Today some small parts: The muzzles of the FN MAGs were drilled out (0.3mm), foldabable bipods and fore sights added. One bipod came from Academys IDF Modern Infantry set, the other was scratched.





And the licence plates became white numbers with a white colored pencil; I've tried it with white paint, but failed:



Little imperfections (corrected the 5s to 9s) will be covered with some dust.


Michael

...Echelon decals for the beast:








Michael

...again only some small parts: bulletproof glas of the weapon station tinted with thinned Tamiya X-25 Clear Green and twisted copper wire for the towing cables:






Michael

...again a little progress: spare track links and some exhaust (Tamiya XF-1 Black) to the hull:



oil and gas canister, tow ropes painted; decals of the tactical signs glued to aluminum foil:



ropes to the hull - that wasn't easy: too fractious!



sewing cotton glued into the bented edge of the foil. Decals painted/sealed with a mixture of Tamiya Flat Base amd Klear (1/3); decoration with storage:



canvas signs tied to the small loops - inverted and upside down as in reality. Attuned to the surface:



For the moment the kit tracks were fixed, but they were a little bit too tautly. Maybe I will change them...

Next step: Dusting the beast. But less dust, for the Cruel lady is serving on the Golan Heights and not in the Negev!


Michael

Today, time for the periscopes: For I didn't follow the instructions to glue the periscopes from the inside of the upper hull, I have to cut and sand the circular edge on the lower part of the periscopes. And a test fit inserting them from above:



XF-67 for the lower followed by XF-20/XF49 mixture for the upper parts. Thinned X-25 Clear Green for the glas:





I'm pleased, the periscopes are looking like bulletproof glas - at least for me:



...through the hatch the lower parts are visible




Michael

Hi;

Your Job with the Periscopes is OUTSTSNDING !

CHEERS; MIKE.

Hey there Michael!
Very good work with great attention to details. Maybe it's too late and it is not so important, but... There should be bolts screwed into tops of those Panzer Art T-34 road wheel hubs (they were added during first stage of post-war upgrade in late 1940-th).

HTH and happy modelling,
Paul

Hi Michael,

Looking very good, especially the cargo netting in the back, it came out great.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the tactical marking on the black canvas square. How do you know it is backwards, what is it supposed to mean. It is very strange, generally the Achzarit gets a number and a letter assigning it to different parts of a company. I'm curious.

Also, if you guys wanted to know, the MaG that is controlled from inside the vehicle is called in Hebrew the "MaG Rafael" after the company that created the system. It looks intelligent but inside it is low low tech. You charge the MaG by pulling on a piece of wire with a plastic handle, but it works (until the gun jams of course).

Thanks,
Bryan

Hello Bryan,
in Sabingamartins booklet "Israeli Wild & Cruel Cats Vol. 3 - Achzarit Heavy APC you can find the answer and 2 pictures on page 41of that Cruel Lady. And on page 79 is a color profile of this APC with the following text:
"An additional variant B Mark 1 Achzarit with a registration number of 812390 during the drill in Ramat Ha Golan (Golan Heights). It is marked wirh a white marking of the number 10 and the Hebrew letter "Alef", both painted on a black square canvas that is in the wrong side and orientation. Note that the spider web type wheel in the last position. Note also the soldiers' stowage stored on the upper part of the clamshell door.".
There are only pics showing the left side of the APC; maybe the tactical marking on the right side is in the right way. The Echelon decal is the "wrong" version for both sides and a really wrong PE registration plate 812350! This problem is easy to solve, only some white paint to make a "5" looking like a "9"...


Michael

I see, that is weird that it is upside down because that code is the battalion commanders vehicle, and there is NO WAY he would allow that to be wrong in any way.

Bryan

Sorry, but there are the two pictures in that booklet, showing the canvas with the tactical marking exactly in this way!


Michael