IDF GB 4/20/08 - 4/20/09

Hay it's realy coming along grate. I never thought to put the gear on till the end I can't wate to see how it looks in the end. Like your tanks turret gun's I'm going to order some IDF resin guns for my tank. One thing on the first MG gun over the mane gun barrel, why did the IDF run wires from the gun and were do they go? Now on your version I see were they go (Down in to the turret) and I can think of why but on my tank the same type of look is on my tank as well and I don't see a need to use an out-dated way to fire the top MG. The control wires could have ran down through that dust bag on my Mane gun barrel over and then in to the turret.

I used word MG for Machine Gun as for the names of the gun this is what I foung on them:

[.50 Cal/ FN MAG] Used on your type of tank. [50 Cal] for the Magach 6B version. [50 Cal type II] Used on the Merkava Mk. I,II,III. on My Mk III it's there with out the side bag.

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=LF1057&Submit3=Go

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=LF1107&Submit3=Go

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=LF1128&Submit3=Go

So what I see I may do is order up the last kit and then get the first kit to get the two hach MGs of the set like you's to have the right side MGs if thats if I can't make the kit MGs look better. Well that's what's going on with me at this time. I'll have now working photos up soon.

Ok I found some info on the two turret hach FN AMG 58/7.62mm:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/FN_MAG

http://www.southeasthobbies.com.au/catalogue/legends-productions/LF11072.jpg

White_R34, thanks. I like to put the stowage in before I paint in case I get putty smeared or glue showing. Just works better for me.

The main gun MG can actually be fired with a large solenoid, that would fit in the tube that's on top of/behind the firing stud. I've got lots of pics of the older, cable actuated setup, none of the electrical setup in actual use. Must be a reliability issue. The cables run into the turret through the opening for the electrical connection for the searchlight normally mounted on the mantlet. I've seen some info that the mantlet-mounted 50 cal was used as a training weapon, as the rounds are a lot less expensive than a 105 round, but most info says the Israelis were on a quest to mount as many MGs as possible after the Sinai War, due to the Egyptian use of very mobile RPG teams. Either way, it's a VERY common mod by the early '80s. I would expect the firing system would be different on the Merkava as it was probably incorporated in the original design, whereas on the Magach, it was not.

I used the FN MGs in the Academy kit, as these were seen more often than the 30 cals used earlier, although both were used during "Peace for Galilee". The only mod to them was the removal of the stock on the commander's weapon, probably to allow for hatch clearance.

Edit: Big difference in the Legends part and my "gizmology". That one needs to go on the next build.....

Ok for those interested, I recently aquired(legally LOL), a copy of Shepard Paine's How to Build Diorama's, and found something in there that could be of great use to many of us here.  Just check out the image.  It's Hebrew building markings, with their translations right below or next to them.  I scanned this part of the page for you.  Please enjoy.

Thanks fantcmet.

I had forgotten that I had that book.

I will be opening it post haste.

I am still in the build.

I have had some bad news with work and really haven't been able to concentraite on the build recentley but I will be back in the saddle very soon.

I have found that if I work on a kit when "I'm just not feeling it" I tend to jack up the whole project.

so, that being said, I will try to get some updates soon as to where I am at and I am thinking about even doing anouther IDF vehicle for the build before it ends.

P.s. the work that I see here is truley phenominal!

I feel a bit out classed...LOL

Stikpusher: Yeah, absolutely, forgot that one. Forgot the NATO (?) name, too......

Edit: 'Fist, I'm the one that feels outclassed. This GB has pushed me to do more detail and scratchbuilding than I normally do, that's a fact. And I may actaully finish something, too. So keep at it and give us a look-see when you can.

Also, gotta go dig up the old "How-to" book, the "officers' latrine" sign may go nicely with something in the back of my mind and a TWS outhouse that's been floating around the bench for a few years.....

Hi all,

It's been a month since I last posted and I've made no progress -- GMW still haven't delivered the PE set for the Merk II (though the Eureka braided copper tow cables arrived weeks ago). They're waiting on another items to come into stock, but this is getting rediculous...

R-34 -- The MUTT came out absolutely terrific! Your attention to detail is nothing short of amazing.

RBaer -- the Magach looks superb! So detailed, so crisp and smart -- you have a winner there!

Fantacmet -- the photos of the AR-15 stripped down are amazing, I only ever held one once, about 25 years ago,an early solid-stock version. Weapons like that have been illegal in Australia for many years now.

Okay, guys -- what's the scoop on the Academy M60s, either the Blazer or the Passive/Rise? Are they good quality kits, would you recommend them? I have a line on them from an overseas stockist at reasonable prices and I'm thinking about an investment!

On the same theme, I just got in a bid at evilBay on the updated/improved Dragon Isherman -- with a bit of luck that one might enter the fray at a later date. For the moment I'm sorely tempted to reach into the stash for that Tiran-4, the way GMW are going it might be finished before they ever get around to shipping the Merk set.

