An update on the Hobby Boss website looks to be pointing to a new IDF ARV on the way.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hobby Boss is fast becoming my second fovoritest and most excellent company. Thanks for the skinny, Kevin.

Was this thing ever fielded?

I think it was a prototype only, the 'actual' one has a large crane on the right side:



Jim

Hi Jim,
I have seen photos of Merkava IDF ARV with the large crane and the small one.

Terry.

Hello Jim,

I think that there is a mix here between 2 different vehicles:
Namer Chatap - Prototype only of a Merkava 3 based APC with a small crane in the rear of the vehicle limited to engine deck lifting, final drive etc.
Namer Achzaka (ARV)- Prototype only, not a finished configuration of a Merkava 3 based heavy recovery Tank, with a large crane along the RH side of the hull, big and smaller winches, 2 side spades and more.

Both were not passing the prototype stage and are frozen due to pre-mature stage and lack of budget.

As for modeling, Legend did the Namer chatap in the past based on my drawings and photography, and now it will be probably copied by HB. An atractive subject, as ARVs are always atractive, but not in service I am afraid...
The ARV, that Jim posted is not the subject of the HB model.

It is obvious a golden era to IDF modellers with the risk that "quantity is not securing the quality".

Michael Mass

What I would really really really like to see is this beast:

that would not "make my day", it would make my year ;-)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/TrailBlazer_ARV

Regards / Robin

I can understand your wish.

I have one !

Michael

Scale 1/1, 1/35 or something else ? ;-)

Hi All

Indeed great news for any IDF modeler, I agree with Joseph, Hobby Boss is moving forward with IDF items and it is good to see that they keep the momentum of new IDf kits and most important in plastic.

There is no need to accuse HB in copy resin kit since A rate info probably re-sold them by other company.

As modelers lets concentrate in models and not in operational data, there is no need to talk about their service history, their numbers in IDF and most important their current status.

regarding the quality, no kit is perfect as we saw with recent Merkava 3D by Meng and HB.


Robert

Dr. Robert Manasherob
www.sabingamartin.com

P.S. I have no connection to any of those companies.

Thanks for the clarification Michael, that may explain the lack of photos of either type out there. That and they are a pretty specialized vehicle. If the modelling companies can make all the 'paper' panzers, might as well have some modern ones too!

Jim

Hello Jim,

Yes , lack of photos due to the fact that these are prototypes.

Yes, more in Plastic which means easy assembly and less $.

Yes, more IDF in plastic, as recent years are a golden era, like:(probably not all)

AFV - Shot-Cal
Academy Merkava 4
HB Merkava 4
Tamiya M51
Tamiya M1
HB Merkava Mk.3D
Meng Mk.3D


Lots of detailing sets, markings, a beautiful figure from Sabingamartin, roadwheels, tracks, and machine guns.

More to come
HB Namer Chatap, Merkava 2D and Merkava 3D LIC
3 major kits from Meng (my lips are sealed)

we certainly live in the future...

Merkava 2D Amen to that, I hope for older APCs in plastic like Achzarit, Nagmachon etc...

Well
It is only matter of time now before you will see all these APC and other IDF tanks in plastic, probably 2 of each from different companies, and I assume soon there will be also more soft skins as well.


Robert

Dr. Robert Manasherob
www.sabingamartin.com

Are there any good news for 2013 especially for Merkava 2D? Any company: Meng, Hobbyboss or Academy??

new tool IDF M-113 series?