Painting the landrover

Now I set about painting the landrovers interior.
Before I do this I removed all my kit from the wagon. There's quite a bit of it and it takes me awhile.

Then it's down to business. Although it's roomy inside the positions you've got to get into for painting are awkward in places. I even paint the underneath of the overhang near the bulkhead.
After about three coats are done, dried and dusted it's ready for the camera...


Now it's just some hooks for hanging things on in the interior and that's that sorted for now.

Defender Towing Array

I took off the towing array and gave that a good going over too.
This is no trifling tow bar but a full bifta with adjustable levels, vertical hook pins, split pins keeping it all secure and a mighty locking pin for adjustment and removal!

I take the lot apart and give it the treatment.

The Red Ryder Project continues

Over the course of the next few days I looked at several places to get things for improvement.
The most glaringly obvious one from a security angle was getting a padlock on the spare tyre.
It won't stop angle grinders of the freeze sprays but should deter casuals...

SNATCH Landrover

An Armoured Landrover

This version of the Landrover Defender takes its name from being used to 'snatch' troublemakers and riot leaders during 'The Troubles' in Northern Island.
It's armoured against handgun and grenade blasts with thicker composite armour but reducing it's performance and top-speed to about 60mph. Despite it's armour during the on-going Afganistan campaign it has been criticised for it's vulnerability to medium and heavy mines which have lead to many deaths and injuries.

It's advantage in conflicts is in it's narrow profile and agility, allowing it to manouver through difficult terrain where a bigger vehicle would struggle.
No weapons mountings for heavy weaponry exist but a commanders cuppola hatch (pictured) allows a rifleman or machinegunner to give fire in a firefight or which defending a position.

The Landrover Wolf

This versions of the Defender comes in roughly two specs. TUL (Truck Utility Light) and TUM (Truck Utility Medium).
The TUL is a 90 SWB and the TUM is a 110 LWB.
The engine is a 300 TDI and its joints are strengthened along with it having the designation HS (High Spec). It's fitted for a number of roles including winterised and fully waterproofed (for wading and amphibious assault)

A Weaponised (WMIK) variant is also used which mounts a 12.7mm (50 calibre) HMG (primary weapon) along with a 7.62mm GPMG (secondary weapon).
Additionally a MILAN Anti-Tank launcher can be mounted (less the primary HMG) or a belt-fed grenade launcher.

Military Landrovers

Almost since the beginning of Landrovers formation the British Army have been major users of first the Landrover Series model and later the Defender.
Almost always diesel engined and of a higher spec than civilian versions they cost more and the latest ones are difficult to obtain as ex-MOD vehicles.
Engine type is the 300 TDI which is easy to repair and work on in the field. Additionally, this is seen as impervious to EMP weapons due to a diesel engine not being as reliant on the battery's electrical system (altough starting it up of course is!).
The newer Td5 engine is not used, due to Landrover not giving the EMP proof assurances and it's more complex diagnositic repair protocols.

Military Landrover Defenders are typically heavier and Fitted For Radio (FFR).
The spare tyre tends to be mounted on the side wall of the vehicle (older ones are on the bonnet) with field tools are mounted around the bonnet.
These tools include:
Pickaxe and handle, tow-rope, entrenching tool,

Currently the British Army uses two types of Landrover Defender:

The SNATCH Landrover.

The Landrover WOLF.

Some Landrover Facts

The ultimate offroad vehicle.
No other vehicle quite matches the Land Rover Defender for versatility, toughness and longevity.
Very strong, capable of almost any terrain and DIY-friendly.
Capable of being entirely stripped-down, boxed, shipped overseas then assembled at the other end by mechanics.
Its use as an expedition vehicle is unparalleled.
Made with aluminium and steel combined to give strength and resistance to corrosion it's stood the test of time well.

Ever since the 4 x 4 first appeared in the 1940s it's made an impression on the motoring public. Prior to this all there was were the Willeys Jeep from WW2

The British Army still uses them as their light-vehicle in a variety of roles as do many other countries.