1/35 Merkava weekend build

Stuart06: Thank you sir. I spent about 15 or so hours on it, mostly in the painting and cleaning up the gun barrel (4 pieces, yech.)

dupes: Very kind, thank you. I do dabble in armor now and then, and I have some Dragon kits I've yet to build. I'll see what I can do...

RBaer:

CJ: Come awn

Alright, I'm in.

CJ: Come awn!

Never tried the MM IDF sand, but want to. "Green-gray" is a later color (1980 and newer, IIRC).

Excellent build Cosmic....

I have to work at it for at least several weeks to come out as good as what you did in a few days....Well done 

Thanks guys, I think I'm gonna try that hovertruck. Got it today, started checking it out. Like a lot of modern armor kits, it has to be built and painted in sections, so it' s a little harder to build up than it looks (at least, that's how it appears right now...).

Model Master makes a color called Israeli Armor Sand. Seems to have a greenish hue. Looks close; anyone ever try it?

IDF Hover-truck! Cool, that would be something I'd like to see.

H.A., that's what I was referring to.

CosmicJ, the IDF has changed the formulation of it's basic colors over the years as well. And then there's the huge influence of the dust from the local terrain.

Cosmic J wrote:

I was struck by the color difference between these and my build. I painted mine based mostly on the box top color for the kit, but those are much more green. Did I paint mine incorrectly, or has the color scheme changed in the last two decades?

I agree; finding the "correct" color for these Merkava's is as difficult as finding the coor for early Bundeswehr armor (that weird "Yellow-Olive").

I think that it's possible that when Tamiya's model engineers went to examine and "record" the dimensions, etc, that it might have been painted the tan color--you know how sometimes new tanks are given a coat of paint for public display that never quite make it to the battlefield? 

Cosmic J wrote:

Are any of those available as styrene kits? I found some really expensive resin conversions over at Squadron, but nothing else. I was struck by the color difference between these and my build. I painted mine based mostly on the box top color for the kit, but those are much more green. Did I paint mine incorrectly, or has the color scheme changed in the last two decades?

The Tamiya kit you already know. Academy do a Mk2 in two guises, one on its own and the other with a mine roller, and an early/prototype Mk3, which is somewhat removed from operational models. Academy is also reportedly about to release a Mk4, but it is not available as yet (nor is any other information available at present).

The jury's still out on the actual color. The Tamiya box art and the photo on the side of the box suggest a sandy yellow color, as do the instructions. There are lots of pics in which the color appears as you have represented on your build. Looking at other pics, including the ones above, if you take fading/varying lighting conditions/variations in photographic reproduction, it can appear anywhere between olive green to a pinkish grey.  This link may be helpful: http://idfmodelling.free.fr/article01.html

Whoa!  Thanks for all the great feedback guys. I normally post over in Sci-Fi where there is much less traffic; you're lucky to get three or four responses in a week...You guys really know how to make someone feel welcome.

Again, thank you all for your kind posts.

Thanks for the images White_34. Really cool looking vehicles. I like the tied down antennas (presumably to avoid power lines?) and the riveted, scaly-looking surfaces. Makes them appear almost prehistoric.

Are any of those available as styrene kits? I found some really expensive resin conversions over at Squadron, but nothing else.

I was struck by the color difference between these and my build. I painted mine based mostly on the box top color for the kit, but those are much more green. Did I paint mine incorrectly, or has the color scheme changed in the last two decades?

I think I might join your GB, if you'll have me, painting the Hover Truck I noted above. I would most likely use the green color seen in the pictures; I think I could do something interesting visually w/ that. Would it be alright If I built it mostly straight from the box?

Cosmic J Is planing to build the model of the HLJ site in to a Sifi "what if" IDF tank

OK, guess I missed that part.

Your late Heavy I think he left out some words. I Quote:RBaer I personally see absolutely no prob with you jumping in on the IDF GB.  "LIKE a What-if" were on the original list, IIRC.

Cosmic J Is planing to build the model of the HLJ site in to a Sifi "what if" IDF tank, an RBaer was backing him up on the idea. If he was talking about the Merkava than it will be what in his view of what a Merkava in the year 2024 would be like. I my self would love to see what he comes up with.

