Another IDF What-if

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Can’t help myself, had to use up some stuff. I had a complete turret from the Academy K9 and a whole Academy Merkava 3 just laying there, so I thought another fictional IDF SPG would be fun. Mating the parts was surprisingly easy, some turret details were added or changed to make it look more Israeli and the hull was built up nearly OOB, just adding the gun rest from the K9. Pics are as is now, ready for paint, anti-slip added using MIG paste.

IMG_3761 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3762 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Spades are mostly cut down parts from an old Dragon mine plow and Academy M9 dozer. I just need to rig the cables from the blade arms to the pulleys (out for painting) above the motors.

This kind of stuff is therapeutic for me, after going nearly nutso trying to accurize three Challengers in a row.

2

So what are you going to call that thing?

Bill

3

Might I suggest Karnaf (rhinoceros) or Re’em (unicorn)… [:D]

Cool lashup! [Y]

4

I don’t know what it is- other than it’s cool… [Y]

5

That looks so cool! I’m surprised that the IDF doesn’t take your idea for themselves. Can’t wait to see how it progresses.

tjs

6

Thanks all. It’s the Slammer, version 3. The IDF actually built two SPG’s on Merk 3 hulls, called them the Slammer and ended up buying the M109 due to cost. Here’s a pic of the original:

IMG_1359 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And the first one I did, the “2”, using the French AUF 1 turret:

IMG_1874 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

So it’s loosely based in fact, if you use your imagination.

7

Very interesting.

8

It’s my burnout preventer.

Today I got the blades finalized. I ditched the cable system and went full hydraulic. CAbles looked Rube Goldberg-ish and besides, how would the operators keep the blades from just scraping along when trying to set them? Also done was the tow cable mounts and gun cleaning rods.

IMG_3764 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3763 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

A couple of hydraulic hoses to each cylinder, some chains to hold them in travel mode and that’s done.

9

Looking pretty good. No need for anything to hold the spades down though. On an M109, the spades are held up by springs and manually pulled down. When down, the howitzer simply backs up and sets them into the ground. The weight of the howitzer and recoil from firing keeps them there. Simply pull forward and they come out, then manually fold them up again and off you go.

10

Man, I could have saved myself a lot of fabrication… Oh well, I’ll just run with the sometimes hard soil the IDF operates on and the spades needed a bit of leverage to get a hole started. Yeah, that’s it. [:D]

11

This is cool. Your spares box in a wonder in its own. Super cool subjet and work.

BK

12

Looking good.

13

Neraly done, jsut need to touch up a couple of things and take some good pics.

IMG_3786 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3787 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

14

All done:

IMG_3808 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3805 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_3804 by Russel Baer, on FlickrIMG_3806 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I need a bigger photo box if I’m going to continue to build things with these crazy long gun tubes.

15

Looks real good! I wonder if there is a Hebrew work for a jackalope…?[;)]

16

That might be a new one in Hebrew… [:D]

I talked to one of the judges at the Winterblitz show last Saturday and he said this one threw them for a loop. I guess they had to verify that it belonged in the “Paper PAnzer” class.