"15mm Merkava for Arab Israeli Modern" Topic

Hello,
I'll be building up an Army for a later version of the conflict. Just need some Merkava Tanks in 15mm. Are there any out there, that anyone can recommend? This one is from QRF. Any others available in the States?

Thanks,
Kon

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QRF-ISA16_Merkava from Scale Creep link

The only one I know of in 15mm is the QRF model, which is a Merk 1 or Merk 2 (difference is some applique armor on the turret and the location of the 60mm mortar).

And Scale Creep is in the US.

However, Khurasan might be working on some, I know he's started with 1973 Arab Israel Wars…

Rebel Minis has a Merka 5 that's part of his scifi line. It'd probably need a little work if you didn't care for the near future look.

The closest you have is QRF right now. I don't know of anyone looking at any other Merkava variants just yet.

Even then, the Merkava variant there is a Merk 1 – so only really good for 80's/ early 90's gaming.

@Chatticus: You can make it a Merk 2 relatively easily. The biggest change is putting a small tube with a 'cloth' dustcover on the lefthand top of the turret for the internal mortar and the chain net under the bustle rack. And you can stick on the .50cal and at least one 7.62mm MG while you're at it. Merk 2 entered service in 1983, just after the Lebanon War.

The Merk 3 has a different turret shape, plus the Rafael Overhead Weapons System, and the Merk 4 has a different turret shape from either the 1-2s and 3s. Merk 3 came out in 1989, and wasn't replaced in production by the Merk 4 until 2004.

So what we really need is for Geoff to make some new turrets for the more recent versions!

I found very good QRF Merkava photo (with Peter Pig crewman)

You should try to convince this guy to make modern Israelis in 15mm:

ludumartifex.blogspot.co.il

He's an Israeli miniature sculpturer, served in the IDF armoured corps (and still does reserve service IIRC).

Actually Old Glory 15's/Quality Castings makes the Mk II. It is a very nice model, better than the QRF one IMHO (have both but used the QC models to build up my core '82 IDF force).

link

Here's a bog pic with the QC models painted up:

link

Yeah the Rebel Mini's one would take a fair bit of effort to sort out.

link

I would like someone to make the Merkava IV and the SABRA I/II/III.

So what we really need is for Geoff to make some new turrets for the more recent versions!

Noted….

Is the hull the same?

I think the hull is the same, but I know the engine has been changed a couple times over the years. There MAY be some changes to the exhaust and air intake grilles.

I would need a large pile of photos to point out any differences in the hull, but the turrets are very obviously different between the various marks (and there are some pretty serious changes between various builds of the Merk 3, too).

Boy, you'd think Old Glory would have a picture of one of their Merkavas somewhere. I may have to get one and paint it just to put up a picture here! :-0

I can highly recommend the Quality Castings Merkava too.

Interesting that this wasn't posted to the Modern discussion board!

Yeah, this year I'd love to make a Merk 4, ultramod Israelis, and Arab insurgents who'd be suitable for the Iraqi insurgents, Hizbollah in 2006, and some of the fighters in Syria. (On that last one there are regional differences in appearance to be sure, but also some overlap, so a number of sets would be made.)

Thing is, this year has two interesting anniversaries -- 100th of 1914, as well as the 300th anniversary of the Bourbon victory in Spain.

"The what victory where?", you may be thinking -- in 1714 the Spanish and French finally drove the Allies (Britain, Dutch, etc) from Barcelona, basically achieving what the War of the Spanish Succession was fought for, a Bourbon monarchy in Spain. The Duke of Marlborough's brilliant victories in the Low Countries and Germany are so often the focus of study of that war that the Spanish theater is often overlooked, and there the Bourbons usually had the upper hand.

In one Bourbon victory there, a French army commanded by a British General defeated a British army commanded by a French general!

Many Spanish gamers are keen to game the period and I'll be releasing a lot of stuff for Marlburian warfare this year. Also the armies of 1914, starting with the French and Germans.

Can only make so much at once! But would like to get at least the Merk and Israelis done this year too. Time will tell….

It's in the FOW forum and cross posted here since a lot of folks like the Merkava for Sci Fi, which will do dual-duty for me too.

Yes but that's not quite the same thing -- FoW focusing on WWII and more recently 1967.

No issues with it being CPed here -- my only point was this is primarily a Modern gaming discussion.

Too True, but the rules are easily modified and since many people are at least somewhat familiar with them, are easily used for convention games. (I'm trying to cut down on the number of rules I need to learn.)

Any chance you might do a "European" SWAT team, with the LA SWAT Vest, a ski-style-helmet, goggles on the helmet and armed with the Beretta CX4, FNP90, Armsel Striker Shotgun, Ruger MP9, and a Sniper Rifle? An FN browning and Revolver with a large laser/flashslight under the barrel would be good too.

:-)

Perhaps eventually, but SWAT teams are a bit problematic as people do not build armies of SWAT operators. Especially with the small margins on 15mm, you want to focus on stuff gamers will buy multiples of. Even then it takes a long time to break even.

1914 French and Germans…more Arab Israeli wars…can't wait Jon!

Somehow I knew you'd say that :-) (And of course you are absolutely correct.)

Just hoping you might update one of your security troop lines that would serve multiple purposes. (Like BSG Colonials)

We could use a bunch of sailors and privateers/pirate crews to run those scurvy Spanish from the Caribbean, and other waters, during Queen Anne's War.

Obviously, troops for amphibious assaults would be very useful too.

I am BEGGING for modern Israelis in 15mm. Merkava MkIV, Namer, F-16I SUFA, BEGGING. I will throw so much freaking money at whoever releases this stuff.

Update for Geoff:

Merk 1 and 2 have the same hull, with very few mods to the turret needed.

The Merk 3 has a very similar hull to the earlier Merks, but I do NOT want to say it's identical without a lot more photos or crawling around on one. There are also sub-classes here, with applique armor types and extra MGs, along with a different turret shape.

Merk 4 has a different hull, with a single flat glacis instead of the engine hump on the Merk 1 and 2. The turret is also very different, looks a lot like the M551 Sheridan in shape.

Cheers, I will have to take a look

I love the look of the Merkava IV.

I think it would make a great vehicle for Sci-Fi gamers too, due to its overly large turret. It just screams high-tech to me.

Still BEGGING

modern Israelis…. with M16, Galil or Tavor?

Don't be silly Geoff we are wargamers……all three obviously. ;-)

Fatman

…if I do all 3, you will want them with AKs…

Here are some photos of the various models of the Merkava

Mk. I

Mk. II

Mk. III

Mk. IV

The Namer – an APC variant of the Merkava

…if I do all 3, you will want them with AKs…

That's the Galil, though it doesn't have the banana-clip magazine of the classic AK.