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Step by step: Converting a British Airborne Jeep

Here is how I have converted a 1:72 scale Jeep model into a modified British Airborne Jeep. They are planned for an Operation Market Garden game to commemorate the 60th anniversary.

There are several 1:72 and 1:76 scale plastic Jeep models around in the market. For my conversion, I am using a Jeep from the Academy WWII Ground Vehicle Set.

Academy from Korea, has been around for a while. Mainly making aeroplane models and 1:35 scale AFVs. This is their one and only set of 1:72 scale ground vehicles. This set includes a Jeep, a Kettenkrad and a Kubelwagen. I guess they made these softskins for use in 1:72 scale airfield dioramas.

These sets can be quite rare in some countries, but here in Asia, they are all over the place. I got this set for around US$3.50 in a department store discount sale.

The conversion instructions are from Andy's Military Jeep Pages, and photo references, the clearest of which is in the Visual Collector website.

Windscreen and Bonnet

Airborne Jeeps are stowed in the Horsa Gliders without their windscreens installed. These are usually air dropped later or stowed somewhere else.

The bonnets of Airborne Jeeps are usually fully utilised to carry ammunition. Ammo is from AB Figures.

Tow Hook

A front tow hook is installed onto the Airborne Jeeps to facilitate loading and unloading. I have used a bit of brass wire for this.

Entrenching Tools

Entrenching tools are not stowed in the sides for easy loading and unloading of the Jeep. They are stowed on the bumper instead. My shovel is from the Airfix Jungle Outpost set.

Spare Tyre

Reconnaisance jeeps carry their spare tyre in front of the radiator grill in order to protect it from schrapnel damage. However, this might lead to overheating of the engine.

Photos show them stowed on the bonnet or the back of the Jeep too.

Side and back railings

Side and back railings are removed. A bit of cutting and filling was needed to get it done.

Rear seat backrest

I have seen photos of examples with and without the rear seat backrest, so I left mine on. At any rate, the Academy Jeep model's backrest is too tall, so I cut it in half. This looks more to scale.

Front Bumper

The first thing noticable about the British Airborne Jeep modification is the shortened Front bumpers. Only the left side needs to be cut in order to fit into the Horsa Glider, but both sides are shortened for a symmetrical look.

Lights

The Blackout light on the mudguard is removed and a set of small headlights are installed on both front mudfuards. I have used a bit of brass wire to represent them.

A smaller Blackout light replaces the headlight on the left. I have used a knife to score a line on the headlight to represent this. I hope it shows up better when painted.

Weight Sign

The left headlight is covered with a plate showing the weight of the vehicle. Usually the plate is painted yellow and has the numbers 3/2 on it. I have made mine out of a spare Vickers "K" machine gun ammo drum.

Side Mirror

Side mirrors are removed. I have left the hole unfilled to show the Airborne modification.

Foot step

Foot steps are removed. I have simply cut them off.

Side handles

Side handles are also removed. All of the above items are removed for easy loading onto glider.

Centre of gravity marking

A verticle yellow line is painted on the driver side of the vehicle to mark its centre of gravity. This is to help balance the load on the glider. The point is usually next to the driver seat.

Jerry Cans

The Jerry can is not stowed in the rear like they normally are. Instead, it is stowed inbetween the two front seats.

Two more Jerry cans are stowed behind the seats. Airborne troops are supposed to function far from supplies, so the extra petrol is required.

Steering Wheel

Airborne Jeep steering wheels are removable with a wing nut. I did not model this because it is too small. The horn is rewired to a button on the dashboard.

I glued the steering wheel straight onto the dashboard so that the driver figure can fit.

Spare tyre bracket

Since I stowed the spare tyre in the front bumper, I removed the bracket in the rear.

Jerry can bracket

Rear jerry can brackets are also removed. For the model, I simply clipped away the peg meant to hold the Jerry can.

Rear steps

The two rear steps that double as bumbers are removed.

Thats all the conversion you'll need to do to get a modified British Airborne Jeep. Thankfully, most of it is removing bits and pieces. So not much spare parts are needed.

The above-mentioned websites gives instructions of how to convert specialised Airborne Jeeps, such as radio jeeps, ambulance jeeps and recce jeeps.

I have got the SHQ British Airborne Recce Jeep conversion set and crew. It gives me four Airborne crew in helmets and a number of Vickers "K" machine guns and some stowage.

Enough Vickers "K" guns and their mountings have been provided to represent both 6th Airborne Division's jeeps in Normandy or 1st Airborne Brigade's jeeps in Arnhem. Not quite the SAS jeeps bristling with guns, but cool nonetheless.

The observant viewer might notice that the rifle stowed on the driver's side is not a Lee Enfield, but a German Kar98. I do not have any spare Lee Enfield rifles so used this "captured" rifle instead.

A pannier is also provided, together with stowage.

You can see the painted vehicles here.

© 2004-2006 Michael Sng Woei Shyong. All Rights Reserved.