Wall

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 05. 23.11.24. I have now more or less completed the build. I have painted and attached all the tools etc. Painted and attached the 2 aerials. The PE spoked aerial top was a real pain to glue onto the rest of the aerial mast. I had to try to hold in place with one hand, then blast it with a can of super glue accelerator with the other hand. I decided to do minimal weathering. I just did some chipping, a light panel line wash in places. Then rubbed some dust compound over some areas like on the tyres. I can remove the engine panels if I want. But I have left them closed because you can hardly see much of the engine anyway. There are some extras included in the kit. A couple of fuel drums, oil cans, and a load of soldier gear such as MG's, Helmets, Bino's, canteens etc. I will paint some of these up and I may do a diorama. Well that's it for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 06. 07.03.25. At the moment, I am going to call this completed. I have decided at this stage, not to finish painting up the extras. Such as fuel drums and other sundry items. If I ever do a diorama for this one. Then I will complete all those items when I do that. For now, they will go into the spares box.
So, that is another one done. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update: 20/09/2021. I started this kit beginning of Sept 2021. I have uploaded some work in progress pictures to the album. Got all the hull complete. Only done some weathering on the tracks so far. Turret has been built up. I am now at the stage of adding stuff to the turret. I am using the paint along as I go method. I don't know how some of you guys can fully build a kit, and then think about painting it. I prefer to paint as I go, esp if its an all one colour vehicle like a tank. Sometimes I will spray all the sprues with the base colour first. This time I was able to build up parts and then paint them. I will post more pictures as I progress. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update: 05/11/2021. I have completed all the main construction and painting. Gloss coat applied. All decals applied, followed by a flat coat to seal them all down. I used photo etch grills from the Tamiya Grill Set. Front turret identification panels from the Extratech Detail Set. Not going to use anything else from the Extratech set. Far too fiddly for me lol. All that remains to be done is, make up and paint the 2 figures. Plus do all the weathering. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 03. 04.03.25. LOL I cannot believe that I last touched this kit in 2021. What happened was, I made a right mess of the weathering and totally ruined the look of it. So, I put it away at the back of my cabinet and forgot about it. Well, I have decided to do something with it. I have done a 90% repaint with a Mr Hobby Sand Colour. Don't know if its the right sand colour, and frankly I don't care lol. It does look a bit rough and ready because of all the paint on it now. But hopefully it won't look too bad with better weathering. I lost most of the original markings, so I have applied decals for another scheme that came with the kit. Its all been sealed in with a gloss coat ready for weathering. I have also made a start on the figures. They look a bit rough too lol. That's it for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 04. 07.03.25. Well, I can now call this one complete. I sprayed some Ammo Mig Jet Exhaust Burnt Iron into the engine grills. Once that was done, I dry brushed the base colour over the grill frames etc.
I have finished all the weathering. I started with an overall Sand coloured Florymodels Clay Wash. Once dry this was rubbed off in places with cotton buds. Dampening the cotton buds allowed more of the wash to be wiped off. After that, I rubbed on some Sand pigments from a Tamiya Weathering Set. To get the sand clumps on the tank, I would brush on a small amount of enamel thinner. Then dab onto that some of the sand pigment. This would form clumps and stick to the surface. Once that was dry, I sealed it all in with a final flat coat of varnish.
Finally, I moved onto the 2 included figures. Unfortunately, I ruined one of the figures in an attempt to strip off the paint from it. I have not made a very good job at painting the commander figure either. So, to try to get some better figures for it. I have ordered a Miniart British AFV Crew Set. Hopefully, I can use the figures from that set, and make a better job at painting them.
But, apart from some better figures, its time to call this one complete. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 01. 22.02.25. Hello again, and welcome to a new build. After building a ton of Armour kits, its time for a change. A few months ago I was allowed to get a grant from Models For Heroes to get this kit and a few after market extras. Always wanted to do a Tomcat. They sent me a mask set, resin wheels, quinta studio cockpit set, and 2 ejection seat sets. An Eduard seat set and a Aires seat set. I think the Eduard ones look the best, so I will be using those. Mind you, I am thinking of putting the pilots into this one. So the kit seats might be just as good. Anyway, I have started off with the cockpit tub. This is the first time I have used a quinta studio set. Very easy to apply with PVA glue. But very time consuming. I first removed the raised detail from the various panels. Then I painted the tub with Dark Gull Grey. Then the various quinta panels were put on with PVA glue. Some of the little levers were a right pain to fit, as they kept sticking to my tweezers. Anyway, the tub is now done. Next will be to do the 2 instrument panels and the side panels. That's it for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 02. 26.02.25. Hi again. Well, I had a thought about the seats. Seriously thinking of putting the pilots in the seats. It depends on how they look when painted. As the pilots will obscure most of the seats, and with it being a small scale. I think I will just use the kit seats, as they look OK to me. I did cut off the block on the bottom of 1 Eduard resin seat to see what it looked like in the tub. To be honest, you don't see a lot of the detail at this scale. So, I have built up and painted both seats instead of using the Eduard ones. Applied the decals that Tamiya provide. Then I have added the grab handle and the side handle markings from the Quinta Studios set. The seats are just test fitted into the cockpit tub for now. I have also done a test fitting of the pilot bodies in the seats. Will just have to see how they look fully built up and painted. I bought an AK Pilot Uniform paint set for that. That's it for now. Enjoy.

