Hey Man

The tank is looking awesome, I have this on the shelve, but it's going to be a while before I build it

If you are going to do a base for it or a diorama, this video can give you ideas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjVg4Bdri8Y

Northwestern: Thanks for that link. That was a pretty awesome video. I can't wait to get the basket set here so I can finish the kit. This will only be the first of these I build. I will get another one and super detail it.

you forgot some anti slip in the commander's hatch and gunner sights as well.

Did you apply the white glue with a brush, let it to dry, used the putty, and after removed it?Removed it with what?

The final result is very nice.
But it looks more like a stryker antislip.The .50cal is slightly off centered.

I'm back. Got the Legends set and went right to work. I forgot to grab a couple of shots of the stuff straight out of the book. Having said that, I will give my opinion here. The resin pieces, mainly the three baskets, come with the usual large Legends block to be removed. It wasn't too hard on the two hull baskets, but the one on the turret basket gave me a little trouble. Looking back, I think if you left off the rear plate of the turret, the basket would fit in there just fine without removing any of the block. As it was, after removing the block from mine, I had to correct for some of the over removal with sheet styrene and putty. The detail of the parts is really nice. I like the look they give. I will be using these on my next Mk IV as well.

Anyway, on to the pics I have taken.



Legends put a large "L" and "R" on the bottom of the hull baskets to help identify. I filled these with putty.


A shot showing the baskets on the tank


And a close up of the baskets


Here is whats left in the box. There is a little kit roll, a couple of antennas and the ball and chain armor. There are also three placard holders for the sides of the turret basket.


All in all I am happy with the set. Again, I like the used lived in look. After I finish assembling the right side track it will be ready for the paint. I hope to have this finished before next Saturday for the show in Tulsa, Ok.

I'll be picking my Merkava up some time this week. Looks like a great kit.

The research that I've done so far has been interesting. Your technique for the non-slip surfaces is quite inventive. I was originally thinking of doing it with brushed on Mr. Surfacer 500 and some sand but the spray solution looks good too. And easier.

ViperAtl; I have used the Mr Surfacer for non skid before and it works. I just found this trick to be a little easier, faster and much cleaner. I can't take the credit for coming up with using the textured paint for the non skid. I got the idea from here (can't remember whose it was originally though). The other user used the Tera Cotta for a Stryker MGS. I looked at the different paints and thought the heavier "Multi Colored Textured" paint would work for the IDF armor.

I used the Mr Surfacer 500 on an IDF Puma. It worked, it was just a lot more labor intensive for me. With the spray on stuff, the labor is masking all the little bits and pieces and then removing all the mask after applying the paint, but I like the end result. Good luck.

Brilliant work guys. I love the non slip finish it really makes the model. Also the legand kit lokks ace how difficult is the chain and ball to complete???? Can the textured paint be brushed on ? Keep up the good wotk

Nightstrike, so far the chain and ball is not difficult. Course, all I have done is add the mounting strips to the hull and basket. I plan on running the thin copper wire through the ball and hook it through the bottom link of the chain. It shouldn't be hard, I hope.

I started working on the figures today as I primed the entire tank. I will add some more photos soon.

Each ball on the chain has a pin in it that links it to the next ball when you cut it of the chain the pin at each hole in the ball blocks it and does not allow you to thread it
I have about 1/3 of it done and it is a royal pain in the asss

CB1000h; Gee thanks for the good news. Just kidding. I plan on sitting down for a couple hours at a time to work on the chains. It looks like so much fun!

Believe that Mr surfacer 500 sprayed out of the cant does not dry very grainy looking. I usally dab it on with a stiff brush for anti slip. It works good for American and British anti slip. But its not coarse enough for the Merkava. There was a build on here of the Legend Merkava showing how he did the anti slip. Forgot to book mark it. What he did looked so realistic. Oh by the way UPS dropped mine off today. Have a couple other things to finish first.

Nice Job Cory so as we are both from Ok.

I guess I better not build one of the merk's

I will be at the show also.

Cool indeed.

I know it will be a good show.

Hi all,

Reading your comments with regard to the anti slip texture.

The method I use, is to first paint a thin layer of grey acrylic primer when dry add to the area white diluted wood glue, then sprinkle over the area ground cinnamon. When it dries give it a slight brush with a stiff brush to take off the excess and it looks right for the scale of the tank. Also paint with grey acrylic paint as an undercoat leave to dry thoroughly and then paint the colour of your choice either lifecolor 35, or Humbrol 84.

It looks very authentic and is safe.

Regards

Juljon

What I did was after clipping the ball off I put ca glue on the thin wire that came with the kit and pushed it into one hole on the ball it take some effort and you may need to use a no. 11 blade to open the hole up a bit (good luck holding on to it more on that in a bit) after the ca glue has dried for a min or two cut the wire about 3 or 4 mm and form it into a hook using needle nose tweezers hook it on to the chain the pinch it closed and the cut that assembly off the chain with the nessessary amount of loops as shown plus one to use to attach to basket. about the balls shooting all over the place what I did was glue (ca) a piece of sand paper to each leg of the tweezers then after it has dried completely trim it to shape then your tweezers will have som grip and wont launch the balls as much. I have lost 3 in total so far and have mounted about 25 ball and chain which has taken several days
Good freekin luck with those ball and chain