Cheers,

TB379

T-bolt, thanks. It's deeper than I usually go......plus some new techniques that I learned here. Got it in the base coat of sand this weekend, will post pics hopefully tomorrow....

As far as the M60's, I grab either one of them as shows as a matter of routine. The tracks in the IDF version are stiff, thin and not well detailed, but the Blazer packs, cupola, MGs and extras are nicely done. The tracks in the RISE/passive version are usable, but again not well detailed. Both kits have the separate rubber tires which don't take paint well. Other than that they both build reasonably well. On a side note, a new, up-to-date kit would be nice.

A little progress! I got the base coat of what I use for IDF sand around the '82 time frame, which is Testor's MM SAC tan and SAC green, spray cans, kind of "fogged" together with the green in the shaded areas and the sand in the exposed areas. Strange, but it seems to work. Then it got a coat of Testor's clear gloss and some detail painting (not much yet). A few decals, a few hand-painted markings and a bunch of Solva-set on the decals is where I'm at now. The serial # on the front will get a few more applications of the setting solution and will eventually lay down..... Next is the rest of the detail-painting (stowage and such), an air-recognition tarp, the assembly of the running gear and the washes, not necessarily in that order. Thanks for looking!

Hi all,

RBaer -- the Magach is looking absolute competition stuff! I'll remember the SAC tan/green trick, it creates a very unusual effect.

In frustration at the delays on the Merkava II, I just pulled out my Trumpeter Ti-67 for a quick look with a view to building it. It feels like I can production-line a tank while I'm thinking about aircraft these days. Structurally it's simple enough, but then I went looking for accessories and found my way to reviews. The motorisation option in the kit caused it to be proportionally incorrect, only by a matter of milimeters, but incorrect all the same. The tracks are detailed both sides, but replacement is recommended and the box even shows AMs in its build-up photos. A PE set by Lion Roar appropriate to the T-54 plus a set of tracks by Friul would set me back by at least five times what the kit cost me... Then there's the roadwheels. They have a curious raised pattern of ridges, almost like chains on tires, which a reviewer commented required removing, and at that point I closed the box and put it back in my stash. I've too much to do to be correcting this many inconsistencies!

I still have a winning bid on the Dragon Premium Isherman, and if I don't win it I know where I can source one at about half the shelf cost in Aus. The same source can sell me an Academy M60 Passive/RISE for only $17 -- that sounds a friendlier option.

I wish I had some progress to report!

TB379

Hi RBaer,

I'll have to think about this technique, it's quite a different one to anything I've used previously. For the Merk my impulse is to use Sand with a small amount of gray added and see what she looks like -- then do a general rust/dust/mud/dirt job overall. The era for a Mk. II would be the early to mid-80s, and IIRC the M60A1 Blazer was active at the same time -- so a common paintscheme would likely follow. (Was the custom of using red on the quick-access points established at that time, or later???) I'm seriously considering Academy's Blazer, if the Merk is anything to go by Academy armor builds a breeze and makes an attractive finished product even without going to extreme AM lengths.

Cheers,

TB379

Hello, Cosmic J here. I normally post over in sci-fi, so I only noticed your GB this week. I'm a fan of Israeli vehicles; they often look very futuristic.

I see you are allowing for "What if?" type vehicles. I was wondering if I might join in, building one of these:

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

Wow cosmic.

That thing is pretty cool looking.

Just a heads up all.

I have big delays coming my way as I was laid off then hired by a different company working out of town 6 days a week.

At the moment I only have enough time to wash clothes and grab a bite to eat before I am back to the job site.

I am glad to be working but this is seriously cramping my model time!

I did see that their's a small LHS in the tiny town we are working in so I have access to some items and I will be builing a road/travel kit soon.

Now I just have to be carful to not blow my per diem money in the first day at the LHS.LOL

The build here are going very well and I am glad to be part of it.

Tbolt, like your method as well, I do what I do because I don't use an airbrush. Kind of like "why did grandma always cut the ends of the ham off?" I think base colors would be the same, with the main variance due to where the vehicle was used, but that would be weathering-related.

As far as I can tell, the practice of painting maintenance and tow-points red came into being after the Peace for Galilee op, but I could easily be wrong here since I have only a few, poor quality color pics of that period. I generaly don't use the red on PfG-period vehicles.

Well it looks like we got our first What If participant.  Cosmic J is joining up, to build a, Blood Hound Hover Truck, as a futuristic IDF what-if kind of vehicle.  Maybe the IDF might just be driving something like this around in the next 30, 40, or 50 years?  I think it's a spectacular idea, for a what-if.  It's something that might be done instead of a something that could have been done.

I wonder who will actually have and use the first hover tanks.

Thank you fantacmet for that fine introduction. 

Thanks to everyone, especially RBaer and White_R34, for the encouragement and initial invitation. I will endeavor to build something worthy of your support.

