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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Updating Tamiya's Dingo Scout Car - No AM!
Jamesite
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 02:34 AM UTC
Hi guys,

The title isn't totally true as I am using aftermarket but it's just leftover stuff from older projects and not intended for Tamiya's ancient Daimler Dingo Mk.2 scout car.
I've been building this for a week or so now and had everything put together for a 'dry-fit' with some blu-tak, so I decide to snap a few pics for you guys to see what you thought.

The dingo will be mounted on a small vingette when complete with two British figures (these are hybrids of 2 Tamiya kits and a masterbox set).
Shown is the officer which is masterbox (British Troops Caen 1944) torso, legs and head with Tamiya (British infantry on patrol) arms which will hold a sten gun.
Markings will be for the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) as I was raised in South Shropshire, and the vingette will depict a scene on the outskirts of Caen.

Now for some photo's:











As you can see I have added a fair bit of PE, this is taken from the various PE sets I required for my Universal carrier conversion (to a captured german variant) along with a fair amount of stuff from the Tamiya universal carrier kit. This worked out well as all of the 'British stuff' I hadn't used on the carrier (ie. fire extinguishers) were the things I needed to update this kit.
I downloaded the Eduard instructions for their PE set for the dingo when I contemplated buying the set, when I saw it I decided to use it as a guide to using the Universal carrier parts on this kit, rather than purchase another kit with a lot of the bits I already had.





The interior was detailed using the same 'cross-over' PE method along with a lot of rivets added from punched out lead foil.
Stowage is from various spares I have knocking around.

It's come on a bit scince I took these pics (its about 85% done here), and i'll update this thread when i've made some more progress for you.

All coments welcome!

James
Hodson
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 05:34 AM UTC
Looks great, I'll have to look for photos of armed Dingos. I haven't seen the anti-tank rifle or the anti-aircraft bren on one before.

Were brens also used in the front panel where you have the anti-tank rifle?
SSGToms
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 11:56 AM UTC
That interested me, too. Do you have photos showing the AT rifle mounted this way? They would be a great find!
acav
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 04:05 PM UTC
Just one small matter - you have stowage on the back of the crew compartment that is covering the rear vision hatch; given that one of the virtues of the Dingo was it's ability to travel in reverse at high speed, crews didn't obscure this port with stowage.
That's also the reason why the drivers seat is slightly angled relative to front to rear axis of the Dingo - much easier to see where you're going if you don't have to crick your neck all the time...

$0.02

acav out
Drader
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 08:59 PM UTC
Not sure about the Boys ATR either, using it looks like it would be a challenge in the confines of the vehicle.

Are you interested in off-loading the Tamiya figures? - I'm looking for more 8th Army bits.

David
Jamesite
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 09:08 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looks great, I'll have to look for photos of armed Dingos. I haven't seen the anti-tank rifle or the anti-aircraft bren on one before.

Were brens also used in the front panel where you have the anti-tank rifle?



Quoted Text

That interested me, too. Do you have photos showing the AT rifle mounted this way? They would be a great find!


Hi guys, some valid points there.

I don't have a photo of the boys anti-tank rifle being used, only a reference that states the dingo was armed with a bren or a boys gun. However, I imagine this would have been in the early war years and not at all common in 1944, however, I thought it would be interesting to portray a dingo with some 'serious' armament.
I do have a photo of the Bren used with the AA mount although this is from a restored Mk. III and so could have been a post-war modification. The same point stands as above, that I wanted to show a variety of british weapons in the scene, hence the comander with sten and a lee enfield that will be inside, so i'll claim artistic license here!

Hodson, it was regular practice for the dingo's to have a bren gun mounted were the boys rifle is on this kit.

Matthew, I imagine if you look for some early war pictures of the dingo (battle of france or north africa) you may find a pic with the boys rifle mounted. I know there are early war pics of universal carriers with them mounted.

Cheers,

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 09:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Just one small matter - you have stowage on the back of the crew compartment that is covering the rear vision hatch; given that one of the virtues of the Dingo was it's ability to travel in reverse at high speed, crews didn't obscure this port with stowage.
That's also the reason why the drivers seat is slightly angled relative to front to rear axis of the Dingo - much easier to see where you're going if you don't have to crick your neck all the time...

