Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 02:15 PM UTC
Hello Folks,
My latest project, Takom's brand new 1/35 Merkava 2B. Usually I prefer quick, OOB builds. However, since I'm building a model resembling the actual vehicle I've served on in the late '90s, I'll depart from my usual approach and will add some AM, as well as some scratch-built stuff. Here's my progress so far:
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Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 04:57 PM UTC
Washington, United States
Joined: October 13, 2007
KitMaker: 212 posts
Armorama: 208 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 08:22 AM UTC
I'll be following your build. The Merk 2 always looks good to me.
Terry
North Carolina, United States
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 10:42 AM UTC
Are the rear idler wheels aftermarket or the kit parts? Curious because they appear to be a different color shade. Nice clean build thus far.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 01:21 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Are the rear idler wheels aftermarket or the kit parts?
Idler wheels are AM from BitsKrieg. I've decided to replace the kit supplied ones as these are incorrect for a late Mk.2B. These resin wheels are very accurate, beautifully sculpted, with almost no clean-up needed (one-cast), I highly recommend them. They do make drive-sprockets, as well as road-wheels for the Mk.2B, but since the kit supplied ones are fairly accurate, I've decided to keep those.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 01:29 PM UTC
Some progress on the turret...
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Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 02:53 PM UTC
HobbyBoss Mags? Why?
What do you think of the kit tracks? I found the MkI tracks to look a little on the thin side.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 03:04 PM UTC
These are actually leftovers from my Tiger Model Nagmachon 'Doghouse' build and are better detailed than the kit-included MAGs.
Quoted Text
What do you think of the kit tracks? I found the MkI tracks to look a little on the thin side.
I don't like them. I'm gonna replace them with AM stuff, just don't know which ones yet. Suggestions...?
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 03:23 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I don't like them. I'm gonna replace them with AM stuff, just don't know which ones yet. Suggestions...?
I want to check the Def tracks before suggesting them.
Check Spade Ace, they make some nice molded tracks, but I think they make merkava I, III and IV tracks.
Friul is a safe choice.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 05:06 PM UTC
Thanks, Nikos. Does anyone make a mine-roller adaptor for the 2B?
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: June 12, 2015
KitMaker: 921 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 05:18 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks, Nikos. Does anyone make a mine-roller adaptor for the 2B?
Is it not the same with the Merkava III? If yes I can send you mine from my 3B kit.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 05:45 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Is it not the same with the Merkava III?
It isn't. The MK.2 used an older system:
Two different Mk.3 applications:
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 05:49 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I can send you mine from my 3B kit.
Apparently it won't fit, your offer however is much appreciated!
Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: September 15, 2012
KitMaker: 621 posts
Armorama: 592 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 06:03 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks, Nikos. Does anyone make a mine-roller adaptor for the 2B?
I think that this conversion (KMT-4 mine roller) works for the MK2:
http://www.perfect-scale.de/en/www--perfect-scale-de-3/Leopard-1---2-Mine-Roler.html 
Baleares, Spain / España
Joined: July 27, 2009
KitMaker: 59 posts
Armorama: 58 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 06:23 PM UTC
Quoted Text
These are actually leftovers from my Tiger Model Nagmachon 'Doghouse' build and are better detailed than the kit-included MAGs.
Quoted Text
What do you think of the kit tracks? I found the MkI tracks to look a little on the thin side.
I don't like them. I'm gonna replace them with AM stuff, just don't know which ones yet. Suggestions...?
Hi Israel. About the tracks, for the MkI I bougth both Def’s and later on Masterclub metal tracks. If I had to reccomend one that would be Masterclub. Def was a quick build but the tracks kept falling apart once build.
And a quick question, is there anti-slip surface moulded on the tank? On your pictures looks so..
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 06:31 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Israel. About the tracks, for the MkI I bougth both Def’s and later on Masterclub metal tracks. If I had to reccomend one that would be Masterclub. Def was a quick build but the tracks kept falling apart once build.
Thanks for the tip! What material the DEF tracks are made from?
Quoted Text
And a quick question, is there anti-slip surface moulded on the tank? On your pictures looks so..