Desert Marlin
Excellent outcome!!!

Andrew Gledhill Author
Thanks for the positive comments guys. Much appreciated.

Bernard
Good job! I'm getting back into modeling after a long absence. I've not built tanks before, or a Takom. How was the kit, did you like it? The detail is very nice. Also, while doing some reading, I got the sense that some don't like using stock tracks but like to get aftermarket ones. Are these the ones that came with the kit? I think they look great.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Hi Bernard. I wouldn't describe this as a beginner kit. If you have never built a tank before and like the look of a Merkava. Then I recommend to get the older Tamiya Merkava Mk1 kit. Yes, it dates back to the 1980's. But its a half decent kit and it can be bought for less than £25. That kit will have the old vinyl type tracks, which are much easier to work with. This Takom kit has link & length tracks. You get 2 long lengths for the top and bottom, 2 short lengths for the slop up to the drive sprocket and idler wheel. Then you get some individual links to go around the drive sprocket and idler wheel. With these type of tracks, you have to get the placement of the first length just right. If you get that wrong, then you can find the tracks don't fit right. The tracks on this kit were built around a jig that you can see in the photos. They were not easy to do.
The other thing about Takom kits, is that they don't give you any colour call outs of individual parts, like what Tamiya do. All they give you is the scheme sheets at the back of the instructions, and that just shows you the outside views. EG the fire extinguishers on each side of the turret are a Green colour. But that is only shown on the small pictures on the scheme sheet. It is easy to miss that and not detail paint them.
If you fancy doing a tank, then I would advise to look at what you fancy. Then look on Scalemates for the kit and download and study the instructions for that kit. Then you can judge on whether it will be too hard for you to do. I would also look for something that is all one colour, then that would be far easier to paint. Ask again if you want further advise. Good luck with whatever you build.

cicarista
Whose MK.4M did you build and in what scale?

Jack Aaronfeld
I was confused but this one is 1/72

Hister Farjas
1/72 The Best Scale

Andrew Gledhill Author
My bad. Didn't notice it was 1.72.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Hi Olivier. I used Tamiya Khaki for the canvas cab roof.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 9, 19.02.24. OK, the tools have been painted and glued onto the side screens. Next I have done some rust effects on the rear deck and mudguards etc. I put some Mr Surfacer 500 down first. Let it dry for 15 minutes. Then stippled it with an old brush to roughen up the surface. Then I painted over this with Ammo Mig Rust paints of various shades. At first it was a bit too much. Especially on the rear deck. So I toned the rust effects down a bit by adding more of the light Florymodels clay wash. I am calling the main painting and weathering done now. Next I have to build up and paint the 5 figures, plus all the ammo boxes and equipment etc. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 10. 30.01.25. Wow, I hadn't realised when the last update I gave on this build lol. Frankly, I was scared to tackle the 5 figures. So, I just left it in my cabinet and moved onto other builds. I now have finally got round to finishing it off. The figures were more or less painted as per the instructions. I know my faces are pretty crap lol. I am not that good at painting figures, especially the faces. Anyway, I think they look OK. Once the detail painting was done, I applied a Tamiya Grey Panel Line Wash over the White uniforms. Once this was dry, I dry brushed more white over the uniforms to tone down the wash a bit. I have glued all the figures down onto the bed to stop them falling off when moving it. For a kit that was tooled in 1975, the figures don't look all that bad. A light wash was applied to their helmets. Then rubbed off to reveal the helmet decals. I have placed a rolled up tarp, 2 rifles and a spare helmet on the bed. Plus we have 2 ammo boxes. 1 open and one closed, plus some ammo magazines next to the ammo feed guy kneeling down. In the cab, I have placed another rifle, a machine gun, spare gas mask canister and 2 spare water bottles. One day, I might put this into a diorama, if I ever do one. So, that is another build finally completed. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Thanks for the praise guys.

