I understand Hobby Boss is working on a new 1/35 scale “Wolf” TUM HD in at least a couple versions–looked like even a RSOV was in the works. Any other Land Rover, or even modern British military fanatics out there? I have at least 14 Accurate Armour landies, as well as some Saxons and Humber “Pigs”, but I am not too experienced with resin kits. (also have several Firing Line Lightweight Land Rovers, so I’ve searched everywhere for them!)
I can’t say i am a fan of these types of models, but i have to ask, what is an RSOV. I have never heard that term. I would like to see a PIG, that would bring back some memories.
An RSOV is the RANGER SPECIAL OPERATIONS VEHICLE–the designation given to the Land Rover variants used by the U.S. Army Rangers based on the Defender 110. There were, as I understand, three variants used: an ambulance, a command and communications vehicle and a basic assault type. The U.S. Army acquired these in the early '90s after some Rangers saw the vehicles used by British forces during Desert Storm and thought they might be able to make good use of them. One of the big draws was that the RSOVs could be carried inside of a Chinook instead of as a slung load, as the Humvee usually is. Not much has been printed about their service and not many pictures are available either; I do not even know if they are still in use, or if they were ever used in a combat environment. Brooklands Books has a soft cover book, COMBAT LAND ROVERS, Portfolio No. 1 that has a color picture of the demonstrator on the cover, as well as a good story. As far as the ‘PIG’, Accurate Armour makes a resin version of the basic transport, and there is a picture of a scratch-built conversion in the reader’s gallery by Roy Kinsella (I believe that is his name-apologies if I am wrong!) of a “Flying Pig” that is just great! I also believe there was an In-Progress of his build on the Armorama web site. This is probably more than what you wanted to know, but I enjoy talking about military Rovers!
That will be why i have never heard the term RSOV. The 110’s are getting a bit dated now, our unit got some refurbished ones a while back, it’s worse than driving a tank. I never thought of the lanny being able to go inside a Chinook, we always underling them.