Next project: Panda Cougar JERRV in my favourite 1/35 scale.

A JERRV (Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicleor Joint Engineering Rapid Response Vehicle) is any vehicle that United States military engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units use in war zones such as Iraq. In this case based on the 6x6 Cougar built by Force Protection Inc. In 2004, the new Cougar was designed by a small British-led team in the US at Force Protection, Inc., in response to an urgent requirement by the US Marine Corps. This was a new design, developed in the US, based on an evolution of vehicle mine-protection technology used by the South African Army and Rhodesian Security Forces since the 1970s. The very first sketches of the new vehicle were made in late March 2004 in response to those initial USMC inquiries. The rapid development and production that followed was based upon the USMC request that the first vehicle be delivered within 6 months of an order - which was subsequently placed in mid-April 2004 for 27 units.

Back to the kit: there is an awful lot of plastic in the box



Some of you may recall my early comments on the Panda M-ATV. The under carriage was a nightmare, but it still built into a lovely vehicle which is why I decided to risk another Panda kit. Glad I did too: it's so much easier to assemble. 2 good evenings at the bench have got the undercarriage completed





There are some small draws and more than a few bits of excess glue in trying to get it all together but overall I'm happy with it.

Now to start on the interior....

Looking forward to your build Sean..

Nice man, I have something to watch.

Jay

I'll be following this thread too

Following too. I just got the Cougar 4x4 so I'll be watching to see what I can apply to my future build.

Sean,
Don't forget my feature review on this kit if you need any help.

Thanks Gents, hopefully I can make the build interesting for you....

And yes Pete, that review will be used, thanks, except for the cableing! Life is too short for that Mullarkey

Sean,
As CPT Sobel said in "Band of Brothers," "Mullarkey, that slang for B@#$S%#@?"

I owe you brother for the DUKE you sent me. Would it help if I cabled up the radios and you just paint and install them?

Thanks for the offer Pete, but it's OK. On the Cougar there won't be much visible anyway. I'll probably waste a few days trying to do something. Just tell me what is the secret to getting them to stay attached?

And yes, that is what the name means to Yanks anyway 😄 Makes an interesting conversation with visitors to the Emerald Isle

Latest lesson learned: pay attention to the instructions. There are two interior bases in the box and of course I used the wrong one. Thankfully hadn't attached too much stuff but did lose one of the pedals taking the front plate off





And well recovered now:


The gunners pedestal has 13 parts!


But actually goes together very nicely....


In really liking this kit. 😀

Some more progress with the storage cabinets and bins attached

Haven't forgotten this one. Slowly doing bits and nearly rest to put the top hull on.

How is the parts fit on this kit? Is it ok? Have you done the decal for the screen by yourself? Looking good so far

The fit if everything except the suspension is actually alright but they have far too many really tiny parts. It takes time and patience.

There is a decal for one monitor, but there are two monitors in the kit and should actually be a third in the rear for the operator of the Talon. The screen is just a photo downloaded from the Internet, scaled down and printed on ordinary paper. Trimmed to size a stuck on with clear acrylic paint

Like I said before.. I applaud you patience... If I ever get some REAL free time, I think I might give one of their more recent kits another chance.. they do look nice when built

Hisham

Thanks Hisham. It's stubbornness rather than patience

Scratch-built joy-stick for the Talon operator and resin monitor from Blast models


Had to add a back to the radio rack as it will be visible through the windows and the kit supplied radios are just a front face. It's all hollow behind.


The scrapes on the side of the dashboard, screen support, radio rack, seat and cooler are all from trying to fit the top hull half on. It would be OK as all those parts will not be visible but fitting the top on is not going easy.
The radio rack and explosives cabinet both catch on bolt heads on the interior walls. The air-con unit on the back is positioned too low for the bench that is below it. The top of the dashboard catches the underside of the window frame. Lots of clean-up needed

This is driving me insane. Top is on but not very well and I broke off so many bits doing it....

Fit at front and rear are OK




But the sides are a mess. Left side has a small gap from the door back, which could easily be filled, but a much bigger gap along the hood


Right side has a large gap the entire length.

With a lot of glue and some serious pressure I might be able to reduce this a bit. And all of this after a lot of sanding, cutting etc. Anyway left & front are already glued so it's not coming off again.

If I were to do one again I'd not put the bins, bumpers or suspension in until after the two hull halves were closed up.

With my 4x4, I had to carve up about half of the firewall for the top to get down further. From what you're saying, I'm afraid to put the dashboard on...

Dashboard was the easy bit Michael. A steel ruler up against the back of the dash as I was putting the top on. That let me move the top back 1 or 2 mm until the bottom of the windows had cleared the top of the dashboard. It's the side slots are a major pain

I know exactly how you must feel now

I have to admit I don't have half your patience, or stubbornness as you call it.. I actually ended up binning my 4X4

Hisham

I have never binned a kit, but do have a number of incomplete builds on the shelf of shame. But I always intend completing those ones....someday

This is coming very very close to going in the bin....I think I'll set it aside for a few days before giving it one last attempt.

Sean, just saw your build and I say your doing great. Despite some set backs with seams and all. It looks like a nice kit. I don't have this kit yet but I can see from your build that it's going to require a lot of dry fitting before any glue is applied. Well, I'll follow along this journey and see you to the end

Thanks Mike. I actually had another go at it last night. Got the right side sealed with the gap down to about 2mm the full length. Also gave myself serious cramps in my hand 😄

Today will try filling those canyons. Photos tonight....

I'd love to know how you tackle those gaps. My plan is to just lay a strip of plasticard between the halves and sand it smooth.

Guys, check out my Build Feature. I address that issue.