I recently read an article about a model Tamiya 'Pinkie' and the comments about it as given by an ex SAS chap who crewed one of them during it's peak in service time.
Sad to say, Tamiya evidently based it's model on a Land Rover Marshall's company presentation one and in reality it was not used as shown by the SAS but more so by the Infantry Recce platoons, painted in the standard Black/Green guise as released in the Italeri offering.
The SAS Pink Panther version evidently wasn't stowed as seen in the kit and the SAS themselves stated the rifle stowage containers were very rarely, if ever used..I will try and locate this informative item as the chap provided a great deal of information about how to alter the kit to resemble the actual SAS in use standards.
Series IIa 'Pink Panther'...
In 1968 The MoD bought 72 Series IIa 109's, officially known as Truck, General Service, 3/4 Ton, or FV 18064, which they had adapted for use by the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) in the desert.
These vehicles were designed for long distance reconnaissance and special operation missions.
Previously they had been using the 88 inch Land Rover for their operations and in the late 1960s they were looking for a bigger load carrier.
In 1968, Marshalls of Cambridge were commissioned to convert a 109 inch Land Rover for desert duties.
Four fuel tanks allowed a capacity of 100 gallons to be carried.
Heavier duty chassis, springs, sand tyres, guards to the diffs and a specially mounted spare wheel were also fitted.
The doors and windscreen were removed.
Equipment included a general-purpose machine gun, anti-tank weapon, rifles, grenade holders, smoke canisters and navigation equipment such as a theodolite and compasses.
When fully loaded with fuel, weapons, and other kit, the vehicle weighed in excess of 3 tonnes.
They were delivered in standard bronze green, but many were repainted in a hand-mixed pink colour, which at that time was believed to be the best camouflage in the desert.
Hence they soon became known as ‘Pink Panthers’.
Although the Series IIa version is the most famous, similar vehicles based on the Series III 109" and 110 vehicles have also been used.
In the Gulf War the 110 versions proved invaluable, as they even outperformed the specially equipped Hummers.
So much so, that the US Rangers have also procured 110-based vehicles for a similar role.
The nickname of "Pinkies" stuck on them even though the new ones are no longer painted in that colour.
Keith.
Too bad cause those kits look really sweet!!
