Can some of the IDF fans explain why the Tamiya 1/35 scale Merkava kit is so hard to find these days? I bought one when it first came out, and foolishly traded the kit off before I had a chance to built one. I’m now wishing I hadn’t, as it doesn’t seem to have been produced for very long and I’d like to have an example in my collection at last.
This seems strange, considering the following that IDF armor has. I’m also curious why few of the other big names have made a 1/35 scale kit of this tank, regardless of the variant depicted.
Well I don’t know why you’re having trouble finding that kit, they are all over Ebay! at dirt cheap prices! IDF armour doesn’t have a huge following I don’t think! I would love to see some more MBT variants produced in plastic as I"m tired of spending close to 200 bucks on a conversion set! I have build four merks so far, most of which include the resin conversions by Legend Productions! I suspect it has something to do with the IDF keeping much of their stuff under wraps for security reasons! Good luck finding the kit, it shouldn’t be that tough!!
Just a guess, but the Tamiya kit represented an early Merkava and not one that was in use into the mid-80s and beyond. Once Academy released updated Merkava II kits in their various forms, the Tamiya kit became outdated.
I’m not sure, but I think the initial run in the mid 80s were probably all that were produced.
yeah Rob, you are quite right! They represent the initial production of which were updated not too long after! The side skirts alone didn’t stay in service long enough to be considered anything but useless. The Tamiya merk is the prototype, of which some were pressed into service agains Lebanon in the early 80s.
Thanks all for the replies (sorry for the tardy response, especially since I’m irritated by those who post inquiries without thanking those who devote their time answering them[B)]).
I should have prefaced my question by saying that I am loath to buy plastic kits off of Ebay due to more than a few “partial” kits sent my way as complete and unbuilt/mint. I was referring to online retailers who might have this kit.
Perhaps one of the current makers will choose to release a more up to date, state of the art kit in the near future.
Hi Fritz.I’ve found blast models outa Paris has alot of I.D.F. Accy’s & several conversion kits.Like the 113,M-60 & Merk’s are the platform for many Israeli AFV’s,which is one of my favorite countries for Diorama topics.I have a extra Tam #35127 Merk’s if your up against a wall in your quest for one.Your welcome to e-mail me about it if you wanna discuss it.
If you’re comfortable buying online, Lucky Model (in HK) appear to have them in stock. I know some people have reservations about the idea of buying from an asian-based online seller, but I have bought stuff from them a number of times and have never had any problems, apart from the usual “out of stock” issues. On average, for “in-stock” items, probably 10-12 working days from placing the order till the item is in my hands.
Just as an aside, it seems the latest iterations of Academy’s Merk 2 & 3 kits have done away with the white metal ball-and-chain curtain and these are now provided moulded in styrene on the common “A” sprue which carries the roadwheels for both versions.
Academy Merky Mk 2 was my first tank model. Then i added Academy’s Merky Mk 3 to my collection. In both models the chain curtain almost drove me insane[banghead]. Thx God. Now i have to seek the updated Academy’s Merks.
I must say upfront that I haven’t built the Mk3 yet, as I only received it about a week ago, but from my “in-box” observations…
Don’t go out of your way looking for one on the basis of the chain curtain.
The original headaches may be gone, but there are new ones in their place.
The way it is tooled, the balls-and-chains are closer to scale, but in my estimation, still a bit large. Thin as they are, the chains thmselves are solid. They are moulded as “racks” of chains, on a bar which is approx 40-50 scale millimetres thick, These bars (carrying the chains) are to be glued around the edge of the basket, which to my eye, will produce a look which is grossly overscale.
That is, of course if you can manage to separate the racks of chains from the sprue without breaking anything. Each and every ball-and-chain has its own sprue gate. Including those on the support bars, on the Merk 3 thats a grand total of 67 attachment points (including those on the “carrier bars”) to cut and clean up on five rather fragile looking parts (yes, I counted them). [banghead] [:-^]
Each and every chain is identical and ramrod straight. You must get each of the 5 “racks” perfectly aligned - the slightest misalignment and every chain on that particular rack segment will appear to be defying gravity, as they will all “lean” the same way.
For a realistic chain curtain, it appears a third-party source and a lot of hard work is still the only way to go.
Just tryin to help,Fritzfix and Double Ditto to Phil H .I’ve purchased exstensively from Lucky Models with complete satisfaction.They seem to have the lowest prices anywhere & good sales to boot,which often offer free airmail !!! rudedog
Just buy “IN STOCK” items only cause when they say “AVAILABLE”, that means they DO NOT have it in stock but their supplier SUPPOSEDLY have it in stock so it SHOULD NOT be a problem to have it … So it could take longer to have.
That spells disaster. Maybe i and Fritzfix should go for Tamiya’s Merk. They(Tamiya’s parts) fit nicely, no hassle with the chain curtain as there is none. But the flip side is that it is an early, way too early model of Merky.
btw it’s nicer to have them on the support bars. but with every balls attached with a sprue gate. That can be tricky.
Micahael there is no such thing as an updated Academy Merkava. Academy did alright on their mark II’s but their Mk. III is all wrong in the suspension and wheels! The Tamiya Merk I is not waaayy too early for a Merkava. If you want accurate ball and chains Legend productions makes a set that you have to cut each ball and each length of chain and glue them to the fret! Academy’s ball and chain looks like a walk in the park in comparison (I have never used Academy’s ball and chains due to their horrendous look and scale effect!)