1:35 IDF Merkava Mk.IIID armour shields

The real subject

The Merkava is an Israeli tank with an unusual layout: the engine is at the front and forms a further obstacle between a hit and the crew, while at the rear there are doors through which the vehicle can be left and resupplied under cover. The Mk.III D version carried modular armor blocks that could be replaced piece by piece after a hit, and it is these that give its turret and sides their broken surface.

What the set contains

Photo-etched parts of thin metal sheet complete the armor shields on the model. Metal holds the correct thickness for the scale, so the edges of the shields do not look thickened, and they stay sharp even after painting. Try the shaped parts dry so that they follow the surface underneath exactly, and only then glue them on.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts from the sheet with a sharp blade on a hard surface and cut as close to the part as you can, then sand down the remains of the tab. Make the bends in a bending tool or between flat jaws, along the whole length at once. Glue with cyanoacrylate applied in small drops; place the drop on the plastic and lay the metal part against it, so that the glue does not run onto a visible surface. Wash, degrease and prime the metal before painting, otherwise the paint flakes off during handling. The desert shade of Israeli equipment is light and will mercilessly show every irregularity, so level the mating surfaces carefully before you spray.

Who it is for

For modelers of modern equipment in 1:35 scale and for builders of Israeli vehicles. The model, the paints and the glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.