Slammer 3

[rbaer]

More of the same, what might the IDF have done with obsolete Merkava hulls as a home-grown (sort of) alternative to the M109. This one is on an Academy Merkava 3 hull, not a great kit so I don't mind using parts from it, and an Academy K9 turret that's left over from another kit bash I'll post up soon.
A pic of the initial mock-up:
IMG_3723 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I had the turret started already, and the Merkava hull only took a couple of hours to get it as far along as it is in this pic. I used wheel stiffeners left over from a Meng kit.
Then I decided it needed stabilization spades like the M109 uses, so I started piecing those together. Rather than having them hydraulically operated, I'm going for two electric motors and cables to lift them, robbing parts from an old Dragon mine rake kit. I've also got extra stowage baskets made up for the turret. If it's Israeli, it's gotta have big stowage baskets.
IMG_3735 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Then I decided the rakes were comically huge, took them off and am currently working on smaller versions with reduced mounts, something that should look a little more realistic.
IMG_3740 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The mounts pictured above have been cut down by at least 50%.

[chromdome35]

WOW! Excellent kit-bashing and scratch-building, seriously good.

[mustang1989]

Dec 5, 2022 19:30:53 GMT -5 chromdome35 said:

WOW! Excellent kit-bashing and scratch-building, seriously good.

I'll say!! Just how many "spare kits" do you have laying around Russ? This stuff is just magnificent dude!! 

[rbaer]

Thanks guys.
Joe, if I counted up the kits I buy at shows just to use as parts, I'd cry. On the good side, this Merkava and K9, the two donor kits, cost me less then $40 combined. The hull of the K9 is combined with a turret from the old Trump AS90, in the process of becoming a Polish KRAB. The AS90 kit was $15, bought at a local shop's "garage sale".
Here's a quickie of the KRAB so far:
IMG_3743 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
It's amazing how much raw material is in some of these older kits that no one wants anymore, just because there's a newer, "better" kit out there. And for what-ifs, who cares if the kit has a couple of "errors" that aren't readily apparent. Not me.
Anyway, spades are now cut down and mounted:
IMG_3757 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3755 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The brass tube through both mounts is just to help me get them parallel- it comes out.

[Steve Zuleski]

Ok now, just one turret, plz, HA! Ruck On!

[mustang1989]

I hear ya Russ. I keep all KINDS of spare auto kits on hand for the same reason you do. I did purge out some of my "unused" used kits recently though. Started running out of room. lol

[Prop Duster]

Looks like this is going to be a winner as well.

[reserve]

Nice idea, your creativity never ceases to astound me

[rbaer]

Well thanks all. Sometimes I get tired of the quest for accuracy and have to go out and visit left field. Having lots of parts kits helps. I've got another one cooking, an old Tamiya Leo 1 turret on the AMX 30 hull that was left over from the Slammer 2 build I did a while ago, making something purely fictional and having a blast, and again, robbing parts kits like I don't care. I guess it's my own version of Meng's "Toon Tanks".

[mustang1989]

Dec 7, 2022 21:33:52 GMT -5 rbaer said:

Well thanks all. Sometimes I get tired of the quest for accuracy and have to go out and visit left field. Having lots of parts kits helps. I've got another one cooking, an old Tamiya Leo 1 turret on the AMX 30 hull that was left over from the Slammer 2 build I did a while ago, making something purely fictional and having a blast, and again, robbing parts kits like I don't care. I guess it's my own version of Meng's "Toon Tanks".

LOL!! Sometimes I use an "artistic license" myself so I totally get it Russ.

This was the only shot of the interior for the Dyno Don Maverick that I could find during the build. I wanted to step things up a notch for the sake of added interest in there. Just seemed a little bland to me. The way I look at it, accuracy is cool and all BUT....sometimes it's fun to venture off and let our imagination take over for a bit.




So I added a 27-piece shifter to the mix, a 25-piece seat belt set and added details here and there to make the interior "pop" a little more.

[rbaer]

I like it. I remember that shifter, that's nuts. And after all, it is modeling, not something we do for other peoples' pleasure. I'm to the point now where I have almost as many what-ifs in the display as "real" models. Well, not that many, but six completed in the case, two in progress and another three or four in my head.

[chromdome35]

Dec 8, 2022 10:14:25 GMT -5 rbaer said:

I like it. I remember that shifter, that's nuts. And after all, it is modeling, not something we do for other peoples' pleasure. I'm to the point now where I have almost as many what-ifs in the display as "real" models. Well, not that many, but six completed in the case, two in progress and another three or four in my head.

My head is full of ideas, unfortunately, my ability to manifest those ideas in the real world doesn't exist at this point. Someday.

[rbaer]

I started doing weird stuff when I was a kid, maybe I read too much science fiction.
Speaking of science fiction, here's a shot of two that are purely for the fun of it. One is the AMX hull left over from Slammer II mated to an ancient Tamiya Leo 1 turret, the other is a parts mashup using a Tamiya M1 lower hull, the Merkava 3 turret left over from Slammer 3 along with a Dragon M1 upper hull found in a box of parts bought a few years ago. Again, pure SciFi:
IMG_3760 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3759 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I find this kind of stuff immensely satisfying and it tends to prevent burnout.

