Ranger Special Operations Vehicle

The engine builds up without a challenge. 

Mating the air cleaner pipe to the turbo charger was not clean. 

Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18 was used as a primer. 

 

 

 

 

Radiator shroud: Humbrol Enamel Matt Black No 33. Air cleaner pipe; Turbo; Tappet cover; Gearbox and bellhousing. Oil filler cap: Humbrol Yellow 69. 

Radiator grill: Humbrol Enamel Matt Black No 33. Hoses on radiator: Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. Air cleaner pipe; Tappet cover. Oil filler cap: Humbrol Yellow 69. 

Radiator shroud: Humbrol Enamel Matt Black No 33. Hoses on radiator: Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. Tamiya Flat Aluminum LP-38. Air cleaner pipe; Turbo; Tappet cover; Gearbox and bellhousing. Oil filler cap: Humbrol Yellow 69. 

Radiator shroud: Humbrol Enamel Matt Black No 33. Hoses on radiator: Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. Radiator fan: Tamiya Flat White XF-2 and Tamiya Sky Grey XF-19 mixed 50/50. Air cleaner pipe; Tappet cover; Gearbox and bellhousing; Waterpump; Fuel filter cup: Tamiya Flat Aluminum LP-38: Tamiya Flat Aluminum LP-38. Oil filler cap: Humbrol Yellow 69. 

Radiator shroud: Humbrol Enamel Matt Black No 33. Radiator fan: Tamiya Flat White XF-2 and Tamiya Sky Grey XF-19 mixed 50/50. Air cleaner pipe; Tappet cover; Gearbox and bellhousing; Fuel filter cup: Tamiya Flat Aluminum LP-38: Oil filler cap: Humbrol Yellow 69. 

Radiator shroud: Humbrol Enamel Matt Black No 33. Hoses on radiator: Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85. Radiator fan: Tamiya Flat White XF-2 and Tamiya Sky Grey XF-19 mixed 50/50. Air cleaner pipe; Turbo; Tappet cover; Gearbox and bellhousing. Oil filler cap: Humbrol Yellow 69. 

Weathered with Ammo Mig A.MIG-1407 Engine Grime, Ammo Mig A.MIG-1409 Fuel Stains and given an oil dot filter of Oil Paint Titanium White, Oil Paint Yellow Ochre, Oil Paint Burnt Sienna. 

 

 

 

The chassis completed. Build the parts up on a level surface. 

 

Showing off the front suspension bars. 

The completed chassis as seen from the bottom. Fitting/installing the bottom plate, part B25 was a little vague and did not have a positive locking point. 

Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18 was used as a primer. 

 

Bottom view. 

Bottom view. 

Chassis painted up and ready for weathering. The whole chassis painted with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a 50/50 ratio and the Exhaust pipe: with Ammo Metal Acrylic Color Steel A MIG-0191. 

Given an oil dot filter of Oil Paint Titanium White, Oil Paint Yellow Ochre, Oil Paint Burnt Sienna and spread by Enamel Odourless Thinners. The exhaust was painted and then stippled with Oil Paint Burnt Sienna. 

 

 

 

The separate parts making up the wheels. 

After priming the tyres and rims with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, the tyres were sprayed with Tamiya Rubber Black XF-85 and the rims with Tamiya Sky Grey XF-19. 

Given an oil dot filter of Oil Paint Titanium White, Oil Paint Yellow Ochre, Oil Paint Burnt Sienna and spread by Enamel Odourless Thinners. The exhaust was painted and then stippled with Oil Paint Burnt Sienna. 

 

The running chassis assembled. 

First decal laid down on the radiator shroud. 

Thee colour callout provided. Variations were introduced to generate interest. 

The body assembled, painted with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a 50/50 ratio as a base coat. Light pre shaded with Tamiya White X-2 on the loading bay and footwells. 

The body assembled, painted with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a 50/50 ratio as a base coat. Light pre shaded with Tamiya White X-2 on the loading bay and footwells. 

The roll cage assembly was assembled on the body and left to dry, removed and then painted with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a 50/50 ratio as a base coat. The supplied photoetch straps supplied were attached with super glue and cut to length. This will accommodate an anti-tank missile later on. 

Side view. 

The instrument panel, firewall. 

The toolbox attached to the righthand mudguard, part k11 and K24 has an ugly seamline which is best addressed by gluing a piece of plastic card in. 

Mudguards and firewall. 

Lefthand side. 

