More Armor from the Duke

[Duke Maddog]

After some time and a difficult fight on one, I have finally finished a few armor models. Here they are....


This is the one I had the hardest fight with. The tracks were true vinyl and thus impossible to glue on. However, I found a solution and now I can honestly claim that this one is truly built out of the box:






Next up is my Russian T-90 tank with the cast turret. I'd already built the same tank with the welded turret so I needed to complete this one. Here it is all ready for delivery to my Russian forces:






Finally, another addition to my Merkava family is now ready for delivery to my Israeli Army. This is the Merkava IIID LIC all completed:





Now all I need is the Merkava IIID and I'll have all the Merkava's currently available in 1/72 scale. Until then, I do have more armor to do.

That's all I have completed so far in armor. I also finished two aircraft; feel free to check them out too.

Meanwhile, thanks for looking in, comments are welcome.

[Thomas_M]

Despite the struggle, the Sturmtiger with its disk camo looks nice! Who is the manufacturer?
Of the others I like the Merkava most. Simply because of its unique shape. I wonder what would happen when the Merkava crosses the path with the T-90?

[Duke Maddog]

Thanks Thomas! I'm not sure that manufacturer of the Schturmtiger, I'll try to find the box to see. I agree about the Merkava; I like building the series. It would be an interesting battle between that and the T-90; I think a lot of the end result would depend on crew training, distance and first-detection.

[speedgraflex]

I am most fond of the Sturmtiger—due to the effects and effectiveness of your build, Duke—but all of your work possess qualities of realism that make for a most effective presentation. When I researched a 1/72, I thought this might be made by Dragon (vinyl tracks).

[Stikpusher]

Nice trio of tanks Mark. Not sure if I like the Sturmtiger or the Merkava most...

[Duke Maddog]

Thanks Bruce! You are most kind considering the short run nature of this Schturmtiger kit. Dragon never made one in 1/72 scale, otherwise I would have built that one. This was the only kit I could find of that vehicle and it is a very short run kit.

Thanks Carlos! I'm a bit partial to the Merkava myself....

[speedgraflex]

Wait... what? Isn’t this...

http://www.dragon-models.com/d-m-item.asp?pid=DRA7204

[Duke Maddog]

Wait... what? Isn’t this...

http://www.dragon-models.com/d-m-item.asp?pid=DRA7204

No Bruce, that is not mine. In truth, I never even knew that had been released by Dragon. Believe me the tracks would have looked far better if it had been Dragon. No, mine was some Eastern European company whose name I forgot right now.

[speedgraflex]

Hi Mark—thanks so much! I hope you didn’t think I was being contrary or ornery or both—I just really liked your kit and the finished project so much I wanted to know more... I think the company that released the repops of the aircraft also released this same subject. Perhaps that was the kit you used....

[Duke Maddog]

Bruce, I thought nothing of the sort my friend. The company that released this model is AMC models. It even states on the box and instruction sheet that it is a short run kit. It shows in all it's parts and assembly. I had a lot of cleanup to do, almost nothing fit right; the P/E was difficult to work with (except some of it; some P/E actually went on better than the kit parts!) There is no way this is a re-pop, especially given that the tracks were pure, unglue-able vinyl! This is an AMC Models original, no doubt about it. If I recall correctly, the AMC Models kit came out some years before the Dragon one. Dragon was inspired to release one when they determined that the AMC kit was the only one out there and practically unbuildable.

Still, thanks to you I now know there is a Dragon version available somewhere and I'll have to keep a lookout for that one. Meanwhile, I'll get more modern stuff started first.

Thanks again Bruce! I always appreciate seeing your posts!