Here’s a progress report picture of my latest little project…
It’s Revell’s 1/72 Merkava 3, possibly the easiest model I’ve ever built in my life. Even the link/section tracks went on in a single session (rather than on 2 or 3 over a couple of days). There’s a bit of extra detailling coming in, but altogether it’s a superbly well detailled kit.
The little base is based upon recent pictures of damaged shops and housing in Bethlehem www.ciaimages.com
The road and sidewalk are sheet plastic (I engraved the pattern on the sidewalk - that was fun!), while the buildings are foamboard, some covered with yet more plastic or plaster. At this stage, only a primer coat has been applied onto the base, to make sure things looked OK, but there are still doors, windows, rubble and some limited interior details to add. I still have to work on 5 figures that will complete the scene.
looks cool so far, are you going to add to the rebar sticking up on the side of the room?
That building style looks like what I saw in Kosovo. (I haven’t been to Iraq yet [ soon]).
Redleg, other than the ‘trimmings’ (doors and such) the buildings are basically finished as you see them on this pic. Only one of the 3 separate ‘shop’ units has a second floor. The unit on the left will actually only be a doorway. It is customary in Eastern Mediterranean countries to build in stages. Obviously, one will start with basement (if any) and ground floor, then collect enough money to add on with a first floor (and possibly later a second), possibly years later. Therefore, many buildings in those countries appear to us in the West unfinished, with metal rods sticking out in the roof of the ground floor, but to the locals, those buildings are fully functional. Different cultures, different ways of doing things…
The figures will be located in the alleyway and at the side door of that one-storied, wider building on the right. There will be the focal point of my diorama, where the ‘drama’ unfolds… The tank will be the secondary element.
Ooooh, looking good! Can’t wait to see the finished work.
Easy kit, you say? I’ve been pondering giving the Revell Merk a go…not that I do many tiny tanks, but they’re a blast every now and again!
Thanks guys…! After adding a few extra bits onto the Merkava (not much really: new metal wire tow cables, some milliput bags and tarps in the turret and hull bins, a couple of hooks and the kit’s machine guns), I primed it in black. I’m now ready to start the painting job on the tank and the detailing on the base…
Looks very promising. That looks like a 1/35 build already. The sidewalk pattern is intricate, and the steel rods on top of the building are quite convincing. Another great work, Dj! Keep the pics coming.
Very nice Domi. How do you find the time to build all these wonderful models. Do you have a production line set up in the back of your house. LOL.
mark956
