Gecko | 35GM0154 | Bedford OY Armadillo Mk. III Armoured Truck | 1:35

Includes clear parts and photo-etched parts
2 figures Unassembled, unpainted Paint and glue not included
 

The Bedford OY Armadillo Mk. III was a British improvised anti-aircraft and defensive vehicle variant based on the Bedford OY 3-ton truck. It was developed during the Second World War out of a necessity to rapidly provide additional armored vehicles for the protection of British airfields and vital installations.

The OY was fitted with basic steel-plate armor, including an armored cabin for the driver and crew. A key feature of the Armadillo Mk. III was the armament mounted in the cargo area. It included an armored weapons platform capable of mounting a Vickers .303-inch machine gun or similar anti-aircraft weaponry. While the design offered only limited protection against gunfire and shrapnel, it provided a relatively quick-to-deploy solution for close-range defense.

The Armadillos were primarily used by the RAF and the British Auxiliary Air Force to secure airfields. The Bedford OY itself was a widely used British 3-ton truck, powered by a 6-cylinder gasoline engine and featuring rear-wheel drive. Due to the added armor, the Armadillo conversions were significantly heavier—and consequently less mobile—than the standard transport versions. Nevertheless, they played an important role in British home defense, particularly during the critical years of 1940–41.

For scale modeling, the Armadillo Mk. III is distinguished by its box-like armored cabin, protected cargo area, and weapons platform. Combined with the characteristic British camouflage paint scheme and the extensive equipment stowed in the cargo area, the result is a highly distinctive-looking improvised British defensive vehicle.