A richly illustrated guide to modeling the military Land Rover, the
world's most iconic military 4x4, filled with previously unseen
inspirational photographs and drawings.
After the Second World War many American military vehicles become
surplus stock and soon found their way into the hands of farmers and
land owners across Great Britain. The subsequent heavy use and the real
possibility of difficulties obtaining spares led Maurice Wilks, the
Rover Car Company Chief Engineer, to design and build a replacement. Not
only would the new Land Rover fill a gap in Rover's portfolio, but also
bring in much needed post-war money.
Intended as a stop gap, the Land Rover would cease production almost 68
years later, after a production run that had produced over two million
vehicles. During that time it would transform how the military saw and
used motor transport. From utilitarian General Service truck to
cutting-edge weapon's platform the Land Rover would prove its worth time
and again.
This latest LandCraft title looks at the design and development of the
Land Rover as well as the military specific variants designed and built,
including the famous SAS Pink Panther, the nimble Light Weight and
powerful Forward Control gun tractor. The title will also look at those
key conversions that took place on standard Land Rovers throughout the
duration of its life span.
From the humble beings of the box like Series 1 to the formidable
firepower and pace of the WOLF WMIK, the Land Rover was a constantly
improved military vehicle. Through numerous trials, lessons learned and
operational requirements the Land Rover was a vehicle that grew with the
times.
This LandCraft title removes some of the mystique that surrounds the
myriad versions and how the Land Rover developed. It also includes the
story of the design and development of the exclusively military Light
Weight and Forward Control versions. It also charts how the Land Rover
became a virtual barometer for the technological and engineering
developments that have occurred over the past 70 years.
It demonstrates how the Land Rover's flexibility to change was its core
strength. How the innovation of Rover and military mechanical engineers
created a series of unbeatable military trucks.
This section also looks at the smaller, important developments and
variations in design which showed how adaptable the Land Rover really
was. From specialist signals line layers to first responder fire and
rescue vehicles, to the unit- and theater-led changes, the Land Rover
was a vehicle that took all in its stride, proving its versatility.
For the modeler there is nothing more important than the little things
and this image-rich section of LandCraft's Land Rover title delivers the
goods. Filled with crisp images, that chart the Land Rovers development,
combined with detailed accompanying text, forms an enviable visual guide
for the enthusiast and modeller alike.
