Global Scale Modeller

Hi all I had this ready to go on 1st July but as always of late work keeps getting in the way anyway I've got this weekend then I'm away for couple weeks which leaves the best part of 6 weeks but based on my first two builds I'll be up against it This time I'm not adding any PE I've ordered a few bits of after market (stowage etc) but they've not arrived as yet I'll add them when they do if that's ok. I've always had a soft spot for IDF armour think it's because I remember seeing the TV news during the late 60's 70's when I was a kid and heavily into modelling, as I suppose I am now I did look at many possibilities as to what to build ruled out the M51 as in kit form it is much like my first build, considered Shot Kal 73 Centurion, Magach 1- 3 (the new Dragon 3ERA version wasn't out when I bought this kit), 6 - 7 and the Merkava 1 - 4 I kept coming back to the 6B. so the 6B it is I know Hackovsky is also building the same kit it will be interesting to see the difference in builds

What really impresses me is how the IDF improve on what are effectively obsolete designs and make them almost state of the art and fit their environment perfectly, they were among if not the first to put into active service ERA. Through their almost non stop conflicts have been development and proving ground for just about all features found on modern armour the Magach 6B Gal is no different based on the M60 and developed from versions 1 - 5 and sitting mid way in the 6 variants. Fitted with 4th generation passive armor and 908 hp engine. The turret has angled sides and angled mantlet. This variant is sometimes unofficially referred to as Magach 7D or Magach 8. A limited number of vehicles were converted from the Magach 6B Gal variant.

The name "Magach" is not an abbreviation but a Hebrew word meaning "ramming hit". However, as the word is very rarely used and is not known to many Hebrew speakers, several popular explanations of the name exist:

* Short for Merkevet Giborei Hayil (Hebrew: מרכבת גיבורי חיל‎‎, literally Chariot of War Heroes).

* One version states that the real source of the name is the designation M48A3 (in Gematria, 40 is "mem" ("m"), 8 is "chet" ("ch") and 3 is "gimel" ("g")).

* Like the above, but "g" stands for Germany, a supplier of the first M48 tanks to Israel.

* Yet another version says that M48A3 can be read as MAgAch (4 looks like "A", 8 like "g" etc.).

* A once popular macabre joke in the IDF said that "Magach" stands for "Movil Gviyot Charukhot"—"charred bodies carrier", probably referring to the Yom Kippur War losses and particularly to the aforementioned flammable hydraulic fluid problem of the M48.

* Other variants include "Meshupa Gahon" (one with sloping belly) and even "Mechonat Giluach Hashmalit" (electric shaving machine).

Magach should not be confused with the Sabra series of upgrade packages for the M60A1/A3, which were developed for export to Turkey. Sabra includes upgrades similar to those of the Magach 7, but an essential difference is that it is armed with the MG251 120 mm smooth-bore gun (the same as used by the Merkava 3)

Since the 1980s and 1990s, the Magachs have been gradually replaced by Merkava tanks as Israel's front-line main battle tank. However, a large majority of the IDF's armored corps continued to consist of Magach variants until the 1990s, and the tank was continuously upgraded during this time.

By 2006, all Magachs in regular units had been replaced by Merkavas.

















I would have cropped these but it was taking like 10mins a picture! I think since Photobuck is no longer an option everybody is jumping onto Flicker, I just wonder how much longer until they go the same way!

Wow!

This is an interesting build!

I had no idea that this was based on the M60 until now. The only thing that gives that away is the rear of the tank and possibly the engine deck.

Good luck with the build!


Tommy

Hi Kev nice looking kit, good luck with build

Many thanks Pete fingers crossed I'll actually finish it on time

Another Magach 6B Great to see another on build Looking forward to see the progress. Are you planning to make the anti skid surface?

Kevthemodeller wrote: Sun Jul 23, 2017 12:54 am Many thanks Pete fingers crossed I'll actually finish it on time

I keep mine crossed as well Kev

Thanks Pete

This weekends up date and the last for 2 weeks. I'll be on the site but away from the bench.
The build begins





The rear drive sprocket mounting has 2 possible positions

As you can see the shaft is of set, there is nothing in the instructions as to which way it should be positioned. There is reference to this issues on UTube other state the tracks are very tight, I think this could be why.

Assemble them with the pin furthest forward


This kit is the basis for several hence the detail on the lower glacis plate which is covered by what I think may be mine/IDE defence, I'm waiting for delivery of a specific ref book, I'll confirm when it arrives.
These are tricky as the instructions, aren't clear and their fit isn't good either

The bottom hull is complete, it's very complex and very enjoyable




The upper hull is no different

These are tricky. they have to be removed for this version, sorry I'd already taken a cut before taking the picture

And the after both sides this is to allow for the modification of ERA side plates


Completed lower and upper

Hackovsky wrote: Sun Jul 23, 2017 1:48 pm Another Magach 6B Great to see another on build Looking forward to see the progress. Are you planning to make the anti skid surface?

Hi Hackovsky yes there will hopefully be anti slip surface are you planning the same?

I am planning it for sure, but not sure about the process yet. I was thinking of using the baking soda. Use Mr. Surfacer and after laying this down, going on with the Mr. Levelling thiner and wet the surface and pour on the soda. And at the end fixing it with the varnish or another layer of the surfacer.

Hackovsky wrote: Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:02 am I am planning it for sure, but not sure about the process yet. I was thinking of using the baking soda. Use Mr. Surfacer and after laying this down, going on with the Mr. Levelling thiner and wet the surface and pour on the soda. And at the end fixing it with the varnish or another layer of the surfacer.

I'm back from my work trip so the build can restart that's a good idea I've not really thought about it yet. I was going to add AM too but decided against it as I dont have the time, I'm just not quick enough as yet.

