hi guys
I have been plugging away at this for a couple of weeks now and am thoroughly enjoying building some armour for a change.
I love the Merkava's streamlined, quite futuristic profile but the barrel seems a bit ... meh
So I scoured the net for inspiration and found something pretty cool so I went with that but with some mods.
I have kept the kit part that mates to the barrel base but everything else is scratch built (not that it was terribly hard to do mind you)
The design lends itself to being a good base point for some other sci-fi tank stuff I have in mind for another day. I have tried to keep this one within the realms of today's technology
What I am struggling on though is the paint work. I am not going to paint this in that sand colour of olive green as that's just boring. I was thinking either a 3 tone Grey splinter/shard camo or a regular camo pattern in 3 tone grey?
Other colour combo ideas I have are Medium Grey, NATO green and NATO black, or just NATO black all over.
Which one would you recommend?
I know a lot of this choice would be decided on where it's being stationed, which leads me to wonder if this tank type is equally as capable in the forest as it is the Jungle, or even an urban setting? Bear in mind that I also chose all steel wheels (why I don't know but that's what I ended up with)
Anyway, I took a couple of pics of the barrel to show:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1828/29523369118_82b50a4a87_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LYSZ4u)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/913/42677332654_d24a873c54_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/282fu9f)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1762/43393747251_fa19c311cb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/297yif4)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/43346000252_393ec6184d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/293kzHW)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/28524410997_741a71e238_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KsB4BB)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/41585638320_6a103b2ac3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26mMgs9)
That's it as far as pics goes until the end. It still has a lot of work to do, but it's getting there. I am very keen to hear your thoughts on a paint job.
Thanks in advance
Simon
I'd go for a 3-tone grey-green-brown (of your choice) but, as that's pretty close to what I'll be painting my more modern RAM builds (they'll be 4-tone), you may not want to go with it. ;)
The 3-tone greys would be my second option. :thumbsup:
As I forgot to state "over there"; the gun has that futuristic look characteristic of some modern auto-cannon on ICV's & APC's.
Yep, the cannon reminds me of 75mm autocannon experiment of the US Army in an unmanned turret (IIRC, on a Sheridan chassis?). Looks pretty futuristic, but suits the Merkava well.
What I find quite sexy for a potential jungle livery is one of the US Army MERCD schemes, in two green tones (AFAIK FS 34079 and 34127), plus black and cream/off white contrasts:
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tanks-encyclopedia.com%2Fcoldwar%2FUS%2FM1_Abrams%2Fphotos%2FMERDC_M1_Tropical_jungle_pattern.jpg&hash=4cee7afd8214e733a2e23be2be3141bfd3d50293)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-06fzAQ0QJKs%2FTtB9_Uwf3vI%2FAAAAAAAAAeA%2FBvUOjMr4npI%2Fs1600%2Fm113f1.jpg&hash=bd62945e6262768c9d4cc89e1665dd16f5f8c3df)
Another favorite, even though it's originally a uniform scheme, is the German Army pattern, nicknamed "Erbsenpüree" (pea mash):
(https://www.asmc.de/images/product_images/popup_images/10211_0.jpg)
No less than five colors (three greens, plus black and leather brown), layered. Complex and hard to apply, but I tried to use it on a mecha kit some time ago:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5139/5481793478_4e830103c7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/9mpCdE)
Dorvack +++ 1:24 PAM-48Y "Spatha" (fictional German Bundeswehr use; kit conversion/scratch-built) (https://flic.kr/p/9mpCdE) by dizzyfugu (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzyfugu/), on Flickr
How about a simple dark scheme, but with a winter whitewash ?
How about some sort of blocky urban scheme, a variation on the Berlin Brigade Cheftains? Maybe with greys and tans?
The jungle one also caught my eye too. I like the colour combination. I am leaning towards a 3 tone dark grey splinter but do also like the 2 green and 1 grey mix with maybe a dash of black.
What style would suit this best? A splinter pattern? Or the standard wave style?
I'd recommend a standard wave style or something like the German scheme below but without all the little spots.
(https://orig00.deviantart.net/a043/f/2011/166/b/2/ambush_camo_by_daimion1-d3j0pyq.jpg)
(PS: Did I mention that all my modern RAM tanks are Merkavas, I-through-IV? ;D)
Personally, if your vehicle is going to be used in a terrain where one colour predominates, then just paint it that colour (or a close match) and apply plenty of mud/dust. In the end, they all tend to merge anyway in my experience. Most modellers and many militaries go for over-complicated camouflage patterns. They may look interesting on the Parade Square but once your out in the field, it all tends to merge together under a generous coating of mud/dust. Downunder, the Australian Army just painted it's AFVs for decades just in an Olive Green colour (which was unique to it for some reason, nothing matched it) and then applied wheel grease and mud/dust to the sides when on exercise. Then, in the early 1980s, they rediscovered camouflage and came up with a fetching combination of green-brown-sand-black which was a fairly close match to the Australian bush. In the Jungle, a plain green would work quite well.
