1/72 Revell Merkava Mk III

[UKscalemodeller]

I chose this as my entry to Aaron Newlands youtube Israeli group build.

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The lower hull and wheels went together easyly enough

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Does anyone know how commonplace it is to have a barrel molded intwo halves

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[T3hGuppy]

Good start dude.

A lot of tanks kits have the barrel moulded in two very annoying.

[UKscalemodeller]

Good start dude.

A lot of tanks kits have the barrel moulded in two very annoying.

I can kinda see why, it is a lot more complex than a ww2 barrel but yes it is annoying.

[Coen]

I'd say 80% of kits have two part barrels. Some give you options for 3 or even 4 different barrels, some even moulded in a single piece.
Mostly though they're two piece.
It's actually one of the base skills as an armour modeller... fixing two part barrel seams. (a lot of folk replace them with aftermarket ones).

[UKscalemodeller]

It is all built now, these were very fiddly

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but not as fiddly as these that basically exploded taking them off the sprue

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But I learned for the next set

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[UKscalemodeller]

The Merkava has LOTS of guns

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But appart from the tracks, everything is built

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painting soon.

[Coen]

Jeese... and I thought Alex of Alex Modelling was fast.
Zooom!!!
Nice save on the anti-rocket trap chains. Those were fiddly.

[UKscalemodeller]

And now undercoated,

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Have there ever been any snow camo Merkavas?

I will let it 'cure' for at least 24, possibly 48hrs (it's vallejo primer) and then start throwing some (one) colour at it.

I'm reasonably pleased at the speed of this project.

[wappynutter]

Beautiful, gorgeous little build Ian.... And so quick mate.
Well done at this armour malarkey, and at 1/72..
I'd have been beat at the ball and chain bits and been off looking for home made replacements....
Good job mate, keep it up..

[spruecutter]

Nice work mate.

Looking forward to how this turns out.

[EasyEight96]

Nice kit you got there wish you good luck upon completing

[Dunhill2005]

And now undercoated,

IMG_2415.JPG

Have there ever been any snow camo Merkavas?

I will let it 'cure' for at least 24, possibly 48hrs (it's vallejo primer) and then start throwing some (one) colour at it.

I'm reasonably pleased at the speed of this project.

But possible in snow camo

Israeli-Merkava_Mk_2_II0112.jpg

[Paul]

Great job Ian,it looks a great little kit

[Coen]

And now undercoated,

IMG_2415.JPG

Have there ever been any snow camo Merkavas?

I will let it 'cure' for at least 24, possibly 48hrs (it's vallejo primer) and then start throwing some (one) colour at it.

I'm reasonably pleased at the speed of this project.

But possible in snow camo

Israeli-Merkava_Mk_2_II0112.jpg

HAHA... Great find Dunhill.

[Nige201980]

great build of a cracking little kit Ian

[UKscalemodeller]

So, I thought it was about time to get something done on this.

An overall coat of Valleo air 023 Hemp

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[UKscalemodeller]

Then to the tracks,

first of all black all over and drybrushed with silver

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Then flooded with rust

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Then the excess removed and a little more light drybrushing

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[UKscalemodeller]

Once dry, assembled onto the tank

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And the smaller details are done

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Yes I know that the fire extinguisher would probably not be red! and some equipment would be the same colour as the tank but it looks more interesting lik this and I like it.

Now after a few main colour touch ups (where I overpainted) it sits overnight drying aftera coat of clear. Decals and wash soon.

[Coen]

Personally, I haven't a clue what colour a Merks extinguisher is, I like the red though, looks sharp.
I like the look of the hemp too. That's a cool colour. I might use that on my Isherman.
Looks great Ian, that's going to be a sweet looking metal monster when she's done.

[Nige201980]

She is looking amazing mate and the tools and fire extinguisher looks cool too

[UKscalemodeller]

Thanks guys, for your comments and an epic picture of a snowy Merk.

Not much to add, a Clear layer was brushed on, and after 24 hours the decals were added.

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then dry I brushed micro sol onto te decals on the side skirts to try to get them to sink in. 24 hours later and they have sunk in perfectly. Now re-cleared the decals ready for an oil wash tomorrow night.

[Coen]

Beautiful work Ian.

After the GB is done you should give your hand to a diorama for your Merk.
I don't know what it is about Israeli armour... but it always seems not quite done without a dio.
It's weird haha.
That and I'd like to see what you could pull off.
Myself I think that it would be pretty clever.

[UKscalemodeller]

I may well try it.

[Coen]

yeah!

[Nige201980]

she is looking superb Ian

[Rob]

Great work Ian.

[Andyman23]

Unbelievable work bud, I can't wait to see this when it's done. Do a snow dio!!! haha

[UKscalemodeller]

I'm going to call this one done....for now.

Coen suggested I make a diorama for it and that is what I intend to do so I am going to leave the mud effects and weathering until then so it fits in with the dio.

so for now here is my finished Merkava III Israel 1989

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I haven't attached antenna as they will probably get broken off before I can put it on its base and I am aware of a few flaws (we are our own worst critics) such as the bad seam line on the barrel.

[wappynutter]

Nice finish Ian mate.....
Did you say diorama?.....#ears sharp pointy thing up#.......... Lol..... Swear filter kicked in....
I love a good diorama....
Good luck with this and the Panzer build/dio.....

[HWGuderian23]

Great work mate !

[Coen]

That looks the bomb Ian!
Great work! A dio really will finish her up I think. There's something about a Merk that says diorama required to me.
I'll look forward to seeing that when you do it.