My next build will be a Late Israeli Sho't Meteor Centurion with the L7 105mm gun.
A few years ago, i built a Sho't Kal Gimel on a Ludwig base, one of the four remotorized version with the Continental engine (Kal is acronym for Continental), with Blazer ERA. So, i need something new this time. Maybe a bit simpler but it won't be just a MkIII or Mk V with Meteor engine updated with a 105mm gun. More modifications are required for an accurate Late model Sho't Meteor engine version in use in the IDF just prior to the conversion to the Continental engine in the early 70s.
Below is a Late Sho't Meteor. Other than the obvious 105mm L7 that replaced the 20 Pdr and the .50cal machine gun on a AA mount, we can see headlights and guards on the glacis.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 1.png (321.57 KiB) Viewed 3016 times
What i initially thought was a Sho't Kal because of the redesigned angled rear of the tank, is actually a late model Sho't Meteor with a new armored rear for an additional armored fuel tank. We can see the exhaust of the Meteor and no air filters on the sides. There is a box on the left rear side of the turret, likely for storage of the search light that can be mounted on the mantlet. There are two jerrycans at the back. The tank in front of it seems to be a Sho't kal, with different setup at the rear and with turret basket.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
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Another view of a Sho't Meteor. Notice the vertical exhaust.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
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A damaged Sho't Meteor. Notice the bracket on the mantlet. I first thought it would be for a mantlet mounted .50cal but its for the searlight.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
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On my web research, i found a graph of unknown origin. Not very detailed but it is consistent with a Late Sho't Meteor. Notice the angles at the extended rear in profile (similar to Sho't Kal but different than the mk 6+), additional grills on the second deck instead of flat plates, and a plate with a fuel cap at the rear to fill the extra fuel tank just under it.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 5.png (369.74 KiB) Viewed 3016 times
There are quite a few war monuments in Israel where visiting people posted tons of pictures on google map (Golan heights 7th brigade memorial, radar hill, Latrun tank museum) with what seemed to be Sho't Meteor tanks with L7 guns. However, i quickly became suspicious when i saw items on them that do not fit IDF wartime pictures of Sho't Meteor, red flags such as the Hush Puppy tracks (unlikely for desert warfare), a guard around the smoke grenade dischargers, larger square box on the left turret rear, turret basket, different guards for head lights, box on glacis right side.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
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- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
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- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 5c.png (536.71 KiB) Viewed 3016 times
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 5d.png (351.26 KiB) Viewed 3016 times
Looks like these might be Dutch Centurions purchased by the Israelis for display purposes in tank memorials, close enough but they never served in the IDF and they show differences with real Sho't tanks. Use of these monuments as detailed reference for an IDF Sho't Meteor should be avoided, you'll end up with a Dutch Centurion below but in IDF colors.
- 1/16 RC IDF Sho't Meteor Centurion with 105mm - build
- 5e.png (535.65 KiB) Viewed 3016 times
Continuing on following post.
) so that I can finish the paint job with the airbrush 