[chromdome35]

Dec 9, 2022 9:18:28 GMT -5 rbaer said:

I started doing weird stuff when I was a kid, maybe I read too much science fiction.
Speaking of science fiction, here's a shot of two that are purely for the fun of it. One is the AMX hull left over from Slammer II mated to an ancient Tamiya Leo 1 turret, the other is a parts mashup using a Tamiya M1 lower hull, the Merkava 3 turret left over from Slammer 3 along with a Dragon M1 upper hull found in a box of parts bought a few years ago. Again, pure SciFi:
IMG_3760 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3759 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I find this kind of stuff immensely satisfying and it tends to prevent burnout.

I would love to see what you have in your parts box...mine's full of little stuff, not bodies, turrets, etc...

[rbaer]

I have at least 20 parts boxes or boxes with half a kit in them. I try and keep parts types together (ie M60 hulls, etc) of sometimes just general items like IDF reactive armor or all my Leopard2 parts. I also buy old kits at shows just for parts. I have a number of those that may or may not end up being used. A couple of years ago I tossed a bunch of stuff I hadn't touched in a few years, it's getting close to time to do it again.

[mustang1989]

Dec 9, 2022 13:54:11 GMT -5 rbaer said:

I have at least 20 parts boxes or boxes with half a kit in them. I try and keep parts types together (ie M60 hulls, etc) of sometimes just general items like IDF reactive armor or all my Leopard2 parts. I also buy old kits at shows just for parts. I have a number of those that may or may not end up being used. A couple of years ago I tossed a bunch of stuff I hadn't touched in a few years, it's getting close to time to do it again.

Yeah, I have to "purge" every so often to not be overrun with excess kits. I got rid of around 40 or so last year that I was either not ever going to get to or that I had stolen parts from to the point of not being able to use the kits any longer. 

[rbaer]

Ed Zachary. Realizing that I'll never use the multiple Academy/Tamiya M60 hulls in the stash is a big step for me, makes me think of a reality TV show.....

[rbaer]

Slammer just about ready for paint. Anti-slip is done, need to finish rigging the spades, add the tools and add tie down straps for all the extra stowage spaces. I did cut off all the teenie footman loops on the turret roof and replaced them with heavy-duty loops, adding more where appropriate. It's supposed to be IDF, after all...
IMG_3762 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3761 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[mustang1989]

This is really starting to take on some good shape Russ. How did you pull of the anti slip?

[chromdome35]

Loving it...2nd the question on the anti-slip technique!

[rbaer]

Thanks! Anti-slip is out of a tube, a MIG product. It's just acrylic paint with very fine grains of what I think is sand, applied with a brush, then "stippled", just like if I was texturing with MrSurfacer. Any excess is removed with tools made from toothpicks or small cotton swabs. Two layers can be used to get the really coarse texture seen on most Merkava 3's. The beauty of this method is how easily it comes off if I goof up or just don't like it. "Damage" is easy to replicate too, and heavy wear areas.

[chromdome35]

Great! Something else to spend money on!! Seriously, thanks for the explanation. I wasn't aware of that product.

[reserve]

Yessir it looks the part. Gonna finish it in that IDF sandy grey?

[rbaer]

Yup, IDF sand gray it will be.
Pics of the plows changed over to hydraulics, just need hoses. Also shown are tow cables and gun cleaning rods.
IMG_3763 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3764 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[mustang1989]

Dec 14, 2022 9:17:55 GMT -5 rbaer said:

Thanks! Anti-slip is out of a tube, a MIG product. It's just acrylic paint with very fine grains of what I think is sand, applied with a brush, then "stippled", just like if I was texturing with MrSurfacer. Any excess is removed with tools made from toothpicks or small cotton swabs. Two layers can be used to get the really coarse texture seen on most Merkava 3's. The beauty of this method is how easily it comes off if I goof up or just don't like it. "Damage" is easy to replicate too, and heavy wear areas.

Dude!!! Thanks for that!! I kept wondering how folks were pulling that off!! Thanks Russ!! 

[rbaer]

It's one way that doesn't require masking and spraying. Lots of people use Rustoleum texture paint too. I've tried it and it works, but the masking is onerous.

[Steve Zuleski]

That Slammer looks like a fit to me, excellent!

[rbaer]

Quick pic, hull is dusted and ready for the last bits, turret is washed only, no dusting yet.
IMG_3785 by Russel Baer, on FlickrIMG_3782 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

[mustang1989]

You guys and these armor builds. I really admire the work that you put into these Russ. Looks life like man.

[rbaer]

T'anks Joe!
Okay, turret's done too, just a couple of tiny things to sort and it's done, time to take real pics:
IMG_3786 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_3787 by Russel Baer, on Flickr