Merkava Mk.4M w/Trophy APS (Meng-1/35th)
New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2019 - 05:15 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Eric, would love to get that aftermarket main gun barrel, but my Apple operating system has a new feature that tells me that the Magic Model website is not secure from a transaction standpoint. Any idea of where else those parts may be available from?
Hi, Curt!
Gonna stick my "big nose" in at this point, and this is ONLY a suggestion...
Have you tried Ebay for that after-market MAGIC MODEL Main Gun barrel..? You'd be surprised with the amount of stuff that one can find AND buy on Ebay, at much lower pricing than MSRP...
(No, I do NOT work for Ebay)
Nevada, United States
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2019 - 08:51 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Eric, would love to get that aftermarket main gun barrel, but my Apple operating system has a new feature that tells me that the Magic Model website is not secure from a transaction standpoint. Any idea of where else those parts may be available from?
Hi, Curt!
Gonna stick my "big nose" in at this point, and this is ONLY a suggestion...
Have you tried Ebay for that after-market MAGIC MODEL Main Gun barrel..? You'd be surprised with the amount of stuff that one can find AND buy on Ebay, at much lower pricing than MSRP...
(No, I do NOT work for Ebay)
Hey Dennis,
While I use EBay all the time, I didn't think of trying it for this. I shall give it a try! Thanks for the (now, in retrospect, obvious suggestion)!
By the way, just found several on EBay, and one purchased and on the way, from Australia. Thanks again, Dennis!
Curt Basner
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2019 - 10:22 AM UTC
Sorry for coming into this late...busy day...
Anywho...just for the record, since you already got one on order. I ordered directly from Magic Models and paid via PayPal without any issues and got the item in about 2-3 weeks.
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
Nevada, United States
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2019 - 01:37 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Sorry for coming into this late...busy day...
Anywho...just for the record, since you already got one on order. I ordered directly from Magic Models and paid via PayPal without any issues and got the item in about 2-3 weeks.
I appreciate that feedback, Eric, and I probably could have ordered direct from them, but better safe than sorry. I'm really looking forward to seeing that barrel. Their workmanship looks outstanding! And will be nice to have real clamps to hold the insulation in place!
Curt Basner
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
Nevada, United States
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2019 - 01:43 PM UTC
Eric,
A thought for you. I don't know if you were planning on separating each of the skirt plates (by cutting down the separation lines between the plates), but I just finished doing that, then cleaning up the less than perfect remaining plastic. The majority of the individual plates look pretty well aligned on photos of the real tanks I've seen, but there are also many where the plates are just slightly askew. I think that having individual plates will help with some added realism. In case you were already going that route, my apologies, but in case you weren't, something to consider.
Curt Basner
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2019 - 11:16 PM UTC
Thanks Curt!
I was thinking along the same lines as well.
I have seen a couple of photos where one or two side plates where missing at the front around the drive sprocket, think of doing the same.
Here one...
Another interesting point in this photo the white strip on the bore evacuator is not on the top. Oh the weathering is interesting too.
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
Nevada, United States
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 09, 2019 - 11:08 AM UTC
Hey Eric,
Very cool! I've never seen a white strip turned to the side that way...and the dirt/mud on the skirts on that tank is unique on an IDF vehicle, as far as I have seen.
Curt Basner
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
Louisiana, United States
Joined: March 06, 2010
KitMaker: 3,128 posts
Armorama: 2,959 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 09, 2019 - 03:13 PM UTC
If you Google "Israeli Merkava Mk. 4" and / or similar, you can find some pics showing the white stripe on the bore-evacuator can rotated to one side or the other on various marks... Which suggests to me that there is some sort of cover over that device - a cover which may be able to spin around the device. The device itself is, I'm pretty sure, fixed on the gun barrel, so it won't spin around. One also finds Merks with the heat-shield rotated on the barrel - with the clamps off to one side or the other. So all of this could happen and could legitimately appear on a Merk build.
That posted picture of a Merk with a missing plate, and showing another plate in the wrong position (the "scalloping" of the plates "always" aligns with the wheels, by design and by typical installation) is an extremely rare example indeed. I've looked at every image on several Google searches and found that one pic as the only case for a Merk showing the missing plate and mis-placed plate... I would bet that there are others out there, but missing plates and misplaced plates are extremely rare occurrences on Merks in service, I think!
The "color-scheme" on those plates in the posted pic is mighty interesting - there are various shades and mud and dirt and scraping apparent on various Merk pics, but the posted pic is one of the more distinct cases I've seen...
Cheers! Bob
Washington, United States
Joined: August 09, 2002
KitMaker: 1,742 posts
Armorama: 1,658 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 12:34 AM UTC
Some of the side shields on the tank are from a different Merkava. There are at least two style side shields. One has a wavy lower edge and the other is straight. The two that are angled but not part of the wavy style, are the forward and rear plates from the straight style. My guess is there were three plates that were damaged and two were replaced with ones from the different style.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tank-said-to-have-rolled-across-highway-as-crew-dozed-inside/check the photo in the link. You will also get a chuckle from the article about a tank moving while the crew sleeps, oops.
Msgt Retired USMC
M48/ M60A1/ M1A1
Semper Fi!
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 01:16 AM UTC
Based on the landscape and the missing/mixed plates, I’d suggest the tank above belongs to IDF’s main training formation in the Negev desert.