Now, since I started late, I gotta get to buildin'. First pictures tomorrow.

I got a little painting done Sunday afternoon, and the first (detail) wash. This one's going to be relatively un-worn but dirty, which is what something fresh out of re-fit but on campaign for a couple of weeks would probably look like, I believe. I'll see about getting some pics tonight.

CosmicJ, glad to have you.

White_R34, looking forward to seeing you get back on the Merk.

Tbolt, 'fist, looking forward to seeing you guys get back into it as well. Factamet, what's up on your end?

A little more painting done......stowage, first pin wash, engine deck grills. Next is a dry brush with the base color to tighten up the washed areas and some shading on the stowage. Still to do: paint the tow cables and add dirt/dust. Getting close....may end up using the kit tracks, not sure yet. Thanks for looking, comments always welcomed.

Well well well she is truly looking good there man You all don't think I'm out I have gotten back to work on my tank and sins the big storm is coming I will be working on it for some time. Here what I have don so far to day. I glued the .015 thick styrene rings to build the turret hatch opening.

Before sanding.

After sanding.

Cool. From nothing comes something......

Some painting progress, a little more assembly. Still haven't decided on a good way to do the "Yanush stripe" on the gun tube. Tried a decal strip but it was almost transparent, needs to be solid white. Hand-painting wasn't pretty, so I stripped the barrel and will ponder...

Next is some more blending of the wash and base coat, details and finally some dust using pigments. Most of the pics I snapped this morning are too dark to see anything, but here's a couple that were so-so.

Hi guys,

Well, wonder of wonders, I finally managed to tear a reply out of GMW -- they claimed email difficulties -- by telling them to cancel the back order on the item out of stock and just ship the Airwaves PE for the Merk. They assure me it'll be in tomorrow's mail.

By the time it arrives it'll be 14 weeks since I touched the Merk. Can I remember what this project was about? Do I want to be involved anymore? This is the Arctic Explorers Knitting Circle, isn't it?

It'll be a relief to have the animal done and behind glass!

Cheers,

Mike

PS: Great work going on here, superb skill on all fronts -- appologies for no more in-depth comments, real life has been running away with me lately...

First, my apology. I should have posted something in here quite a while ago, but life got in the way. It does that sometimes.

Second, I want to say I have very much enjoyed reading this thread so far, and to add that the builds in this thread kick a**. I'm now a fan of Israeli armor, and look forward to building at least one Merkava III and maybe a Zelda too.

Ok, so here's what I've been up too.

The Hellhound comes in a huge box. Here it is next to a Dragon's T-34/85.

The box is packed too. I had trouble getting all of the stuff back in after I opened it.

The instructions are well laid out, easy to follow, and have color pictures and painting guides. Unfortunately, they are completely in Japanese, I language I have no skill w/.

There is lots of interesting details molded into the surface of the kit, which suits my painting style. There is even non-skid texture on all the upper horizontal surfaces (you can just make it out in the picture). I've never painted that before, so I may have to ask for advice from the knowledgeable sages hereabouts.

The kit is extremely well engineered, and the tolerances are very close. So close in fact, that when I was test fitting the upper and lower hull, they got stuck together, and the only way I could get them apart again was by damaging part of the upper front deck.

I repaired the parts as best I could by melting them back together w/ Tamiya liquid cement, but I'll probably need to do some more later. I'll need to wait 'till I get the first coat of paint on to really assess the damage.

This model is going to be big. Here is push fit together, next to the aforementioned T-34. Notice I haven't even added the hoverfan units yet. I need to start thinking about where and how I'm going to display this beast. I may do an "in-flight" sort of thing; that way I can keep the model's footprint to a minimum. The trick will be giving it a sense of speed/motion. I'm not sure how to do that yet...

White_R34 hung some photos of some Merkavas in another thread, and I was struck by what appeared to be rivets all over the armor plates. It gave the tanks a scaly, prehistoric appearance, which I immediately decided to replicate on my kit.

The kit itself comes w/ a bunch of little rivet heads, mounted on a sprue. You shave them off, and apply as necessary. I thought they were a little small and bland, so I decided to replace them. I had some aftermarket hexagon bolt heads laying around from another build, but not enough to do the job...

...so I went on Squadron.com and ordered some 1.5mm rivet heads from Czeck Masters, along w/ some IDF tank crew. Ya never know...

While waiting for those, I started replacing the grab handles on the sides of the hull. They were molded on as flat pieces, so I started by sanding them almost completely off, leaving just enough so that I could drill holes for the new handles in the right locations.

After some long and tedious work, I had completely replaced the molded on handles w/ ones made from .02 mm brass wire. I only glued one side of each handle, so that I could make sure they are all even and at the same angle (note the locations of the soon to be applied rivets).

So that's where I am for now. More later.

Cosmic J -- that's a stunning piece of what-if hardware! I look forward very much to seeing this project unfold. Your prep work so far looks top notch.

Cheers,

Mike/TB379