Randy Kriegel
Awesome 👏

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 05. 16.01.25. Hi again. Things are moving along nicely now. I have applied some decals. I could only get a decal set for Tiger 2's with the Henschel turret. Anyway, I decided to just make it up and do my own fictitious tank. I used the numbers 213 because those are the 3 numbers in my email address lol. I put a unit badge on each side of the turret and a Black Cross on each side of the hull. It has taken around 3 coats of Tamiya XF-86 Flat Clear to dull it back down. Next will be some minimal weathering. Already done some chipping, so I will probably add some weathering powders next. I won't be putting mud on it at this stage. I have a figure set to go with it. Not sure if I will put them all on. I am crap at figure painting lol. Anyway, that's it for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 06. 27.01.25. Hello again. Well, I am going to call this one complete. I have done some basic weathering to go with the chipping that I have already done. I have just rubbed some Tamiya weathering powders all over the tank. Mainly the dirt and sand powders from the Tamiya Weathering Set that I have. I rubbed it on with some of those small eye shadow foam pads that you can buy. Basically rubbed the dirt and sand compound all over the tank, to dust it up. The 5 figures are from a Hobbyboss generic late war Panzer Tank Crew set. Two of the figures don't really go with this tank. But, I have painted them all up anyway. I have tried to replicate the camo on the uniforms with limited success. Also, I am really crap at painting figure faces. I have done the best I can with them. I just cannot get the eyes to look right. Plus it doesn't help that my close range eyesight is so bad. Even using strength 3.5 reading glasses, I find it hard to paint the faces. Anyway, they will have to do for now. I may add more weathering to the tank, such as mud effects etc if I end up putting it in a diorama. But, I am calling it done for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 01, 12.01.25. Hi folks. I actually started this kit about 6 months back. I got as fas as building up parts of the lower hull. Then I put it away because other stuff took over my attention. While waiting for decals for my Tiger 2 build. I decided to get this one back out of its box. I have completed all the lower hull, wheels and tracks. All that has been painted in the Olive Drab colour. The tracks were painted in Dark Iron. Then slightly buffed up. I will maybe do more weathering with the tracks later. The tracks were of the link & length type. Not sure that I am a fan of that type of tracks. On something like this, I think the good old vinyl tracks would still be good enough. Anyway, I am now painting and building up the ammo racks that are either side of the upper hull. That's it for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 02. 15.01.25. Hello again. Well, things have progressed well. I have got this kit 95% built and painted. The hull is finished apart from some tools that will go on towards the end of the build. The turret is 95% completed. There is detailed turret basket and ammo ready rack etc inside the turret. I had problems fitting the canvas gun shield and the gun itself. The part of the gun barrel that fitted through the canvas cover and into the breach parts, was far too long. Or I couldn't get it to go in far enough. I ended up cutting it short. Anyway, I have ended up with a slight gap on the left side of the canvas cover. It will have to do. I am not going to mess with it further. I can't go any further with it until I have put on the decals. So, after the paint has cured for a few more hours, I will spray on a gloss coat, ready for the decals to go on. That's it for now. Enjoy.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 03. 16.01.25. Well folks. I have had a case of the curse of crap Tamiya decals yet again. What a load of crap Tamiya decals can be. They are so thin, that the larger decals were a pain in the butt to get in place without ripping or crimping up. This was evident on all but one of the White Star decals. I have had to touch them up with some White paint afterwards. Its not great, but hopefully I can hide the defects with some weathering powders etc. I have attached all the tools and tow cable etc. The tow cable string was pretty crap. Much prefer the copper wire you get in other kits. It has took me 3 coats of Tamiya XF-86 Flat Coat to get it to this state. It still has a slight sheen to it. I will be moving onto some weathering next. It will get a minimal approach. I could do with some decent Olive Drab type oil paint to do some rain streaks etc. But the only green oil paint I have at the moment is a bright green colour. I might just try a Florymodels Clay Wash. Maybe the Brown or Sand wash would do. The only other thing I need to do is paint up 4 ammo boxes that come with the kit. Plus the single standing figure. Anyway, enjoy for now.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 04. 26.01.25. Hi again. I am now calling this one done. I have done the weathering, and finished it all off. First I applied a Brown Florymodels Clay Wash all over. Once dry, this was rubbed off with cotton buds. This gave the tank a grimy look. Then I rubbed on various dirt and sand weathering powders. This covered up any defects in the decals where I had to touch them up with White paint. I was painting up the single included figure. But I painted his arms separately, the put them in some clips to hold while the paint dried. Unfortunately, one of the arms pinged off and got lost in the carpet monster lol. I have looked all over the floor for it. But cannot find it at the moment. So, the rest of the figure will just go into the spares box for now. If the arm turns up, then I will finish the figure off. It wasn't that great a figure anyway. It's a pity that there were no crew member figures included in this kit. Anyway, this one is complete. Thanks for looking and commenting.

