Airfix WMIK Land Rover, Snatch Land Rover Double Build 1:48 – build review

(Dual kit – Afghanistan)

Full Review with Mick Stephen

Before we get started, here’s a quick look at how the Snatch Land Rover part of this project turned out…

The Snatch…

The Snatch Land Rover is a protected patrol vehicle based on the Land Rover Defender 110 chassis. Intended for general patrolling in low-threat areas, the vehicle was developed in 1992 for use in Northern Ireland. It provides a limited degree of small arms protection for occupants and a limited level of protection from Improvised Explosive Devices and off-route mines. When deployed, the vehicles are often fitted with electronic countermeasure suites, which are designed to prevent certain types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) being triggered, and Bowman radios.

Officially designated, Truck Utility Medium (TUM) with Vehicle Protection Kit (VPK), the vehicle is more widely known by its informal title, the “Snatch”, even in official documentation. It is believed to have acquired the name from its use in the Troubles, when it was the preferred vehicle for snatch squads: soldiers trained to deal with demonstrations by picking out and arresting suspected ringleaders.

The vehicle has been criticised as occupant deaths have resulted from kinetic attacks which exceeded the level of protection available. (Sources: Wikipedia and internet images)

My plan here is to build the Snatch Land Rover in an RAF Regiment Force protection guise, as used in defending Kandahar Airbase in Afghanistan.

I will utilise the Airfix photoetch sets, which are made by eduard.

The kit…

Released by Airfix at the height of Afghanistan operations, this is one of a series of three kits in 1:48 scale. The kit comprises two sprues for each vehicle and a single sprue of clear parts.

The photoetch set is sold separately under Airfix branding but is made by eduard.

There are two frets in the set, this one pictured is for the Snatch Land Rover, comprising mainly window protective grills, bonnet and front wing checker plates and some smaller details.

I can’t say I am a fan of 1:48 scale vehicles, much preferring the more detailed 1:35 scale to work with on this genre, however beggar’s can’t be choosers, so here we go…

The build…