I've always loved the look of this tank. I'm looking forward to seeing this build.  :)

M. Brindos

I've always loved the look of this tank. I'm looking forward to seeing this build.  :)

 

Thanks MrBrindos, I will try to do some pre/post shading, since its a monochromatic, not weathered tank I will stress out lines, panels and heavy dusting.

Merks are fun, and that kit is decent, especially considering its age.

Well, its finished.....or something like that.

Everything was going OK...the base color, and the pre and post shading and the pin wash were coming along as I wanted...a darky, oily look. But when I wanted to also make it look dusty..everything went to hell.

I used a dust wash, and a Tamiya buff...which basically covered everything..so I ended with a creamy look tank which I hate. I didnt want to go back and re-do al,since all wheels and fenders were already glued.

I didnt want to move on so I just drop it and didnt finished it...antenna, machine guns and figures were not added. I will probably give it away to a kid to use it as a toy.

So..hang on, here it is... you will clearly see all what NOT to do.

  Personally I don't think it looks all that bad.
Look up some techniques and set it

Then (when you feel a little more encouraged)
see what you can throw at it.
                                   

 
 Hey, although you may be disappointed ,
it's never a  complete loss.

So at the least,

 use it as a target to experiment

with and try out new ideas to accelerate

your learning curve.

don't give up the ship yet! spray it with dullcoat, let it dry, you will see your detail come back.

get a darker shade of dirt/brown/burnt umber and wash it again. it will pull the detail out.

here is my result...same kit, I used SAC Bomber Tan, it looks like the IDF sand (close enough) and pin washed with black, then washed it with dark earth.

I agree with the guys. Don't give up on it yet. SOme of my tanks have up to three paint jobs on them and I'm still not happy with the results. Box it up and stick on the shelf of doom for another try in the future. All is not yet lost.

She looks pretty good to me from the photos. I assume you mean you covered up all the pre-shading, I can't really see that. Personally I'd say chalk it up as 'a learning experence' and move on to the next one applying what you learned here to it.

CB1: She looks pretty darn good too.

The road to Beirut in 1982 was very dusty for the Mk.1s. I'd say your work is just fine if not a tad not dusty enough... Dont give up on this project.

Dude,

Don't quit. This hobby can throw you some curve balls. I'm going to assume that you took the time to photograph and publish this kit as a work in progress. The hard part is done.....now, the fun part is supposed to start. The weathering phase is the chance to show the artistic flare that makes the build worth while.

Nothing you have done and are not happy with is irreversible. Get your act together and re-do it. It isn't finished....so finish it.

garzonh - What color did you paint your Merkava? The references I've seen say the best color for a late-model Merkava is Model Master SAC Bomber Tan, FS 34201, which is a tan with just a hint of green to it, but earlier pictures I've seen of the older Mk. I look more like straight-up Armor Sand, which is FS30277. I had originally started painting my Mk. I in Armor Sand many moons ago (back in the '90's), and just continued on with that shade; but if I had to do it again, I think I'd go with SAC Bomber Tan. 

Don't give up! Merkavas can look like they've been painted in any old color, just depends on the light, where they are and how dirty they are, and they seem to always be dirty.

This one is Tamiya tan (TS-46?), heavily "washed"...   or un-washed, as the case may be.

EVERYONE of my builds looks like crap at the 80% stage. many have won awards in local contests. when i started doing washes i went back and added some washes to older kits i had finished and some of them did well too.

point being as was mentioned take a break and visit it again next week. consider a small base, nother elaborate but that can help too. from the pictures posted i think it turned out nice.

Thanks to all for your support and interest.

I had put on a shelve...not sure I will ever go back to it.

Maybe the dark and pin wash could bring the detail back again.

Again, thanks for your support.

I may be going offline for quite some time...I will not renew my subscription due the the only fact that USD has gone sky in Mexico. It went 30% up since last year.

So, it was already an expensive hobby...but now is a top of the line luxury to buy a kit that is worth a full day of work plus paints and so.

I'll try to keep around as long as possible.

  Hey,
 You don't need a FSM subscription to stay on the forums...
Keep checkin' in here , OK?

Hey Hugo, dont disappear. I'm just back from tour and will be getting active again soon...that Merkava looks like all it needs is some dark umber pin washes to bring out thew details and it will be fine. Hope you stay on the forums; as Steve said, you don't have to be a subscriber to hang here..

Ohhh...thats great..I though only FSM subscribers had access.

Nice I will be able to keep arund and see all of your great work!!