IDF Fans:
If my memory serves me well,....I don't recall ever seeing an interior resin or PE detail set offered for the Israeli
Merkava of any Mk. Can anyone confirm, if there are any available, for interior detailing upgrades. Thanx in advance.
Todd

I guess the available interior reference stuff is not that thick on the ground...

Frenchy

I based mine on some photos found in an Israeli armament journal. There wasn't much to go on - the turret floor, and inside of the fighting compartment. I think there's an Osprey publication that shows the ammunition storage layout. My driver's compartment was pure fiction, but I asked it heavily upon an M60. The control panel is a direct copy -it made sense at the time since the Mk I borrowed heavily from several different tanks available to the IDF at the time.

HI

There are a few photos out there .. the Desert Eagle book on the IV has some shots. Not enough to go crazy but if you wanted to drop the rear hatch and busy it up, there may be enough for you.

HTH

T

I have a few photos somewhere I will find and post today. Most are of the engine compartment sans power pack, but there are some turret shots too I believe. Skipp I would love to see yours if you are willing to share. Cheers.

I'll see what I can do. The entire thing suffered catastrophic rapid deceleration about twelve years ago when I moved into my house, and even then it wasn't complete, ie, MGs, small details and final weathering.

Here are a few interior photos I've managed to find.





Most of that I was able to fairly accurately reproduce thanks to this:

There is one Merkava 1 displayed at the Munster Panzermuseum.
But I heard even in these old tracks, the Israelis removed all the electronics/fire control system. For obvious rteasons the IDF likes to keep the lid on their best tank.

That took a little longer than I thought, but then the post Christmas workout usually does.
Here are the pics. Remember, I started this thing 20 years ago before there was a PE set for it. It's never been finished, AND it suffered a crash. Enough of the excuses...

















When it's all together and you look through the hatches, everything looks painted and in place, so I didn't worry about painting everything.
Now I'm thinking maybe I should go back and finish this thing.

To All;
Thanx guys. It's better than where I started. What I find odd,
is that there are assembly photos and component drawings of the Namer & Namera APC interior on the web. (quite extensive I might add). THEY even show panel and layout shots. Seats,stowage cabinets, and more. But the IDF is always in a
shadow and Hush Hush with open info on vehicles of any sort.
Using the interior shots of a APC, would be pointless because the configuration is not that of the tank. I know there are tons of exterior PE sets & resin conversions on the mkt , but interior will be a painful search I'm afraid.
BTW: Robert I thought your pics were real not a model. Excellent execution and build.!!!

A few interior pic's on Prime Portal: http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/david_lueck/merkava_mk1/