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Post by wouter on Jun 16, 2012 2:21:10 GMT -5
Hi everyone ;D As you all know I mainly (or solely up till now) did German WWII armor. When I was at a modelling show a while ago, my dad an brother in law were with me. My brother in law ain't into modelling or into tanks but he came across a Merkava IV kit and he liked it a lot. So I suggested I'd build it for him for his birthday (that's September 4th)...so he bought the kit and off we go  Quite some pressure since I have to finish this beast by September. Hope to be able to put it into a base and add a crew by then. This blog will be more or less a WIP of the build, not a full blog. This is how the build stands so far:       now this one thing HobbyBoss got wrong apparantly: the roadwheels are placed offset (pretty much like you see on WWII german stuff, because they used torsion bar suspension), the Merkava hasn't got a torsion bar suspension so the wheels should be aligned, but I don't bother in adjusting it though. Originally I planned to keep it OOB, however, the gun barrel consists out of two halves and the it's not great, knowing my skills concerning that, I opted to go for a Legend Productions upgrade with a resin barrel (apparantly there are no metal AM barrels available for the Merk)   Well, that's it so far. oh, btw: a question for the IDF people on site: I can't seem to find a modern IDF tank crew, does such kit exist  Cheerio ;D |
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Post by TRM on Jun 16, 2012 6:56:36 GMT -5
Nice bit of work there Wouts!!! Good man making this for the Bro-in Law!! I'll be tagging along if you don't mind!!! Looking forward to seeing this one all weathered up....if you go there!! ;D
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Post by robbo on Jun 16, 2012 7:03:43 GMT -5
Very nice Wouter, I may be wronge but didn't jackwagon buy a modern IDF crew recently?
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multicam
Senior Member
Member since: January 2012
Nate
Posts: 2,039
Jan 10, 2012 14:35:41 GMT -5
Jan 10, 2012 14:35:41 GMT -5
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Post by multicam on Jun 16, 2012 9:31:46 GMT -5
Nice to see a little departure from the norm for you, Wouter. Looking forward to this. |
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Post by wbill76 on Jun 16, 2012 13:28:49 GMT -5
Sounds like an excellent b-day present project Wouter, Sept gives you plenty of time to get it done. Looks like you're off to a great start!
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Post by deafpanzer on Jun 16, 2012 13:33:59 GMT -5
Nice work... always dig those Israelis tanks! Recall seeing resin figures of modern IDF tank crews.
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Post by deafpanzer on Jun 16, 2012 13:40:25 GMT -5
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Post by wouter on Jun 16, 2012 14:12:35 GMT -5
T, I don't mind at all bro, on the contrary, the more the merrier! . And I'll go weathering on her, nothing more boring than a clean tank ;D Robbo, thanks mate, glad you like it ^^ Hi Nate, glad to have you on board as well mate! Bill, thanks, glad you like the idea, however, to my building standards, september is very close by but we'll see ;D Andy, glad you like it fella, and thanks for posting those links up! D-Toys crew looks superb indeed! Dicky, yeah, you had that one comin' ey ;D ;D ;D. Looks like a fun kit indeed. And I was impressed by it's sheer size: the Merk is a lot bigger than a Tiger  Thanks for the advice on the figs as well! Now get that wingy out indeed  ;D ;D ;D Cheers
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paulh.
Senior Member
Member since: November 2011
build, fail, learn, succeed - ENJOY
Posts: 2,389
Nov 15, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
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Post by paulh. on Jun 16, 2012 14:57:01 GMT -5
Welcome to the world of propper armour Wouts  ;D ;D ;D |
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jackh.
Full Member
Member since: December 2011
Posts: 1,195
Dec 15, 2011 2:51:27 GMT -5
Dec 15, 2011 2:51:27 GMT -5
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Post by jackh. on Jun 16, 2012 15:49:27 GMT -5
Looking forward to this Wouter . |
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Post by wouter on Jun 20, 2012 4:50:44 GMT -5
Paul, thanks, don't know about that 'propper' word though ;D Jack: glad to have you here mate ^^ Boo: thanks mate, there's something about the looks indeed. And thanks for the encouragement Allrighty then, managed to do some more work. I made a start on the turret assembly, adding the commanders hatch, some periscopes and the smoke dischargers. Some fair amount of flash and/or moulding seams, pitty though, especially since some seams and attachment points are located on the smaller parts and hard to remove. Guess I'm spoiled by Dragon ;D First pieces of Bling comin' on as well...  Merkava IV conaisseurs will notice that I did something wrong concerning the springs on the suspension, some parts are placed in a wrong way, but I can't change things anymore since that means sawing the parts loose, they are firmly fixed    error number two: I place the gun mounty thing on the glacis the wrong way, same as with the suspension parts, I'm going to leave it that way...guess I wanted to go too fast   lost one of the periscopes to the carpet monster...and there ain't even a carpet!!! ;D, will have to try to scratch a replacement part...   there's a significant seem on the turret side and mantlet, I allready managed to fill up some of it with CA glue and sanded it wet, however, macro shows I need a second run... well, that's it for now Cheers |
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Post by bbd468 on Jun 20, 2012 10:22:05 GMT -5
Hey Wouter, The Merk is looking great man. I like that it has the anti slip coating molded on. That saves some hassle. Keep it coming!!! Gary |
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Post by eastrock on Jun 20, 2012 12:02:06 GMT -5
its still looks sharp, wouts!!! keep it up you still have a long time to finish it ER |
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Post by spud on Jun 20, 2012 17:57:01 GMT -5
very nice wouts, dont ya hate macro at times ;D
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Post by wbill76 on Jun 20, 2012 20:33:40 GMT -5
Very nice wouts, this latest update reminds me of how much the Merk IV look like a "spaceship" with that large saucer-like turret. Very cool!