Oh an Cosmic J the Merkava Mk. II, III have that cool looking turtle shell looking armor like my build of the Mk.III D type. or called the Mk. III B-BAZ with fourth generation armor. I'm sorry if any of you looked in on my build and saw that I put up 3rd gen I ment 4th Gen.

Here's some images of the Mk. II, III with full turret armor.

Merkava Mk. II:

Merkava Mk. III:

Merkava Mk. IV:

I my self plan on doing a version of the Mk. II to add to my Mk.III but not the Mk.IV I just don't like the way it looks but that just me.

RBaer wrote:

I personally see absolutely no prob with you jumping in on the IDF GB.  "What-ifs" were on the original list, IIRC.

Since when is the Merkava a "What if?"  It has been the primary tank of the IDF for over 20 years.  His model is a Merkava I from the mid-late '80s.

Madk wrote:

The Merkava has always been a favorite of mine! Well done.

I've built two so far, and weathered them both in the same, somewhat-sparse manner. As Manny said, they always seem to be meticulously maintained.

You did a nice job with the whole kit. A beautiful model! It's nice to get out of your genre-of-comfort and branch out into something completely different!

Man, I wish somebody would release a Mk IV in plastic! (Or whatever the latest one is with the flying-saucer-looking turret!) 

Also, I personally see absolutely no prob with you jumping in on the IDF GB. "What-ifs" were on the original list, IIRC. I would look forward to your build.

  Cosmic well done. Henry is gonna love it for sure.

Nice build Cosmic, especially impressive with the short build time.  I agree with Gino's comment about the weathering.  I would be really disturbed to see an IDF Merkava weathered into a muddy rust bucket.  It goes to show that a decent kit that's put together well makes a nice looking model.  Hopefully it will inspire your buddy to get into modelling.

Andy

HeavyArty:

Looks good.  Good to see another vehicle that is actually realistically weathered; as opposed to the artistic weathering and chipping, covered in rust that is all the latest rage.  You are hard pressed to see an actual, in-service vehilce that looks like the artistic rendering that are common as of late.  Great job on it.

Thanks HA.That's what my friend Henry thought (and I kinda agree), most stuff is too weathered for my personal taste, but what are ya gonna do?

I would think Isreaeli stuff would be in pretty good shape most of the time, its never really very far from a depot.

Thanks again - CJ

White R_34:

Hello there man you have a truly stunning build, I love the color and the dark color onder the mane color make's you tank stand out well. As I'm a IDF armor fan and I'm working on a Mk. III. I hope my build come out as well still your is the bast yet. Why didn't you build it in the IDF GB?

Hey man, thanks for the kind words.

My bad. I didn't join the IDF GB because I somehow missed it, or I would have jumped right in. I might be a little out of my depth w/ some of the talent around here, though.

I liked this kit enough that I might try some other Israeli armor, like one of those modified Shermans, or maybe an IDF sci-fi "what if?" style piece like one of these:

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN948085

What ya think?

Thanks guys, I'm glad you liked it.

Mostly I build Sci-fi, but these Merkavas do look pretty futuristic, so it really caught my eye.

I painted it MM enamel Armor Sand first. Then I mixed Raw Umber into the Armor Sand, 50/50. I used that color to post shade the entire model, followed by another pass w/ the base color to clean up any overspray and soften the effect some.

Then, I used AS mixed 15% w/ White, and faded the center of the panels, and the upper surfaces.

Next came pin/spot washes of Burnt Umber.

Then I carefully drybrushed the whole piece, first w/ the base AS color, then w/ AS mixed 40% w/ White.

Lastly, decal, Dullcote and display. (Ok, it was a little more involved than that, but not by much. )

I really enjoyed building it. It went together much better than most SF kits do, and even though it's just one color, its kind of striking sitting on the shelf.

I like your avatars.

-CJ

That is one GREAT looking Merkava!!

I especially love the very subtle weathering, don't really see that too often. Thus it's nice to see that once in awhile, and let me just say you did a fantastic job with the slight weathering.

I'm not a big fan of modern armor but that thing looks sweet, almost sci-fi look to it with that turret and all. Looks like some pre-shading or is that just a wash in the panels?? Very nice and clean build!