IDF Nagmachon WIP2

Some progress on my Nagmachon.
Legends' resin is not user-friendly at all. 99% of details requires sanding, filling, corrections and so on. That's why the progress is very slow.

IDF Nagmachon. WIP 1

Unlike most of armies, Israeli Defense Force focus on armor protection of their APC, instead of upgrading the firepower. It makes sense, since any dirty-assed "freedom fighter" with an RPG can easily destroy a thin armored vehicle armed with 100mm gun. Nagmachon APCs feature thicker tank armor + ERA blocks. As for other APCs, they feature even more sophisticated composite armor like MBTs. A friend of mine while riding inside an Achzarit (T-55 based APC with composite armor) survived RPG attack without being injured. 4 RPG grenades hit the Achzarit but fortuntely they failed to penetrate the armor and injure the soldiers. Namera features even more powerfull armor package, similar to Merkava 4.

Nagmachons saw extensive service in 1990s in the Security zone in Southern Lebanon, fighting Hizballah terrosts. In the 21st century they (being equipped with "doghouses") oppose "palestinian" terrorists in Gaza, Judea & Samaria.

I decided to build an early version (late 90s - early 2000s) without a superstructure. I'm combining Legends resin conversion kit & AFV club Centurion's suspension and lower hull. Some other aftermarket & scratchbuilding parts are involved

Type 2 Ka-Mi

Recent DML kit built almost OOTB with minor additions. It's my 3rd finished Japanese subjects. I built it just for fun and finished using hardcore grey color modulation and subtle weathering. My aim was to build a model in a holiday & sunny mood ) So I enjoyed the kit ... and screw the JMNs )

Article about the model was published in Tamiya Model Magazine International #200

BT-5, Spanish Civil War

During Spanish Civil War, the USSR supported Spanish Repulican forces with "volunteers" and tanks, including 50 BT-5 ones. They saw extensive action since late 1937 and some of them became Nationalst trophies with colorfull bands on the turret to avoid friendly fire.

The only BT-5 kit is a crapy & old Zvezda's one. Thet's why I chose Rhino model resin hull & Tamiya BT-7 turret for my project. Both were corrected to fit BT-5 + some scratchbuilding and other aftermarket goodies were used. Hardcore weathering is the thing I like, besides it's quite all right for Spanish climate in winter, late fall or early spring.

An article is published in recent AFV modeller issue 65

M4A3E8 Easy Eight Sherman, Korean War

I wanted to build a Sherman with such markings for some 7 years, being inspired by a model on the Internet and photos of real vehicles (incl. ones with M1919 on an infantry tripod) Fortunately Tasca released the kit in 2011 and I bought it as soon as possible. However overall quilaity of the kit was good, IMHO Tasca's VVSS Shermies are superior. And the wide tracks... guy who engeneered those tracks should be sentenced to assembly them all his life cause it's a real torture.
I used various PE, turned and scratchbuilt parts to enhance my Easy Eight and many weathering products to obtain the dirty and tired look of the finished model

Published in English..

... and Spanish

Chinese M4A4 Sherman

I finished the superb Tasca kit almost a year ago - in 2011. I think that Tasca's VVSS Shermans are the best. I really enjoyed building it !) And the decals were taken from an old DML kit. The markings were typical for 1st Provisional Tank group, that saw action against Japanese forces and later during the Chinese Civil War against the Communist troops

An article was published in M-Hobby magazine issue 05-2011

and recently in AFV modeller special Sherman issue:

Soviet T-60 Light tank

The small light tank played a significant role in 1941-42 before numerous T-34 became available from evacuated tank plants. Unfortunately major manufacturers ignore this subject and only available kits are old, inaccurate and crapy. Mine RPM kit fearured generic PE fret, but is very far from being perfect, suffering from poor detailing and accuracy issues. And it was hard to find one on the net.
It took me a lot of time & scratchbuilding to finish it + several aftrermarket updates were used.
The first layer was modulated green color, followed by hairspray & white finish.