Meng 1/35 Merkava MK.3 BAZ

[russ2471]

Superb Dc absolutely superb, I'm glued to this build log, it's like a soap opera of inspiration

[DC87]

Thanks Russ I'm glad you are enjoying it.

[HWGuderian23]

Hi DC!
I'm deeply impressed .
Building the interior up from nothing is awesome and you really have a knack for it my friend.
Looking forward to see the continuing process...

[Coen]

it's like a soap opera of inspiration

Wow... that was clever... and accurate.
He's right.

[DC87]

A continued thanks to all who have viewed and commented upon this build

So the next act of the soap opera is complete and ready for your viewing pleasure:


The loaders position is done complete with various instruments, mortar and loaders vision port. To the commanders position I added a set of headphones and connecting wire.

Not sure which of theses is clearer so I have include both




Loaders seat:


The turret interior is now finished, I am toying with the idea of strengthening the turret roof slightly to enable me to attach it with double sided tape so the roof can be removed - any other ideas are welcome?

[Coen]

DC. You are supreme. That's one hell of a scratch. With an interior as complex as that I think that gravity is the best thing to hold it on. I haven't seen the final fit of top to bottom yet so there may be a better way.

[DC87]

Thanks Coen gravity does seem to be my best friend in this situation.

Just a thought- I hope my sratchbuilding hasn't put anyone off using this sort of build review/ step by step for guidance on their current/ future Merkava, If it has I am very sorry and can only say that normal service on building the kit parts will be resumed soon

[Coen]

Haha... Not me Dude... I'm loving it and I'm learning tonnes.
Keep it coming... but that's just me.

[HWGuderian23]

Brilliant work mate !
This tiny headphone with the spiral cable on its end! Absolutely fantastic !
I'm curious about the final product and can't wait to see this baby finished.
Thanks for sharing my friend.

[Tiger131]

oh yes like the added detail well worth it it looks superb bud

[DC87]

Back to the kit we go.
Got some more done this evening between the storms.

The front hull is what makes the Merkava a Merkava if that makes sense and is very bulky and dominant.

The Meng kits angles and detail are very good for the front engine armour but the fit was very poor. While building it a lot of bad words where muttered towards Meng but on reflection I believe the poor fit was down to me. In total there are 4 parts, 3 of which need to be attached before the larger piece. The fit of the 4th requires the exact perfect placement of the 3 pieces whereas I wasn't quite sure on the exact angle to stick them to align with the hull resulting in the 4th piece being out of position. Some careful sanding and filling has resulted in the engine covers fitting and looking very good. I would advise that when building this stage that you constantly check any reference pics you have as the cover isn't meant to be flush and has many different angles.

Here it is with the 4 parts - the coloured bits, try not to notice my unsteady hand




The gun went together like a dream with only a minor sanding session required, The shorter barrel of the Merkava looks really good I feel and Meng have done a good job with the fume extractor (the large lump) The clamps for the thermal sleeve are also really nice, all in all a great representation of the 120mm gun:




Here is how the beast will look, the hull and turret are dry fitted here:


The item on the front left is my attempt to repair the rear door hatch with came loose, I recommend super glue when building that stage with hindsight.

As I was doing the interior I suspect you were all thinking ''hang on how much of that will be seen through the hatches'', well here you go:






Next update will likely be painting the interior.

[BrummieModeller]

Great build dude ill be honest I havent had time to watch this build but from what i have seen it looks mint!! great work but ive defo got to build a Merkava some time in the future there pretty cool looking tanks

[Coen]

Oh DC... you nailed that interior Dude.
It'll be a pain in the Arse to paint it but holy beans and franks it will look amazing.
And then... you can lift the lid.
Many thumbs up Dude.
I can't wait to see paint on this.

[russ2471]

Brilliant job sir, I love it.... I personally would fix the turret roof despite the scratch building its always going to be there and you'll see more the more you look inside, a sort of layer if you get my drift..have you considered a simple lighting effect inside that could highlight all your hard work to the viewer of the model and give an element of ultra realism.....no matter what you do mate it's gonna look quality and I like the rest look forward to the paint

Ps, my merkava is staying in the box for a while it scared to come out after seeing this

[Coen]

Lighting effect.... Madness!
Cool idea though.

