IDeuxF GB. 12/17 - 12/18

Will they order the revell if you ask?  Most shooa in the US will order whatever you want.

Yea they do not really go out of their way to order unless you REALLY need it. Even then they will need to try get from their suppliers and with it being the hollidays I cant see me getting one before a few weeks from now.

I will maybe get the trumpeter one if my budget allows it later on.

Theuns

OK, I made a turn at my local china mall importer of chinese models looking for a Merkeva....non to be found except a 1/32 that was way out of my proce range.

I did however find somthing just as cool, a 1/72 Trumpeter Sherman M4A1 76 in israeli 1961 war scheme.

So put me down for that one please. It will be my first attempt at 1/72 armour so it will be "interesting"

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

 The sherman is coming allong nicely, there will be a little filling to do on the lower and upper hull joint. The detail for such a small kit is actually very good, each bogey has the 2 spoked wheels and 2 side carriers to assemble.
The hatch and other detail on the upper hull is also very good.

I have been looking at loads of pix of these Shermans with the "cast hull" and they were really rough! you can clearly see where the cast sprues were cut off and "very lightly" filled with grinders .

I wanted to weather the hell out of this tank but from all the pix the IDF took very good care of their equipement. Very little if any rust other than on the tracks, maybe the desert air is to dry?? They were all re-painted in a light brown from '61 onwards so I assume they must have been overhauled.

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr
. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

Tny I am sure the IDF upgraded them at some stage. I see dome of the later ones have muzzlebreakers on the barrel and mode racks on the side to carry stuff but mine will be pretty early version.

I understand from the armour guys the wheels I have out on reflect the early version, the kit does supply the later solid wheels but they are solid molded and look "chunky"

Anyway my thoughts are that the IDF was in so much trouble during the 1961-67 period they must have used whatever they had running ;-)

Theuns

primer on

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Then I added some dark areas wher it would be in the shade

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

You cant quite see it inb the pix but there is a slight "shading" in the areas I did before putting on my own mix of IDF sand grey.

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Then for a first attempt at weathering the tracks I am fairly pleased.

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

Pinwash look more severe than in real life, I now need to put on the dust and toutch up the tracks.

. by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

I found working with these rubberband tracs rather difficult :-(

Theuns

I am calling this little Trumpeter M4A1 76 done. It represents the IDF during the 1961 conflict in the Golan  Hights.

Painted in my own mix (enamel) of IDF sand/grey.

I added the tarp on the back. I still need to make the little nameplate for the base later.

Thanx for hosting.

Trumpeter 1/72 M4A1 76 IDF by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Trumpeter 1/72 M4A1 76 IDF by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Trumpeter 1/72 M4A1 76 IDF by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Trumpeter 1/72 M4A1 76 IDF by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Trumpeter 1/72 M4A1 76 IDF by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Theuns

That little Sherman looks great Theuns! The IDF really takes care of their equipment. Not much chance to do weathering.

I'm starting the Merkava IV. This looks like it's going to be a fun little kit.

Steve

I like that Merkeva, the "ready tracks" looks like a good ide. I have been having hassles with the vinal track of my Bradley ...they dont like paint :-(

Theuns

Yeah, vinal tracks are just a PIA to paint

I completed the Merkava to a point of painting. I sprayed a black base coat and will go over that with IDF sand. Once I have everything painted I'll put the last of the parts together for the little weathering I'm doing.

Thanks Tony, I picked it up from Andy's Hobby Headquarters.

Here is the Merkava after spraying the IDF Sand. Now I need to do some fine painting on the tools, tracks, vision slits Etc.

That’s a mighty fine looking Merkava!

Thanks MM, hopefully you'll get to see it in person soon.

I'm almost finished with the Merkava, just need to add some dust and clear flat.

fantacmet,

I completed the Merk, thank you running the GB, thia was fun and gave me a reason to build it.

Steve

Gee that was quick Steve, I blinked and I almost missed it. Looks really good though, I like the weathering too. I'd loe to do one in my chosen scale for armor, 1/48. Maybe one day Tamiya will help me out...

Cheers

Tony

You should give https://postimg.org a try.  Its easy and free.