And now for something completely different, part II

[Mark]

I am surprising myself on a daily basis at the moment with how much modelling I’m getting done. I think it’s a combination of having quite a bit of spare time now the children are back at school, having a relatively light roster at work and most importantly, having a hugely supportive partner who doesn’t mind me doing ‘my stuff’!

So this afternoon I just got on with another of Tamiya’s absolutely wonderful 1/48th military vehicles and this one is the British Light Utility Car 10HP 'Tilly' finished as she would have been seen on many airfields around Britain serving with the RAF.

A thoroughly enjoyable build!

p.s. I know, you don't need to remind me! I know what my New Year's Resolution was.... But I just could not resist starting to have a go at these 1/48th military vehicles and in any case, they are hardly superdetailed works of Advanced Modeller's Syndrome!

Edited January 24, 2011 by Busdriver

[Selwyn]

Lovely tilly Busdriver! a great job, well executed.

Unfortunately like many of us have done before (holding my head in hands as I speak!) you have fallen into the "follow the Tamiya painting instructions trap" which basically means you end up with a wartime built vehicle, with a pre war paint scheme, and mid war markings.

All RAF vehicles post 1941 were painted an earth brown colour (not aircraft Dark Earth!) with either black or brown disrupted camoflage, this changed to olive drab in 1944 but they didnt go back to RAF blue until 1947-8.

Please believe me I am not having a go at your fantastic build but trying to issue a warning to future tilly builders!

Tamiya should be hung for their atrocious research.

Selwyn

[jenko]

Nice work Mark.

Have a go at the Beatle and Citroen. I did some time back and they are brill.

[Mark]

Thanks guys for your comments.

Hi Selwyn, thanks for the information. I am totally out of my depth here, in fact I am out of my depth in most subjects unless it's a 2011 era Airbus A319 and even then my knowledge can be challenged! I did the Tilly in the RAF Blue scheme as she just shouted out from the side of the box, 'Build Me!!' I thought it was the most attractive scheme and so did that one, but from someone who can hardly tell the difference between a Tiger and a Sherman, I'm not likely to know about colour schemes of RAF airfield vehicles... So if I wanted to create a WWII diorama scene including one of these (I have a spare as included in the 1/48th Mosquito kit) what scheme should I use and should the decals be used as I have done? I'd also like to include a fule bowser as well as a few figures so am just practicing at the moment!

Hi Dick, yep, the Citroen is next! I've got the Kettenkraftrad as well, but I think I'll be building a few of these 1/48th vehicles as they really do fall together.

Edited January 24, 2011 by Busdriver

[Mike]

You've done a grand job of those Mark... anyway - they're not started projects, there finished projects. There's a difference

[TheModeller]

So if I wanted to create a WWII diorama scene including one of these (I have a spare as included in the 1/48th Mosquito kit) what scheme should I use and should the decals be used as I have done? I'd also like to include a fule bowser as well as a few figures so am just practicing at the moment!

Actually the Tilly owners club here in the UK, The Tilly Register, haven't been able to trace any records of the RAF ever using the Austin Tilly, although more Austins were made than any of the others it looks like the RAF commonly used the Standard and Hillman Tillys. The Standard Tilly was a very different animal being based on a light truck from the outset, the Hillman, Austin and Morris Tillys all started life based on the makers 10hp saloon car.

What might work would be to do your spare Tilly in Army markings and display with an army co-operation aircraft such as a Lysander or early Mustang I.

There were a number of schemes applied to Tillys depending on the period, early in the war they appeared in a wavy two-tone green camo, later the scheme changed to the commonly recognised "Mickey Mouse" ear camo in either two-tone brown, brown and black or green and black, post d-day in Europe all Army Motor Transport was ordered repainted in British OD. Worth noting that the RAF followed suit with Army colours and camo schemes. The blue-grey Tamiya recommend in the kit was based on a contemporary restoration, Tamiyas research guys didn't realise it wasn't authentic. It should be a gloss finish and is different from the regular Humbrol RAF blue-grey, thats more of the colour of the uniform.

So plenty of choices, have a look at Mike Starmers notes over on the MAFVA website: http://www.mafva.net/other%20pages/Starmer%20camo.htm

If you really want to do a typical RAF Tilly then Accurate Armour do a lovely resin kit of a Standard, not a bad price for resin at about 25 quid, and plenty of markings, AA have also just released a few additions to thier 1/48th airfield range including a Coles crane and Bedford refuellers.

HTH

[jimbuna]

Now that is nice...and different.

[Selwyn]

Thanks guys for your comments.

Hi Selwyn, thanks for the information. I am totally out of my depth here, in fact I am out of my depth in most subjects unless it's a 2011 era Airbus A319 and even then my knowledge can be challenged! I did the Tilly in the RAF Blue scheme as she just shouted out from the side of the box, 'Build Me!!' I thought it was the most attractive scheme and so did that one, but from someone who can hardly tell the difference between a Tiger and a Sherman, I'm not likely to know about colour schemes of RAF airfield vehicles... So if I wanted to create a WWII diorama scene including one of these (I have a spare as included in the 1/48th Mosquito kit) what scheme should I use and should the decals be used as I have done? I'd also like to include a fule bowser as well as a few figures so am just practicing at the moment!

Hi Dick, yep, the Citroen is next! I've got the Kettenkraftrad as well, but I think I'll be building a few of these 1/48th vehicles as they really do fall together.

Busdriver, I was just going to give you some info but "The Modeller" beat me to it! follow his advice and you can't go far wrong!

Selwyn

[Mark]

Guys, thank you both! And I thought modelling aircraft was a minefield! But that's what I love about the site, there is always someone willing and able to share their better knowledge on any subject, thanks again!