[DC87]

Cheers Russ I may just give that a go .

Given your experience when not in combat what colour are tanks interior lighting generally?

[Tamiyasnob]

Can,t really understand why Meng have not moulded the hull in one piece, both Academy and Hobby boss do. Still you are making a cracking job of it.what are you considering using for the upper colour?, I tried Xtracrylix Isreali sand grey ,but it,s far to brown!!!!. I was told Vallejo,s shade is the way to go, continued succsess in the build and the painting,cheer,s Dave.

[DC87]

Not sure why Meng didn't do a one piece cast but to me the Hobby Boss engine armour looks to be too sunken so I prefer the Meng approach despite it's fiddly process.

I will probably mix my own colour as I have a tonne of sand colour paints to use.

[russ2471]

Cheers Russ I may just give that a go .

Given your experience when not in combat what colour are tanks interior lighting generally?

They where clear bulbs about 12 v if i remember rightly Dc not very bright but enough to light up the interior

[DC87]

Thanks Russ very useful.

One of the best features of this offering from Meng is the option to depict stowage empty or full.


I chose to build the full stowage option because it looked simpler and more interesting, I will build the empty option at the end so that hopefully I make the mistakes instead of you guys.

All the parts for step 9:


The detail on these parts is fantastic, this and the gun barrel are on par with resin in my opinion and I am beginning to see Meng as a competitor to Accurate Armour in both their detail and subjects manufactured.


The built stowage bins and very nice they are too:

[Smudge]

Hey DC, just sat here tonight and read all 7 pages as i couldn't stop hitting the next page button just to see what else would be waiting for me to view in this amazing build.

All i can say is great build fella especially all the scratch built items, really does seem to improve the OOB build greatly.

I will be following the rest of this build with great interest now that i have caught up lol

[Coen]

Me too and I AM caught up

[DC87]

Just been reading back through this topic and remembered this in relation to interior:

I will fall over and die if you scratch either of those DC.

Coen are you still with us or will I be charged with indirect muder!

[DC87]

Small update:

Built the rear - well I'm not sure what to call them but they have headlights and mud guards.

[Coen]

Oh I died two pages ago DC

[DC87]

RIP Coen - the ghost of ISM past

This update will be a little different and a first for me as it is in the form of a video. I have done it in the style of the great director and actor Coen of ISM . The first part video is 23 mins so I will upload it after editing in a short while. In the meantime here is the rough part 2 for you to hopefully enjoy. If it works I may make it a regular feature of my build so please let me know what you think. Note I do speak (not all the time) so turn the speakers up a bit

Make a brew or uncap a beer as it's still 8 mins
[youtube]7zI9Lk_lbMY[/youtube]

If you guys want me to discuss anything while I'm modelling in a sort of test match cricket commentary style then please post some suggestions or subjects as I find it difficult to talk to the camera at length about endless cutting and gluing

I will add the pics from this step at some point.

[Coen]

It's not easy to talk and build at the same time eh?
This was great DC. I love watching masters at work.
At least you talked for your first one.
It took me 13 videos before I got the stones enough to start talking.
Keep'em coming DC.

[DC87]

Thanks Coen.

The ending is abrupt/ sudden as the batteries died so I talked to the air for a while unawares of the lack of filming .

[Coen]

I've done that... some not so clever editing resulting in refilming.
Oops. I'm just glad it didn't happen during a build... kinda hard to fix that and do another take.
You'll get used to it though.

[DC87]

Another video, this time part 4 - I know, my organisational skills are awesome.
Hopefully this one is a bit more entertaining

[youtube]ipojXr1Lo9A[/youtube]

[alextheblue]

Loving this build DC and ditto everyone's comments on the scratch-built parts - just awesome!!

Looking forward to watching your videos later - can't put the sound on whilst at work!

[DC87]

Thanks alex.

Here is the first part so let me know what you think guys. If you have been mad enough to have watched them all then please please tell me which camera angle works best.

