Israeli Merkava Main Battle Tank

This is a great kit from Tamiya given the age of the kit. The instructions are fairly good, they could use some work. The parts don't need too much clean up and all fit together as they should. The details are good, but some after market items can really set this kit off. I highly recommend.

It is a Tamiya, what else can be said? Well the decals were not well located on the instruction sheet and some of the numbered parts on the sprues are difficult/impossible to read. The small decals have a tendency to fold over and once that happens you are out of luck. I left the skirts off and the tow cables could have been designed much better. The MG on the turrets are flimsy and I broke both barrels cutting them from the sprues. I liked the hot rod design of this tank however.

This kit is starting to get hard to find. At $21 it's still a great value. No extra parts to jack the cost- solid value for beginners or advanced modelers. Do some research and make the early Mk.1 shown on the box photo. Early Mk.1 has the great lines and show the casting that make the Merkava so unique. Makes a unique basis for kit bashing too. I'm going to make a shortened hull someday...