AFV 1/35 M109A2 IDF Doher.

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:00 am

The Doher is the upgraded Rochev 155mm howitzer and has increased weight due to the addition of internal equipment ,generator and better firing/accurate range. There are 350 Doher's in active service with the IDF forming the backbone of there mobile artillery.

The kit comes in AFV's usual box that is packed with sprues in green styrene, there are some places where small pieces of flash can be seen but as this kit is really the old Rochev kit with the upgrade parts to make the Doher kit. Lots of small parts are included as standard from AFV. The kit comes with a turned aluminium barrel,decals,framable picture and some etch along with the rubber band tracks which are the only let down in a very comprehensive kit. The instructions are AFV's usual a sprue/parts map is included and have color plates at the end to represent 3 IDF Dohers. This is another nice kit from AVF Club but they need to drop those useless rubber band tracks. To counter the track problem I got an aftermarket set of tracks and also have the Legend baggage set.

P4056743 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056745 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056748 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056749 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056751 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056753 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056756 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056760 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056758 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056761 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056763 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056764 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056766 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056768 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **digger303** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:18 am

Nice kit and your dead right about their tracks. Is there going to be much clean up required for the Skunk tracks ?
This one might slow you down your build rate a bit

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:39 am

looking forward to this one mate

I've got their IDF M109 1982 Rochev in my stash

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:03 pm

digger303 wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:18 am Nice kit and your dead right about their tracks. Is there going to be much clean up required for the Skunk tracks ?
This one might slow you down your build rate a bit

Thanks for looking in and your comments Digger.

The Skunk tracks mostly have side edge attachment points and there pretty much clear of flash there are pre-molded sets of made up tracks as well on the sprues. These are not workable tracks so there glued together on the wheels the weakest point I have spotted so far is the pin that the linking pad fits on to join a track piece there very thin so easily broken if your not careful during assembly. Once made up they should be quite strong after the glue has set.

Not sure if this ones slowing me down too much so far

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:05 pm

Kevthemodeller wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:39 am looking forward to this one mate

I've got their IDF M109 1982 Rochev in my stash

Nice kit there is also an upgrade set out there to turn that kit into a Doher if you so wished. Thanks for looking in and your comments Kev

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:10 pm

Cracker of a kit. I've got the AFV Rochev in the stash too!

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:14 pm

Knocked a hole in this one today, all the wheels have polly pins in them so easily removed for painting. Some fittings have been left off as they are painted either red or yellow on the finished vehicle. Assembly so far is pretty straight forward apart from some small fit issues at the front and rear bulk heads but easily put right.

P4056774 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056776 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056778 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056780 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4056781 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:26 pm

Stokesy44 wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:10 pm Cracker of a kit. I've got the AFV Rochev in the stash too!

There nice kits with high detail its just those terrible rubber band tracks they throw in and then have the cheek to do workable tracks for the kit as a optional extra. They would improve there sales no end by adding them to the kit from the start, Tamiya should also take note here. Sorry its a pet hate of mine kits are not cheap these days and they have the means to add the good tracks to a kit like Meng , RFM and a few others. Even the price is hiked on the replacement tracks from AFV there between £15-£20

a set and I bet they cost around £2 to make adding an extra £5-£10 to a kit to including the good tracks would in my opinion sell more kits. Rant over going to crawl back under my stone and mutter to myself for a couple of hours

Post by **digger303** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:58 am

Hawkmoon wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:26 pm
Stokesy44 wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:10 pm Cracker of a kit. I've got the AFV Rochev in the stash too!
There nice kits with high detail its just those terrible rubber band tracks they throw in and then have the cheek to do workable tracks for the kit as a optional extra. They would improve there sales no end by adding them to the kit from the start, Tamiya should also take note here. Sorry its a pet hate of mine kits are not cheap these days and they have the means to add the good tracks to a kit like Meng , RFM and a few others. Even the price is hiked on the replacement tracks from AFV there between £15-£20 a set and I bet they cost around £2 to make adding an extra £5-£10 to a kit to including the good tracks would in my opinion sell more kits. Rant over going to crawl back under my stone and mutter to myself for a couple of hours

