The wooden toy Land Rover shown in this Video is a faithful wooden, metal and plastic reproduction of an SAS Long Range Desert Patrol Vehicle (LRPDV) known as an SAS Pink Panther and is capable of carrying two children at approximately 8mph! Hand built from scratch, using 12mm Marine Grade Plywood on a mobility scooter metal box frame, this “Pink Panther” 10 FG 65 boasts accurate scaled-down equipment used by its older and much larger relative! For example, two GPMGs fashioned from solid mahogany and using 5.56mm rounds - rather than the 7.62 mm - to add further realism and accuracy to the model’s new scale.
Realistic smoke grenade launchers were replicated using ordinary plastic piping and a bath plug and chain. The Convoy/Black Out Light is the remnants of a used spray can lid with a cut made into the plastic and an industrial light fitting to the rear; the bespoke canvas bag as seen in the original Pinkies to the rear of the vehicle, is the material from an old NATO camp bed. The military style shovels were bright red beach sandcastle spades and were fashioned in to shape using an angle-grinder and then later painted black and given a patina, the same fate fell to the Pick-Axe; this was a small axe that again had to be further reduced to scale using a wheel grinder!
The vehicle measures end-to-end, approximately 92 inches (233 cm) and is at its widest, 42 inches (107 cm) it is powered using two 24 volt batteries which are then converted to 12 volt and this in turn powers a sealed motor that provides thrust to the rear wheels that are on independent shock absorbers. The vehicle has full lighting, indicators and a genuine working Land Rover horn. The spare wheel (an iconic addition to the original Pinkie) is accurately located to the front of the vehicle and the Sand Ladders are white plastic electrical trunking with holes drilled in.
The Theodolite and Tyre bead-breaker on the Gun Carrier and wheel arch, are both handmade to exacting detail and were fabricated using scrap MDF, plastic and aluminium. The Number Plate was printed using a 3d printer, primed and accented using modeller’s silver paint to replicate standard HM Armed Forces Registration Plates.
The gun carriers - fashioned from MDF and 5mm aluminium - protect two (half-size) wooden (L1A1) SLR rifle butts that are further shrouded using webbing obtained from an old ’58 Pattern Large Pack. The two Search Lights to the front and side of the vehicle are fog lights liberated from my Harley-Davidson motorcycle with fabricated metal handles fashioned to replicate the original. Moreover, there are two full size HSE Standard First Aid Kits located on board too!
The speedometer dials are photographs of an original Land Rover Series 11(A) dial and then reduced in size and then placed behind smaller car chrome trims and lastly, the gear knobs are fashioned using plastic petrol canister pouring tubes to replicate gaiters and coloured drawer knobs, to copy gear differentials etc.
To add further realism, a Bluetooth loudspeaker is discreetly located in the engine bay and provides a continuous Land Rover Series 11(A) petrol engine sound when being used or on display! Thank-you for watching and I hope you enjoyed it.