Several manufacturers made identical copies of the M2 Half Track, the M3A and the M5 in both Halftrack and wheeled versions, The lower drawing shows a modified US star on the bonnet and a triangle inside the driver’s door when the armour plate is up. This was a special paint that changed colour when the vehicle entered a Gas cloud. It was used on many D-day vehicles, such as on this ambulance. (Here a photograph of the above ambulance in combat... (Photograph from Wikipedia) Note there are eight people in this vehicle, three in the front, two on stretchers and another three sitting on the floor between the stretchers.
I drove one of these regularly from Herford to BMH Rinteln. On the winding back roads, the top heavy design and way too soft suspension made the patients sea sick and I am sure many times lifted the front wheel up from the road being close to tipping it. Trips on the German Autobahn with Blue Lights and Martins Horns were particularly embarrassing and better left turned off, regardless of the emergency, then the Germans would slow down to let me pass, then realise my top speed was 110 Km/h (70 mph) and they would then overtake me sounding their horns and making “You’re crazy” signs to their head... They could not understand why if it was an emergency, I simply did not put my foot down...
Like on the Series 3 version bellow, the Blue Light at the top was “Pluggable” and to be removed before going into the woods or anywhere it may be damaged. Also it needed to be removed at night, then if you did not, it disappeared, probably to replace one that an MP had damaged on his vehicle... A wing nut and some darkness was all that was needed to ensure the next day you were having to fork out for a replacement.
I am very pleased with being able to make this drawing in both “Plain Old Matt Green” as well as “High-Gloss White” an interesting challenge, then there is a danger it looks like a two dimensional flat shape “cut out” if you do not get the tints and lighting (colours selected for each surface) right.
And YES they are all drawings... See the Basic starting point in this drawing (with also an assembly of different parts to choose from)
I also painted one in Blue (not only here but also in real life too), then when going on Skiing exercises into Austria, the vehicles were painted “civilian” blue and provided with BFG number plates and civilian insurance. This to ensure the neutrality of Austria was not put at risk.
The Otokar is a Licenced Copy of the Land Rover, built entirely in Turkey. Otokar build Buses, Trucks and most importantly Military vehicles. The UK tested them possibly as a cost reduction replacement for the UK built versions. This sample shows the Red Crescent and Red Cross Markings as used by UN troops in Muslim areas. Below is the normal Turkish Army (a NATO Ally) Version of the same vehicle as a conventional field ambulance. Notice the similarity to the British Narrow Garrison ambulance above them, except where the British one has an illuminated “Bus-sign” (maybe for people waiting at a Sick-stop along its route?) the Turkish one uses the space over the driver’s cab for built in Air conditioning...
