Chariots of Firepower

Posted on by Rick Finished Projects

The Merkava or ”Chariot” is Israel’s first domestically designed and produced main battle tank. It was developed in the late 1970’s after Israel was unable to procure the British Chieftain. Incorporating the lessons learned by the IDF during their past wars.

The Merkava was first used in combat during the 1982 Lebanon War, where Israel deployed 180 units.  The wartime experience brought to light some vehicle shortcomings. These shortcomings were noted and adjustments were designed into the MkII production models. The Mk.I tanks were retrofitted with some of the new Mk.II features – such as the installation of chain netting to the rear of the turret in order to eliminate a shot trap.  The results became known as the Mk.I Hybrid, which is the subject of this article.

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French Firepower AMX13/90

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It’s usually at about this point in most modeling articles that the author provides a brief description of the vehicle in question.  Quite honestly, if I were to give any sort of technical or service description of the AMX-13/90 it would be at best a labored, semi-creative re-write of a Wikipedia description – or worse – simply blatant plagiarism.  That is to say, I really do not have any insight or particular knowledge into this vehicle – no more so than any of you could easily find for yourself with a few key-strokes.  What I can speak to, however, is to how this AFV’s relative obscurity (at least to me anyway) and quirky turret drew my attention.  The simple fact of the matter is that it looks pretty cool!    

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Puddle Jumper

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The echo of a buzzing engine reverberates off of the steep mountain slopes while a small plane begins a quick descent towards a small, sparkling wilderness lake below.  A muffled thump and a splash announce the craft’s touchdown on the cold, crystal clear Alaskan waters.  The Puddle Jumper has arrived signaling another day’s adventure.  Whether you are making a small puddle, a stream or a deep clear water lake, using a two-part urethane resin can be a useful option when creating water effects.  In this article, we will see how to combine urethane resin along with some easily available water making products to make a clear water lake.

Building and painting aircraft is a bit outside my usual zone.  Building and painting civilian aircraft, especially a seaplane is, really outside my zone.  But, I gotta say I was pretty excited for the challenge.  Not only would the model subject be new and exciting, but creating a watery scene would certainly be a fun adventure.

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Aftermath, Berlin 1945

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The “all clear” sirens wail as the morning sun casts a diffused glow over the smoldering ruins of the shattered city.  The Thousand Year Reich has become a wasteland; fear and desperation are the new realities for its citizens. From shelters and basements throughout Berlin, those fortunate enough to survive the past nights’ air raid return to their routine of existence in this desolate wasteland. 

This scene portrays Berlin as it might have been in the closing days of the war – or perhaps just after the war has ended.   The Battle for Berlin ended on May 2, 1945, and whether this scene takes place before or after that date is really a difference without a distinction for the inhabitants of the city.  For them, their reality is the desperate hopelessness of defeat.   Aftermath.

The Saloon Car from Bronco will be one of the focal points of this small Berlin vignette.  To better convey the wreckage caused by the bombing, I want to show a portion of the car’s roof crushed by the fallen rubble and so in order to do this, I’ll replace an area of the plastic roof with a thin brass sheet.  The plastic is removed using the cutting wheel on my Dremel tool and then the rough edges are cleaned-up and a few extra “dents” are added to the plastic. 

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Frankfurt Main AG

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If there was ever one of those Just Do Something to Do Something projects, this is certainly it!!  I had contacted my friend Charlie Pritchett who is working with the TAKOM model company.  I took advantage of this knowing that if I asked for “something to work on” he’d find something that he’d like showcased for the line.  Fair enough!!   The offer was the T3 Transporter (VW) vans.  Takom offers two styles, a van edition, and a short-cab rear cargo version.  On the Takom website, both are conceptualized in German/NATO camo as they have history being used for general purpose vehicles.  That was going to be fine with me….however…..follow me….

On most days I ride my bike to work each day – 15 miles.  After arriving, I change my clothes and then walk to the nearby shops to bring back my morning cup of coffee.  About 2 blocks from my work there is a railroad crossing that, on most days, is a pain in the ass because my timing seems to always coincide with a long, slow train blocking my morning walk.

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Hellcat – Action in the Pacific

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The F6F Hellcat design started development as a upgraded version of the F4F Wildcat design, but by the time a final design was completed it had became a completely different breed altogether, not even sharing any parts with her predecessor. F6F Hellcat fighters were designed to be produced efficiently, and additional features such as heavy armor and self-sealing fuel tanks were installed to provide additional safety to the pilots. The first of these carrier fighters took flight on 26 Jun 1942 and the first combat-ready squadron was deployed aboard USS Essex in Mar 1943. They first saw action against the Japanese six months later when F6F Hellcat fighters of USS Independence attacked and shot down a Japanese seaplane. On 23 Nov 1943, F6F Continue reading “Hellcat – Action in the Pacific” →

God is Great

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God is GoodDispatch Report by John Cantlie (Independent Reporter) – The Telegraph.

The sound of the caterpillar tracks could be felt as much as heard, a deep rumble that sent a rattle through windows and a tremble of fear through the guts. Then we saw them. Huge Soviet-made T72s, accompanied by troop carriers driving slowly into town, extra plates welded onto the sides to deflect rocket-propelled grenades. It was just after 9.30am, and the tanks were coming to Saraqeb.

“Light the tires!

The rebels of the Free Syrian Army in Saraqeb, a farming town of 30,000 in northern Syria, are better organized than many in the surrounding Idlib province. Squaring themselves away into formation around the central marketplace, they poured petrol on to truck tires and lit them sending plumes of thick black smoke into the air, obscuring the sun and – hopefully – the tank gunners’ visibility.

 

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Weathering the Rails

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HeaderIf you happen to read these articles in any sort of sequential manner, you’ll notice that it’s been quite a while since I’ve updated.  Kinda sucks!  Not so much for you as I doubt that you pay too much attention to any of this, but for me indicates that either I’m not building models or that I’m lazy.  The truth lays somewhere in the middle – busy and lazy. (can the two co-exist?)  Well….sure, why not?

What I have been doing, in a modeling sense, is quite a few projects for AMMO of Mig Jimenez.  Again, if you read sequentially you’ll have followed my path within the industry….first with MIG Productions, then AK Interactive and now with AMMO.  I have enjoyed every aspect and very much appreciate the opportunities that I have been presented to me, but I am extremely happy working with the AMMO team and have enjoyed every minute of it. 

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