Just opened the box and now have two questions,
1st, is the kit 12.7 co-axial M/C gun correct or should I go for the Legend kit.
2nd, this tank is for Urban Warfare so would external stowage be carried; if so is the Legend covered stowage recommended.
Looking for some help here...cheers....Kenny

I am going to use the AFV Club machine gun set to replace it.

As for your second question, I like to know that too!

B

Not sure that this is correct,but it is stated that the Abrams crews don't carry stowage in an urban combat area as it tends to aid any fires started by insurgents throwing Molotov cocktails.So I`d imagine that this would apply to IDF vehicles as well.

Boxter and Danny, thanks for your replies.
Cannot find a definitive answer regards the stowage, so it would seem that the choice is mine :-)--. I do notice that most builders have added the AM covered stowage.

I also notice that spent ammo bag on 12.7 co-axial is not on the MK1V's, is this peculiar to the LIC?...cheers....Kenny

Hi;
Most pic.s that your looking at are of vehicles that were on longer duration ops, thats why all the extra gear.
Shorter ops require less external stowage, and yes in a Urban Conflict you dont want a Fire on your Tank.
Israeli Armor does not have far too get in there Conflict Zones.
And dont have a lot ground too cross before they get there.

CHEERS; MIKE.

I have made a start,
This will be OOB wth some scratch, a small amount of am.

The belly amour was slightly warped,needed a lot of glue and clamping but it is on now,



The suspension arms have been 'cored-out' unfortunatley this will show when mounted.
So I used a short lenght of plastic rod then filled with 'crack filler'( DIY ), filed and sanded the shape




Its quite time consuming and I only have half of them done but I am off to bed...cheers....Kenny

Nice work. Too bad Voyager doesn't come out with a suspension set like they did for the Meng Merkava IIID...that one is really nice. PE and real springs

I've made some progress..





The barrel is a loose fit at the moment, does any one know the measurement it should be sticking out by?





I cant make up my mind as to which side armour to us



I am not too worried about accuracy but if you can see some bad mistakes that I might have made, Please shout

...cheers....Kenny

Have not had much time at the bench of late, however I think I'm ready to paint Have some questions tho'.

Are the Tracks on correctly?







I have the wiring for the co-axial in place, will be removed for painting



I think the Commanders remote cable should not be connected to the side cocking handle, it goes into one of the holes on the solenoid levers, any help on this?





I 'sculpted' the spent rounds bag from some putty that I have, your opinions of that please



I have decided to use these side armour but I have not made up my mind ,whether to use a chain instead of the tow cables. Any advice on that?





So,,,
Q1, are tracks on correct
Q2, the Commanders remote cable
Q3, comments on the bag
Q4, tow cable or chain
Q5, would the LIC have a tow cable on the front, as sometimes seen on the MK1V's; the kit does not mention this!

I am not into absolute accuracy, but if I have any BIG mistakes Please SHOUT...cheers....Kenny

It is my undertanding that the .50 cal mounted on the mantlet/gun is linked to wherever the main gun barrel is pointing. Just a heads up.

Nice build so far. The only point I have concerns the mesh you added to the hull rear baskets sides. I think there is none on the actual tank. The basket is just a frame which is filled with a large plastic/rubber bag. So there is no need for any kind of side "walls".
Concerning the cables to operate the 0.50MG I have a couple of pics Michael Mass posted in another forum. I can send to you if you're interested in. Just give me your email.

Olivier

Thanks for your reply's.

Olivier, I now realise the mesh is wrong but it is firmly fixed so it must stay, I have contacted you; look forward to your reply...cheers....Kenny

Email sent

Olivier

Olivier thank you. Now I have to admit I'm a Twit. I already have those pic's and now that I have looked again I can see the connection to the .5.
Regards the ball and chain, I ignored the kit instructions and bought the Voyager set which is not so good, again I ignored the instructions and devised my own method.
Somewhere there must be a good AM kit...cheers....Kenny

PS I think you sent the pic's in another post

You're welcome Ken.
Following the advise of a friend modeler, I did me a favor and just bought the ET Models chains and balls set.

Olivier

Hi Kenneth, looks good your Merk IV. Here is a link for you, a lot of WIP stuff. You can do some research there too, it is IDF related and they have sections for all the different IDF tanks and everything else.
Take a look on it it is really helpfull.
http://www.idf-modelling.com/forum/
Hope it helps you.
Greets Christoph

Yes, a great site, Thank you...cheers....Kenny

At the moment I can't find a supplier here in the UK.
From the pics by ET I can't quit see how the chains are connected to the frames under the turret.
Do you have a close up?...cheers....Kenny

[quote]


Tonight I'll try to see what I can do for you. I'm pretty sure there is a drawing or a sketch of the chains and balls in one of the ref books I have.

I have had a MAJOR DISASTER!!!!



Not to make a long story out of this, spilt Nitric Acid.
Totally ruined the turret,basket,ball & chain!
Damned Cat.
I was using the Acid to 'blacken' the tracks, which I think are OK, what do you think



With the amount of damage done I think my cheapest option is to buy another kit cheers....Kenny

Ouch! Hopefully you'll be able to salvage some of the work you've already done on the turret. Good luck!

Shaun

Ouch, I can feel your pain ! Sorry to see the result. At least we all are warned about the effect of acid on styrene. I've always thought plastic was acid resistant, this is the proof I was wrong.

Olivier

I'm not having much luck!.
I had to purchase a new Ball & Chain set,which came to-day. NO chain!!!.
Can it get any worse?...cheers....Kenny

Woof, that is awful on what happened! Hope you find a chain in a costume jewelry shop, I think they might be cheaper too!

B