[youtube]6DxXx7_VhXs[/youtube]

Yes I did nearly forget my real name at the start

[Coen]

Hey DC... it says that you have the video listed as private Dude.

[DC87]

Should be sorted now

[Coen]

It was pretty much the same thing that I do DC. The music was a bit loud though... it was a little hard to hear your voice over it.

[DC87]

Cheers Coen, point noted - I forget other people don't use over-ear headphones when watching videos.

[alextheblue]

Loved the videos DC. As much as I really enjoy seeing pics of builds and WIP seeing moving footage brings a whole new element. Very well done - more please!

[DC87]

Thank you alex, it's great to know people are watching them and hopefully they will get better as I get used to being on camera.

Here is the rear stowage basket with the ball and chain detail, I am going to add lots of extra stowage at the end. The instructions gave the option for this configuration or a nicely detailed tarpaulin cover.

[Coen]

The last time that I saw that ball and chain armour it was all PE.
I think that Lee has a Merk with a PE ball and chain set if I remember correctly.
That stuff is a .... well you can fill in the blanks.
This looks only slightly overscale. With stowage all around it I think it'll be great. Not to mention so much easier to build.

[Gav0909]

I dunno Coen, the ball and chain RPG shield on the real Merkava is quite a prominent thing. I guess the proof will be once its mounted to the turret on the vehicle, as to whether it still looks overscale.

Coming on nicely though Dan. Btw are you finding the Meng plastic quite hard? The plastic on my AUF1 seems really hard, I am having to be uber careful when trimming off the sprue attachment points etc.

[DC87]

Btw are you finding the Meng plastic quite hard? The plastic on my AUF1 seems really hard, I am having to be uber careful when trimming off the sprue attachment points etc.

Yes, was just thinking that myself in the last session but thought it was just in my head so to speak. That said apart from the one ball and chain that got away I'm not finding snipping and trimming parts too difficult as the hardness seems to give them more strength. This kit did claim a new blade as it's victim which now has a much shorter tip .

[Gav0909]

Yeah my Meng kit claimed my entire x-acto style knife (cheap version). The plastic blade holder snapped inside the metal handle after I put too much pressure on it trying to cut a sprue point off. But I hate x-acto style knives anyway, don't get on with the long thin blades much, prefer your traditional craft knife with the snap blades, where you just remove a section once its blunt. But mine is down to the last few sections so need a new one.

[DC87]

I guess the proof will be once its mounted to the turret on the vehicle, as to whether it still looks overscale.

Hope these helps Coen and Gav







To me the plastic ball and chain seems pretty darn near spot on and I am certainly pleased with them, only negative is they lack movement so slightly turret positions.

Here is the progress so far on the interior, may take a while to do as I'm using the hairy stick.


Stay classy and have fun

[McLeod]

Looking great so far fella, I've never tried scratch building an interior or anything like that but your pics have my toes tingling lol

[Coen]

Those chains are bang on Dude. Like you said though, they're stiff so it will be tricky placing it on a diorama if that's the plan.
The interior is smokin too. Nice job.

[DC87]

Thanks Coen. Yeah a diorama is the plan, probably with the new Meng bulldozer/ fortress on tracks although that has an interior . I may experiment with a small application of heat or make a few links of my own.

[T3hGuppy]

Very cool

Ive seen some scale chains used to add the movement but yours look great and like you said bit of heat should let them move to where you want.

[wappynutter]

Looking better every time I drop by dude..
Love the chains they do look like the real deal..
Good luck with the hairy stick mate.

[Coen]

Thanks Coen. Yeah a diorama is the plan, probably with the new Meng bulldozer/ fortress on tracks although that has an interior . I may experiment with a small application of heat or make a few links of my own.

I've seen that dozer Dude... holy moly that would be a huge diorama.
And expensive... I hear that kits isn't cheap.... soooo cool though.

[DC87]

I've seen that dozer Dude... holy moly that would be a huge diorama.
And expensive... I hear that kits isn't cheap.... soooo cool though

Yeah hopefully it will turn up as damaged box at some point in the near future.