$0.02


acav out


Hi acav,

Because the hard top roof of the Dingo was almost always removed it was common for a tarpaulin of sorts to be carried on the rear in this manner, in order to provide the crew with some protection from the elements. As the rear hatch hinges up from the top, it would lift the tarpaulin as it was opened, and therefore not block the drivers vision.

Well spotted anyway!

Cheers,

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 - 09:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Not sure about the Boys ATR either, using it looks like it would be a challenge in the confines of the vehicle.

Are you interested in off-loading the Tamiya figures? - I'm looking for more 8th Army bits.

David


I'll PM you about that one mate,

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 02:04 AM UTC
Update time boys,

i'll be painting the interior this evening (much easier before the 'bonnet' goes in place) so I thought id make use of some good weather to get some detail shots.

First up is a shot of the interior. The drivers seat has had tissue paper added to give it some more realistic texture.
Gear and handbrake levers have been thinned and modified using copper wire.
Various stowage bins, the radio and fire extinguisher have been taken from the tamiya universal carrier kit and detailed with photo etch.
A PE foot pedal has also been added (only had one!)
Also at the back you can see I have added the interior detail for the rear hatch (completely missing on the kit) and added wires for the radio antenna and a cable on what I beleive is the fuel tank(?)


Different angle of the interior. The gunners seat has been removed for painting, but the back of the seat was cut away and replaced with lead foil to make it look more realistic (see previous photos).


The dashboard was detailled with spare dials, punched out lead foil and copper wire. Copper wire and PE were used to create a new (and much better scale) mirror.


The rear engine deck had brackets added for pioneer tools.
The observer seat was from the universal carrier set and attached with PE as was the fire extinguisher.
Two Jerry can holders were added on the wheel arches from PE along with some more true-to-scale light fittings to replace the moulded tamiya versions.


Various detail was added from the Eduard universal carrier photo etch to replicate the parts in the Dingo PE set. Here you can also see the rivets from lead foil added to the inside of the hatches.


Another side shot, here you can see that I used PE strip to create a 'lip' on the stowage bins this was blended in on top with filler and then finished with a PE buckle. This is one of many features completely missing from the Tamiya kit.


The same dealio for the other side.
Also notice the antenna guard which from the universal carrier kit that fits this kit nicely.


And a couple of overall shots for good measure:



Now this all begs the question, was this ancient kit worth all this hard work? They do say you can't polish a turd!

Time will tell I suppose!

Thanks for looking,

James
wbill76
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 07:11 AM UTC
Some nice work adapting spare bits and parts to get it to this stage James. Sometimes it's more fun to do the rummaging and conversion work for projects like this, looking forward to seeing it on its base.
exer
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 07:46 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Now this all begs the question, was this ancient kit worth all this hard work? They do say you can't polish a turd!


Well worth it. the Tamiya Dingo is by no means a turd and responds to a bit of TLC really well - as shown in your model. The real weakness of the kit is the suspension which is very simplistic.

Macquette make one as well but it is very expensive.

mark197205
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 07:53 AM UTC
It definitely is worth it James, and yours is far from a turd, that title is reserved for my old example from my slap em together days all those years ago...
Beaver22
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 07:58 AM UTC
Hi there

I love your build. I built this a while ago too. It does tend to draw you into a massive up-detailing mission, don't know what it is about the tamiya Dingo.



I like your build so much idrove 150 miles to Cobberton Tank Museum to take some shots of this Dingo with the AT gun I think you were after......Only joking, I was going there anyway.



Hope this helps in some way. Can't wait to see the end result!

Stuart
Plasticbattle
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 02:12 PM UTC

Hi James. Excellent start. I like all those improvements you´ve made, and they do lift this model to a much higher level.
Those solid-molded handles onthe back bonnet would be easily replaced with some fine brass wire alternatives, and this in turn would give you something to realistically tie the back stowage to. Just a suggestion.
f1matt
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 07:19 PM UTC
But where on Earth are you going to find room to keep it?
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Some nice work adapting spare bits and parts to get it to this stage James. Sometimes it's more fun to do the rummaging and conversion work for projects like this, looking forward to seeing it on its base.


Thanks Bill,

I couldn't agree more, I love adding my own personal touches to things, and bringing older kits up to date with a bit of TLC.
Will keep you posted with progress.

