05KD65 - The last one :)

[Bob Fell]

Hello,

Fantastic pics of a lovely pair

The cargo guards are legit, common to 'liney' vehicles, the weapon clips are for an SMG (SLR fits too, ish) , the mountings entirely correct for the year, standard fit in all Lightweights.

It is 'as in service' from everything I've seen so far, except for the tires which were usually 6.50 x 16 Goodyear Hi-Milers on airfield vehicles (not Xtra Grip's). Later wagons had XCL's but were never really suitable for them being radials. What are the in service pics showing?

Regards
Bob

[camelman]

Hi Bob. Thanks for the info . ,the in service photo (British Military Landrovers p151) shows it on 6.50 XCLs on red rims, a few sets of 7.50s knocking around but struggling to find any 6.50s

[camelman]

Any Ideas on what lights would have been fitted here on the red arrows truck?

They appear to have been removed when it left service but I don't have any pics of the rear of the vehicle in service...

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[Ltwtbarmy]

Not quite what you were asking, but here are two pics of red arrows lightweights taken by a good friend of mine Mario Grech, taken in Malta in different eras. The first was definitely taken in 1978 when the reds displayed at the RAF Luqa closure ceremony, and if I read correctly, the VRN is 54AM30, whilst the second was taken in 1995 (I think), also at Luqa, by then known as Malta International Airport. Although the second picture was taken when yours was still with the reds, from what little can be seen of the number plate, it seems that this is a different vehicle to yours. It seems quite possible that there were more lightweights in service as ground support vehicles at the same time. Note the detail differences on the second picture to the one you have. I wonder if these two vehicles also survived.

Kind regards, Martin

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[camelman]

Thanks for the pics ltwtbarmy.
I believe the bottom photo is the left hooker that appears in "The Half Ton Military Landrover" book. when it was put up for sale by PA Blanchard.
It looks as if mine had the side windows fitted when it went into service looking at the pic in "British Military Landrovers".

Mine was actually disposed of in Apr '94 so the hard top one looks like it was still in service after that if the photo was 95.

You can get a model of it on ebay and it carries the ERM 05KD08 on there so would be interesting to see if that is it's actual reg and if it's still around?

[Ltwtbarmy]

I just double checked and it was 1996 actually. I do wonder where this one ended up when blanchard sold it on.

I actually didn't realise that it was a left hooker, but interestingly if you look closely at the last digit, the top of which is just visible, it really doesn't look like an 8, more like a 7. No idea, could be just me. I found mention of 05KD07 on the PPRuNe network, and by the description the guy is talking about the left hooker so I would guess that possibly Oxford diecast might have made a mistake with the VRN. They also depict the lightweight as a rhd version, which would also be incorrect. https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history ... s-60s.html

I just looked up the picture on Mark Cook's book and I think you're right, it looks like the same one. Dunno how I managed to forget about that picture. Old age must be catching up with me!

Anyways, looking forward to seeing more installments as you lavish more and more tlc on your beauty!

[camelman]

It's been running around in the sunshine today with the door tops off!

New Double S stainless exhaust arrived today so getting that bolted up next week along with a new set of shocks as the old ones are looking like they've seen (much) better days...

Going to pop into to a couple of local paint shops tomorrow to get an idea on what a respray might cost me.

[camelman]

Got around to tidying the interior up and gave it a fresh coat of paint, also got a couple of quotes for a decent respray, I might have to save up for that ......


Swapped the seats for the old ones that I took out of my other truck, on the lookout for a charcoal grey seat base if anyone wants rid of one

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[88lr]

Do you have a Merlin for this? I have a copy, along with card if needed. PM me a email address if required, and I can scan. Mark.

[Birdbrain]

It's been running around in the sunshine today with the door tops off!

New Double S stainless exhaust arrived today so getting that bolted up next week along with a new set of shocks as the old ones are looking like they've seen (much) better days...

Going to pop into to a couple of local paint shops tomorrow to get an idea on what a respray might cost me.

Can you give me a reference number for the Double S stainless exhaust & where you bought it? Mines going to need a new exhaust before it’s MOT in June. Cheers