I do like that gun, very nice mod! :wub:
+1 for the berlin style block pattern, simply because it would suit an engagement in the Gaza strip
Quote from: Mossie on July 15, 2018, 05:27:07 AM
+1 for the berlin style block pattern, simply because it would suit an engagement in the Gaza strip
Exactly my thoughts too, but I know naff all about tanks really.
The Berlin Brigade camo was MOST effective and I can attest to that myself having nearly driven into the side of a Challenger (I think....) when driving through Spandau one sunny day. I just didn't 'see' the shape of the tank amidst those blocky shapes it was painted in!
Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 15, 2018, 05:40:24 AM
Quote from: Mossie on July 15, 2018, 05:27:07 AM
+1 for the berlin style block pattern, simply because it would suit an engagement in the Gaza strip
Exactly my thoughts too, but I know naff all about tanks really.
The Berlin Brigade camo was MOST effective and I can attest to that myself having nearly driven into the side of a Challenger (I think....) when driving through Spandau one sunny day. I just didn't 'see' the shape of the tank amidst those blocky shapes it was painted in!
Would be interesting explaining to the insurance people how you'd collided with a tank; "I didn't see it, guv! Honest!" ;D
Quote from: Old Wombat on July 15, 2018, 05:45:55 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 15, 2018, 05:40:24 AM
Quote from: Mossie on July 15, 2018, 05:27:07 AM
+1 for the berlin style block pattern, simply because it would suit an engagement in the Gaza strip
Exactly my thoughts too, but I know naff all about tanks really.
The Berlin Brigade camo was MOST effective and I can attest to that myself having nearly driven into the side of a Challenger (I think....) when driving through Spandau one sunny day. I just didn't 'see' the shape of the tank amidst those blocky shapes it was painted in!
Would be interesting explaining to the insurance people how you'd collided with a tank; "I didn't see it, guv! Honest!" ;D
Hehehe, indeed so. Specially when I was driving a RH drive car over there too! The mind BOGGLES at the amount of paperwork that would be involved.
Can you imagine the tank driver's insurance paperwork?
'What car where sir?' ;D ;)
" ang on that's the COs !" :banghead:
Suggestion, if it's Israeli:
Flat Gull Gray/Armor Sand
Quote from: sykotik on July 13, 2018, 07:07:33 PM
I am not going to paint this in that sand colour of olive green as that's just boring. I was thinking either a 3 tone Grey splinter/shard camo or a regular camo pattern in 3 tone grey?
Other colour combo ideas I have are Medium Grey, NATO green and NATO black, or just NATO black all over.
I think that answers the question. ;)
in that case, most defiantly Berlin Brigade 3 tone block ;D ;D ;D
its the only way. ;D ;D
So I did a test paint using the side panels as testers and these are the results:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1809/42748394364_ab2756b73a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/288wGj9)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/913/41657236690_59069b2096_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26t7e9N)
So, what do you think? I'm in 2 minds as to using the 2 greens and NATO black or should I use another 2 tones of grey?
The way it is now reminds me of the SAAB Viggen - not that this was my intention - far from it, but that's how it came out.
I also don't think there's enough contrast between the colours.
I'm going to try build the Friulmodel tracks, that arrived today, tonight and sleep on the scheme.
Looks very good, but also very Swedish to me? :o
(https://www.dersockelshop.de/media/image/thumbnail/HB82404b_720x600.jpg)
I suggest replacing one of the greens with armor sand
Oh, gods! Fruilmodel tracks almost killed me! :o
However, although they're not on the RAM M41AS yet (Plug! Plug!), painted up they look awesome! :thumbsup:
The camo depends on where you want your Merkava to be fighting;
Jungle: I'd change the dark green for a darker green,
Temperate: I'd swap out the pale green for dark earth or NATO brown,
Desert: the greys could work for some regions, or I'd go sand/dark earth/NATO black, or even more complex with sand/dark earth/green (either)/slivers of NATO black, or
General: I'd try something like the Australian camo colours but in your splinter scheme.
But that's me & I can screw up camo as well as anyone, like this;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FChallenger%25201%2FIMG_0791.jpg&hash=967e16b9f79dcca3b0e9e3ae9b41a9b324f0a1ed)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FChallenger%25201%2FIMG_0793.jpg&hash=b7573134da859cb69926b04b2ef9bc0631cd191d)
Personally I like that scheme, but as Old Wombat says, it depends on the intended theatre of action.
Quote from: Old Wombat on July 17, 2018, 05:20:32 AM
Oh, gods! Fruilmodel tracks almost killed me! :o
The only reason I got them was because the Meng one's don't fit together at all. They just fall apart. These Friulmodel tracks were the only ones I found in a short time looking. I've cleaned up one side and put it together and am half way through cutting and inserting the brass wire. I found a useful video tutorial on you tube which is proving to be very effective and in no way strenuous
Thanks for the input on the camo guys. Dizzy's right - it is very Swedish. I gave it some more thought and I'm going to go for the urban colours of 2 grey and NATO black. I've already resprayed the side skirts in NATO black and will start to remask tomorrow
Will take some pics of that and post them to see what you all think
Another idea that came to me is to stick with the original scheme, but maybe switch the colors - e. g. to Europe One/Lizard tones (FS 36081, 34102 and 34092)?
