The missing runes? Well spotted Richard.
I actually dealt with this above:
I have not quite decided whether to cover them over on the Schwimmwagen. That would be consistent - and probably accurate - but I don’t want anyone to think this is some sort of modern revionism..!
Age is wisdom Wayne! At least that’s what we hope 
Too bad this wasn’t also applicable to models!
Another great update Tim, the ensemble is coming together so well. Looking forward to seeing the next installment. Nice pickup to include the Notek Tarnscheinwerfer which was almost always only on early Schwimmwagen or SS vehicles, and not Wehrmacht production cars.
Very interesting Tim, I never noticed that in any pics of the battle. I wonder if any other units did that . It does make sense I guess
Well Tim I don’t care what everyone says, I think it’s looking fantastic 
but seriously it was difficult to curb my excitement. Pesky question - the telegraph pole…how will you deal with the lines? Broken/draped to the ground presumably?
Bring on the Jeep!
Have I ever built a jeep before? I feel that I must have done back in my youth, but my only memory is of the old Tamiya Russian Gaz. So maybe not…
I started with the updated Tamiya kit. It’s nice that they actually licenced the name, so it’s not called something silly like a ‘1/4 ton Utility Truck’ or ‘MB Military Vehicle’… it’s a JEEP!
When I started I knew almost nothing about Jeeps. Now I know a little bit more. The Tamiya kit is excellent, but there are little details that are either missing or simplified and here the Voyager PE set comes to the rescue. There are also many, many images available on line, so there’s really no excuse not to go to town adding them… the only problem seems to be that Jeeps are so numerous that finding the right bits for the correct period is difficult. So by all means tell me where I went wrong and I will take it on the chin!
In my scenario the vehicle has broken down, so one aspect I wanted to include was an open bonnet. The engine is actually pretty nicely detailed in the kit and, although Voyager add some bits and pieces there are still more be added, such as wiring, battery terminals, etc.
The way the kit comes together, you are supposed to add the lower engine block to the chassis and the upper part of the engine, plus all the pipes, etc to the upper body before you attach the upper and lower parts of the vehicle together. Since I wanted to paint the engine as one piece away from the upper body I found a way of keeping the whole engine as one piece attached to the chassis.
This left the radiator, battery, etc attached to the upper hull - which made painting much easier.
Whilst I was finishing this model it occurred to me that, of the three vehicles on this diorama, ALL are open-topped. Perhaps I am just a glutton for punishment, but I just love interior detail (if you can see it!) Although the Jeep may seem like a simple affair (and it was designed for mass-production after all), there is still a lot going on…
Like all PE sets, some details are ‘a bridge too far’. With hindsight I would not have bothered with replacing the grab handles - the originals are just fine. The suggested windshield modification (which involves the insanity of cutting out the inner windscreen frame and replacing it) was something I gladly ignored.
The seats definitely deserves some improvement - especially as I was going to have the passenger seat tipped forward. Here I added some of the metal frame underneath.
I also added a new wire cutter from ‘L’ shaped plastic rod (and the strengthening support which is missing from the kit).
Stowage was added from various sources along with some tools on the fender to help tell the story (along with the open bonnet) that this is a vehicle under emergency repair. I also added the distinctive safety straps from Tamiya masking tape and PE buckles. The latter are a detail so often missing from other Jeep models I see - but they were important. With no doors, you need something to stop you falling out!
Two other important additions to the kit were new wheels and a canopy. Both came from resin after-market sets.
I have used Def Models wheel sets on all three vehicles on this dio and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
As for the canopy by The Bodi, this is beautifully sculpted and (as we will see) really comes alive with paint. However, the sides of the frame are not up to scratch: they are too thick, lacking in detail and warped. So I replaced the struts with brass rod and then added the details from the Voyager set.
In the end I was pleased with the way everything came together. All I had to do now was add the paint…
Nice job
Love the work in progress photos! Nicely done interior on the Jeep too!
Brilliant detailing Tim, including the bullet-damaged windscreen. Truly inspiring skill as ever 
Spectacular work
One of the best looking Jeeps I’ve seen 
Beautiful work Tim- the battered, muddy and well worn patina of the paint (along with the weathering) really add a touch of character to this Jeep!
Fantastic job!
Thanks for all the comments guys…
The rest of the Jeep painting is pretty self-explanatory.
All the bits and bobs ready for priming:
This time I remembered to spray the brass with Mr Metal Surfacer. Everything was then given an undercoat of Mr Surfacer Black. The base coat used was AK Olive Drab primer. This wasn’t the fancy 3rd generation stuff (I’m not sure what the advantage of that is), just what I had. I thinned it with Tamiya Orange cap (retarder), gradually lightened it with Tamiya white and it looked just fine.
For the canopy I used # XF-14 Japanese Army Grey and a little Buff. I then gave everything a covering of satin varnish.
The decal sheet is pretty comprehensive and includes labels for the glove compartment and both fire extinguishers (the instructions call out brass for these, although I have also seen images of them in a dull grey colour - presumably late war). Strangely there are no decals for the dash, so I added the dials from the sheet I used for the Sdkfz 250.
The Tamiya set includes markings for a recce unit of the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 7th Armoured Division. This is actually pretty handy for my diorama, since the figure I am going to position at the corner near the jeep is dressed in tanker’s uniform.
Since the 814th TD Battalion was transferred to the Ardennes on 17th December and participated in the defence of St. Vith, it is theoretically possible that a recce unit found themselves in the path of an advance unit of the 6th Panzer Army. And if I am wrong about that? Well, by the time I have finished the weathering process there won’t be much of the unit insignia visible anyway!
The weathering process was standard procedure, working from the interior to the outside. It began with chips of a lightened version of the base coat, followed by darker scratches for contrast. This was followed by a wash - I used AK enamel wash for dark yellow and this worked just fine.
Next I added a few highlights to details (again I used the Olive Drab and simply added some white), painted the various lights, tools and seat covers, etc and followed with a few metallic touches using both acrylic pens and a graphite pencil.
Lastly I added lighter dry mud and then a spattering with AK Wet Mud.
As with the 250 and the Schwimm, this is not the very last stage of the weathering process. I am leaving this until the vehicles are about to go permanently on the base so that I can unify the shades of brown with the terrain - hence the rather clean looking tyres, for instance.
But it is good to see the jeep finally occupying the right-hand side of the diorama in something approaching its final form..!
Fantastic job
Simply awesome!
Tim that jeep is simply masterful! Gorgeous
Yeah, totally cool jeep. Awesome job.
Thanks for all the kind comments.
The progress made with the Jeep means that I am finally able to see all three vehicles in something approaching a natural harmony with their surroundings: no more plastic!
There is final weathering to be done - as well as plenty of foliage to be added to the German side - and the groundwork needs some more attention, especially in front of the house. And, of course, it is now time to turn to the figures who will (I hope) really bring this scene alive…
