Merkava IID
Comments
14 14 June 2017, 21:52
Ingo FThe Abrams is drying after the first layer of varnish and my fingers are itching again to build something new. As my next kit i decided to build the Merkava IID from Academy. I will use some of the Eduards PE parts and resin stowage basket from Legend. Also i will replace the kits vinyl tracks with single link tracks from Wolf Pack.
The kit is very nice and easy to build. Unfortunately the kit comes without the anti-slip surface. Here is where the fun begins. 🙂
14 June 2017, 21:59
Ingo FHehe, welcome on board James. 🙂
I am on vacation this week and have to use the free time to the fullest. 😄
14 June 2017, 22:01
Spanjaardi am in. i have a question, what is the white stuff you are using for the zimmerit? it looks good. and how did you attached it?
14 June 2017, 23:19
Ingo FHey Spanjaard, welcome on board. 🙂
For the anti-slip surface i used very fine sand. Here in Germany its called "Dekosand". Not sure of the name outside of Germany. Its a very fine sand that is used to decorate something. Like a ground for an candle in a glas. Got it from my mothers hobby supplies. 😄
Here how i apply it:
1. First of all i take a clean and new small plastic bottle that i usualy use for my mixed paints. Similar to the bottles from Vallejo or Ammo of MiG paints. Like: Ebay.de Item - Plastikware 5 100ml leere Plastik Dropper Squeezable Flaschen Liquid Pipette
The main thing is that the bottle needs to have this cap that measure the paint in drops.
2. Fill the bottle with the fine sand i described above.
3. Next i delute mate varnish, the same way i do it for the airbrush.
4. Apply the varnish with a brush to the place where you want to simulate the anti-slip surface.
5. Apply the sand from the bottle. Do not hold the bottle just over the place and turn it around. No.
Hold the bottle at an angle and squeez it so the sand can sprinkle over the place. This way you can spread the sand evenly.
I hope this will answer your questions.
15 June 2017, 00:12
Ingo FAnti-slip surface done on turret and upper hull. Finished the turret today. Added all PE parts and the resin turret basket from Legend. Very nice and sharp details on it. For the ball and chain system you have two option for the chains: the PE chains like i did or to use a real chain that is also in the set from Legend. The real chain would be nice but almost impossible for my eyes, fingers and nerves. 😄
I got the Merkava 2 tow cables set from Eureka and was a little disappointed as i can not use them for my Merkava. The problem is that the cable ends are different and i could not find a single pic of an Merkava 2D tank with this tow cables. Had to use brass wire and the cable ends from the kit.
The model is almost finished. Will close the hull and add the rear stowage bins after i build the single link tracks.
17 June 2017, 20:42
Ingo FAdded some pictures of the anti-slip after a layer of black primer. I think it looks close enough to the real one.
21 June 2017, 18:38
Ingo FFinished this one. I used a dark brown filter to break the monoton base color and dark streaking grime for the streaks. More then a few scratches were added to the model. 🙂 I used european earth pigments to give the model an dusty appearance.
2 July 2017, 14:50
Simon Nagorsnikgood looking merkava 👍
the anti slip surface turned out very well!
overall a nice finish
22 January 2022, 22:49
Fritz01I like the subtle chipping and the adequate amount of dirt and dust, not to forget the antislip surface. Great work. Congrats.
26 January 2022, 08:54
Michael KohlFritz01 pointed out what I find remarkable at your build too. To get the coarse anti slip of the Merks right is not so easy. I think you nailed it. Probably planned anyway: some highlights and color variation on the turret basket covers would add a bit more interest to this area.
26 January 2022, 17:59
Ingo FYes, you are right. When I look at the model now, I find so many points that I could have done better back then. This is one of my older models. Back from 2017. 🙂
26 January 2022, 18:44
