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I built a Academy Merkava IV for a friend and its a nice build easy. The ball and chain skirt is a bit of a pain but nothing you can't work with. I didn't like the tracks and should really have changed them for the Fruil ones (I would have done if I was keeping it)

Phil

Doogs, I don't know about your reading preferences, but after reading about some of the IDF's tank battles, particularly in 1973, it is hard not be inspired to build modern armor from that war. I am fascinated by the Lebanon War of 1982 as well for more immediate reasons of my own at that time.

Modern armor isn't my thing, but the reviews on the new Meng Merkava kit have been glowing with praise. I'd go that route (and I'd be curious for thoughts...none of their subjects have interested me but they're going to be doing a 1/48 Me 410 that's got my ears perked up)

Bish, yes that is the one. It is still one of my favorite builds of mine from that time period. Aside from losing one spare track shoe and maybe having one of the FN MAG barrels broken off, it has survived the past 27+ years of moves and display with me.

Stik, is this the kit you built.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/TA35127

I built this one many moons ago, i still have it in a box full of broken kits. It was a pretty nice build. I think Tamiya may have brought out a more recent kit, but not sure if thats around at the moment.

Space, theres a few kits to choise from, this is what Hannants has.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?adv=1&product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&product_type_id=1899&code=&scale_id=954&keyword_search=Merkava&setPerPage=25&sort=0&search_direction=asc&restore_search=&save_search_active=yes&save_search_name=&save_search=

I do like the lines of it as well. A very modernistic, almost sci-fi look. What scale are you looking for in the Merkava? Tamiya makes the only Merkava Mk. I in 1/35, the version which saw the most tank vs. tank combat in Lebanon during 1982. But I think it is now OOP. A very nice kit though. I built it when it was new released in the mid 80s. Academy makes most of the subsequent versions from the Mk. II on up. I have not built or bought any of those, so I can not comment on them.