RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

No effort at all mate, it’s a very clear illustration of the progression of AFVs over time .
The poor StuG is no bigger than the turret !!

Holy that's eFFin MASSIVE!!!

I knew the were big especially to fit troops in the rear but WoW!!!

Good Morning,
What is even more amazing is that the Merkava,(designed for Urban Warfare) is smaller overall than other countries MBTs like the Abrams and Challenger2. Just to give a couple of examples.
regards for this as usual stunning Build!
Painless

Got the rest of the pigment on the running gear & tracks. Glad that messy job is done
Happy with the overall look but it still needs a crew member.
A little bit of touching up to do on the mantlet sides & I can call it done.

This will be an exemplary build, Bix, one to which others can turn for excellent guidance on their own builds. I have a Merkava in my stash, and hope I will someday remember to return here for instructions.

https://sturgeonshouse.ipbhost.com/topi ... chieftain/

More excellent reference material.
I now also have a crew member to add so this can be signed off.
The xmas break is going to be busy

Took a chance on an Ali IDF female tank crew figure.
Now I know that todays IDF Tank crew use a coverall type outfit & body armour, but I cant get one of those, yet, nor am I that fussy on something I cant get now but can change out if/when I can
She also carries a Galil rifle which has been long since switched out for the Tavor or at least a short M4.
I can see past this for the time being & really want to focus on the uniform & boot colour, as well as the helmet finish & skin shades.

Starting with the black base to cover the entire figure, and a white overspray to create highlights sprayed from the top to provide a good highlight surface.
Its a trick used by Uncle Nightshift and it works.
The uniform colour is an XF-49 Khaki with a dash of olive green .
The uniforms do vary a lot in pictures from usual exposure to sun, dirt, washing, replacement, manufacture, all that life stuff so no consistency is really in order.
As I only have one figure, there is no comparison in shades from one to another but looking thru hundreds of real photos from before and during the current conflict there is a lot of variation.
I used the Glaze method, thin the paint with water to make a wash and build the colour up over several layers until it looks about right.
Another Nightshift trick that works for me.
The helmet seems to be the Type 602 CVC which is still in service but is being superseded for better versions with IronVision.
For this attempt I will go with the most likely 602 colour of Khaki with black pinchweld edges.

Wish me luck

Wish you luck? looks like you've got a good handle on it already!

Did a quick look and see they carry the Tavor as you said, either the X95 or TAR-21 which makes sense as it's a bullpup.
https://iwi.us/firearms/tavor-x95/
https://iwi.net/iwi-tavor-rifle/

But I've always liked the Galil. Something cool about them taking the AK and improving it with a bottle opener

Apparently it’s a simple weight issue.
A short M4 is very lightweight with the Tavor being a wee bit heavier.
The Women handle the lighter weapon better & that’s a smart move to ensure a more proficient combat outcome.
Quite surprised no one has got a set of IDF figures that represent the current issue kit.

HERMAN BIX wrote: ↑Wed Dec 24, 2025 11:45 pm Apparently it’s a simple weight issue.
A short M4 is very lightweight with the Tavor being a wee bit heavier.
The Women handle the lighter weapon better & that’s a smart move to ensure a more proficient combat outcome.
Quite surprised no one has got a set of IDF figures that represent the current issue kit.

I have a Galil ARM of sorts in the gun collection. It's a parts kit that was reassembled in the US with a US receiver due to our stupid laws. Mine of course is a 16" barrel with stock and attached bipod, but that is a chonk of a weapon. It's way heavier than my AR-15. She's carrying a Galil SAR, but you are correct that most of them are now carrying M4 rifles from what I've seen. IWI, the maker of the Galil, has even said that the tooling for the original Galil is gone so they can't make anymore of them even if they wanted to without great expense. Sad because the Galil is a cool weapon.