Book Review of
Land Rover
Military Versions of the British 4 x 4
Author: Ben Skipper
Pen & Sword Books Land Craft Series
ISBN: 9781526789730
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $28.95
ISBN: 9781526789730
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $28.95
ISTORY:
The Land Rover was originally designed to fill a gap in the Rover Car Company’s post-war product portfolio, initially based on Willy’s-Overland's Jeep. The now-legendary Land Rover was adopted by armed forces across the globe almost immediately.
By its 60th anniversary in 2008, the Land Rover was serving as a combat vehicle and as a first responder platform.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is based in England.
This book is soft-cover of 65 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The front cover of the book shows color photos. At the top there is an photo of the Tamiya Brand 135th scale Land Rover Series II, Special Air Service Long-range Desert Patrol Vehicle (LRDPV) built by modeler Brian Richardson (more about this model later)
In the on the left of the center photos there is an overall olive-drab Land Rover pulling a trailer. Next is a photo of 2 Land Rovers in camouflage and on the right there is one that is in bright yellow.
At the bottom of the cover there is a color profile illustration of a Land Rover ambulance (more on this one later too).
The back cover shows a color photo of interior of the Hobby Boss 1/35th scale Defender Perentie Australian SASR Land Rover, Afghanistan circa 2008, built by modeler Brian Richardson (more on this model later).
Next down the page is a color photo of Tamiya’s 1/35th scale “Pink Panther” SAS LRDP vehicle, again by modeler Brian Richardson (more on this one later too).
Next is a color photo of troops standing around a Land Rover next to a helicopter.
At the bottom there is a color side profile illustration of a Defender 110 LWB GS Soft-top Land Rover, British Army, Royal Logistics Corps., 1995.
This unique Land Craft title looks into the Land Rover’s development during the immediate post-war years, to its development and growth as a military vehicle synonymous with versatility. The book charts how the Land Rover evolved into unique military-only variants.
It also examines how this modest 4 x 4 grew from an innocuous Cold War cargo vehicle into a weapons platform supporting troops in the deserts of South West Asia. The military Land Rover truly offers the modeler an exciting range of subject, era and theatre choices.
The book features full-color profiles illustrating various versions of the military Land Rover. Concise account of the military Land Rover’s design, development and service history. Technical analysis and details of modifications. Spectacular showcase models and details of available model products.
It holds 86 color photos of Land Rover variants, showing them inside and out. A photo of their designer Maurice Wilts.
There are 8 color 5-view profiles in the book. Including:
A Perentie 6 x 6 Land Rover with 2 machine guns mounted.
A canvas-topped van type FC101 Land Rover.
A Series IIA ambulance version Land Rover.
A Defender 10 LWB GS soft-topped Land Rover.
A Series IIA LWB SAS “Pink Panther” Land Rover with 2 machine guns mounted.
A Series III Light-weight Airfield Supply Vehicle Land Rover that is overall yellow.
A CAV100 Snatch-Defender Land Rover.
A R or E type WMIK version Land Rover with 2 machine guns mounted.
In the modeling section:
The Black Dog brand 1/35th scale Defender Perentie version Land Rover by modeler Brian Richardson, showing 13 color walk-around type photos of the model made up.
The Tamiya brand 1/35th scale Land Rover Series II “Pink Panther” also by modeler Brian Richardson, showing 13 color walk around type photos of the model made up (including being on the cover art).
The Italeri brand Land Rover type 109’ LWB also built by modeler Brian Richardson, showing 8 color walk around photos of the model made up.
The Tamiya brand Land Rover Series IIA Field Ambulance version built by modeler Ben Skipper (the book’s author).
These are followed by a long listing of available kits and aftermarket accessories and decal sheets.
The last page shows 15 black and white cover arts of other Pen & Sword Land Craft Series AFV books, a listing of 15 more and a listing of 5 titles of ones that are forthcoming in the future.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Pen & Sword books. All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web site at:
The Land Rover was originally designed to fill a gap in the Rover Car Company’s post-war product portfolio, initially based on Willy’s-Overland's Jeep. The now-legendary Land Rover was adopted by armed forces across the globe almost immediately.
By its 60th anniversary in 2008, the Land Rover was serving as a combat vehicle and as a first responder platform.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is based in England.
This book is soft-cover of 65 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The front cover of the book shows color photos. At the top there is an photo of the Tamiya Brand 135th scale Land Rover Series II, Special Air Service Long-range Desert Patrol Vehicle (LRDPV) built by modeler Brian Richardson (more about this model later)
In the on the left of the center photos there is an overall olive-drab Land Rover pulling a trailer. Next is a photo of 2 Land Rovers in camouflage and on the right there is one that is in bright yellow.
At the bottom of the cover there is a color profile illustration of a Land Rover ambulance (more on this one later too).
The back cover shows a color photo of interior of the Hobby Boss 1/35th scale Defender Perentie Australian SASR Land Rover, Afghanistan circa 2008, built by modeler Brian Richardson (more on this model later).
Next down the page is a color photo of Tamiya’s 1/35th scale “Pink Panther” SAS LRDP vehicle, again by modeler Brian Richardson (more on this one later too).
Next is a color photo of troops standing around a Land Rover next to a helicopter.
At the bottom there is a color side profile illustration of a Defender 110 LWB GS Soft-top Land Rover, British Army, Royal Logistics Corps., 1995.
This unique Land Craft title looks into the Land Rover’s development during the immediate post-war years, to its development and growth as a military vehicle synonymous with versatility. The book charts how the Land Rover evolved into unique military-only variants.
It also examines how this modest 4 x 4 grew from an innocuous Cold War cargo vehicle into a weapons platform supporting troops in the deserts of South West Asia. The military Land Rover truly offers the modeler an exciting range of subject, era and theatre choices.
The book features full-color profiles illustrating various versions of the military Land Rover. Concise account of the military Land Rover’s design, development and service history. Technical analysis and details of modifications. Spectacular showcase models and details of available model products.
It holds 86 color photos of Land Rover variants, showing them inside and out. A photo of their designer Maurice Wilts.
There are 8 color 5-view profiles in the book. Including:
A Perentie 6 x 6 Land Rover with 2 machine guns mounted.
A canvas-topped van type FC101 Land Rover.
A Series IIA ambulance version Land Rover.
A Defender 10 LWB GS soft-topped Land Rover.
A Series IIA LWB SAS “Pink Panther” Land Rover with 2 machine guns mounted.
A Series III Light-weight Airfield Supply Vehicle Land Rover that is overall yellow.
A CAV100 Snatch-Defender Land Rover.
A R or E type WMIK version Land Rover with 2 machine guns mounted.
In the modeling section:
The Black Dog brand 1/35th scale Defender Perentie version Land Rover by modeler Brian Richardson, showing 13 color walk-around type photos of the model made up.
The Tamiya brand 1/35th scale Land Rover Series II “Pink Panther” also by modeler Brian Richardson, showing 13 color walk around type photos of the model made up (including being on the cover art).
The Italeri brand Land Rover type 109’ LWB also built by modeler Brian Richardson, showing 8 color walk around photos of the model made up.
The Tamiya brand Land Rover Series IIA Field Ambulance version built by modeler Ben Skipper (the book’s author).
These are followed by a long listing of available kits and aftermarket accessories and decal sheets.
The last page shows 15 black and white cover arts of other Pen & Sword Land Craft Series AFV books, a listing of 15 more and a listing of 5 titles of ones that are forthcoming in the future.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Pen & Sword books. All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web site at:
Highly recommended.