Ingo Degenhardt

Hi, I am going to build a few 1/72 Merkavas - among them are Cromwell's resin models of the MK II and the Mk IV. The MK II has this 'Droid' device (the one that looks like R2D2) on the turret roof. My question: I have tried to find out about Merkava Defence Systems but couldn't figure out what this thing really is and what it does. Can anyone explain this? Has it got anything to do with the Mk IV's Trophy System? It's all a bit confusing. I'd appreciate any link to detailed walkarounds as well - I'd like, if possible to equip the Mk IV with TROPY/WINDBREAKER (is that the same thing? Or one of it a part of the other?) And by the way: Has anyone ever tried to join "IDF-modelling.com"? This seems to be virtually impossible. First, registration was not enabled for weeks and when it was, I did so but since then (months ago) it has never been activated by any mod. Wrote two emails that got no answer. Gave it up by now. Ingo

About the ball & chain - according to my literature it was invented after the 1982 Lebanon war and a standard feature from the MK II onwards but MK I tanks were also retrofitted with the device after the war. Don't know about the anti-slip coating.

Excellent - absolutely convincing camouflage finish and top-weathering. I love the dirt on the lower parts.

Looking great - I love this beast anyway....your markings are very nice too. If you do one for yourself and rescribe the panel lines: The panels left and right below the cockpit with the 'NO STEP' stencils inside are (so I have heard) all of the same size and do not get smaller downwards.

This is done :-)

Hi, does anyone by any chance know where to find drawings of the Centurion's side skirts in 1/72 scale? I have here Cromwell model's Sho't Kal Dalet in Resin and it comes without skirts but I want to make some from thin Evergreen plastic. regards Ingo

Hi, I tried to find a painting guide for Israeli infantry (1982 and beyond) but nothing showed up on the net. I have several white metal figures in 1/72 but of course, as usual with those - no painting guide included. I know it's not too complicated with their rather plain Olive Green uniforms but I would like a few hints and tipps a. s. o. Does anyone know about a painting guide somewhere? TIA Ingo

I have the same set by PART here for my Panther and I wonder what the Zimmerit was applied onto, i. e. what will show up beneath the chipped Zimmerit....red primer or bare metal?

2000??? I have not seen a 59 CdV under 30000 euros here....except wrecks of course. My 63 Coupe was 19000 euros already four years ago.

I have a 1/72 Pak 43/41 by Ace here....a terrible kit ps: I thought the term 'general complaint' to be a good translation of the german term....looks like I was wrong

hhmm....they could start tanks in 1/48 in general (apart from the Afghanistan vehicles).....I would like to see (and have) Centurions, Chieftains and Challengers in 1/48

Why is there no Centurion 'family' by any manufacturer in 1/72 scale? I want an Israeli Sho't tank! -end of complaint-

hmm...I expected that... Once I bookmarked a website (Buffmaster?) that had quite some interesting announcements (wheel & bomb bays), but they do not seem to exist any more. May be I will close the bomb bay, do some basic detailing inside the wheel wells and concentrate on the exterior surfaces for some details. Thank you for your answers.

Hi, does anybody know about available detail sets for the old Monogram B-52D (apart from the TrueDetails wheels)? The wheel wells could use some improvements, for example. They look so complicated and crowded on photographs that I do not dare consider any scratchbuilding. Ingo

My Squadron/Signal No. 130 says it's FS34079 Dark Green, FS34159 Green and FS34201 'Tan-Green' for the upper surfaces.

So that would be FS 34102, 079 and 219 over black undersides? I always thought they had the SAC camo on the top surfaces...

If you've never ordered online - beware of Pandora's Box you open with that. The choice is endless, even if you are just looking for figures to replace the current ones (if you want to some day). This is the golden age of modelling...with some side effects as for example stashes as high as the ceiling and the need to live around 200 years to build all the models. Nevertheless, I recommend it. You'll find excellent Panzergrenadiers for your beautiful diorama.

Nice diorama - and I do not consider the Tiger 'way too dark'. Looks ok to me. If any, my critizicm would be that the infantry looks a bit too much 'early WW 2'.

Not an easy kit to build - I experienced the same with mine. In fact a bit of a disappointment in certain areas for such a state-of-the-art and rather pricey kit. I managed to finish mine as well. :-) The intake and seeker head covers are a very nice touch to it.

Great model and a very convincing scenery. The guy in front of the tank reminds me of John Travolta in his famous pose from the late seventies...

I painted mine (Trumpeter 1/72) in Italeri Olive Drab (acrylic), which is also much more on the green side - I added a little 'earth' to it.

I like the brownish color of the finish - I heard early Pershings had a kind of brownish OD camouflage. What cpaint did you use? I.

The early G version had the Walzenblende without the 'chin', too. Seems to me like kind of a mix - early gun mantlet, late style (high) left radiator/fan housing. Here in Germany you need a permission to own 'weapons of war' - deactivated gun is one thing. Reduced armour (thin sheet metal in fact) for certain aeras of the hull another. Seems he had no permission to own these things. It's a bit funny his lawyer and other people are very upset that the DA asked the Bundeswehr to recover the heavy stuff instead of ordering some civilian firm, because it is against the law to deploy the Bundeswehr for anything else than defending the country or help in disaster areas (floods and the like). But who's better suited to recover a tank from a 'cellar' (in fact some kind of subterranean parking garage) than a Bergepanzer from the tank forces?

You will hardly find any government to be willing or able to pay for your 2-3 different aircraft these days.

Helps. Ordered. Thank you.