Why thankee kindly.

I've got a buddy that thinks it's a "pastel bomb", but that's what I was modeling, a filthy, in-service vehicle, so I'm taking it as a compliment.

All-around beautiful and convincing work here. The weathering and innovation really bring it to life.

Just love looking at it.

My pleasure.

This is all great stuff. Thanks for answers.

G, keep in mind this whole thing is based on a pic I saw some time ago that I can no longer find, combined with what I think "might" actually be found on an IDF tank in the very near future.

The commander's cupola is actually fictional, and has attached a Remote Weapons Station, straight off a Stryker.  I based my creation on actual IDF enlarged "dog house" style cupolas seen on Centurion and T55-based ICV and engineer vehicles, designed to give full, all-around vision to the vehicle commander and providing some measure of protection. I used the standard Merkava hatch on top of it to make it look plausible.

The device at the rear of the turret is the Droid, Laser Warning System, which is actually in use by the IDF on actual vehicles, commonly seen in pics. Its function is covered very nicely by Rob.

And the first time I saw a wire cutter on a vehicle was a pic of a jeep, sometime in WW2, probably in Germany, as a counter to wire strung across a road as a booby trap. The function of mine is more to keep power lines and other cabling from fouling the RWS.

www.elbitsystems.com/.../area-in2.asp

The LWS lets the crew know they've been lazed or otherwise laser designated. It allows the driver early warning to take evasive maneuvers. It is often hooked up to active defenses like smoke grenade launchers to obscure the vehicle from the laser origin. Other devices like the Marines' MCD can also be activated automatically to defend against incoming laser guided missiles.

Educate me please.

I looked at Elbit's various websites and see that they sell various things I see on top of that tank, but it's unclear whats what.

First, at the back there's that tower with the circular cap and what appear to be eight lenses . I think it was described as a periscope. Is that the LWS Laser Warning System? What does it do?

Then there's the tower with the weapon, smoke dischargers (?) etc.

In the world of acronyms that seems to pass as information these days, it resembles something Elbit calls an LWS Light Weapon System.

I get the cable cutter, like an IDF helicopter. Kind of the level of technology I understand.

Not afraid to ask questions, would like a run down of what's going on on top of that tank.

Rob's got it, popularly known as a "droid", definite Star Wars connection.

They dismount quickly, and are normally only seen on tanks about to enter LIC combat situations. Since this model is supposed to be something specifically for those exact conditions, my logic is that a high profile would be of secondary importance. I also made up a dis-mountable wire cutter for the turret front, to keep low hanging wires and cables from fouling the RWS and droid.

And thanks. I have to admit to having doubts art various stages during construction, but I'm glad I stayed with it.

That Star Wars droid looking thing is the Laser Warning System (LWS) by Elbit.

Great job in bringing this to completion, Russ, but what's with all those "satellite dishes" on the top of the turret? Do they really use them? It would seem to me that they make the tank's profile unacceptably high?

Ed Zachary.

All those pics of IDF tanks with the bustle racks all loaded up are in open-country, training or road march situations, by and large. Occasionally you'll see a pic of a Merkava Mk1 in Beirut with a full basket, but it's rare.

Ahh, that does make sense. I'm just used to photos of Second World War Shermans with everything but the kitchen sink loaded up. If some clown is chucking Molotovs at your tank I can understand not having flammable storage.  

Thanks, Gamera.  Someone on another forum remarked that if I was able to post this up on idf-modeling.com, I might get scolded for violating op-sec......

Stowage will depend on the base this goes on, so since I plan on doing a base with an urban theme, probably not, because IDF crews normally empty the baskets before entering urban areas, reason being they don't want any flammables on the turret. Seems that their typical adversaries figured out pretty quickly that a fire started in a bustle rack could cause big problems for the tank crew.

I have begun some call-sign placards, which will go on, but other than some rubble to match the base, I'm done.

Oh wow, super cool! Beautiful job! As I said she looks like she ought to be a real thing.

Did you think about adding some storage to the turret basket though?

Thank you, G.

Okay, for all intents and purposes, this one is done. I may add some rubble on the fenders and such when it goes on the base, but I feel good about moving on right now.

Pics:

Looks brutal and again everything fits together like it were designed it were a real thing.

Next time I think I'll just buy some AM tow cables.....   Making four from Tamiya T34 ends, aluminum tube and nylon string took two hours. Geez.....

I also dug up an Academy FN Mag for the loader:

And another shot with the RWS mounted:

Why thankee sir.  The skirts really did the trick, I think.

Had i been thinking far enough ahead, I would have made up either a battering ram for the front, or a set of tow horns. I think it needs something up there, but maybe it'll look more "complete" after I get the tow cables made up and hung.

That thing is BAD A$$!! BRAVO!

I can almost see the smoke bellowing out of the gun tube. Freakin' smexy looking piece of armor! [drooooool]

Skirts are on, sides dusted up some more, and a few more bits added. Some grease stains around maintenance points, tow cables and a loader's MG and I'll move on.

Gentlemen, you're too kind.

:)

Man, that really came out smashing! I admit, I had my doubts about this build, but as it stands now, it's off the bat, in a high arc, and headed out of the park..awesome!

Ah yes,

   did I hear "nasty"?

Thanks gents.

Grimy is the goal. And filthy. And nasty.

looking grimy and real

Super cool!

Here's a shot of the skirts that give a good idea of what I was yakking about:

Lots of caked-on looking grunge, more visible (I think) because I applied the pigments over a gloss, rather than a flat coat like on the rest of the model. Lesson learned.

That's funny right there, might make it look "cluttered".....

RBaer

Then all the periscope "holes" were filled with Krystal Kleer (basically a PVA glue used to make windows),

It's getting close....