No, the surface is smooth as a baby's butt. I'll be adding...something...
Baleares, Spain / España
Joined: July 27, 2009
KitMaker: 59 posts
Armorama: 58 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 08:23 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Hi Israel. About the tracks, for the MkI I bougth both Def’s and later on Masterclub metal tracks. If I had to reccomend one that would be Masterclub. Def was a quick build but the tracks kept falling apart once build.
Thanks for the tip! What material the DEF tracks are made from?
Quoted Text
And a quick question, is there anti-slip surface moulded on the tank? On your pictures looks so..
No, the surface is smooth as a baby's butt. I'll be adding...something...
The tracks are plastic.
If I knew how I’d post some photos
I’ll give it a try later
Texas, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,696 posts
Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 06:14 AM UTC
This is a pic of the glacis armor for the Academy Magach 6B Gal-Batash, with my home-brew anti-slip. If you're interested, I'll post details.
IMG_2206 by
Russel Baer, on Flickr
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 01:43 PM UTC
I've planned to use the kit supplied road-wheels as these seem fairly accurate. My main problem with AM resin wheels representing rubber-rimmed real ones is that they're almost exclusively showing brand new rubber coating, whereas such an 'all-new wheels' set-up only exist either on factory-fresh vehicles, or on museum pieces. In other words, I'm interested in well beaten-up rubber rims as seen here (focus on the WHEELS!
):
Then I've found this:
http://armorama.com/forums/178252&page=1I've contacted Sergey via the mail in his post. I wasn't expecting much as he hasn't been active on AM for about 4 years, but for my biggest surprise he replied within two minutes. The wheels are still on sale, for a very reasonable 25 USD per set. My only concern is the paying method he's requested (Western Union money transfer), so I haven't made up my mind yet...
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 07, 2018 - 01:15 PM UTC
Some small details added. The turret-basket assembly is fiddly, great care needed while working on it. I've managed to break one of the cross-sections when cutting it off the sprue, I had to scratch-build a replacement part from a styrene-strip (see bottom-left corner).
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: July 29, 2010
KitMaker: 662 posts
Armorama: 457 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 07, 2018 - 02:23 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I've planned to use the kit supplied road-wheels as these seem fairly accurate. My main problem with AM resin wheels representing rubber-rimmed real ones is that they're almost exclusively showing brand new rubber coating, whereas such an 'all-new wheels' set-up only exist either on factory-fresh vehicles, or on museum pieces. In other words, I'm interested in well beaten-up rubber rims as seen here (focus on the WHEELS! ):
Then I've found this: http://armorama.com/forums/178252&page=1
I've contacted Sergey via the mail in his post. I wasn't expecting much as he hasn't been active on AM for about 4 years, but for my biggest surprise he replied within two minutes. The wheels are still on sale, for a very reasonable 25 USD per set. My only concern is the paying method he's requested (Western Union money transfer), so I haven't made up my mind yet...
i dont see a single wheel in this picture
http://mymilitaryminiatureworld.blogspot.com/
Removed by original poster on 03/08/18 - 09:38:07 (GMT).
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: October 18, 2012
KitMaker: 116 posts
Armorama: 110 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 08, 2018 - 12:52 AM UTC
Hi Israel. Great work on the Merkava 2B. Not sure if you have noticed but the kit barrel I think is incorrect as it has 5 barrel clamps after the middle section (fume extractor?) but the photos I have seen show 6 clamps. If you check your photos you may notice it. I just remade the barrel on mine:
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: October 18, 2012
KitMaker: 116 posts
Armorama: 110 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 08, 2018 - 01:14 AM UTC
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 08, 2018 - 01:24 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Israel. Great work on the Merkava 2B. Not sure if you have noticed but the kit barrel I think is incorrect as it has 5 barrel clamps after the middle section (fume extractor?) but the photos I have seen show 6 clamps.
Yeah, that's the reason I still haven't assembled and mounted the gun. I might invest in Magic Model's new offering, however the complexity of this mini-kit (around 60 resin, turned metal and PE pieces) and its relatively high price put me off, at least for now...
