Fighting the lethargy - a Panhard AML-90

The last couple of weekends have disappeared in a blur without achieving anything of note. A combination of very busy working weeks and very dull weather has seen me disinclined to start or unable to summon any enthusiasm to do much of anything.

I'm glad to see it's not just me the unremitting grey skys have effected, with other bloggers reporting a lack of motivation. This time of year is well known to be depressing.

Anyway, belatedly I made a start on something. In the "work in progress" box ( a grand name for half-finished items) I came across another Israeli vehicle which had been started but never finished. I seem to recall being unhappy with the wheels and how it sat. Neither seemed to be quite right. I had dug out some replacements and had a go at fixing it, but for some reason had left it all in the box with various bits ready to be attached.

Israeli Panhard AML-90 armoured car

The IDF fielded 14 (according to most sources) of these armoured cars on the Jordanian Front. They served in the "Duhifat" reconnaissance company, part of 55th Parachute Brigade. They are sometimes captioned as 41st Recon, but this appears to have been the designation of the organic recon company of the Harrel Mechanised Brigade.

While it may seem odd to have armoured cars crewed by Paras, if some internet sources are to be believed perhaps not. A couple state that the Israelis bought 29 AML-90s. One goes on to claim they were impressed with the mobility and powerful gun and intended to use them in an air transportable role, but that they discovered belatedly that they were too heavy for the Super-Frelon helicopters they had also purchased.

Whatever the intent, the decision was made to use them on the Jordanian front, presumably where wheeled vehicles were more suited. They served in 1967 and for a few years after but after suffering losses in cross- border firefights to anti-tank guns, they were removed from service.

They have been used by many armies across the world, notably in the Falklands by  Argentina and the South African army as the Eland, built under licence. One is in Bovington Tank Museum and Israel has a couple of examples in museums, which helpfully are featured in "walkarounds" on the internet.

It's a small vehicle, and consequently a small model in 1:87. The model is something of a Frankenstein's creature: the body is a Roskopf EBR -75 (1:90 to 1:100) chopped in half and shortened before being joined together. The turret is from CMSC - they made a speculative IDF M113 with a Commando armoured car turret which is very close to the AML version. Wheels IIRC from a Saladin. The rest is various bits from the spares box and plastic card.

Most had been made, but the wheels needed some work to sit correctly and the detailed walkaround photos showed the front needed some work (the ever useful Roco dragon' s teeth being a perfect shape). Several hours of fettling and swearing and copious amounts of superglue later, we have a dinky little armoured car. Noticed a couple of bits need adding to the turret, but after the trauma of getting the hatch to stay open and fingers covered in superglue, I'd had enough!