I just followed Paulo's link to AEF Designs and some of the stuff I've seen there looks really appealing. Being an IDF fan I thought about getting myself update sets for Mutt...
The thing is: I've seen numerous posts on quality of AEF kits, most of them not very positive (and that's an understatement.. ) Can any of you comment on AEF quality?

Mario M.

Hi Mario;
The AEF products do require a little or most work to match properly.
I bought a complete kit of the Centurion 1981 version, and I didn't start it yet, but what I saw was:
A few bubles in the resin (some hard to correct),
Very hard chunky of resin to cut,
Some warpped or damage parts (probalbly it's because it was shipped to Brazil and our mail service aren't good as in America ) but I had complainned and they had sent me the damaged parts (no cost),
The model itself is kindda trick (that's why I didn't lay my hands on it yet ),
No decals, No instructions sheets (at least not as we are used to!) but my sample was bought end of 80's, by now probably things have changed?????????????????????
Hope it helps you someway!
Cheers!

BTW Mario,
I'm a IDF armour fan, too!
Cheers!

Glad to hear that, mate.. I've seen your Merkavas and they are stunning. I have one of my own, but I did it when I was younger and it definately is not something I'd like to share with the modeling comunity..
BTW, perhaps you know if there are some other aftermarket IDF Mutt updates..

Mario M.

And thanks for the input on AEF Designs.. I must admit that with all the info I have on AEF quality (air bubbles, warped parts and missing instructions) I'll have to reconsider my wish to get some of their stuff...

Mario M.

AEF and IDF? Wha...?

YodaMan

Sorry, master Yoda...
IDF = Israeli Defence Forces

Mario M.

OK, I get it now. You can still call me 'Master Yoda' though...

YodaMan
'Hard to see, the dark side is'

Hi,
as french modeller, I buy some kits from AEF.
The prices are very HIGH, and the quality not so high?
too many works are needed. I does rebuild many pieces, and some parts are not accurate
(wideneth of the achzarit! side skirts of tne IDF Nakpadon .....
A non satified modeller.
pb

Mario;
I do know that my Merkava MK I colour isn't accurate at that time I based its construction on photos of News magazines, so the greyshgreen that I made was too light and too green ) But on the other hand the MK II is corrected (Humbrol H79).
Cheers!
PS Don't be ashamed to show your models, everybody here had a hard beggining

Paulo, I don't know if the "right" color for Israeli vehicles even exists.. (although there is a lot of discussion about that among modelers). I have seen some Merkavas that were obviously grey-blueish. It would be a challenge to do a blue Merkava, don't you think?
Unfortunately I don't have a pic of my Merkava, but I do have a pic of my Blazer with mine rollers. I can show you that if you are interested..

Mario M.

Sure I´m interested, Mario. What colour did you use?
Cheers!

I think I used Humbrol 72, and then I washed complete model with a bit darkened H72 (not so thin wash) followed by black wash (very thin wash, applied just to the recesses)...

Mario M.

Oops! I checked my paint bottle and discovered it is H72 (not H79 as mentionned )
I´d like to see the photos soon!
Cheers!