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Now this all begs the question, was this ancient kit worth all this hard work? They do say you can't polish a turd!


Well worth it. the Tamiya Dingo is by no means a turd and responds to a bit of TLC really well - as shown in your model. The real weakness of the kit is the suspension which is very simplistic.

Macquette make one as well but it is very expensive.



Thanks Pat,

The suspension is, as you say, very simplistic, I'm going to try and bring out as much of the details as possible with painting but thankfully the wheels and wheel arches should cover most of this.

Didn't know about the Macquette one but i'm sure its not as fun!

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:17 PM UTC

Quoted Text

It definitely is worth it James, and yours is far from a turd, that title is reserved for my old example from my slap em together days all those years ago...


Lol Mark!
and thanks for the kind words.

James

Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi there

I love your build. I built this a while ago too. It does tend to draw you into a massive up-detailing mission, don't know what it is about the tamiya Dingo.

I like your build so much idrove 150 miles to Cobberton Tank Museum to take some shots of this Dingo with the AT gun I think you were after......Only joking, I was going there anyway.

Hope this helps in some way. Can't wait to see the end result!

Stuart


Hi Stuart,

Thanks for the pics, I actually read your thread before I started on this one to see how you had tackled the beast! I think you're right, it does draw you in!

The Cobatton combat collection is a good day out, Unfortunately I didnt have my camera the last time I was there! (also got bitten by a dog tied up outside-Random!)
David Maynard (Drader) mentioned to me they had fitted their dingo with the boys rifle so thanks for the photo - proves im not completely full of crap with my 'artistic license'!

Cheers,

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi James. Excellent start. I like all those improvements you´ve made, and they do lift this model to a much higher level.
Those solid-molded handles onthe back bonnet would be easily replaced with some fine brass wire alternatives, and this in turn would give you something to realistically tie the back stowage to. Just a suggestion.


Thanks Frank, glad you like the work so far.

Thanks for the suggestion, I did contemplate replacing the handles with wire, but reference pics I have show that the handles were very small and are quite flush with the engine deck anyway, so the kit one's aren't too badly out of proportion. This coupled with the added work put me off the idea!
The stowage will be tied down to the circular lifting hooks on the rear wheel arches and should cover the handles so it shouldn't really be to much of a problem.
Thanks anyway!

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text

But where on Earth are you going to find room to keep it?


lol Matthew!

Gonna have to throw away some old dioramas and maybe clear out the study I think!

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 09:46 PM UTC
Sorry for the multitude of posts everyone, I just find it easier to reply to people that way, also saves one massive post that no-one wants to read!

With the appearance of the photo of the Boys Rifle armed Dingo (Thanks Stuart!) I thought i'd show my influence for the other 'contraversial' armament - the AA Bren gun.

This pic came from Wikepedia (wher the Boys rifle is also listed as an armamnet of the Dingo) and shows a Mk.3 daimler at a rally. It's quite possible that this is a post war mosification (as the dingo saw service for many years after the war). But it's not outside the realms of possibility that it couldn't have been added as a field modification, particularly if the crew wanted to use the boys rifle for defence against pillboxes or light armoured vehicles they would come up against, without losing the firepower of the Bren?

I'lllet you decide anyway:



Cheers,

James
Jamesite
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Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 - 04:04 AM UTC
An update for you guys:

Have now painted the interior of my dingo (a must before full assembly as you can see). It's hard to get photo's of the space as the sides prevent much light from getting in and so my camera has trouble focusing, so sorry about the dpth of field in a couple.
However, here are the pics (BTW The gunner/radio op's seat is missing and will be added with the figure on assembly)






All coments welcome!

Cheers,

James
wbill76
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Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 - 07:47 AM UTC
Nice work weathering that tiny interior. The inclusion of the stencil/plackards on the side is a nice touch as well.
Jamesite
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Posted: Monday, August 13, 2007 - 08:47 PM UTC
Thanks Bill,

I must say it wasn't the easiest thing to paint ever!
Glad you like the placards/stencils. Not sure they are 100% accurate for a dingo as they were taken from Tamiya's Dragon Wagon kit but I think they are a nice touch, especially as the one next to the driver could easily relate to the dingo's technical gearbox (5 speeds in forward and reverse).
My favourite touches are the other stencil/placard on the fire extinguisher and the tea mugs!

Cheers,

James
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