Merkava IV

[TRM]

OK then...needed to scroll back up to see what thread I was actually in here!!!

Fantastic Wouts!!! She is a beauty!!! I almost pick one up tonight in my LHS!!! Keep the fires lit over there!!!

[jackh.]

You're doing a fine job on this Merk Wouter.Keep it going mate.

[bigjohn]

Hey Woutes, I know you'll get that set back sorted out. Damn fine job on the lower hull. She looks beautiful man!

[wouter]

Many many thanks my fellow mogellers, much appreciated, always nice to read some positive comments

And Jaymes, thanks for the pm, finally ;D. That link is great btw, some lovely shots of the Merk there

Well, continued a bit today. The turret ain't ready yet so I decided to continue the lower and upper hull. The lower hull received some more layers of varnish since I didn't want anymore chipping ;D. After that I sprayed on some AK Afrika Dust effects on the tracks and running gear. After 20 minutes I removed some of it with a damp brush to create a bit interest and dustyness. The pinwash got obscured though, so have to do that again.

The upperhull received another coat of Israeli Sand Grey and after that I thinned the color a bit with some gloss white and sprayed on some highlights, a very moderate version of the CM style. So basically the two hull halves are ready to got glued together.





I commenced with the figure as well, but no photos of that. Paintwise, can someone tell me which colors to use for the guys uniform and helmet?

Cheers

[TRM]

That looks fantastic Wouts!!! Nice subtle color shifting!! Very cool!

[406 Silverado]

Not much into the modern stuff, especially this type of tank, but man that does look sweet. The lower hull painting and those wheels are top notch Wout's. Look forward to seeing this all painted and dusted up.

[Deleted]

Looking very nice Wouter mate
I like this modern stuff, especially when it's built as well as this!

[wbill76]

Nice job on the paint work wouts, wish I could help you on the IDF uniforms but that's outside my sphere of interest unfortunately.

[danb.]

Nice work Wouts the Merk is looking awesome.

Dan B

[modelfreak72]

Looking mighty nice there woutster!

[bbd468]

Great color tone wouts! Looking fine brother.

Gary

[wouter]

Hiya T, thanks a lot mate, glad you like it. And a very neat avatar btw, is that you operating the minigun? ;D

Same here Rob, but I did (mostly) enjoy the build, glad you like the paintwork and dusting so far

Mister SteveM, many thanks mate, that's a very big compliment! ^^

Hiya Bill, and no sweat mate, same here ;D

Hi Dickstah! thanks for the info and great link bud, most appreciated. So I'll be using the MM enamel paint for the helmet then, and maybe some fieldgrey mixed with some other green for the uniform, and some firm dusting then

Hiya Dan, many thanks bro!!!

Freakstah! Thanks mate, much appreciated

Mister Gary the Giant ;D, thanks a lot bro, glad you like the color tones!

Cheers

[wouter]

Well, doin' nightshifts has some advantages...having all day (or pretty much) the time to do some more mogelling!

I finally got to the paintstage of the turret. Same paint, same modulation. Tomorrow a satin varnish layer and weathering can begin. Oh yeah, painted some details on the hull as well like the rubber skirts and periscopes.






Cheers

[modelfreak72]

Very nice Mr wout!

[Jaymes Crowther.]

Finally uploaded them my scanner died on me...so I had to use my camera but these should help as you can see they are wired to the top of the 50 and the one cord goes into the commanders hatch and he fires it manually I hope that helps you Wouter, if you need anymore help give me a shout dude...

Jaymes

[Jaymes Crowther.]

I forgot to mention, there should be a strip at the end of the mantlet where the cable goes through and into the hull you'll see what I mean from the view from the commanders hatch...

Here is a photo explaining it :



Jaymes

[Deleted]

Very nice Wouts me old mate , I know that these are starting to sport the olive drab scheme as in the photos from JC but I think I prefer the old sand colours...
Can someone have a word with the IDF for me?

[Jaymes Crowther.]

It's not OD its sand green Steve! LOL btw I forgot pictures are copyright of Merkava IV book from Desert Eagle...lol

Jaymes

[spud]

looks brill Wouts

[wbill76]

Looking good wouts, nice job on the CM and details!

[wouter]

Jaymes, thanks for the shots mate, they are lovely! Darn them cables though ;D. Gonna try to replicate them, hope it works out, but it sure gives that little extra to the model I reckon

Steve and Spud, thanks a lot dudes ^^

jackwagon, thanks Sir, and no, but I don't exclude doin' modern in the future though . Still want to do a Stryker MGS someday, and who knows one of the Russian T-series

Bill, thanks mate, glad you like it so far

Cheers

[rondriaan]

Nice work Wouter

[wouter]

Mister Ron, thanks mate, much appreciated!

Today was time for one of the scary things of the build ;D (except for the ones I allready mentioned earlier often ;D): the decals! Most of them didn't pose a real problem, but the one on the barrel didn't seem easy. And boy I was right: with all those edges and raised surfaces it was a bit of hell adding it. Several applications of Sol later it looks ok, though not still 100% in order.

I also made work of the wiring on the coaxial MG - again, thanks Jaymes, I think it adds a nice bit of extra to the tank

Some more details were painted as well: end of the gun, the smoke dischargers and the periscopes. The periscopes weren't easy and frankly, it looks dreadful at the moment...I should figure out a way to make it acceptable .

And one of me favourite things added as well: a (very very) moderate way of chipping, using Vallejo Iraqi Sand









So, I got a question, I don't know wether the storage boxes on the turret should be left in the basecolor or receive another color???

And if someone can help me out to sort the periscope issue I'll be happy to hear it (and rebuilding and painting the model ain't an option ;D)

Cheers

[robbo]

Wow fella you've done really well

[danb.]

Very nice Wouts this for me is your best build so far love the look an colour of the Merk well done buddy.

Dan B

[wouter]

Robbo, thanks mate
jackwagon thanks for the help mate, hope I can score that film soon, because this is just hideous . Thanks for the help on the color issue as well, will do that ^^

Hiya Dan, my best so far? Many thanks for that bro, most appreciated

Cheers

[wbill76]

Nice job Wouts and I can see why the barrel decal would be a bit of a challenge! Looks good from here though, your "space tank" is looking meaner with every update. Wiring on the MG is a nice detail as well.

[bbd468]

Hi Wouts!

You have this bad boy goin' your way bro. Looks awesome!!! Keeper comin' wouter!

Gary

[wouter]

Thanks Mister Bill . Space tank is good way to describe it indeed ;D. And 'bout the wiring, yeah, it is indeed ey, all thanks to Not Martyn as jackwagon would say ;D

Hiya Gary! Thanks bro, very glad that you like it!

Cheers

[Jaymes Crowther.]

My Shunting friend Awesome wiring on the 50cal..I'm going to have a bash at this Merk in the future and I blame youuu! Ermm the ammo boxes on the turret are a dark military green, or faded OD as Mr Francis said..as for the periscopes thought of trying coloured clear plastic sheeting? They periscopes aren't in the best condition, as there is a water shortage in Israel so they aren't allowed to wash tanks (well hose them off)...so normally it would be rubbed with a cloth of some form...weather them and they'll look a lot better..

Jaymes