OK…!http://loudhouse.vg/forums/Smileys/default/icon_wink.gif I’ve read it enough.
I’m a calln’ ya out this time!http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-fc/gun.gif…
Could anyone really work hard enough
for a beautifully detailed set of tracks like these?
I know I really like them track shoes too.
Just click on 'em to see 'em better.
All of your extra work is certainly paying off,looking good
Nice tracks, D-man.
And Tony, thanks.
So after doing the phone box mounts, I took another look at the pics and guess what? The tabs should have faced out… so…
Click on the link above and the pic comes up, sorry.
I’m really happy now.
wow looks amazing
Thank you.
Hey, I also have a Merkava I on stash, and looking forward to build it…maybe this year. But since Im already in the FSM GB with an SDKFZ165, with lots of PE, not even sure I will have time for the second one.
I like the details you are adding.
Wish to see what color would you use…
I’m simply amazed that you’ve taken on this project! I can’t believe you would actually go in for a kit that had the hull saw in pieces!
“Bully” for your pluck, courage, and skill thus far demonstrated!
Garzonh, Doog: Thanks. It’s just modeling.
Okay, on to the turret. Tamiya (and Academy for that matter) got pretty loose with the same areas (no surprise there) so I’m spending some time making welds, showing different textures and filling big holes. I also realized my cheapie kit was missing the gun tube also. Maybe I should have looked this “gift horse” in the mouth… but I’m okay.
^ Left side, lots of work here to show the big piece that’s welded to the front of the basic turret shell, and the pieces that goes on IT that covers the co-ax opening, something else not shown in the kit.
^ Orange horseshoe is where I still need to add the right trunnion access cover, still looking for a good pic.
^ Bit and pieces. Mesh in basket is from an old pool skimmer basket, It’s a little large, but adheres to styrene with MEK or acetone. Works for me.
^ My favorite view of a Merkava.
More on the turret last night, time to do some smaller details soon, I think.
Gun barrel and mantlet are done, basket added, co-ax in, and trunnion access plug done. I had to do a little guess-work on the trunnion plug, only pic I had wasn’t very good, but I think I’m pretty close.
Pics:
^ Plug, barrel, mantlet.
^ Left side. Barrel is from an ESCI Magach that I used a different part on.
^ Turret rear. Basket is now ready to have all the locating tabs inside it cleaned up, should be strong enough mounted to the turret. Mesh is from my old pool strainer basket.
Love this tank and you are doing a great job.
Terry
Thanks, Terry. BTW, apparently a lot of the e-mails/messages I sent last week got lost in the etherworld, happens sometimes when I’m out of town. You have mail.
And pics of what I did last night, not much but progress:
^ The commander’s sight and cover. I thinned the cover plate down to something more like scale thickness and replaced the support struts with .020" brass wire. The gunner’s sight has the extra armored cover and retaining bolts added. This part I’ve only seen on a couple of pics, but they were of Merk1’s without anti-slip of balls and chains, so I added it.
^ And the inside of the basket. The corners used to have big interlocking tabs, so those had to go.
I’ve also got the Tamiya stretcher on, but it looks pretty weak, so I think I’m going to pop it off and just do brackets.
Thanks for looking, as always!
Wow, going to town on this one, Baer!
Lookin’ good [Y]
Thanks, guys!
I have some more pics from last night’s work, but working off-site for the next couple of days, might be able to get them up tonight. It’s slowing down a little bit, getting into some of the finer details on the turret that Tamiya totally skated on.
Well, the off-site job kind of fizzled, so all of a sudden I have some time…
Last night I started the loader’s hatch, did the driver’s hatch stop, mounted the Academy stretcher, and stared at pics for a long time…
The hatch is pinned to be operable, not sure how many figs I’ll use yet. All I’ve added to it so far is the interior pad, still need to find a pic of the inside latch and handle.I also trimmed the Academy stretcher to fit, looks a lot better than Tamiya’s part.
Tamiya had the driver’s hatch lock base there, all I had to do was add the actual lever, done from scrap plastic. I hope I don’t knock it off, it’s pretty small…
Hatch work last night:
^ Handle on the loader’s hatch, and top locking lever and pull-handle, apparently used to close the hatch from full-open position, all using bits of scrap plastic and brass wire. Also added were the small arms holders for the turret crew when they’re up top, kit parts with holes bored through.
Below, the clevis rings seen carried on the turret lifting lugs on lots of Merks, from Royal Model. These are actually intended for some Tiger, not sure which, but they were in the goodies box are are really close to what the pics show. I have one on each side rear, and will add one on each front lug when I get around to the tow cables,
And while I was there, I blanked off the hole in the gunner’s sight, blacked it out and added the sight cover. Hinges are short lengths of plastic rod stock.
Thanks for looking, as always!
The kit tow cables (both Tamiya and Academy) were pretty lousy, and I couldn’t get either of them to drape correctly, so I decided to whip up some “liberated” Soviet cables, from one of the many T-55s or T-62s captured by the Israelis in '73. That’s my story anyway. Looking in the Tamiya T-55 in the stash and a Trump KV-1 right next to it made me realize the tow cable ends were pretty much the same, and the Trump parts were already set up to accept a cable, no filling or drilling required. I’ve also started robbing parts from a Legends Merk3C conversion that has too many damaged and poorly cast parts to be used intact, replacing Tamiya bits if and when the Legends parts are actually better. At this point, I’ve probably only got a few more bits here and there before it’s ready for primer.
Pics so far:
A few more bits last night:
^ Hanger brackets for the side skirts, spare track links, fire bottles and something else on the infantry phone bracket, some subtle foundry marks on the turret, doo-da, doo-da…
Still to do that I know of: turret MG’s and rear fender mud flaps. Anybody see anything I’m missing, please sing out.
Thanks!
That’s coming along really nicely.
I am far from an expert on modern armour, so don’t take my word for it, but I can’t see anything missing. Well, except for the side skirts which I am guessing will be added after the tracks.
Thanks, Bish.
No skirts planned for the old gal, I want to show off the suspension, although I’ve see quite a few pics of tanks with just the rear one or two pieces on when the front fenders are off… must be a result of urban conditions.
