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Post by rbaer on Jul 18, 2014 13:46:33 GMT -5
From MHI, forgive me if I don't bring the whole thread over, but in the interest of (my) simplicity, I'm just going to pick up where I am currently. I'm depicting a Merkava1 during it's first deployment during Operation Peace for Galilee, using the Tamiya kit, along with parts from the Academy Merk2, a bad example of a Legends Mk3C conversion, Friul tracks and a few bits from scratch. Pics currently:       I really like Merkavas, and have always wanted to do a Mark 1, so after having scored most of a Tamiya kit at a recent show, I jumped in. I built this same kit OOB a number of years ago, and am actually having to use a couple of pieces from it to complete the partial kit I'm now working from. One thing that really jumps out at me is that it's surely time for a good, accurate and well-detailed kit. Meng? Anyway, the Tamiya kit is accurate as far as basic shapes and dimensions go, but there's a lot of it that's hugely simplified, and that's what I'm trying to correct. I'm also having a boat-load of fun. |
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Post by TRM on Jul 18, 2014 13:52:49 GMT -5
Glad to see you were able to make it over Russ!! What a fantastic way to get things started to!! Love these tanks!! Might actually get around to working on my MKII at some point!! LOL! Keep up the great work my friend!!
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Post by rbaer on Jul 18, 2014 14:21:33 GMT -5
Thanks, Todd. I was starting to feel lonely, missed all my buds.
I'm going to start looking for another one of these Tamiya kits, thinking about doing a Mark1 Hybrid or 1B, but I may do the Meng Mark3 in the stash, I dunno yet. I'll have to see which way the wind blows.
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Post by TRM on Jul 18, 2014 14:33:13 GMT -5
Mengs 3 looks like a nice bid! All but the dreaded Ball Armor!! LOL!! I have been thinking of getting down with one of the Achzarit kits!
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Post by rbaer on Jul 18, 2014 17:18:11 GMT -5
Those clever folks at Meng have molded the ball and chain curtain in plastic, looks totally usable. My only suggestion would have been to do it in DS-type plastic, but nobody asked.
The Achzarit is tempting too, got one in the stash, waiting on a set of Friuls or SpadeAce tracks. There's a lot of neat parts in there, looks fun.
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Post by Leon on Jul 18, 2014 17:23:34 GMT -5
Glad to see you and the Merk made it over Russ.Looking forward to more progress.   |
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Post by TRM on Jul 19, 2014 6:22:32 GMT -5
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Post by rbaer on Jul 21, 2014 12:41:46 GMT -5
Thanks Leon. I was missin' you guys. T, much appreciated. That book is on my short-list anyway, and it's in the budget for next quarter. So last night I added the rear mud flaps, nuts and bolts, took a shot at a "suggestion" of the rear adjustable idler swing arm and some more nuts and bolts. Also added is the idler stabilizer, something I never even saw in pics until I took a look at the stuff over on idf-modelling.com, which was almost like my first look at Son of Sherman: cold chills, AMS flash-backs, the works. Okay, pics:    I actually checked my supply of primer last night.... |
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 21, 2014 12:47:04 GMT -5
Freaking awesome work!!!! Funny about timing because now I am seeing lots of Merkava on the news regarding Gaza.
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Post by rbaer on Jul 21, 2014 13:25:55 GMT -5
Thanks, Andy.
I've been watching myself... and occasionally see a shot of a Merk1 Hybrid, which I think would make a really neat model....
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Post by dupes on Jul 21, 2014 13:34:41 GMT -5
Damn, man - this looks amazing! I've got a Mk.1 I built up over the weekend "out of the box"...it doesn't look like this. Heh.
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Post by rbaer on Jul 21, 2014 16:25:31 GMT -5
Thanks, Dupes. My first build of this kit was OOB, good thing I kept most of it since I needed parts from it here...
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Post by dupes on Jul 21, 2014 16:52:21 GMT -5
Oh yeah? What did you have to saw off?
