1/35 Meng Merkava Mk.4M (with roof slats)

[Edbert]

Neither US/UK/DE nor RUS.

 

[Edbert]

Just to provide an update...

I cut all the road wheels loose from the sprue and spent an entire evening cleaning them up. This kits is crazy on part-count too. Just the wheels (both sides), and you can see above that is 6 per side, plus drive, idlers (2 per side) and the return wheel, that is 74 parts!

Anyway, I discovered that the poly-caps were not in the box, without them I cannot attach the wheels so I reached out to Meng support. They are mailing me a "sprue" at no cost. Wow! It has not shipped yet, so I can say they are a bit slow, but they reach out via email every two pr three days to let me kknow it is processing. Today I got a note saying it will ship in the next few days and they'll provide a tracking number.

Nice!

 

[Edbert]

Any tips for sanding seams from coil springs? I'm thinking heavy coating of dust/debris after painting will cover them, that is the lazy way out. Although I respect the "I know the detail is there" crowd, I'm usually not one.


These were fairly fiddly, but those ejection marks are huuuge, instead of filling/filing them, I think they will be covered when I fill the storage bins, see above

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Will follow along and watch with interest.

 

[Edbert]

Will follow along and watch with interest.

Upper hull is just sitting there for now, think I'll leave it off until running gear is finsihed and painted, the wrap them up in foil/saran-wrap when painting the body.



I'm trying to learn how to slow down and enjoy things, it helps if I put the kit aside when or if I feel frustrations coming. But that leads (for me) to seeing and chasing lots of squirrels. I just did an inventory and I have 6 kits in various stages of completion. I really need to focus better, but at age 60 I do not see character traits changing much.

 

[Edbert]

The IDF uses a unique color called "Sinai Grey" on their AFVs. the issue for me is the color has changed or varied greatly over the decades. One would also assume the sunshine and heat of the sandlot would have an effect too.

There's a mobile app called "hobby color converter", I make no claims as to warranty or veracity, but I've found it useful to cross reference major manufacturers. The issue is, here's what it (the app) shows for Sinai Grey...



So for my 2024 subject matter I think I can rule out the bottom three, as well as #2 and 3. But the remaining ones are not very close on color.

What would you do?

 

[kevin]

If this helps....
I found an AK set on Andy's Hobbies a couple years ago.
Three colors-
IDF early sand yellow. AK11354
IDF sand grey (1970s - 1980s) AK11353
IDF modern grey AK 11352
The modern grey is closest to the 0131/ Ammo on your list.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

The IDF uses a unique color called "Sinai Grey" on their AFVs. the issue for me is the color has changed or varied greatly over the decades. One would also assume the sunshine and heat of the sandlot would have an effect too.

There's a mobile app called "hobby color converter", I make no claims as to warranty or veracity, but I've found it useful to cross reference major manufacturers. The issue is, here's what it (the app) shows for Sinai Grey...

View attachment 125993

So for my 2024 subject matter I think I can rule out the bottom three, as well as #2 and 3. But the remaining ones are not very close on color.

What would you do?

Looking at recent news coverage and allowing for the camera adjusting to light etc, plus the paint chip I liberated from a IIID I would go for 0066 and apply a thin wash over it.
Mike

 

[Edbert]

I've decided to use an old calibration system, the eyeball MkIII.

I also suspect I will be adjusting it continuously while spraying. I did that on the Bradley last month and I like the effect if kept subtle.

The result, with the three primary ingredients....



XF-20, XF-57, & XF-62, approximately 2:3:5 ratio.

Not sure If I'll be able to spray today or not, might have to start tonight.

But I got the surfacer down yesterday. I used the can this time and was a little paranoid about getting too thick and obscuring detail, so some spots are a bit thin. Not worried about the surface and adhesion, but I need to get some darkness down into those small spots for a lighting effect.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

View attachment 125550
Any tips for sanding seams from coil springs? I'm thinking heavy coating of dust/debris after painting will cover them, that is the lazy way out. Although I respect the "I know the detail is there" crowd, I'm usually not one.

View attachment 125551
These were fairly fiddly, but those ejection marks are huuuge, instead of filling/filing them, I think they will be covered when I fill the storage bins, see above

Take a piece of wet n dry auto sanding paper, fold it it half and run it along the seams, that will remove the mould marks.

 

[Edbert]

No color, at least as in a top-coat. I just had time to shoot the darkest Olive I have into gaps where the 1500 was thin. Also shot some spots on the wheels where the finisher was thin, having a white or very light gray plastic requires more attention. Then I had extra thinned paint so I did a sort of "panel line undercoat" the way aircraft are typically done, just to suck down the last of the paint-cup. I expect 95+% of that green will be invisible when finished.