So I started this LRDG jeep…
I´m allready deep into a SAS project in the Gimme Some LUVin’ Group Build and seeing the amount of spares I had as leftovers I got the «brilliant» idea to start a project I have thought of for a while. I have the Tamiya Chevy 30-CWT in my stash and together with the Tamiya Willys with some extras it should be a cool, little dio (or hopefully it will…).
The LRDG jeep is a bit different from the SAS jeep. It was not as heavily armed and stowage was arranged a bit different. My plan is to make something like this
But I will add a .50 cal in front of the passenger just because I can There is no LRDG jeep available in 1/35 scale so a convertion and some scratchbuilding is necessary.
So I started to make a crew for the jeep. I did not want them to wear the Keffiyeh, which was, to my knowledge, mostly used for promotion pictures an during sand storms. Instead I scalped a Tamiya figure for a wool cap for the driver and used a converted Master Box figure as the vehicle commander. They are both WIP and there is a need for some heavy sanding and Milliput work on their shoulders when the glue dries. I´m planning to show the engine on this one, so that is next on my list
Just a minor point Erik, and in no way is this meant to detract, but the most common woollen headgear for British soldiers during WW2 was likely to be the “Cap Comforter”; this was basically a woollen tube designed to be worn as a scarf (comforter) or turned in upon itself to form a cap, such as was often worn by Commando forces (pic from the www):
I think the cap you have your figure wearing is a US so-called “Beanie” cap (I’m no expert), that’s not so say of course that a Brit soldier would not have acquired one, (assuming there were US troops to meet) but I just thought you should be aware.
I´m fully aware of this. We used to wear the same thing back in the day in the Norwegian Army as well. Called it a «head over». However, the cap stays. It would be just cruel if the Tamiya truck driver lost his skull for nothing.
I´m having a hard time finding a good picture of a LRDG rear fender stowage rack. To my knowledge these were not uncommon and they look pretty cool. I have these drawings and a picture of a restored vehicle (which to me does not look very «LRDGish», but I might be wrong…). If anyone have a decent picture of the rack it would be much appriciated.
Todays progress. Parts of the engine and exhaust is in. I chopped the grill and glued a spare water cooling system. Worked a bit on the figures and made some stowage. Never mind the aluminum foil, it is just there to prevent the stowage to stick to the body.
Good point, I have to see what I have in the spare box, but there are still plenty of pictures with drivers without goggles. And for the record, I allways used goggles when I ran a gun truck in Afghanistan so your point is absolutly legit.
Did some work to the jeep this evening. The «major» work was done to the rear stowage rack. Even though it is pretty simple it is fiddly work. I also prepared the dashboard for a PE one and made a machinegun mount. The stowage is now a solid block so I removed the foil and primed it black. It fits like a glove and so far I´m happy with the result. And @DAKjunkie , I found a pair of WW2 tankers goggles, so that issue has been sorted out
Since the truck is NZ I guess that is the way to go. That said, it will be a bit generic I guess. My interest is mostly in modern armor. I’m only building this jeep to get rid of some spare parts
Be advised though that if you do use a 50, make it’s the early air cooled jacket rather than the M2HB. As in the profile with the passenger mounted gun. The SAS and LRDG scavenged a lot of the heavier weapons from downed aircraft. The Jeep in the colour profile has a rear mounted Browning 303 with spade grips from an aircraft. Probably something like a Boston originally.
I know. I will be using a spare .50 from a Dragon SAS jeep. For the rear machine gun I have to improvise a bit with the .30 Browning from the Tamiya Willys.
I have read a book about Popski’s Private Army (which is very recommendable, btw) and they frequently encountered the LRDG (even joined their collumns sometimes) but I do not recollect the use of jeeps. However, according to this site, they did use them. It also states they were not that heavily armed…
There is no LRDG jeep available in 1/35 scale so a convertion and some scratchbuilding is necessary.
