Wednesday 10 December 2014

From ClintB - 20mm WWII LRDG Jeep (8 Points)

A while ago (September) I bought this jeep from Grubby Tanks (Britannia) Assembled it and then lost a part. So one part of this model is actually from a different manufacture (Frontline). It's a clearly visible piece and for me it's loss and now replacement has improved the vehicle as it adds to the beat up grimy shabby look which the crews and vehicles developed. Many things in the Western desert were of a "Make do and mend" approach and very little of the "Long Range Desert Patrol" was factory finish. And after the first month almost nothing at all.


As you can clearly see the vehicle is heavily armed with twin Vickers K Machine guns for the co-driver and a Lewis gun in the back, so 2 crew and three machineguns. Considering that the main task was "Road watches". To determine the enemy strength and most importantly fuel lorry convoys, were they full and in which direction where they headed, as that would determine the most likely point/week of attacks. Many people might consider more machineguns than crew slightly overkill. Wargamers and roleplayers would NOT! You can never have too many guns!

Note the replaced rear wheel.
Jeeps were used as command vehicles as opposed to the more common Chevrolet light truck so one would not expect to see one of these on it's own. It did happen of course but was not the preferred transport across the desert solo, but needs must and all that. But generally it would be travelling with 1-4 light trucks. Most commonly 2-3 light trucks.

I have deliberately kept the painting on this quite rough. Well that's my excuse. As the vehicle and crew do need a lived in, been too long in the desert feel to them. I will need to get some more of these vehicles from Andy Grub (Grubby Tanks)  as he does a range of 4 other light trucks each with different armament combinations and stacks of stowage. That will have to wait till February at the earliest.

From Curt:What a wonderfully scrappy looking jalopy! Clint, is the stowage part of the casting or did you add it later? Whatever the case it looks great and I also like the tanned/sunburnt crew - a bunch of tough nuts to be sure. I hope we see some of the Chevy WBs later in the Challenge.   

27 comments:

  1. Mad Max would be envious. Well done Clint.

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    1. Thanks Millsey. Mad Max indeed! More like "Naughty Neville!"

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  2. You did it the right way. It should be grubby and look like it's seen action. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Anne. Had to paint it twice as it looked too neat the first time.

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  3. excellent work that captures the essence of the original.

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  4. I added 2 bags to the stowage to fill gaps and an air bubble but it does come with just about all the stowage. Thank you Curt.

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    1. cheers mate had a disaster yesterday and will have to start re-painting the sci fi vehicles. maybe after the challenge.

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  6. Nice work on the fix. The vehicle and crew look the business, all grubby and sunburnt.

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    1. Thanks Roy. It was an if I win the lottery idea that started it!

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  7. Looks scrappy and ready for action.

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    1. They really were both loved and distressed at the same time. Thank Michael.

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  8. Cool ride, you could have easily used it as your "hot bonus round" contribution ;-)

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    1. Thank you Sander. No Bonus rounds at all for me this year.

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  9. Indeed, having just watched the new Mad Max trailer, I heartily approve of this entry. :)

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    1. I do like the original 3 mad Max films but will save judgement on the latest. |But the trailer does look good.
      Cheers David

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  10. Nicely done! You really achieved that lived in look.

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    1. Thanks Moiterei. I wanted it to look scruffy and much used in a harsh environment.

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  11. Rough and ready as it should be Clint!

    Christopher

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    1. Thank you Christopher. Not much "Factory finish" in the desert.

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  12. Nicely done, Clint! Makes me want to search up some Rat Patrol episodes!

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    1. Cheers David. I will have to look on uTube for "Rat Patrol" As I have never heard of it before. Thanks for the heads up.

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