Merkava IV Finished

Hello folks! Just wanted to share my 3rd armor build from 2012. This is Academy's Merkava IV LIC. Bear with me, since my long hiatus, I came back to the hobby building A/C and armor is a whole 'nother league. I hope you like it. It was built 100% OOB except for tarps on the back which where made with the paper that came stuffed in new shoes. The stowage is just for the looks and are from Tamiya.

I need to polish my figure painting skills.

The IMEX case was purchased originally for the Challenger 2 but it didn't fit

Thanks for looking and have a nice weekend.

George

George,

Fantastic build. I love the weathering and the tarps...did you use pigments for the dust?

I love it, great job. I'm working on the same kit right now. The only thing I'm worried about are the balls and chains. Any tips for cutting the ball halves without ruining them?

Erik

Hercmech:

George,

Fantastic build. I love the weathering and the tarps...did you use pigments for the dust?

Thanks for looking Hercmech. Yes, I did used Vallejo pigments that I purchased almost 2 years ago and never used them. My LHS, stock them and I have acquired a few more shades.

Geist:

I love it, great job. I'm working on the same kit right now. The only thing I'm worried about are the balls and chains. Any tips for cutting the ball halves without ruining them?

 

 

Erik

Thanks for looking and commenting Erik. You will end up with around 20 extra ball halves. I did cut the runners from the tree to make it easier. I used a brand new #11 blade and scrapped them off the runner. Try using the kit's box like if you were making the old box and stick trap. That way you wont loose them and they will fall inside the box. Hope this help.

That looks real good,someday I will have to pull this off the pile and get started.how were the ball and chains to work with

Also,that's a great simple base

Now you've gone and done it, George!  I'm gonna have to go pick that kit up now!

Great job!

Thanks so much for your kind comments guys, coming from you all means a lot to me. Toyo72, the ball and chains are repetitive work. Once you have the halves ready, you can pick them up softly with the tip of your #11 blade; I had a soda cap with a few drops of CA glue on it and just moistened the halves a bit. If you don't poke the halves too hard with the tip of the blade, they will stick to the PE chains very easy.

Excellent effort George. Third finished already? Wow.

These Merkava's have grown on me. 

Thanks for looking Tigerman! Out for delivery is another Merkava, the old one from Tamiya. Also in the box I should be getting the British Quad Gun Tractor which will be a nice canvas to practice and improve my scratch building skills. (Yay, HVH!).

On another note: If someone is building this Merkava from Academy, I'm hosting the hi-res label I made with Photoshop. Click on the link, right click on the image and save on your HD. Take it to your local photo kiosk and select 4x6.

George,

Nice work on the Merk...the base and figure bring it to life and hat's off to you on the ball-and-chain work as well.

El Taino:

Hercmech:

George,

Fantastic build. I love the weathering and the tarps...did you use pigments for the dust?

 

Thanks for looking Hercmech. Yes, I did used Vallejo pigments that I purchased almost 2 years ago and never used them. My LHS, stock them and I have acquired a few more shades.

Did you just dust them on or did you use the fixer and let it dry routine?

Hercmech:

 

El Taino:

 

 

Hercmech:

George,

Fantastic build. I love the weathering and the tarps...did you use pigments for the dust?

 

 

Thanks for looking Hercmech. Yes, I did used Vallejo pigments that I purchased almost 2 years ago and never used them. My LHS, stock them and I have acquired a few more shades.

 

 

Did you just dust them on or did you use the fixer and let it dry routine?

Hello again, that's a good question. I dusted sparingly around, but for the 1st time I gave it a try to their native Pigment Glaze 26233. It did worked like a charm on the wheels and hubs. It dries fairly quick.

Thanks for the quick follow up and the sugesstions.

Awesome build George!  The weathering looks fantastic.    I always like the look of the Meraka Mk IV.  I think they are on sale at Squadron this month......

Thanks for sharing.