Found this picture. Simply amazing. This would make a wonderful vignette and I´m seriously thinking about making a modern tank in near future.

I just don´t know anything about modern armor. Which tank is this and what would be the best kit of this model?

Cheers,
Toni

I had the exact same idea when I saw the picture for the first time !
Given the size of this tank, you can hardly name this a "vignette", though. I think the dramatic effect would be served if the dio is made on a large board. Lots of empty space around the boy would emphasize how small he is compared to the tank.
No, I don't know what type this is. I'm not familiar with Israeli hardware.


PS : is that a pebble he's throwing... ? or a hand grenade ?

What was I thinking when I was writing the title? Abrams? I don´t think so. I must have been thinking of the Iraq situation.

A Merkawa more likely.

Jan, you´re right about the size of the base. It would indeed be more effective with lots of space around. Maybe just one electric pole and some trash and small thingies around for scale.

Thinking about the name...David & Goliath seems just too obvious...

Toni

The tank is old American M60A1 tank with Israeli "Blazer" reactive armor installed - the tank is called Magach in this version (probably Magach 6B in this case, but I'm not sure...). Academy sells a decent kit of this tank in 1/35, but the Blazer armor boxes in the kit are of older type than those on the photo above.
ESCI also sold one long time ago and it is now available in Italeri box.

Academy model (the photo does not show the granade launcher boxes on the turret front and thermal sleeve on the barrel, but AFAIR you get these parts as options in the kit. Also various types of MGs for the turret are available, not just these Browning ones shown below):


Rgds,
Pawel

Well it is a magach 6, the fun with this either choosing to go with the Academy Isreali kit or just getting a nice M60A1 and hitting up AEF DESIGNS for their more accurate and fussy conversion. Obviously the academy is the cheep way to go, but from the merkava update I have for the Merkava IID the AEF conversions are worth their weight in cost. Also, if I were to try this project I'd see if a set of Merkava tracks fit the M60, and if they do get a set of fruil Merk tracks. Once I find the AEF Designs web page I'll post a link. STUG

Here is the link:

http://www.aefdesigns.com/

AEF stuff is OK as long as you don't want it "now", they can take a while to ship orders. (I have waited over 2 months before) It is a cool idea for a dio, I had the same thought when I saw a similar pic with a kid and a Merkava.

Mike

Here is my M60A1 Blazer. You'll note it has the same MG's as the photo and the steel tracks. The ERA seems to be very close to the picture above. The kit has the option of .30 cal Brownings, Israeli MG (I'm blanking on the name) single or dual M2 .50 cals and has both the shielded and unshielded barrel.

Thanks for the info!

I´ll see what kind of models there are available in my local hobby store!
This dio idea works of course with any suitable tank in Middle East, why not with a US tank too...

The theme is nice, I just don´t know if Middle East is too popular at the moment...

Cheers,

Toni

Yes this is a magach. It is an evolution of the M60. If you choose to build a M60A1 with reactive armor, it won't fit today's situation...
For the Magach, you also have the "legend production" conversion. The problem is that there's quite a lot of resin there so the price is going to be a bit steep... count 90 euros for the conversion plus academy kit at http://www.blast-models.com .

Now, if you want to build something similar... you cant just get the M60A1, but you'd better use the Italeri kit. It's better than the academy one. But you'll have your timeframe problem...

Or you can get yourself a merkava II or III. It's a different tank, still hughe... personaly, that's probably the option I'd choose : buying the merkava II from academy.
Beware, I hear the merkava III from acaddemy has a completely wrong turret.

PenPen, not only is academy's turret wrong on the Merkava III, but so is the upper hull and road wheels. Before I get slap by EKEK I'll say that yes it is correct for the prototype. Again AEF to the rescue.

On the time frame issue, there isn't one!! the Magach 6 is still in use by some units in Isreal. I would suggest that as usual a little research and anyone will able to this dio.

The middle east is not going out style. I think we'll enjoy to see this as finished dio Toni!!
good luck STUG

From what I hear Legends Magach 6 conversion can't be beat for the price and detail.

Rob

the Academy kit has the correct Idf tracks the Italieri has the older rubber pads. :-)

i believe tamiya makes a model of that tank as well. correct me if i'm wrong. that is a very powerful picture.