Vehicles for AK47 R

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

I haven't checked the 'back catalogue' of this more modern side of the forum, but what do you gents do for Civilian vehicles...?

I ask because I've unearthed some really shot old matchbox veehickles in the loft that were my Dad's of very little intrinsic value. He was a railway modeller so I'm guessing he was planning to use them as set dressing in OO scale (4mm to the foot or 1:72 or 1:76).

I've checked online and they seem to vary between 1:62 and 1:72 scale. They all appear to be 1960s types including a couple of VW Campers and a 1:86 Bedford J/Lomas Ambulance. They put me in mind of potential ad-hoc transports for AK47? I also have a couple of FOW 1:100 Opel Blitz lorry castings that are too late for RCW. I know scale can be somewhat 'flexible' but do you think there is still some mileage in them (pardon the pun)?

Neil

[Bankinista]

I go on the basis that AK or AK R games are not historic, albeit that to say they are fantasy misses by a mile. They're rarely "what if" either. All that's somewhat of an aside. The point, to me anyway, is that all this results in "if it looks okay it is okay".

One of my favourite purchases was a school bus from a "Dollarama" shop in the States. I've no idea what scale it is but it makes an ideal troop transport for my militia.

Bankinista

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Thanks, Bankinista,
The moment I saw the VW vans I had a flashback to seeing one packed with angry terrorists brandishing weapons in 'Back to the Future'... I thought it matters not if there are doors missing etc... I'll have to see if PP figs can evoke the same look!

Neil

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Just spotted a 1962 rally version of a Ford Anglia in the Hulton Archive...  tempting...
https://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/news-photo/masai-moran-cheering-the-competitors-in-the-east-african-news-photo/3263633?

Like Julian I'm really drawn to Magyvering my 2 VW campers either as 'Back to the Future' or even DHARMA vans from 'Lost'
I've been casting my eyes back over the AK forum - the 'abundantly' loaded Landrover takes a lot of beating but the Tuk Tuk cavalry still has my top vote

Neil

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Thanks for the advice/encouragement, and the eye candy, Julian!
I like the idea of graffiti on the vans. I'm leaning more towards a flower-power, Mystery Machine vibe with one of mine...
As if you lot can't already tell, 'Moderns' are not really my thing, hence my floundering, but if I can breathe new life into these old cars without raising too many eyebrows in the process, it should be an interesting project...
A mate of mine back in the day tried to Mad-Maxify his car collection based on Steve Jackson's 'Car Wars' game, when there were precious few minis out there... his results were quite successful if I recall.

My veehickle rosta;
2 x VW Camper vans
1 x Lomas/Bedford Ambulance

1 x Ford Cortina
1 x Lincoln Continental
1 x VW 1600TL
2 x Ford Anglia (one 'wrecked')
1 x Ford Mercury station wagon

and 1 x Land Rover Safari supposedly 1:72 but looking quite big compared to the others

Neil

[Colonel Kilgore]

There are some nice photos there, Julian. I don't do FB, but thanks for sharing!

I have a couple of those DC3s, which Lidl sold in the UK some years ago. They did at least two different liveries - I have one of each.

It looks as though someone's producing some very AK47-friendly MDF building kits. I particularly like the pale blue airport terminal-like building. Anyone else thinking Raid on Entebbe?

Simon

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

That was precisely my thoughts when I saw that pic, Simon

Neil

[Bankinista]

Agree. But who makes it!

Bankinista

[Smoking gun]

It looks as though someone's producing some very AK47-friendly MDF building kits. I particularly like the pale blue airport terminal-like building. Anyone else thinking Raid on Entebbe?

Simon

Simon, The terminal like building is, I believe, a Faller HO european model railroad station building. We had a very similar one for the 1999 demo game.
There's one from Gaugemaster, I can't link to it directly, type GM444 in the search box: https://www.gaugemasterretail.com
If you want to build your own this article might be of interest: https://www.matakishi.net/entebbe.html

Best wishes,
Martin Buck

[Smoking gun]

Just spotted a 1962 rally version of a Ford Anglia in the Hulton Archive...  tempting...
https://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/news-photo/masai-moran-cheering-the-competitors-in-the-east-african-news-photo/3263633?

Neil

Neil, The Ford Anglia was built in South Africa which makes it a good choice for AK47. The one in the photo is a "Super" with the wide chrome grill.

Best wishes,
Martin Buck

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Ooooh, who'd have thought it!?! If the conventional Ford Anglia's were being produced in S Africa, then as you say they'd make a good addition to an AK roster, though not quite the image in my mind's eye of a Warlord's pimped up ride!

Thanks Martin

Neil

[Colonel Kilgore]

Martin,
Thanks for this wealth of information!
I used to follow Matakishi's blogs but somehow missed this one. His historical summary is also interesting.
Simon

[martin goddard]

4D model shop  in London have a range of specifically 1/100th vehicles.
Folk have  noted this one before but worth knowing as a trove of good stuff.
They are designed to be used on architectural models.
I went to see them and thought they were fine

https://modelshop.co.uk/Shop

martin

[Leslie BT]

You will also find that 4D also keep brass etched plants at various scales.