As Bob (rightly) pointed out, such application is extremely rare; I find it hard to believe that a tank would be cleared for operational use (unless in case of an all-out war) with a missing plate. If you see such a tank used operationally, it was most likely photographed right after it lost the plate(s) in action.
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 03:15 AM UTC
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
Minnesota, United States
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,513 posts
Armorama: 1,449 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 03:34 AM UTC
Eric,
What are you using for the MILES?
Dan
Looking to meet other MN Armor modellers. I live in Buffalo.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 03:52 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The inclusion of the missing plates (as this has already be modeled into this build) is strictly artistic license to help drew visual interest and guide the viewer's eye around the model.
I do that too: on almost every model I build I incorporate at least one feature based on artistic license because of the very reason you’ve mentioned.
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 03:54 AM UTC
Hello Dan,
I'm not quite to that part of the build yet however the plan is to use masking or lead foil tape the strip, make the round sensors with a punch and die set and some styrene strips for other details. I have a set of amber lights from Accurate Armor for the flasher.
We'll see how that comes out
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 04:02 AM UTC
Thanks Israel!
I think most builders do and its an important part of the process. I just didn't want you all to think I was blowing off you inputs.
Hey while I have you here...in the photo of the close up of the MILES gear the any idea what the unit symbol would be on the board hanging off the turret rack?
I was going to up load a picture of the one I was thinking of using...but the server is busy...
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
Minnesota, United States
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,513 posts
Armorama: 1,449 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 04:29 AM UTC
Eric,
I'll look that light up, I didn't know that was one was out there in 35th.
Dan
Looking to meet other MN Armor modellers. I live in Buffalo.
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 07:16 AM UTC
Quoted Text
in the photo of the close up of the MILES gear the any idea what the unit symbol would be on the board hanging off the turret rack?(
I've payed attention that in some Mk.4M equipped units there are no large platoon markings painted on framed canvas on the side of the turret basket but rather a small marking painted on the third plate from the rear instead:
Either way, in case of an organic vehicle, the marking on the rear should correspond to the markings on the sides and mudflaps:
When it doesn't, the tank most likely has been temporarily assigned to a different role:
Sometimes the company CO and/or his deputy's tank carry large, rather artistic rear turret markings (just like Curt's excellent 'Vulcan' effort):
Removed by original poster on 04/10/19 - 19:36:47 (GMT).
Nevada, United States
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 07:41 AM UTC
Eric,
I like the tank you are trying to duplicate, it’s neat! My Vulcan tank is in similar condition. ‘Mine’ has the same ‘shrouds’ over the Trophy launchers as ‘your’ tank does, which is unfortunate, because even though there isn’t much detail on the launchers themselves, they are painted in that bright blue color, which would be a really nice contrast to the IDF gray/green/sand color. I suppose we could take artistic license and leave the covers off, but I don’t want to go that route. Poo!
Well, I’ve ordered the replacement sprues for the clear parts that I lost, and as I wrote before, looking forward to getting that REALLY cool main gun barrel! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction for some of this stuff. I can’t wait to see the Vulcan placard on the back of my tank! I decided to use Friul metal tracks for this build. I would have liked to use the kit tracks, but I always like the metal ones, if only for the weight, which I know, once the tank is in place in its final display spot, is irrelevant. Still... At least with the replacement parts coming, I won’t have to use the new, extra kit I bought, so I’ll have another brand new Merkava 4M w/ Trophy available to build however I want!! 🇮🇱
Curt Basner
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
Removed by original poster on 04/10/19 - 19:43:36 (GMT).
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 07:53 AM UTC
Speaking of bazooka plates: note the missing one, the damage to the left fender and the missing one on the right side:
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 08:12 AM UTC
Thanks for the additional info Israel. Some of it I was aware and some I did not know. That last Merk you posted looks to have had a ruff day in the office.
And Curt it would appear that yours is covered. Never a bad thing to have an extra in the stash. Would still like to see some shots of your build. You could PM them to me if you like.
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
Nevada, United States
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 11:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks for the additional info Israel. Some of it I was aware and some I did not know. That last Merk you posted looks to have had a ruff day in the office.
And Curt it would appear that yours is covered. Never a bad thing to have an extra in the stash. Would still like to see some shots of your build. You could PM them to me if you like.
Eric,
I'm happy to post photos of my build, it's just that I don't have anything interesting to show yet. The only thing so far is the Vulcan insignia that I posted here:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/276378#2328404I'll take a few pictures this coming weekend, but so far it's just the standard build with Israeli gray paint; nothing beyond that at all.
Curt Basner
Henderson (Las Vegas), NV
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 12:40 PM UTC
No hurry Curt! Just build at your own pace, it is just a hobby after all. I had the impression that you were further along is all.
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
#045
South Carolina, United States
Joined: September 23, 2005
KitMaker: 362 posts
Armorama: 350 posts
Posted: Monday, April 15, 2019 - 11:22 AM UTC
Here's where the Merk stands after last weeks bench time.
Got the upper hull mostly completed with a handful of details to add. The antiskid if from Mig Productions and goes on nicely with a brush and bit of patience. I'm happy with the overall effect though it is a bit to coarse for the Mk-4s.
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Thanks for stopping by and as always comments are welcome.
Eric Rains
Greenwood, SC, USA