Bugs the crap out of me too. Take a look at the cost of fruils, $50 and you know the design work is simple as you mold one link then copy. After that costs are minimal yet the price of the damn things has doubled in the last 10yrs and the plastic tracks have done the same.
Then look at the price of kits...The better brands pricing starts at a around 70 an just goes up add in freight and your looking at about 100/kit. Even on sale for older kits your battling to get them for less than 50.
Just glad I did a lot of buying when prices were reasonable. I did find just in the last week wholesale price of a kit was $28 and it retailed for $88....life of me I can't remember which brand it was now. Perhaps IBG, Miniart or Zvezda

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:11 am

digger303 wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:58 am
Hawkmoon wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:26 pm
Stokesy44 wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:10 pm Cracker of a kit. I've got the AFV Rochev in the stash too!
There nice kits with high detail its just those terrible rubber band tracks they throw in and then have the cheek to do workable tracks for the kit as a optional extra. They would improve there sales no end by adding them to the kit from the start, Tamiya should also take note here. Sorry its a pet hate of mine kits are not cheap these days and they have the means to add the good tracks to a kit like Meng , RFM and a few others. Even the price is hiked on the replacement tracks from AFV there between £15-£20 a set and I bet they cost around £2 to make adding an extra £5-£10 to a kit to including the good tracks would in my opinion sell more kits. Rant over going to crawl back under my stone and mutter to myself for a couple of hours
Bugs the crap out of me too. Take a look at the cost of fruils, $50 and you know the design work is simple as you mold one link then copy. After that costs are minimal yet the price of the damn things has doubled in the last 10yrs and the plastic tracks have done the same.
Then look at the price of kits...The better brands pricing starts at a around 70 an just goes up add in freight and your looking at about 100/kit. Even on sale for older kits your battling to get them for less than 50.
Just glad I did a lot of buying when prices were reasonable. I did find just in the last week wholesale price of a kit was $28 and it retailed for $88....life of me I can't remember which brand it was now. Perhaps IBG, Miniart or Zvezda

I always used to buy Fruils as a first choice but they seam to be getting less available now and choice is dropping like he is concentraiting on the popular tracks unless you go to Fruils themselves for the more exotic ones and agree there getting pricey now. Plastic or metal the manufacturers have seen that people will buy them and like any after market stuff the have slowly premium priced them knowing that the demand is there. As long as there is a demand for aftermarket tracks there not going to drop the rubber bands from the kits its just seen as thats another £20 we have made on a kit.

Wholesale prices shock a lot of people and the eye watering mark ups that goes on I was luck with the IBG Polish Fighter Kit in that the same polish guy was selling the same kits on fleabay two were priced in pounds £48 and two in polish currency that when converted came to £38 and that was including postage. I guess you can pick the one I went for.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:39 am

Newer manufacturers seem to be breaking the mould (no pun intended) as to pricing. If you're looking for value for money, look at Meng and RFM. Beautifully detailed kits that often come with workable tracks. You can pick up a Tiger sized kit or modern MBT for about £40 and you get a ton of parts in the box and great plastic.

Dragon, on the other hand are now selling new releases of kits like the Pz3 for £70 which is daylight robbery. I refuse to even consider buying Dragon unless I can pick them up cheap at shows.

I'm not sure I completely agree with the dislike of rubber band tracks. It depends on the kit for me. For example I would not consider indy link tracks for a Sherman because of size and no sag. My untrained eye cant see the difference. For a big German vehicle, its more of an issue as they contribute so much to how the tank looks.

I guess for me the perfect solution is link and length like Tamiya are doing. Their new KV1 has link and length tracks with built in sag on the return rollers and beautiful detail. Their Elefant was the same, super detail and built in sag - all visible as the vehicle had no skirts.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 9:57 am

I'd agree Meng plastic workable tracks are superb and come in the box.

Post by **digger303** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 11:17 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:39 am Newer manufacturers seem to be breaking the mould (no pun intended) as to pricing. If you're looking for value for money, look at Meng and RFM. Beautifully detailed kits that often come with workable tracks. You can pick up a Tiger sized kit or modern MBT for about £40 and you get a ton of parts in the box and great plastic.

