I was finally able to complete my Academy 1/35th Scale IDF Magach 6B MBT. Hope you like it.

Best wishes,

Ian

Ian that is a very nice build. I really like the dust effect. The finish is top notch.

Now from a practicle tankers eye I have an issue with the spare road wheels. Steel road wheels are quite heavy and one piece of rope will not hold them up. They would be dragging the back deck. We would bolt them to the bustle rack with a center guide.

I noticed the new tracks don't have center guides but tankers are natural scroungers and could dig up some old ones. Also cargo straps or several ropes would work. A full water can would weight over 40 pounds and might need more support as well. These are nit picks on what is fine work. I now want to add that kit to my stash because you have shown it in such a good light. Thanks for sharing.

Tom

Thanks Tom. Word of warning if you get the kit......the plastic is very soft and the vinyl tracks break the axles as a result. Either get aftermarket tracks, or reinforce the axles with metal pins like I did. Also, the mounting pins for the very heavy side skirts are also inadequate and the skirts had to be fixed with metal pins as well

Regards,


Ian

These were smart remarks Thomas.

Out of that, this is a nice model + nice looking project.

Michael Mass

Thanks Michael.

Ian

Very well done!

Very nice finish and weathering! A couple small things - I think it's missing the handle on the loaders hatch. Also the half round/curved bar behind the Commander should be on top of the Urdan cupola hatch (you can just make it out in this photo). The hatch appears to have a few ejector pins on it too.



Jim

Veeeeerrrryyyyy Niiiicccceeee
Did you use the kit tracks?
Donald

Thanks everybody. Donald, they were the kit tracks and not a prudent move on my part to use them. The track tension is very high and the Academy plastic is very soft. I ended up having to drill and pin the axles at the front and back of the chassis with metal rod to ensure they would not bend and could bear the weight of the track tension.

Regards,

Ian

Does anyone know what type of track goes with this vehicle. Merkava - T72 - M60 - I have the kit and I'm looking for some after market track.
Donald

Donald, I believe they are Urdan single pin tracks like on the Merkava.

Regards,

Ian

To be "really" accurate, it should have the "batash" track, but unless Friul or SpadeAce come up sith some in the near future, I'm going to build mine with Friul Merkava1/2 track.
It's come up before regarding this kit, I seem to remember a couple of threads about it.
hth

I think only Batash tracks and Merkava 2 tracks. For the latter you can use Friuls and I think Spade Ace sets. For the former there is the Legend set but it seams the molds are worn out and produce hardly usable product. Check out this thread I started: http://armorama.com/forums/227167#1914365

I've made a replacement set that can be bought via shapeways and is clickable indie links but it's waaay too pricy, though I also plan on making a pre-assembled set (like 4 pre-assembled lenghts of fully workable links per side) in a couple of days. It might be even cheaper and quite interesting option actually. As it is now it can be seen or bought here :http://www.shapeways.com/product/7KWKKHR7M/magach-6b-gal-batash-track-set-in-1-35-scale

Cheers,
Greg

Wow, that looks great! Nice job all around!

Thanks Peter.

What paint brand and type did you use for the IDF Sand color?

Peter, I used Model Master Enamel RLM02 but I tinted it slightly with Model Master Enamel Olive Drab 34087 to get that subtle OD hue. The panel lines and recesses were post-shaded with Tamiya Smoke which was also tinted with OD and a drop of Tamiya NATO Brown to act as a somewhat transparent filter.

Regards,

Ian

Nice work Ian! I am just getting back into the hobby after an 8 year "sabbatical" and am overjoyed at the number of new IDF kits that are available. Other than the track tension, how was the kit to build? It sure looks nice.

Brett

Brett, this was a great subject for Academy to do a kit of but it does have some tricky parts. The side skirts, while beautifully molded, are also very heavy and the mounting pins are simply too small and aren't strong enough to hold them in place. I ended up having to pin the skirts with small metal mounting rods as well. I believe the hull is from their old M-60 offering so there are motorization holes and gaping holes behind the sprocket wheels to contend with. Also, the kit decals were unusable and I ended up using a mix of HobbyBoss and Echelon decals from the spares box. It builds up into an impressive looking MBT when all is said and done but it did have its difficult moments.

Regards,

Ian

Back to the tracks: (sorry, but I found pics)
Pg 37 of the Ofer Zidon book "Israel's Front Line Armor" has a couple of pics of the 6B Gal Batash, mis-identified as 7C's, that are wearing Merk2 tracks.
Back to the subject, very nice model. Color and weathering look spot-on. I've got this kit in the stash, and getting anxious to get a start on it.
I've built a bunch of Magachs, based off the Academy and Italeri M60 kits, and I'll sure be glad when the AFV Club kit hits.