The weekends work updates

The lifting eyes have ejection pin marks which need to be sorted it's not too bad as they can be fitted so that the marks are close the the hull.

The front track guard supports have holes for what should be rivits/bolts, I used sprue cut to length, works quite well see the bracket on the left.

The slots for the lifting eyes are too big and there are two other holes that require to be filled for this version.

Side armour was next

The side armour support brackets have mould lines, these I removed.

The side rails that support side armour were warped

These rails have slots to attach the side armour to mountings on the hull

The length of these mountings I soon discovered aren't the same length, the centre one that required the hull to be modified is too long, even though it is correctly fitted.

This had to be cut and reshaped to allow the side armour to be hung.

I also discovered the hull side rails that the side armour attaches too must be very carefully matched to the side rail carrying the armour. Because they were warped and the rails can move slightly in there slots they weren't aligned to the slots on the rail, this required some flexing with hindsight I would check they are aligned before the glues sets.
After some playing around they now fit perfectly.



Next is the turret

The turret, it's quit complex broken down into 3 main parts, the turret/mantlet, the capola and turret attachments, racks, aerials, clips guns etc.

There are many choices of part which allow you build different variants although there is very little to direct you as to what parts builds what variant just you've got a choice. You need to study the pictures/instructions or do some research, neither help me as I selected the wrong mantlet armour plate I wanted to mount the 50 cal, only to find I couldn't. So the mounting backet parts are now redundant I did look at separating the mounting brackets from the plate but there're glued too well and would have destroyed them.


Academy could have done better here, the mantlet is attached to the sprue by the simulated dust cover, not too bad as this area is obscured by the armour plate.


And after some work it's not too bad


The assembled mantlet

The range finder and mortar

Almost there


Commanders scope and turret storage bin

The capola

The hatch brackets have injector pin marks which will be visible

After some work

The assembled capola the vision ports also have to be modified, by removing their mounting lugs to allow them to be moved slightly outwards to allow the hatch to shut all the joys of base kit being used for mulitple kits



Its getting there

Hi Kev coming together nicely even with all that fettling, it would be boring if it to was straight forward keep up the good work

Turret continued

More dreaded ejection pin marks before

and after

Almost complete save machine guns, tools and stowage




The two piece barrel is going to need some work, made harder with the thermal sleeve


Now lets sort that barrel

Another popular build have fun .

Been away on holiday as most are this time of year

Here's an up date, cleaned up the barrel bit tricky due to the thermal sleeve but it's come out ok, priming will prove for sure.

Applied the anti slip coating, I've lost the pictures when I applied it but I used the sand from an old egg timer with PVA think it's come out ok



Hull detail

The spade location has an issue which is I think due to it's size and some issue with turret fitting and perhaps scaling, this was highlighted by Hackovskyin his biuld. Although mine did turn and wasn't such an issue, it now wont with the spade, even if I reduced the thickness of the mounts it still would foul the turret To keep the model correct I've fitted it but the turret will not rotate 360 but that's not really an issue for me and a fault with the kit.

On with the priming

The priming is done

The gap in the glacis plate join will be greatly reduced once the top/bottom hulls are joined.

The barrel turn out good despite the thermal sleeve


Overall I'm happy

Looks great!

demarcation wrote: Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:51 pm Looks great!

Thanks mate

This weekends work up date
My first go at a shadow coat

And the base coat is now on




Also added some highlights/sun fading, the pictures don't do them justice but they're there



Had some difficulty making up the tow cables, with the supplied rope in the kit. It's cheap nylon cord and wouldn't go into the eyes, I tried glue, melting the end, in the end I had to enlarge the hole and heat the end, not very good quality. Did try to get some copper tow wire but seems everyone sold out, I wouldn't get them in time to finish the build, had to get these to fit worked in the end.


It's now all satin coated and ready to start decals and weathering

The weekends work

I'm not a fan of Academy decals very difficult to work with they've got a mind of their own, stiff, curl up and almost impervious to Micro set/sol decal solution This was after countless coats and the next day


It took until today to sort that one


As you can see they others even though they went on gave the same issues in varying amounts





They are just not what I was hoping for they look very cheap I think, I'll not use their decals again think I'll opt for after market
Onward and upward the weathering can now start

Last week's/ends up date it's all been/is a but manic with work at the moment

These Academy kit's although quite nice and have some very interesting units are diffidently not top draw and are in my opinion loosing ground to the likes of Meng/Takom and Dragon. They have injection pin makes it just the worst places and some are really deep


They also suffer fit issues which I should have spotted earlier, or rather realised what impact they would have the gap between the up graded armour and the front lower hull once the top hull was glued is way too big.

The lifting eyes are positioned too high in the hull which prevents the graded armour from mating with the lower hull, but some with modifications all should be well. The eyes couldn't be removed without destroying them, luckily they're are more in the kit leftovers from the other M60 variants the kit is derived from

Others refitted lower down


And it's sorted

The weathering is finally started long way to go yet though

It looks fantastic!

Keep up the good work!


Tommy

TommyKillander wrote: Wed Sep 20, 2017 10:33 pm It looks fantastic!

Keep up the good work!


Tommy

Thanks mate

I've been somewhat busy of late work yet again

But I'm almost there, I think I'm actually going to make the deadline this time

I like the weathering. Looks like your Magach just survived a sandstorm of epic proportions.

Push it Kev, push it hard!

Nicely done, Kev

xSCAR45 wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:39 pm I like the weathering. Looks like your Magach just survived a sandstorm of epic proportions.

Mine is actually quite a bit dusty than some I've seen in my research, they are often just completely covered

papatika wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:29 pm Push it Kev, push it hard!

SergioSolo wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2017 4:48 pm Nicely done, Kev

Thanks fella's I've made it