Land Rover Series III... the long and short of it

[Chuck Most]

After the lump of disappointment that was the E-Type Jaguar (glad I wasn't excited for that one), I have to say I wasn't in a huge hurry to get around to the Land Rover Series III I had sitting around on the shelf since the kit came out. I'm glad I finally tore into it, as I think it's probably the best automotive kit Revell has ever done. Well, at least in modern times. Who needs "Tamiya-like" when you can have "Revell Germany on a good day-like"?

Out of character for me, I built the long wheelbase mostly box stock, aside from some ignition wiring and a Michigan plate reading NCC1701, to commemorate Star Trek's 55th anniversary. I plan to use the same plate on all of my 2021 builds. Oddly I've never built a Star Trek model... maybe that'll change this year. Anyway- I treated the body to a couple of colors from Krylon's chalky finish lineup- "Waterfall" for the main body, and "Colonial Ivory" for the top and wheels. I think Revell nailed this kit. It looks accurate, packs a pretty respectable amount of detail, and the hinged hood not only opens wide enough for you to actually view the engine bay, it doesn't bind! Pity I missed the ejector pin marks on the underside. Oh, well.

I liked the experience so much I figured it was time to do something with the incomplete Monogram SWB Landy I've had laying around for ages. The LWB also gave me a few ideas on how to do a different version, so a second kit (to be modified at a later date) was procured. It quickly donated it's wheels and tires, along with a set of mirrors, to the old Monogram kit. I didn't pay attention to the tires (the spare has a slightly different I.D. than the road tires) so one doesn't fit the wheel too well, but I think I managed to hide the sloppy fit well enough. It was done up in the same Waterfall/Colonial Ivory combo as the LWB kit. My kit was missing a number of engine bits, so for now it has no engine. One day I'll either detail the kit engine, or do something crazy like swap in a 2.3 Ford Turbo, or something.

As maligned as the Monogram SWB Landy may be, it's actually not a bad little kit. Aside from the "deep dish" wheels, wide tires, and slightly too-large headlight lenses, it looks great as-is, and the addition of the RoG wheels and tires helps immensely in the believability department. Shame it likely will never be reissued. But hey- you could always cut down the LWB kit into a shorty if you were up for a little work. I might try just that.   

 

[bbowser]

Really nice work!  The weathering on the wheels is spot on.

[mikemodeler]

Those look great!

[Steamboat]

Very nice! They look realistic enough to jump in and give that stream a try!

[thatz4u]

nice work...like the USS Enterprise license plate...

[Tom Geiger]

What a great looking pair!  I looked for the old Monogram kit for a long time but every one I found was over $100.  Once the new kit was announced I managed to buy one on the ‘bay for $40.  

I’d like to build the pair too. I had the older kit in my hands the other day, but put it back in my stacks since I didn’t need another squirrel right about now!

[ChrisR]

Looks great!!

[PappyD340]

Fantastic looking pair!

[slusher]

Awesome pair!

[kelson]

Great looking combo!,i like the very subtle weathering on the SWB landy.

[Goose1957]

Great looking trucks. The color looks just right.

Jeff 

[Classicgas]

Both are stellar.

[bill lanfear]

It is always a pleasure for me to have to try and find clues that what I am looking at is in fact a model and not the real thing...that was most certainly the case here.  Well done!

[Plowboy]

Both are very well done and the weathering is just right! I always thought I preferred the shorty LR. But, seeing them together, I prefer the LWB. 

[Funkychiken]

A lovely pair of landies! Prefer the proportions of the LWB! 

[christian-w]

This is cool! I never knew, that there was a SWB of the Land Rover. I never looked the history on scalemates.

I started to shorten a Revell kit by my own.

Sorry for the pictures. If you don't like them here, I'll delete them.

[echo]

Very realistic, nice photography too !

[mrmike]

I like what you have done with the Series III LWB and the Shorty Landy!  I have built the Shorty Landy and the LWB is under consruction.  

[Chuck Most]

On 4/6/2021 at 3:50 AM, christian-w said:

This is cool! I never knew, that there was a SWB of the Land Rover. I never looked the history on scalemates.

I started to shorten a Revell kit by my own.

Sorry for the pictures. If you don't like them here, I'll delete them.

I love it! I'm already planning to steal your idea.  

[larman]

Very nice job on both of them and great photography too!

[chas3840@yahoo.com]

This is my first build in about 45 years!  After seeing some Land Rover builds here, I realize I have a lot to learn about the current state of the hobby.  All your builds are great!  I really enjoyed seeing them.  I haven't gotten into weathering yet, but I'm going to after seeing these.  I also have a lot to learn about photographing my builds.  I thought the kit itself was really good- Revell Germany's kit.  I'll include some photos of mine.  Thanks again!

[landman]

On 5/18/2021 at 10:22 PM, larman said:

Very nice job on both of them and great photography too!

X2

[Dominik]

Nice! Both ?

[stavanzer]

A Double Home Run, Chuck!

When you set out to build a Show Stopper, Wow, you really deliver.

I have the RoG kit, and the recent Italeri Fire Brigade version. I hope to combine them in the future.

One niggle on the RoG Kit. Apparently the Aluminium body on the real thing is not strong enough to hold the spare tire on top of the cab as shown. RoG, used a 1 of 1, unique vehicle as their model. Thus, when I build mine, the spare will get moved to the back door. 

[Hi-Po]

I have to agree with everyone else, outstanding build on both vehicles.  Very nice.