Me too, Johanan. I'm very curious about that kit.

Meng make great kits!

Hi guys,
The MENG kit is a dream to build. I've virtually completed the running gear system in 2 sittings of a couple hours each. A little care and attention and everything pretty much falls into place. Fit is definitely Tamiya-esque.



My only grouse -if I were to call it that- is that some of the sprue gates for several tiny parts are relatively large, and tend to attach right on or adjacent to areas having detail. Seems a pretty rookie mistake for a team that produced an otherwise fabulous kit. I suspect there's a reason for it, and I wonder if it is to maximize sharpness of detail.

Anyhoo, I shall press on!

Cheets,
Johanan

Looks great.
Dan.

Another short session at the modeling bench has brought me to this stage..




Engine access hatches and rear grille access doors installed.




This kit just falls together. Dragon-like details with Tamiya-like fit. It doesn't get much better than this.

Thanks for watching Dan.

Cheers,
Johanan

Nice choice Johanan. I have the Magach 6B Gal Batash version to build, so I will be watching this with interest.

Hi Peter,

You will love the kit. The only real let down so far are the workable tracks. They have a dimple and socket clasp at one end and pins which you can insert 6 at a time using a jig thats provided. Very clever. But when I tried tensioning the track to get the tight fit round the running gear thats typical of M60s, the track gave way in several places. The movable working suspension didn't help either! As I wasn't planning on rolling my model kit across the wide open spaces anytime soon, but intended it as a static display piece anyway, I just glued the suspension arms in place after weighting it down a little, then glued the tracks together. The tracks are detachable, as are the wheels and sprocket, for painting convenience later.




I test fitted the mudguards. Again, the fit was superb. Here they are simply fitted in place without gluing. Everything lined up as it should. Great engineering by MENG!




More updates soon! Hopefully!

Cheers,
Johanan

Johanan,
You’re a good salesman for Meng!
Great looking kit.

Hahaha thanks Dsn. But no affiliation with MENG whatsoever. Just a very satisfied (so far) customer.



Cheers,
Johanan

Okay, been scratching my had trying to think of something a little out of the ordinary since Michael made his Dauphin Chopper choice. Then, trolling through my books, I came upon this pic in Concord 7008 - Tank Battles of the Middle East Wars Part 1:


so I am going to build this one:


Wish me luck...

A Carrier should be fun, even using a kit with so many tiny parts, good luck there Peter.
Johanan, that kit looks fabulous. I have the Gal Batash in the stash, looks like I may have to move it to the front soon. BTW, it is realistic to show the IDF Magach 6 family with the Merkava or Batash tracks with some slack, especially if the tank in question is operating in rocky terrain. Per the Desert Eagle Magach books, it's common practice, plus those are not "live" tracks, so a little sag is always appropriate, sometimes quite a bit.

Hi Russell,

Yes you're absolutely right, the Magach 6Bs later moved from the double chevron (which were 'live' I believe) to the Merkava / Batash tracks due to better wear and tear resistance in the brutal rocky soil. These heavy tracks were tensioned but eventually were 'dead', so began to sag over time in operational use.

I guess I love the tight, springy look of the M60 family of vehicles (Singapore Combat Engineer units used the M60 CEV and AVLB variants quite extensively up to the rlate 80s). Might try a more sagged look on the Gal Batash if I ever get round to it. Looking forward to seeing your Batash!

Peter, great choice on the Lloyd carrier! With your skill, you don't need luck! Looking forward to seeing this unusual variant.

Regards,
Johanan

Well, finally was able to finish up the construction of this beast.









All the ordnance is merely in place but not yet glued to ease painting. The fit is really good. The bits and bobs lying around are jerry cans, ammo boxes etc that will be painted separately and fixed in place later.

I have still to mask all the periscope and gunsight/ imaging glass and add weld seams to numerous attachment areas, and figure out what stuff to use to fill up that massive turret stowage basket...but otherwise basic construction is done.

I am not affiliated with Meng, but kudos where its deserved...they have done stirling work to produce this kit. Does it have some weak areas? Yes a few...but I'd be nitpicking if I tried to point them all out. They are mainly limitations to IM styrene which we just have to work around. In my case I just used a few simple home-made improvements.

I was hoping to avoid using any AM parts but I think this beauty deserves a set of Merkava 1 teacks from Friul. Then off to the paint booth!

Any feedback or advice greatly appreciated!

Best wishes,

Johanan

Sorry Johanan, but I am having trouble seeing it clearly. There seems to be too much drool running down my monitor.

Wow, Johanan!

That looks fantastic!

Hi Peter, Richard,

It really is a drool-worthy kit! This is my first ever IDF kit worked to completion (I have a nearly finished HB Merk 3D LIC lying about somewhere).

I really hope to do this kit justice.

Cheers and thanks for looking!

Johanan

I simply must have one!

Hi Rissell,
I absolutely understand your eagerness. I can't wait to get my paws on the Gal Batash for a future project.

I'm sorry if I'm posting too many pics. But these are the last before painting I promise! I added the Merkava 1 tracks from Friulmodel...it was just the icing this cake needed.









I had a blast building it. I really hope my paint-job will be able to do this beauty justice!

Thanks for looking!

Regards,
Johanan

Ooooh! That is just SO SEXY!

Tanks with add-on junk and ERA are just so cool.

I really wish Meng hadn't made this - and I hadn't seen it built up!

So I just ordered one!

The Batash also calls... And when (NOT IF - I'm pretty sure Meng will not miss the 7C opportunity...) Meng issues a Gimel... I guess I'll be into 3 big boxes of IDF styrene!

I know that you are not a Meng salesman, Johanan, but maybe you should drop them a line and ask about getting a cut on the coming sales of this kit!

Bob

Johanan, that kit is absolutely stunning Will almost be a shame to put a coat of paint on it!

Hahaha ya know...I just might Bob! Welcome to the wonderful, wild n crazy world of IDF sci fi armor eh?

Cheers,
Johanan

Hey Neil,
Yeah I thought the same, but a friend who's an IDF scale armor nut assures me that once you slap on a coat of that wicked cool Sinai sand/grey/green its gonna be the bees knees. Just hope I don't make a dog's breakfast of it!

Thanks for looking!

Johanan

I have tank envy. I guess I may as well blow my modeling budget for the month, who knows what's down the road?
And The Friuls make it. Oddly enough, I have a couple sets already "burnished", ready to assemble.

Edit: $86.00! Maybe I'll wait.....

Russ: The Meng TS-044 Magach 6B Gal kit is available via

Auroramodelshop on the eBay for USD $48.99 shipped, plus whatever tax your state makes eBay add on.

Aurora is of course in China. China and Aurora are actually still alive and in business, and I've dealt successfully with them several times (in fact, I'm ordering my 6b kit from them right now). It could take anywhere from a month to maybe 80-90 days for it to come (I'm expecting closer to early May for me in AZ), but they are reputable. There are other options on the eBay - and I think most or all are well below your quoted $86 price.

Cheers! Bob

Hobbyeasy Hong Kong has it for USD $42.91 plus postage
https://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/7mqka3ztrkwjghiqg691.html

I have used them several times and had no issues. I usually have delivery in 2-3 weeks by airmail.