gorby
Looking good so far.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Thanks Gorby. Appreciated.

Erik Leijdens
Cool! Thanks for sharing.

Antony Merigot
awesome photos mate!

Andrew Gledhill Author
Thanks Neuling. Haven't done any outside weathering yet. Will be doing all the tools etc and decals before weathering outside.

Rui S
Looking Great 👍 Very nice camo indeed. Im in 😎

Neuling
Missed this one. A pity. Very appealing build!

Andrew Gledhill Author
Thanks Neuling. Appreciated.

EricB
Late reply, but for anyone else wondering, the R5 part is cast inside the turret ring of the main hull, that's why it is not on any of the sprues. You can see it in the Britmodeller review.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Hi EricB. Yes, I later found that out about the R5 part. However, my kit was gifted to me by Models For Heroes. It had been opened before. I am not sure if the part was there in my kit. I may have accidentally thrown it away without realising it. Or it may not have been in the box all along. No matter, I sorted out a replacement.

EricB
I suspect it was never in the box. I normally check kit sprues on Superhobby and they show the hull without the R5 part. Which is odd, why would they chop it out? also hobbyboss site shows the same.. I guess people should check their kit in the stash to see if it's complete.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 8. 15.07.24. Hi folks. Well, its time to call this one complete. I finished it off with a light coat of Ammo Mig Dust colour paint. I sprayed a thin coat of this along the bottom half of the tank and at the front and back lower portions. I have made a reveal video that I will put on my Youtube channel shortly. Once that is uploaded, I will place a link here. Then mark the project as completed. Thanks for all the interest in my builds so far. Its much appreciated.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 9. 15.07.24. Here is the link to my reveal video: Youtube Video

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 6. 14.03.24. Well, things are coming along quite nicely now. I have finished the island control centre apart from the rigging. Waiting on some gel super glue to come to do that. If you look at the photos, you will see that I placed some of those Eduard PE figures inside the bridge areas. Not that many because you can hardly see them. I have placed one guy saluting in there lol. The kit does not come with clear parts for the windows. I made window parts from cuts of a clear acetate sheet, then glued them inside. You can get a pack of 10 sheets of acetate from Amazon for £5. Great for making windows out of. The last gun emplacement has also been fixed to the ship. All that is left to do now, is the cranes and tugs etc. Then its onto the aircraft. I have also got to fit all the aerials to the hull. But I will do that last. Anyway, that's it for now.

Andrew Gledhill Author
Update 7. 26.05.24. Its been awhile since I posted an update on this one. I took a bit of a break from it to concentrate on the C2 Mexas kit. Anyway, I have more or less finished the ship itself. I still have to do the island rigging. Plus paint some of the antennas etc. I have been slowly working on the air wing. I have a load of after market Star Fighter Decals for aircraft. So far, I have finished 2 x E2 Hawkeye's and 2 x A6 Prowlers. I have also finished painting 8 x FA-14 Tomcats. But I have only applied decals to one of those. There are still many aircraft to build up and paint. Oh and I have made up and painted all the cranes and tugs. That's it for now. Enjoy.

Gary Victory
Nice progress Andrew, I can only guess how big that thing is....! Following your progress.

Guy Rump
Looking good, following. 👍