1:35 Merkava Mk.3 large exterior detail set V1 for HobbyBoss Kit

The Merkava Mk.3 as it looks in service

Over two decades of service, the tanks of the Israeli armored brigades have learned to carry half a household with them. Baskets for personal kit appeared on the turret, jerrycans hang along the sides, tools and camouflage nets are carried at the rear, and the chain curtains under the rear basket are there to set off a shaped charge early. In this form the Merkava Mk.3 appeared from the 1990s in southern Lebanon and during operations in the Palestinian territories, and its silhouette differs noticeably from the factory condition.

This package gathers exactly those external items into a single item. The castings have thin walls, sharp edges and a fine texture, qualities that an injection mold cannot reach because of its draft angles. The result is a model on which the eye catches dozens of small details instead of smooth surfaces.

What to keep in mind during the build

• The V1 configuration matches the first type of equipment on the Mk.3 series machines.
• The shapes seat on the hull and turret of the HobbyBoss kit.
• It is advisable to glue in groups and keep checking that both sides stay symmetrical.
• The small curtains are best added after the base shade has been sprayed.

The layout of the stowage was never laid down by regulation, so a period photograph of a particular machine is worth more during the build than any drawing. Anyone building a scene from the end of the 1990s usually leaves the rear baskets full and the front of the hull clear instead, so that the towing eyes stay accessible. The tank kit is not in the package.