Does anyone have any pics of the belly armor for the Merkava 3D LIC? I know that the IDF is very concerned about OPSEC, so there isn't much out there. I planned on basing the underside on the Merkava IV belly armor in the Academy kit, but couldn't find any pics of the plate and shackles on the front of the lower glacis plate. Thanks

I don't have photos of the real thing, but I have the Legend kit.

That would work. Do you have any pics of what the belly armor parts look like?

I probably can. I'm actually selling it on the forum right now and haven't even opened it. I'll be home tomorrow afternoon - the snow at Breck was too good to pass up.

I was googling it and according to some posts on IDF Modeling, Legend also forgot the belly armor

have fun on the slopes

Not the best pics, but something to start with:

http://www.defense-update.com/images/merkava3belly.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv3T0eOL6vI/UFQbpS5cq9I/AAAAAAAAHHQ/Jy1il9A_yQE/s640/Merkava%2BMark%2BII%2BI%2BIII%2BIV%2Btank.jpg

That helps- it appears that it doesn't have the holes in it like the IV armor does.

Those posts are incorrect. I just opened it for you, and it does indeed include the belly armor.

Here's a link to some work I did some years ago on a Mk IIID's Belly armor. I hope this helps as well. I scratchbuilt my own BA Belly Armor.
http://spruebender.net/forum2/index.php?topic=493.30

Great! If you get a chance to take a picture, my email is jason (at) thewestagency(dot) net. If you can't, does the front plate have holes in it? That would probably be all the info I would need anyway. Thanks!

Thanks- I see your front plate has the holes in it similar to the Merkava IV plate. On the real thing, are there two kinds- with and without the holes? Or are the holes in the pictures above just not visible? Nice work, by the way!

This tread may help you:
http://www.idf-modelling.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1170&start=40

And this, here in Armorama:
http://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/169487&page=1

Or try to contact Michael Mass directly. He's a busy man but always ready to help, as far as it does not compromise OPSEC

Thanks. I am just trying to figure out if the holes on the front plate are standard, only on some armor kits or just an interpretation based on what is on the Merkava IV

Nice builds, too

By 'holes' Do you mean the larger, oval shaped holes? Looking through some photos it looks like you can go with or without. I dare say the 'earlier' ones didn't have holes.
With:




Without:



Jim

That's what I was looking for! Thanks!!!

I was going to try and avoid unwrapping everything out of the bubble wrap, but here you go:

Sorry about that. Thanks though! That really helps

I don't mind, but you know how it is with stuff like that - it never goes back in the same way. Got your PM.

Thank's Jim for the photos as I was looking for more photos showing that flat turret armor of the Mk IIID.

Man "Jason" I thought I had those holes right. I didn't know that they looked like the ones on the Mk IV., but I'll look over it again. Thanks...

The Legend IIID belly armor looks the same as what is in their IV kit, which I bought before Academy''s LIC kit came out. I dug it out found it is probably 6-7mm shorter but since it comes in two pieces, it can fit with some styrene in the middle. The rear belly plate will need two "wings" move forward a couple mms. The front plate fits good, but needs about 2mm addedto the front. The front plate and shackles fit as is. The shackles on the back will need shortened. Overall it will work. I have the actual Academy LIC kit now, so I will use the rest of the Legend IV set in place of the plastic there. Better detailed and inproves 2 kits without much work. Thanks for the help

Not sure about the shape of the holes...in some pictures, your shape looks the same. Possible Legend got it wrong?

Some times the angel of a photo can make thing look bigger or smaller. "optical illusions"...

Merkava Mk.IV belly armor... (legend productions)


Merkava Mk. IIID belly armor...(legend productions)

Not sure but their IV armor is definitely a lot shorter than the Hobbyboss hull is. I am gluing it on right now

I forgot to ask...those arms on the front of your Merk- are they from a kit?

I like to ask the experts here if the belly armour should have a gap between it and the hull or fit flush? Only seen a couple of pics with a gap there but in some pics, seems like there aren't any gap? Thanks!

B