Finally I've been able to get some decent photos of my reworking of Tamiya's 30cwt LRDG Chevrolet into 'Te Aroha III', a Chevy of T1 (New Zealand) 1/2 Patrol.

The model is based on 5 photos of WD No. L4618825, only one of which shows a complete side view - unfortunately no weapons were visible, so the armament set-up and spare wheel location is based on one photo taken from directly forward of the vehicle. (It also shows an antelope's head mounted just above the radiator grill!)


Tamiya LRDG at the September 2006 IPMS South Island Champs.


April 2007; The faded red on the split-rim securing bolts has been toned down. The fine post on the Bagnold sun dial was knocked off during a minor fettling and hasn't been replaced.


The details were based as much as possible on photos of LRDG Chevys - the Lewis is there to show how the 'greedy board' posts were also used as weapons mountings; in reality 'Te Aroha III' probably didn't carry a Lewis.



The Maori names provided by the Tamiya decals are totally bogus - fortunately the WD No.s and 'Inspected' and 'PASS' are useable. I hand painted 'Te Aroha III' and the T Patrol Kiwi on the bonnet.
The location of the other decals is based on a photo of TA III when issued in March 1942.

Unfortunately the lighting in our clubrooms highlights the blue in the colour spectrum; the Desert Pink is dustier and more faded in natural light.

Pretty damn nice mate.

Where there Maori LRDP's? I didn't knoe that.
I have the same kit (with some aftermrket twn vickers and .50 cal to mount) any issues with the build?

Very nice kit mate - and always good to see a ANZAC builder

great build. One of my all time beloved kits. Next to the Krupp, Opel Blitz and Big Foot.

Beautifull build! Like the faded pink very much and that MG above the spare tire is stunning! Great work!

Paul

Appreciate your comments RD and Paul.
Thanks Andy. There weren't any specifically Maori units in the LRDG. The use of Maori names and words to identify trucks (R Patrol - Maori place names starting with R; eg Rotowaro: T Patrol - Place names starting with T; eg Te Anau) came about because one of the original LRDG members was Maori.

No real issues with the build, apart from the synthetic tyres - whatever you do don't use enamel or oil paints or spirit or petroleum based solvents anywhere near them. Make sure all contact surfaces between tyres and wheels have a couple of coats of acrylic paints - hopefully, with these precautions, your tyre won't split and disintegrate. Mine haven't...so far


The LRDG used a 2 metre rod aerial for ranges of about 200 Km from base (the LRDG used the metric system for range measurements.) Above 200 Km the Windom aerials were used.


I've yet to fill out the radio compartment properly - the radio truck had an additional Phillips Receiver
details of which I'm still tracking down. Also need details of the morse key etc.

Very nice build. That Tamiya LRDG is a good example of the kind of kit Tamiya could do in their prime.

My wife managed to smash up my nearly finished LRDG, but she did replace it. It's on my list of kits to build again.

Looks great Jeff, like others one of my favorite older Tamyia kits.
Resin wheels work out great if you can get hold of some. Tank Workshop makes a nice set without a killer price, with two spares included. Only a tiny pour plug, and practically no seam line on the treads.

An old issue of I believe G-2 had an article on the LRDG trucks, unfortunately mine was destroyed in the flood of 1999, but if I recall correctly most of the trucks weren't fitted with wireless, only one or two in each troop. The article gave a list of the names and number of the wireless and non wireless vehicles.

Very nicely done color. It's a tough one to do (I know I've tried and didn't get it quite right). Nice job. Nice gear.
Great job on matching history and not just doing it OOTB.

Thanks Dave. Interesting about the list of names & WD numbers. Sad it was destroyed.
200 Canadian 1533X2 30cwt Chevrolets were issued to the LRDG from March 1942. By then the unit was organised into Patrols of 11 vehicles, which were sub divided into 1/2 Patrols of 6 and 5 Chevys respectively. One W/T - navigator's truck was issued to each 1/2 patrol.
For my next LRDG I will be converting it to a non-W/T truck; I would like to get a hold of a couple of sets of the resin wheels.

Thanks Rodger. I'm preparing a build article for my local IPMS Dunedin 'Scalemail' magazine; look me up once you decide to build your next Chevy.

Appreciate your kind comments Scott. I found the trick with getting a faded, dusty looking pink is to use a neutral light brown colour (Vallejo 918 'Ivory' or even 928 'Light Flesh') as a base - avoid titanium whites or greys, which have a blue cast. Tiny amounts of say 817 'Scarlet' can be added to create a basic pink.

PM me your address, I have a spare set.
The first one I ever built- way back when the kit came out was the non-wireless one.
If I recall correctly it was in the old Airfix Magazine. Not mine, but an article on it.