8404 Diorama Studios

When Magic Factory came out with their kit of the Polaris MRZR D4 UTV (Ultralight All Terrain Vehicle) I pounced on it. Opening the box you find it full of sprues, enough to build two versions of this vehicle – one four seater, one counter UAS variant, a trailer, and sprue Y from their NATO Weapons Set. If you don’t want to build the anti-UAS you can build a second four seater.

The counter UAS variant is in service with the USMC as part of the LMADIS (Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System) which is a two seat vehicle based on the D4. The LMADIS consists of a pair of vehicles one carrying the electronics/sensor eqiupment (the vehicle in the kit) and a second vehicle. The rear seats are replaced by a cargo shelf with a stowage bin; the cargo bin on it’s partner vehicle is replaced by a large box whose function I’m not familiar with; attached to the rear is a second cargo platorm carrying a generator to power the countermeasures.

We’ll be building the basic vehicle in a variety of configurations – including the LMADIS pair and the basic four seater both armed and plain vanilla. I’ve got a number of the kits — now that I think about it, I think maybe I might have a problem… Nah. I just really like options. Lots of options.

Like all projects this one begins with RESEARCH. Fortunately Google is definitely our friend in this endeavour. A simple search delivers a wide selection of info on the plethora of accessories available to add onto the basic D4, the Polaris site even allows you mix ‘n match your accessories to see what the vehicle will look like wearing them. One of the more common accessories I see on operational D4’s are the MOLLE compatable roof panels attached to the roll bars over the front and rear seats. There are also similar panels that can be added to the cargo bed sides which there are pictures of in use. In addition to the panels there are pioneer tool racks, a hi-lift jack kit, rear facing seats for the cargo bed, headache nets, cargo bags, etc. Like I said — options. Lots of them.

The one option I knew I would be adding to several of my projects was the half-windshield kit offered by Polaris. It’s a simple addition you can make from clear, thin sheet plastic – no complex cuts, no modifying the kit parts. Easy-peasy addition, the 1:1 version is simply bolted onto the roll cage. I also will be opting for the roof panels on my basic D4’s. Mine will be made from lead foil, 0.15mm thick sourced from Amazon. Another simple mod. Use the roof sections you’re covering as a template, cut, and voila — you’ve got your roof panels. Add the MOLLE webbing and mounting straps from strips of tape; since the panels are in camo pattern you can either paint the camo yourself or save some aggraivation and use a decal of the desired pattern. Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth I learned the value of the saying “Work smarter, not harder”, so guess how I’m doing the camo? Mama didn’t raise no fool!!

Follow this space as we begin construction.