Urban cammo sounds good, too! As a twist you might add some brick red to the mix?
Take 2:
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/42804204564_501e0ca639_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28dsJJY)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/855/28634059757_0b2b83df84_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KCi3nt)
thoughts? Personally, I think it looks alright but I'm thinking I may throw in some brick red as per Dizzy's suggestion
Cool and fractal! :thumbsup: Would also work well as a winter scheme?
It looks great. I don't think you need to change it, but if you're going to add a brick red, maybe replace the black with it rather than adding another colour?
Quote from: Mossie on July 20, 2018, 12:57:38 AM
It looks great. I don't think you need to change it, but if you're going to add a brick red, maybe replace the black with it rather than adding another colour?
Sort of agree, I'd suggest changing half of one colour for brick red - I looked & could see ways of doing it for all 3 for slightly different results.
Looks good to me and I do admire the neatness of it :thumbsup:
Looks great to me. I could see some brick red working in there, but at the same time it looks neat and plausible just as it is.
I ended up going with 3 tone gray and am quite happy with how it's come out. It's almost finished now - just need to add the last few bits to it, fix up a couple of paint issues and add some weathering and then it's done. I also have a MK2D to do after this is a scheme that I'm keeping quiet on until it's done. I just hope I can pull it off!
Waiting! :thumbsup:
Thought I'd show you the end result - although the model isn't actually fully finished yet. However, due to my focus being on another project, this one is going to be taking a back seat for quite a while. I also had the camera out today so I thought I's nap a few shots while I had the time
Tell me what you think - good or bad. I'm on pull ups. I'm a big boy now ;D
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1796/43252945544_2c57d5f6b9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28U7DNq)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1816/43066101965_ef92cc3960_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28BB2Hp)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/43971589641_ca9c4af512_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29ZBTDT)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/43066086745_c89e6cd3d2_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28BAXbZ)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/30102926838_3c8b61842b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MS6nnY)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/43923136082_16ac3bd190_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29Vky6G)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/43066123055_af495e6b3c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28BB8Z2)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1792/30102940038_cf22dda1fa_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MS6riy)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1775/29033429557_0b02e18fd1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LezV6F)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/43971624511_7d3ed9b5f9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29ZC526)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/43253017204_364e0ac2bf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28U826W)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/43253030094_126a641959_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28U85Wb)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1800/43066159735_bfbfd70119_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28BBjTr)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/42162722430_57d50a9060_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27eLYsb)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/42162742000_0f9417dba7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27eM5gA)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/43923187402_ac86727b48_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29VkPmw)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/43253061584_b108fa573a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28U8fi7)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/42162771610_7350ab4865_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27eMe57)
There's still a lot of paint touch ups to do and weathering the wheels, tracks and so on. I will get it done, I just don't know when.
Thanks everyone for the discussion. I found it very useful
Thanks for looking
Si
So those are the B&W pics. Where are the colour ones...
;D ;)
Awesome paint job.
Brilliant! :mellow:
Awesomely fantastic, even! ;D
The colours give it a sci-fi edginess that suits the overall look of the Merkava & your advanced gun-system barrel perfectly. :thumbsup:
Absolutely fantastic job :bow:
Please post a couple of pics when she's fully finished as I feel a Wiffiy nomination coming on :thumbsup:
Quote from: NARSES2 on August 11, 2018, 02:22:30 AM
Please post a couple of pics when she's fully finished as I feel a Wiffiy nomination coming on :thumbsup:
If not from you, then from me! :wub:
That's amazing, very futuristic and sci-fi looking. :thumbsup:
very nice :thumbsup:
would love to see it, with a street behind it as well.
wow! °O°
cheers lads. There is still a lot to fix up including the front where the body joins the hull. My body was warped and didn't fit properly and although I thought i had glued that part down pretty well, the pics show me otherwise
I will finish this off as there isn't much to do, but I've got caught up with my latest project - detailing the Zvezda Star Destroyer. Any one interested in a thread on that?
Quote from: sykotik on August 13, 2018, 04:35:17 AM
, but I've got caught up with my latest project - detailing the Zvezda Star Destroyer. Any one interested in a thread on that?
Just a few I would have thought ;) ;)
This is absolutely gorgeous. Very nice job! :wub:
The combo of the barrel and the camouflage change the look completely, I don't be hard pressed to recognise it. Fantastic work!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Very nice work! :thumbsup:
Thanks guys! I will finish this off soon. I am planning to put aside a day or so in the next couple of weeks to get it finished. I'll update the pictures once it's done :thumbsup:
Just peaked my awesome meter !
Terrific paint work