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Post by wouter on Jun 21, 2012 1:25:32 GMT -5
Gary, thanks mate, yeah, was very glad that I didn't have to do the anti slip surface myself ER, thanks a lot mate, and thanks for the vote of confidence ^^ CSS, thanks a lot fella. Nope no extra Bling Bling planned...well, originally I planned it to do it completely OOB...mmm...didn't work out...the Legend Productions is arriving today, and there is a little bit of bling with it...kit provides some bling as well...Was going to use the plastic tracks as well...now I'm considering Friuls...damn ;D ;D ;D Spud, thanks mate, yeah, I sure do ;D ;D ;D, but trust me, most of the mess isn't visible on my photos, you should see it in the flesh, LOL Bill, thanks partner! Now that you mention it...I thought the shape of the turret looked familiar...the Millenium Falcon! ;D Cheers
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paulh.
Senior Member
Member since: November 2011
build, fail, learn, succeed - ENJOY
Posts: 2,389
Nov 15, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
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Post by paulh. on Jun 21, 2012 2:38:04 GMT -5
Lookin' good Wout's When's the dunklegloob goin on then? ;D |
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WigWag Workshop
Reviews member 
Member since: May 2012
"Keep The Glue On The Styrene"
Posts: 720
May 22, 2012 7:25:45 GMT -5
May 22, 2012 7:25:45 GMT -5
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Post by WigWag Workshop on Jun 21, 2012 9:37:37 GMT -5
Looking good, looking forward to see how she ends up.
-Steven
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jackh.
Full Member
Member since: December 2011
Posts: 1,195
Dec 15, 2011 2:51:27 GMT -5
Dec 15, 2011 2:51:27 GMT -5
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Post by jackh. on Jun 21, 2012 14:31:13 GMT -5
Nice work so far Wouter, keep it up mate.
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Post by wouter on Jun 22, 2012 9:30:30 GMT -5
Paul, no dunklegloob mate ;D, hope to do that somewhere in July or so ^^ Steven, thanks mate! Dicky, rushin' behind German lines ey? Well, that was quite possible indeed ;D Jack: thanks dude ^^ well, since the Legend upgrade arrived yesterday I could continue with the turret...gun in place and some more little bling added:      started with the ball 'n chains today, but the kit thingies don't work for me...gonna order the Voyager ones me thinks...so far for OOB ;D ;D Cheers
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rondriaan
Full Member
Aug '24 Showcased Build Awarded
Member since: March 2012
Posts: 662
Mar 27, 2012 2:07:40 GMT -5
Mar 27, 2012 2:07:40 GMT -5
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Post by rondriaan on Jun 22, 2012 9:43:24 GMT -5
Nice work Wouter and about the mistakes... nothing that can hide under a layer mud and a blanket ;D  |
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modelfreak72
Full Member
Member since: January 2012
Why worry, each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.
Posts: 1,479
Jan 28, 2012 23:21:46 GMT -5
Jan 28, 2012 23:21:46 GMT -5
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Post by modelfreak72 on Jun 22, 2012 10:57:00 GMT -5
Didn't see this coming! Very nice woutmiester! I'm on board with this! Hey are we going to see some balkencruz and panzer dark gray? ;D
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Post by spud on Jun 22, 2012 10:59:55 GMT -5
very nice wouts she is coming together now,
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Post by wouter on Jun 22, 2012 14:25:14 GMT -5
Ron, true as hell ;D, though I think I'll keep this one dusty in stead of muddy...now that would be a first LOL Thanks Freakster! No balkenkreuz or panzer grey...don't want to upset the Israeli community Thanks p otatodude! glad you like it ^^ Cheers
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Post by wouter on Jun 22, 2012 14:26:30 GMT -5
lol, just missed you there jackwagon! thanks mate, yeah, that barrel is way cooler than the two part plastic one ^^. Now, the thought of adding the white stripe decal to it scares the sh%£ out of me though ^^ Cheers |
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Post by wouter on Jun 28, 2012 9:00:27 GMT -5
tadaaaa!!! another update, man I'm fast this year ;D ;D ;D nearing completion...some small etch parts need to be added, together with the commanders MG, and that's pretty much it. I decided in the end to go for Friul tracks...they should arrive tomorrow, together with the Voyager update concerning the balls (errrm, the ones with the chains ) Hope to get to the paintwork soon!        I decided to use the kit provided coaxial MG, the resin one from Legend wasn't really better in looks I must say... Cheers |
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martyncrowther.
Full Member
Member since: December 2011
Not Jaymes
Posts: 699
Dec 27, 2011 14:40:09 GMT -5
Dec 27, 2011 14:40:09 GMT -5
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Post by martyncrowther. on Jun 28, 2012 9:47:19 GMT -5
This looks amazing Wouter can't wait too see it progress to paint Martyn |
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Post by spud on Jun 28, 2012 10:01:39 GMT -5
Very cool Wouts this should be a sweet one to weather.
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Post by wbill76 on Jun 28, 2012 11:28:24 GMT -5
Super Duper wouts! And here you were worried about a Sept deadline... |
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Deleted
Member since: January 1970
Posts: 0
Dec 2, 2024 2:51:44 GMT -5
Dec 2, 2024 2:51:44 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2012 11:34:18 GMT -5
Top stuff Wouter  The Merk has to be one of the coolest modern AFV's out there. On with the paint |
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;D ;D ;D
The Merk has to be one of the coolest modern AFV's out there. On with the paint