Dragon, on the other hand are now selling new releases of kits like the Pz3 for £70 which is daylight robbery. I refuse to even consider buying Dragon unless I can pick them up cheap at shows.

I'm not sure I completely agree with the dislike of rubber band tracks. It depends on the kit for me. For example I would not consider indy link tracks for a Sherman because of size and no sag. My untrained eye cant see the difference. For a big German vehicle, its more of an issue as they contribute so much to how the tank looks.

I guess for me the perfect solution is link and length like Tamiya are doing. Their new KV1 has link and length tracks with built in sag on the return rollers and beautiful detail. Their Elefant was the same, super detail and built in sag - all visible as the vehicle had no skirts.

Yes the link and length tracks have caught my eye as well and like you say they are coming with built in sag. Also it doesn't take long to clean and assemble.
I mostly buy second hand or on sale items with a big discount.

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:49 pm

The build continues with more parts added to the lower hull. Next came the assembly of the main gun and turret still lots to add but now starting to look the part.

P4066791 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4066793 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4066797 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4066800 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4066801 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **DRUMS01** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 8:40 pm

very nice work so far.... watching this build.

Ben

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 9:29 pm

What a beast of a model and anything IDF pings my interest.
Lovely work,
DW

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:30 am

Thanks for looking in and your comments both

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:54 am

Not sure that gun is big enough! Looking good mate.

I don't remember mine coming with a metal barrel. I've just looked in the box. Woohoo, it does.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:56 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:54 am Not sure that gun is big enough! Looking good mate.

I don't remember mine coming with a metal barrel. I've just looked in the box. Woohoo, it does.

The Rochev got a metal barrel?

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:52 am

Kevthemodeller wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:56 am
Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:54 am Not sure that gun is big enough! Looking good mate.

I don't remember mine coming with a metal barrel. I've just looked in the box. Woohoo, it does.
The Rochev got a metal barrel?

Sure does, great big thing like a scaffold pole!

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 12:13 pm

Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:52 am
Kevthemodeller wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:56 am
Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:54 am Not sure that gun is big enough! Looking good mate.

I don't remember mine coming with a metal barrel. I've just looked in the box. Woohoo, it does.
The Rochev got a metal barrel?
Sure does, great big thing like a scaffold pole!

Yep and quite weighty as well. Just remember when assembling the groove in the barrel towards the breach is on the top of the barell not underneath .

The first Doher kits also had a resin IDF soldier in the box as well, alas not one in my box.

I said this before the kit is basicly the old Rochev kit with upgrade parts to make a Doheh . How do I know, the new parts are a different shade of green to the Rochev parts

Post by **AirCadet424** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 12:24 pm

Great start as always with you Andy and I know that it will be an equally great finish too!! Well done mate!!

Kev

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 1:55 pm

Great I didn't know it had one

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:00 pm

AirCadet424 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 12:24 pm Great start as always with you Andy and I know that it will be an equally great finish too!! Well done mate!!

Kev

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kev and everyone else

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:07 pm

Continued fitting out the turret today adding fittings, generator and baskets still a lot of stuff to add like tools/ammo but were getting close to paint now

P4076807 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4076810 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4076812 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4076814 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4076815 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4076817 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:52 pm

Looking good. What paint will you use for the exterior? I built a Magach a couple of years back and I used a paint mix to get the IDF colour. Cant find the details for the mix now

Still chuckling over the size of the honking cannon on that thing.

Post by **digger303** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 12:57 am

Wow your whacking this together, not much to do except paint it.

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:12 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:52 pm Looking good. What paint will you use for the exterior? I built a Magach a couple of years back and I used a paint mix to get the IDF colour. Cant find the details for the mix now

Still chuckling over the size of the honking cannon on that thing.

The paint im using will be the MIG 7163 set this was a ' Special Edition ' set from MIG but they dont list it anymore on there site so I recon its been discontinued as they also do the big solution box for IDF vehicles as well now. The set is still out there in the shops but once there sold out then there gone. Link below

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/produc ... a-mig-7163

Yh the gun is big and quite weighty so I was worried that it might drag the hull over onto the muzzle but it sits there quite nicely in any position you put the gun in.

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:16 am

digger303 wrote: Wed Apr 08, 2020 12:57 am Wow your whacking this together, not much to do except paint it.

