Today I’m very happy because it’s the first time in years that I can post in this site from my home. (I tried to post from my office all day today - to no avail). I just posted in the diorama forum and it passed! (formerly I always got “Connection lost” error message). So I’ll post one more topic here.
Many thanks for your kind words! The new Merkava, just like other new generation kits, fit together very well. But the part that’s most difficult is the anti RPG devices (chains & balls).
While older Merkava (III) provided white metal chains & balls, this new Merkava IV provides PE for chains and balls. The balls are dead flat, you’ll have to add two half-sphere pieces to make each ball round. My modeler said he used parts made from excess sprues to do just that. It’s a time-consuming job!
There has long been a set of “balls and chains” made by Legend Productions for the Mk2 and Mk3’s but it shouldn’t be difficult to adapt to a Mk4. See here: /forums/1117276/ShowPost.aspx
Apparently your modeler missed the sliced ball parts included in the kit to fill out the balls on the anti-RPG armor. Academy thought of that and provided these parts as numbered pieces.
I like a lot that Shilka, it looks a lot like Peruvian Shilkas… Well, the former scheme was that desert scheme, now they use a different scheme. Thanks for sharing.
I would say that it seems that Art Instructor seems to have taken much of the criticism and advice to heart–ALL of these models are all very beautifully done.The Merkava looks incredible; the Shilka is impressive, the AB41 is really outstanding!l And of course, the diorama is excellent as well!
He has really “come of age”–his models have really reached a level of excellence! Please give him my congratulations!
Thanks so much for more kind comments since my previous reply.
Some suggested that chains and balls from Merkava II or III can be used instead. But then again, the II or III will be left witout them.
You’re right, the manual is apparent both text and graphic. I wonder how my modeler missed the graphical part. Anyway, what he did with the balls is admirable. Another local modeler who finished the Mk.IV before A.I. did not bother with the PE parts provided and his Mk.IV ended up with no RPG screen.
Well, I think you’re right. A.I. seems to have put more effort into his works lately. I’ll pass on your kind compliments to him the next time I see him. Thanks again!
Nice work by Art Instructor on all the pieces. I especially like the Priest. I am curious about one thing, that being the Jeep with a 105mm recoilless gun. That seem like a LOT of firepower for such a small platform. Did this configuration actually exist and if so, how well did the Jeeps stand up to the energy of the gun?
I’d like to know what combination of colors/shading/pigments/ wash/etc. were used on the ZSU - what a great job of making a monotone color scheme very interesting and also realistic!
Many thanks for kind compliments from redleg12, PaintWithBrush and MusicOn! As for PaintWithBrush’s question about the 105mm recoilless gun, it actually exists in USA, Russia, China… you name it… on a jeep-like vehicle. I understand that the gun has no recoil effect - hence the name recoilless gun. It’s like firing an RPG from a shoulder, no problem for the firer.
As for MusicOn’s question, I can tell only broadly that my modeler uses Leyland mother paints (RGB+BW) and mixs them into desired color and in this case -sand. He usually sprays three rounds - sand, lighter sand, lighter-lighter sand so as to achieve different shading/fading. He once wrote an article on “Making of the Famo & SD.Ah.116” which is also a monotone vehicle in German Grey. You can read how he did it in details:
MM, those are some great looking builds. Good to see alot of the comments and pointers from the the fine folks (most of them) here on the forums being put to use!! Great to see you participating in the aspects of the forums also!!!
Extra work yes,scratching the majority of each ball on the RPG screen for a Merk not admirable?? Wow, I’d hate to have to live up to your standards…
PWB - First it is a 106mm recoiless rifle. Next, yes it did exist. Lastly the idea of a recoiless rifile is it is “recoiless”…no energy is transferred to the vehicle. These types of weapons could be fired from a tripod.
Without filling the page here, googgle recoiless rife. After that, if there are more questions, just pull my lanyard!
Thanks for the info, redleg12. I took the term “recoiless” to mean the weapon did not have a recoil absorbing mechanism. Always good to learn something new.
Thanks so much, Jester75, for your kind compliments and comments. I just recently able to post from home, so now I can participate more. But this sometime depends on mood too.
