the kangaroos had taken cover. Apparently, the company developing the sim had borrowed the behavior of the kangaroos from the responses of infantry in the sim that was the basis of the helicopter sim, and theyād forgotten to remove the weaponry. The American pilots came out of the sim muttering about ānot messing with the Australian wildlifeāā¦
Sheer cowardice Darren, sheer cowardice and no understanding of the need for, or the application of, force.
God help us.
'Better get back to modelling to cheer myself up(!)
With a Scots accent he says " Weāre Dooomed"
Beachballs! Check the link in my post (No. 16 above)ā¦
Cheers,
M
I always liked this old school recruiting commercial from back in the day
Yep weāve already got several thousand of those prepping for deployment, theyāre ready-fitted with an armoured rear-end plate (hey Iām not making that up) for protection during tactical withdrawals. Hereās one receiving the cunning FauxCroc camouflage schemeā¦
Brilliant picture of a little publicised scheme Brian. I also recall seeing it in Airfix magazine and in the FV432 Profile. Do you know of any source that has actual outline plans of it?
I donāt sadly; there may of course, be one tucked away somewhere in the Bovvy archives bit, and they painted one up in what was meant to be the scheme, though I donāt recall the colours being that good a match.
As youāll note from the 3 images, all are different in detail. As weāve discussed so often re the MASSTER scheme on US vehicles, whilst there may well be a master plan (no pun intended) when it comes down to it, itās applied by some soldier who probably doesnāt want to be doing it!
I remember reading somewhere that the corners were all to be in the grey; thereafter I should think anything goes - ie the application of the red/brown and the olive green.
Just for info, the demo battalion (at Warminster) at the time were the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, known as the Woofers from the official abbreviation āWFRā.
In theory, as there was an armoured Squadron (of tanks) as part of the Warminster battle-group, there should be Chieftains in this scheme, but despite trawling a few training films - nearly all actually made at Warminster - I havenāt identified any in the scheme; now, that really would be different.
Anyway, in summary, it all shows that Cold War schemes were anything but simple olive drab or dull.
Thanks Brian. Iāll see where I can get in the Bovvy archives when Iām next there.
At the back of my mind, a distant memory, Iām sure Iāve seen more pictures of this scheme on 432ās ā¦ 
I have a dim memory of seeing an M109 in the finish, but as I say, dim.
I do remember being detailed to visit the School of Infantry as was then, when I was at Div HQ at Bulford. I think I had to collect a document or other and my Chief Clerk detailed me off to go, for once not having to rely on the Duty Driver. Our supporting Signals Regiment donated a vehicle (Land Rover) albeit begrudgingly, and off I went. Not that many soldiers could drive back then but I could; it was always a double edged skill though, but for once I didnāt mind as it made a change from being office-bound. I knew the short cuts around Warminster and my route took me past the Infantry demo battalionās barracks, where Lo! And Behold! I encountered around 3 FV 432s leaving the camp to trundle up to the School main entrance; it meant I got stuck behind them but I didnāt mind too much save for choking to death from their exhausts; all in the above colour scheme.
Happy days!
I always thought that āBe all you can beā was quite an inspired slogan. All about opportunity and achievement - which I generally, more or less, took (not as expeditiously as I should have perhaps!)
I have a Takom FV432 with AA ambulance conversion that I would love to do in this scheme. Good hunting!
Isnāt this the best recruiting vid?
watching that old army recruiting video reminded me of the time i introduced one of my millennial woke co-workers to an episode of āIt aināt half hot mumā and windsor daviesā catch phrases.if you remember watching the show then you will know the one i mean.
well this boyās eyes were the size of dinner plates, his jaw hit floor and his arms hung limp at his sides. Iāve never seen someone that young have a stroke before. i was pondering about putting a call out for a first aider but unfortunately he recovered from his catatonic state and strangely avoided me for a long time after thatā¦some people have no sense of bloody humour if you ask me!
