Review - Model 1/72, S&S M548

The M548 cargo carrier was developed in 1965 as an armoured cargo carrier with a capacity of 6 tones. In the British army it was primarily used to support the tracked Rapier batteries where it carried the blind fire radar, missile reloads and everything that wouldn't fit in the cramped launcher vehicle. The vehicle served with the tracked Rapier units from the early 80's through to the early 90's when the tracked Rapier systems were replaced with Starstreak.

The model is simply cast in resin having a body and two tracks. There was some pitting on the front lower hull but otherwise the casting was good. Both the examples I had requiered some effort around the tracks and track guards on the hull in order to get the tracks to sit correctly. The tarpaulin benifits from a light sanding in order to reduce the relief of the texturing. Once assembled the vehicle provides a sturdy and workable Wargames representation of the system which is otherwise difficult and or expensive to source.

Pictures of the vehicle on exercise show it with cam nets over the tarpaulin and hessian drapes over the tracks but otherwise minimal stowage which was probably carried onboard.

The vehicles were stowed in accordance with this view and based on laser cut MDF bases from East Riding Miniatures before being painted.

The vehicles were airbrushed all over with Tamiya XF 67 olive drab then highlighted using a mix of  Olive Drab and XF-65 field grey. The exposed elements of the tarpaulin then received a heavy wash using a mix of Bad Dab Black and Agrix Earth Shade. This mix was also used for the pin wash. The black disruptive pattern was sprayed on using XF-69 NATO black. windows were painted Vajello black grey and light clusters painted with Vajello light grey and Orange. The running gear and vehicle were washed a number of times with a dilute solution of Vajjelo Khaki Grey and then lightly over sprayed with XF-59

I have not managed to find any obvious references for marking these wagons so have added markings as seemed appropriate, notably:

• VRN,
• Bridge Weight Classification,
• Battery Tac symbol
• National Markings.

I could find no evidence that these vehicles carried call sign Markings. Decals were applied from the TL Modelblau decal set and the vehicle was then weathered as outlined above. 

Related Posts:

Modelling - Stowing Cold War British Vehicles

ORBAT - 1980s British Air Defence

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