Cougar 6x6 MRAP

MRAP vehicles were designed as part of a strategy to reduce or eliminate casualties caused by IEDs. Coalition forces in Afghanistan used a number of vehicles that loosely fall into this classification, but I'm not sure how many countries outside of the US and UK use the actual MRAP designation for their vehicles.

US military vehicles fall into four categories, based on size and weight.

• Category I (7–15 tons) — Mine-Resistant Utility Vehicle (MRUV)
• Category II (15–25 tons) — Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Rapid Response Vehicle (JERRV)
• Category III (25 tons) — For mine/IED clearance and EOD
• MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV)

Most plastic 1/72 models represent M-ATVs. I'm not aware of any Cat-I or Cat-III models, and the only Cat-II vehicle model is of the Cougar. Metal and resin models exist, but I haven't really looked into any of the kits since the former can be overly simplified, while the later are expensive and often troublesome to put together.

4D 拼装模型 美国 美洲狮 6X6 防地雷反伏击车

The 4D Puzzle Model Cougar 6x6 MRAP consists of 78 pieces made in tan polystyrene. Sources seem to indicate that the manufacturer of this kit is Hehexing (合和兴), and the 4D logo and "Puzzle Model" name seem to be consistent with this company.

Some people are classifying this particular type of vehicle with six passenger compartment windows as a HEV (hardened engineer vehicle), while calling the type with only two passenger compartment windows a JERRV, but I'm not sure how accurate this information is.

The wheels have the simplified back side that some people don't care for, but the tread pattern doesn't look too bad.

The rear steps are represented as plain slabs which is incorrect, but short of supplying photoetch mesh, there's not much that can be done about it.

The front doors are separate pieces, and can be positioned open, but only has a single hinge. The rear doors can also be positioned open, but strangely enough, the turret hatch is molded closed.

Windows in the OGPK turret are solid, so should probably be drilled out and replaced with acetate panes. The 0.50 caliber is decent, but the barrel is on the thick side. The various antennae are all too short and too thick, but I'll probably leave them as is.

The searchlight was molded on one of the tan sprues, so I'll probably cast a replacement up in clear resin.

It probably took about an hour (maybe less) to assemble most of the model to this point. It can probably be built without glue, but plastic cement really helps keep all the parts in place.

I was probably overeager, and should have left the clear parts on the sprue so I could have painted them first before installation. As it is, I'll just have to pop them back out and paint a bunch of loose pieces.

Anyway, I'm going to try and get my modifications in and paint the model up over the long weekend, and hopefully be able to show off the finished model in the next week or so.