Righthand side: There are no indications for placing/using air intakes on the side of the mudguard, photoetch part 3 and 4. Based on reference photographs taken of civilian vehicles the location was determined. There was no evidence of the air intakes on military vehicles. Where to place the head of the pickaxe, part A-32? A reference photograph has been found where the head of the pickaxe is on the righthand mudguard. 

Painted with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18, thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a 50/50 ratio as a base coat. 

 

Braces, photoetch part 1 installed. 

The bins located on the top of the mudguards and attached to the front crash-bar were dry fitted and found being too low after being glued to the crash-bar. I build up the front with plastic card to fit better. 

I taped off the areas I wanted to keep black. The rest will be pre-shaded with Tamiya Flat white XF-2. 

As seen from the bottom. Lightly pre-shaded. 

The nose section taped off. I taped off the areas I wanted to keep black. The rest will be pre-shaded with Tamiya Flat white XF-2. 

 

The roll cage pre-shaded wite Tamiya White X-2. 

After pre-shading the uncovered parts with Tamiya XF-2, a mixture of Semi-Gloss Black X-18, thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a 30/70 ratio as a base coat. 

A view from the side.  

In order to create some visual interest, the ammunition boxes were painted Humbrol Russian Green 114 and highlighted with Ammo by Mig Jimenez Russian Shine A.MIG-935. 

Dry brushed with Ammo by Mig Metal Acrylic Color – Steel A.MIG-191 and oil filters. 

 

Dry brushed with Ammo by Mig Metal Acrylic Color – Steel A.MIG-191 and oil filters. The headlights were picked out with Humbrol Chrome Silver Metallic 191. 

Dry brushed with Ammo by Mig Metal Acrylic Color – Steel A.MIG-191 and oil filters.  

Using ropes of various thickness and wire, the winch cable and towing rope was scratch build and installed on the bumper bar. 

Decal 1. 

Decal 2. 

Decal 3. 

Decal 4 and 5. 

Drill out these holes if you choose to mount the spare wheel to the bonnet. The indicators are clearly moulded into the plastic. 

Spare wheel glued in place and the rim darkened with Tamiya German Grey XF-63. 

After waiting 24-hours for the pigments to dry on the underside of the body, I sealed the pigments in with Tamiya Flat Clear XF-86. When dried, this was the result. 

I managed to fix the “frosting” by hand painting a layer of Tamiya Clear X-22 over the whole area. I will spray a thin/light layer Tamiya Flat Clear XF-86 to cover the bottom. 

Attaching the body components to the chassis. All locating pins had to be removed to have a reasonable fit. 

 

 

 

Stowage to be added in the loading area and on the mudguards. 

Dry fitted the stowage. 

 

Red: Binoculars from the Tamiya Modern U.S. Accessory Set Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black X-18;
Orange: Backpacks from the Tamiya Allied Vehicles Accessory Set painted Tamiya Khaki, Tamiya Dark Yellow XF-60;
Yellow: Tarpaulin, scratch build painted Tamiya Khaki, Tamiya Dark Yellow XF-60;
Lime green: Ammunition boxes from the kit painted I painted the ammunition boxes in Humbroll Russian Green 114 and lightened Ammo by Mig Jimenez Russian Shine A.MIG-935;
Dark green: Jerry cans (water) from the kit;
Light blue: Jerry cans (fuel) from the spares box;
Blue: Wooden box from the spares box
Purple: Sleeping rolls from the Tamiya Allied Vehicles Accessory Set painted Tamiya Khaki, Tamiya Dark Yellow XF-60;
White: Cargo net from a mosquito net.
Black: Tarpaulin to cover the backpacks 

The stowage glued into place and covered by a cargo net. 

The backpacks and scratch build tarpaulin has been inserted in its final position. The backpacks must still be covered by a small tarpaulin. 

Stowage reduced and completed. 

An actual map of Kuwait was printed and placed between the front seats. From the Tamiya Modern U.S. Accessory Set a set of binoculars were added further to the realism. 

First round of dot filters and chipping is completed. 

 

Initial chipping using Humbrol Chrome Silver Metallic 191. 

The kit comes without figures. From the Master Box Modern UK Infantrymen Present Day three figures were picked. The only modification was swopping their British helmets out for US helmets from the Tamiya Modern U.S. Accessory Set. The vehicle commander/navigator. 

The 12,7mm gunner. 

The driver. 

The crew assembled and fitted. 

 

Primed with Mr. Surfacer 1500, ready for paint. 

Vehicle weathered. 

 

 

dded some oil and fuel stains. 

 

 

A closer look at the stowage. 

Another look at the stowage and fuel stains. 

I added a map and binoculars to create some interest.