Merkava ARV

Here are my starting pics:

Hi Bill, it's great to see you here. Looking forward to your build!

Thanks John, good to be part of the group. Looking forward to this build!

Wheels and suspension all together. Another hour or so will complete the lower hull then 8-10 weeks on the tracks, 2 day on the upper hull and I'll be ready for some paint! LOL

I feel for you re the tracks

Mark

Shalom.

It would be nice if manufacturers also included band tracks in the kits so we'd have a choice. Not everyone likes individual link tracks.

I have the Hobby Boss Merkava IIID and the HB Merkava IV. Do you know which Merkava this ARV is based on?

Does this kit come with a power plant for the boom to be lifting?

I'll be watching to see how thiscomes together.

Cheers

Hi TB2, I really like the looks of the individual links so I guess the extra work is worth it. These have 2 track pieces and 4 tiny track pins on a sprue. Times that by a hundred and whew!... Officially this ARV was built on the Mekava III hull but according to HB, the model has a bit of Merk IV as well. Specifically the engine exhaust, glacis plate and grid armor for the side plates. No power plant for the boom but it is liftable and can be rotated.

All in all a really nice kit. Tons of detail!

Happy building!

Lower hull while still trackless is otherwise complete and primered. Now on with the inevitable...

Double side tape and It's work well to construct your track link by link and you will do it very fast.
Good start.

Upper hull bits and pieces coming along

Looking good!! Always great to see other folks work.

Jack

Shalom.

It's great to see the styrene companies releasing so much IDF armour.

This will be an interesting build to watch of an interesting vehicle.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Cheers

Hiya Bill , this looks like a mighty awesome build , does the model come with an engine for the crane ? I reckon that this would be fun to weather with lubricant dribbles from engines and transmissions , then dirty footprints in the stains and oily boot prints leading out from them , tells a story with just that doesn't it ?

Now with the individual links , what I do , set up a stable table , put on a DVD , find a nice comfy position on the sofa and get to it

Jenny

Thanks all! I'm ready to start work on the crane assembly and finish the rest of the upper hull. Then I'll take Jenny's advice and do the links downstairs in front of the big screen, LOL. No motor with this kit Jenny. I'll definitely make it look busy though. I'm thinking a big crate or maybe a Sherman transmission or something.

Happy modelling ya'll! (as we say in Tennessee )

Hi Bill:

I should really try to get me a Hobby Boss kit of almost anything. Yours looks like it is really nicely detailed. And you are doing a great job of the build. But there is just one thing I am wondering. If someone that is blonde, and doesn't have a horse, or a stable for a horse, where do you think she would be able to get a stable table .

Gary

...back at the bench!! I've had little build time over the last 8 weeks! Getting my track put together. Two sections per side so I can remove and paint. I have to say this isn't the easiest track to put togeather! Well, things should smooth out once thats done.





Below is my test vehicle for EVERYTING lol. This is what I have so far for color. Vallejo Grey/Green base w Kahki Highlights. Does anyone hve any suggestions for aa better color combo for the Merkava using Vallejo? Many thanks and happy modelling!
Bill

Hi Bill, the colour looks okay to me, but I don't really know how it should look

Cheers
JT