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pantherf..-Email Not Valid
Full Member
Member since: July 2013
"Best Job I've Ever Had"
Posts: 1,253 
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Post by pantherf..-Email Not Valid on Jul 21, 2014 17:07:11 GMT -5
Whoa, whoa, WHOA! This is SO kool.  Jeff |
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Post by TRM on Jul 21, 2014 17:45:32 GMT -5
Another fine update!! Looking great btw!! Back to the Achzarit, I have SabingaMartin's Wildcats Vol. 1 which is primarily prototypes and other variants early on, but worth a look at. The second Volume must have come out by now I would think...  |
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 21, 2014 19:50:31 GMT -5
More great progress here Russ, keep it up! |
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Post by rbaer on Jul 22, 2014 11:52:43 GMT -5
Oh yeah? What did you have to saw off? I had to take a hunk of the upper hull, apparently the previous owner had attempted to carve out the main engine intake screen from the inside, leaving just the mesh, and broke it. I took a large piece of the old hull and replaced this area. I have a pic of something..... This is the old hull and the new, bad piece cut out of the new...  And the piece cut out of the old to be inserted:  And this is the only pic I took of the "after":  Jeff, Bill: Thanks, still having fun. There's a guy over on Armorama that's sort of goading me into doing the assist springs for all the turret side bins, but I think I'm going to pass... too teenie. T, I think I'm going to hold out for the Michael Mass/Desert Eagle book on the Achzarit, from what I under stand it has more in-service info of the first version, as depicted by Meng's kit. I don't know if you recall or not, but Dr Rob really let his schlep show in a discussion about the Meng kit on Armorama, kind of put me off buying his book. Silly on my part maybe, and I'm not saying Mr Mass is an angel either. In fact an older build of mine was linked and criticised by him on idf-modelling recently, but I'm a big boy these days. Anyway, I'm still plugging along on my Merk, quite happily I might add. In the meantime, this is what I'm going to stick with on the right front of the turret as far as welds and the trunnion cover:  |
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 22, 2014 13:00:27 GMT -5
Jeez, are you sure you are one of those surgeons? Fine cutting job there!
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pantherf..-Email Not Valid
Full Member
Member since: July 2013
"Best Job I've Ever Had"
Posts: 1,253
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Post by pantherf..-Email Not Valid on Jul 22, 2014 13:37:11 GMT -5
I think Andy's on to something there Russ. Your work looks more like a surgeon turned modeler. Jeff |
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Post by rbaer on Jul 22, 2014 13:53:57 GMT -5
Well, I used to be sort of a blacksmith..... |
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Post by rbaer on Jul 23, 2014 13:01:17 GMT -5
"It's the little things, the itty-bitty things....." Aside from that huge pin mark I missed late last night when I was doing the commander's MG.....  So on to the little things: It was pointed out to me that the stretchers actually have handles on each end, one for each "bearer", makes sense.... so, some brass tube and masking tape to the rescue!  And gun tube locks are attached to something, and have grease zerks...  And then there's all the locking mechanisms on the loader's MG swivel mount, for which I would have liked to use the part out of the Legends Merk3 conversion, but it was all flash and air bubbles....  Something to attach the commander's MG mount to:  And the commander's MG and cradle:   Anyone smell primer yet? |
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 23, 2014 14:44:51 GMT -5
Nice work on the little details and the gun mounts there Russ. I think I can smell primer but could just be my dog under the work bench... |
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Post by rbaer on Jul 23, 2014 17:17:53 GMT -5
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Post by Leon on Jul 23, 2014 17:20:46 GMT -5
I'm predicting primer soon Russ. |
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 23, 2014 21:34:42 GMT -5
You are really kicking butts for this build... never ending great work here!
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Post by rbaer on Jul 30, 2014 10:08:43 GMT -5
Thanks Andy.
Back in town now, hope to get some more done soon. I now have a pic of one of these babies mounting a mantlet 50cal, in Lebanon, so that's on the menu for sure. Good timing, since one of the items I picked up on my recent travels was a Tasca 50cal kit. Yummie.
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Post by dupes on Jul 30, 2014 12:15:45 GMT -5
Tasca packages their .50 as a separate item? Innnnnnteresting.
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adampolo13-Email Not Valid
Reviews member 
Member since: April 2012
Posts: 275
Apr 29, 2012 23:17:52 GMT -5
Apr 29, 2012 23:17:52 GMT -5
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Post by adampolo13-Email Not Valid on Jul 30, 2014 12:33:12 GMT -5
Maybe I can beg the guys over at MHI to leave the site up longer, I want to catch the begining of this build!
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Post by rbaer on Jul 31, 2014 13:20:39 GMT -5
Tasca packages their .50 as a separate item? Innnnnnteresting. Two in a box, for about $15... A13, if I was a little more savvy, I would do it.... but in summation, it's a low-bucks, minimal AM, lots of remedial fixin' build of a particular mark of Merk (say that fast three times) I've wanted to do for quite a while. So..... While my wife was a a neighbor's house talking chicken soup, I went to the laboratory. First thing was that lovely little Tasca gem, right up on the mantlet. I was shown a pic of a Merk1 during Op Peace for Galilee with such a thing, and I had pics of the early mount, so that was all I needed.  I went ahead and stuck the commander's mount on as well, then hold your breath, primer! My favorite, Krylon automotive gray, from the can.   On the hull, after priming, I used a heavy black wash on all the intake and exhaust areas, and the suspension springs, and since I woke up way too early this morning, went ahead and used up the last of my on-hand Tamiya TS-46 Light Sand getting the hull and turret in color.   I need a few supplies and more paint, so it's off to the Hobby Town tonight. Yee ha! |
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Post by dupes on Jul 31, 2014 15:15:19 GMT -5
Russ - is the TS46 from the can? Or do you decant it?
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