LRDG in 1/35

[Big Dave S]

Hi Everyone 

I recently bought a charming figure by The Bodi Miniatures 

https://thebodi.eu/model/TB-35163/lrdg-trooper--ww-ii-

And am toying with the idea of making a vehicle to go with it.

It's been a long time since I modelled any military vehicles, and I'm out of touch with the market. So, if people here can recommend any kits that are decent, I'd appreciate it. 

Thank you!

[Bullbasket]

There's this one for starters;

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/TA35033?result-token=Efk80

There's also the Tamiya LRDG Chevrolet, but seeing as it's not in the Hannants listing, it may be a bit difficult to find.

HTHs.

 

John.

[Nick Belbin]

Or the more recent LRDG Ford F30:

 

https://www.lzmodels.com/Thunder-Model-kits.html

 

 

Nick

[frapes75]

On 3/21/2024 at 1:16 PM, Bullbasket said:

There's this one for starters;

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/TA35033?result-token=Efk80

There's also the Tamiya LRDG Chevrolet, but seeing as it's not in the Hannants listing, it may be a bit difficult to find.

HTHs.

 

I cant quite recommend the Tamiya Sas Jeep. Although cheap, its quite old for todays standards. 

 

It serves good though for spare parts and figures so if not in tight budget I can recommend getting an Italeri Commando car Jeep and use as a basis with Tamiya figures and parts.

 

What really bothers me is :

 

-An extremely oversized condenser ( might aswell scratch build a better one on you own) also lacking tubing

-Unrealistic under chassis with front steering system not of  correct geometry

- Only comes with 3 vickers guns so no option for having both twin vickers setup

-  Lack of some Handles and general details on the exterior Jeep Frame like for example bonnet straps

_ Lack of rear machine gun mount and need to scratchbuild per instructions

- Fuel cans are a little unrealistic

 

some other small faults etc...

 

There are also some aftermarket products like sand tyres which are nice. With a little work though it is possible to convert the original ones with some kind of home built lathe (or dremel) and putty.

 

 

If you want a slightly better 1/35 Jeep to convert to SAS go for Italeri commando car. I think they are available LRDG figures driver pose in the market too.

 

Here is mine(Tamiya) although dusty and I have managed to break my own scratch built condenser tubing...🤯

 

I also disregarded the kit cans in an effort to make it appear more LRDG and less SAS.

 

Bottom picture shows circled Steering rack modification I have done, to make it appear more like the real thing.

 

Stock Tamiya steering rack is plain straight link boring and ugly...

 

I also took some artistic license and painted the figures uniforms different color...

One looking like boxart  and one like what is supposed to be IRL, or close to that.

 

My own experimentation you may say.

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23 by frapes75

[Big Dave S]

Some very useful feedback. 

Thanks 

[malpaso]

I think Black Dog do or did a resin set and figures to convert the newest Tamiya standard Jeep; not the old SAS one nor the old stock version with trailer I built in the 70s (which still seemed 1000% better than the Italeri one I built around the same time - though it was probably Italaerei  then).

[frapes75]

3 hours ago, malpaso said:

the newest Tamiya standard Jeep

 

You mean this :

 

Probably this is the best mould but its more expensive too.

 

The Italeri one costs around the same as the Tamiya SAS ( only 2-3 pounds more expensive depending from where you buy)

 

I havent built mine yet but It comes with much more stuff than the Tamiya.

 

If Big Dave just wants good jeep thats what he should look at indeed, but it requires some work to convert to SAS or LRDG and he would be missing  guns and stuff.

 

[Kingsman]

The figure is definitely more LRDG than SAS.

 

LRDG had a few Jeeps but they carried a lot less gear than and weapons the SAS as they did not operate independently.  A single VGO gun for the front passenger would be typical.  The Tamiya SAS Jeep is old and poor: why they haven't re-done it on their newer Jeep beats me.  The Dragon SAS Jeeps are very much better but more expensive.  You could recently get them for under £20 but they seem to be back to about £30 again.  The Legend and Black Dog conversions are £30+.  But in all these cases you would only need a few bits to make an LRDG Jeep.

 

The Chevrolet 1533X2 is the final and iconic LRDG truck.  The Tamiya kit.  But this is indeed getting very hard to find and prices are getting silly.  It needs new wheels as it still has old vinyl tyres which react with the plastic wheels.  There are several stowage and upgrade sets for it.

 

The Ford F30 from Thunder is the middle truck LRDG used.  Didn't last too long as they were too heavy and too thirsty and 4WD wasn't the advantage it was thought to be.

 

First of all they used the Chevrolet WA or WB.  Wespe do a resin kit of this.