Still have the tracks and baggage to make up on the beast but it also went together fast because theres no interior to faff about with on this one although the gun breach is very detailed.

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 9:13 am

Hawkmoon wrote: Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:12 am The paint im using will be the MIG 7163 set this was a ' Special Edition ' set from MIG but they dont list it anymore on there site so I recon its been discontinued as they also do the big solution box for IDF vehicles as well now. The set is still out there in the shops but once there sold out then there gone. Link below

Same set/colour I used for my Magach 6B went on lovely

Post by **Stokesy44** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:48 am

Hawkmoon wrote: Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:12 am The paint im using will be the MIG 7163 set this was a ' Special Edition ' set from MIG but they dont list it anymore on there site so I recon its been discontinued as they also do the big solution box for IDF vehicles as well now. The set is still out there in the shops but once there sold out then there gone. Link below

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/produc ... a-mig-7163

Thanks mate. I've saved the link as I have 2 IDF kits in the stash, the Rochev and a Meng Merkeva with mine plough.

Post by **AirCadet424** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 2:10 pm

'Luvvly jubbly' Andy looking really good already and so, so quickly built. Nice work mate!

Kev

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:34 pm

thanks for looking in everyone and or your comments

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:41 pm

There is a lot of ordinance with this kit if your thinking of doing a dio. The Legend resin baggage set has had its base coat. The main tank was undercoated in black then given a coat of olive base. The top coat is Real IDF Sinai Grey after this was dry the wheels were given there rubber boots.

P4086830 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4086831 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4086834 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4086836 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4086837 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

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P4086841 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **Stokesy44** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 12:16 am

Looking very good mate. Loving the overall shape and weight of the vehicle. It will look awesome with all the kit attached.

Post by **digger303** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 12:59 am

A imposing weapon of war

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:28 am

Thanks for looking in and your comments both, Tracks and painting all the red/yellow parts today

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:01 am

Coming along very nicely, always good to see the paint going down

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 6:40 pm

Kevthemodeller wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:01 am Coming along very nicely, always good to see the paint going down

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kev

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 6:51 pm

The aftermarket tracks are a faph to put together until you work out a system then things go better . So the tracks are assembled but are being held in place by masking tape until the glue sets and paint will go on in the morning.

All the parts that were to be painted black, red or yellow have now been added to the hull and turret along with any tools,hawsers, guns and jerry cans. The baggage set has been added as well so after the tracks are sorted it just leaves the decals and some other small parts to be added before some weathering takes place.

P4106843 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4106846 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4106849 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4106850 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

P4106852 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

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P4106857 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **Stokesy44** » Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:04 pm

Well that just looks the business! Superb work.

Post by **digger303** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:43 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:04 pm Well that just looks the business! Superb work.

What he said plus the stowage is just what it needed.....lovely

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 8:09 am

digger303 wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:43 am
Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:04 pm Well that just looks the business! Superb work.
What he said plus the stowage is just what it needed.....lovely

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2020 9:04 pm Well that just looks the business! Superb work.

Thanks for looking in and your comments both, hopefully I should get her finished today .

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:04 am

Looking so good Andrew, looking forward to the weathering

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:47 pm

Kevthemodeller wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:04 am Looking so good Andrew, looking forward to the weathering

Hi Kev thanks for looking in and your comments. Only some light weathering im afraid

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:49 pm

Calling this one done.

P4116876 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Post by **digger303** » Sun Apr 12, 2020 1:24 am

Hawkmoon wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:49 pm Calling this one done.
P4116876 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Big tick from me ( not that it is needed).....marvelous

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 12, 2020 8:51 am

digger303 wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2020 1:24 am
Hawkmoon wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2020 5:49 pm Calling this one done.
P4116876 by andrew purchase, on Flickr

Big tick from me ( not that it is needed).....marvelous

Thanks for looking in and your comments Digger

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sun Apr 12, 2020 11:07 am

Lovely build mate

Post by **Hawkmoon** » Sun Apr 12, 2020 6:48 pm

Kevthemodeller wrote: Sun Apr 12, 2020 11:07 am Lovely build mate

Thanks for looking in and your comments Kev