MERKAVA MKIV מלחמת חרבות ברזל WAR OF IRON SWORDS,GAZA

[Pavel]

Yes, this is a standard blocker...
Protection from fools!
What if the enemies want to drive away?????

[HERMAN BIX]

Well...................its been done !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6UBW0wrB18

Imagine the same thing in Israel

[HERMAN BIX]

Setting the lower stowage cage tarps in place.
Used painted tea bags and Tamiya flat clear to manipulate them into place.
The bottoms & sides are in do I can add the stowage contents.
Then use the same technique to secure the top of each tarp over the stowage.
Won’t see much but I know it’s there !

[HERMAN BIX]

Getting the stowage in these rear cages seemed kind of pointless in the end.
Left one has a camo net, bed roll, 20L container .
The right side has 2 crew day packs, a jerry can of water & a bed roll.

Covered up by the lid of the tarp which seem to be a bag to secure the entire contents of each bin would leave me with nothing visible at all, so I messed the tops a bit to exp[ose a little of the gear beneath.
Still to do straps & weathering of course,
The turret rack is next, similar treatment for that one.

[MrChef]

Yeah it's kinda criminal to cover up all the cool goodies. Nice compromise.

[HERMAN BIX]

Getting closer now.
The main tarp cover on the bustle rack is on & looking ok if not stellar.
I still need to place the straps onto it to finish that part off but its good enough to be a minimum pass mark.
Some of the stowage is visible but ya cant have it all ways!!
I whipped up a stretcher & secured that to the rack & its an ok rendition as well.

Soon I can get the seal coat on & go ahead with weathering/dusting which is the fun'ner part!!

[HERMAN BIX]

The other end of the vehicle.

Now Merkarvas use chains on the front...............not all of them, but many.............German WW2 tanks dont use chains.............some might, but not many - if any............which is different to a Merkava.......which is not German WW2 Tank.............as Merkavas use chains.............on the front, I decided to fit some

I had some chains posted from Brisbane that by chance did the job I needed for size and length................. (just dont )
These had the effect which looked a fair resemblance of the Merkava's in service that use heavy chain to bolster the lower frontal armour as battering rams & tear-out grapples.
Used some left over shackles which painted in a galv metal with safety yellow pins look about right for modern fasteners on heavy vehicles.
Chain was painted in a quick blast of TS-33 dull Red with a light dusting of TS-4 German Grey spray bombs to get a used but recently fitted effect.
Over that went a tow cable formed around the barrel support.
I am pretty happy with the little feature on the front so I might look at the rear to see what else can be done to enhance it ( & I dont mean that picture of Giselle Bundschen, as that needs no enhancement ) so the over all monotone finish is broken up a bit.
I'm keen to get on with the weathering & dusting to achieve that Gaza look.

[HERMAN BIX]

https://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.asp ... %20company.

More useful info on IDF vehicle identification marking

[HERMAN BIX]

https://tank-afv.com/coldwar/Israel/Mer ... e_vignette

And info on the variants.

[HERMAN BIX]

https://armyrecognition.com/military-pr ... -israel-uk

Pictures of vehicles in service.
Note the different hues of the paint over time