Hi all
this is my entry for the IDF 77 campaign. I thought I could share it with this forum as well.
AFV Club re-used a number of sprues from former M109 references which I understand to cut production costs. However the “old” parts were not always well designed to adapt the Doher specific parts. Most of the time you just have drawings of the parts in place but no positioning marks or holes. The most annoying issue is the lack of holes to install the rails on the sides of the hull. You are supposed to drill them out. According to the instructions there are marks molded on the inner side of the hull sides. The actual parts do not have the marks so it’s a guess game to know where to drill them. I ended by removing the positioning rods and “guesstimating” the positions of the various accessories with the help of Desert Eagle book.
A lot of ejection pin marks need to be dealt with. The tracks are rubber bands which is not the best choice for a Christie running gear and they are too long. The bit of rope issued for the tow cable is too short: 10 cm instead of 15!
You can read all the discrepancies of this kit in the IDF 77 thread.
I’m about to start the weathering process. However I post WIP pictures as well as current pictures.
In the circles you are supposed to glue the hooks which secure the spades in the travel mode. Don’t glue them before the hull is painted.
The gun breech is invisible when the turret is done. If you open the doors you’ll see a big void.
The turret shell requires you fill holes and remove details of older M109 versions. Not a big deal.
Assembling the rear basket is a real pain.
And the front ones are not bad either. The dust cover is vinyl but to stiff and prevents the barrel to move.
The tracks are shortened by 2 links. They’ll need to be glued on top of the roadwheels.
Here is the basic paint. I used AK Sinaï Grey 1982.
Here is where I am right now. The decals are applied and the most of the various details painted.
To be continued.
Olivier
18 Likes
It’s coming along very nicely. I built the AFV Club M109A6 Paladin and didn’t find many/any issues with it. They use the same basic lower hull parts.
4 Likes
After doing all the research for AFV club on the M109’s in IDF service I couldn’t even build it due to medical issues.. I think the last kit I got mostly together was the shot Kal gimmel so I’ve left them all in storage for my grandson when he gets older..
But it’s nice to see one come together really nice job
4 Likes
The version with the generator shelf on the rear of the turret as far as I know doesn’t have the fishbowl sight cover or the sight at all will covered with a plate since it’s all sighted by GPS or direct fire with the gun sight but I might be wrong..
1 Like
Thank you for the kind comments.
Robert you’re right about the sight. However not all the Doher have it removed. The Desert Eagle book shows a number of them with the sight and the generator.
AFV Club tell this is an option to use the sight or the blanking plate. But there is no indication of correspondance with the registration plates provided on the decals sheet.
Olivier
1 Like
Good job, very nice kit. I had AFV Club in high regard, did not expect so many troubles…
3 Likes
Excellent job on the build and finish Olivier. I have one of AFV Clubs M109s in the stash but I’d love to get the IDF version.
2 Likes
I want to build an IDF M109; either the Doher or Rochev; and I’m kind of debating wherever to go the AFV Club route or the Kinetic Models route.
I know both kits have accuracy issues (thanks to @18Bravo and @HeavyArty for pointing those out). But regardless, i want to build one, along with an A6 Palladin.
It is always down to “which one” for me.
2 Likes
I finally weathered the Doher with pigments (Syrian ground and North Africa dust). The tracks are the kit ones which I glued on top of the roadwheels to simulate the sag. I guess it’s not too bad.
Olivier
13 Likes
Looks fantastic Olivier. The paint scheme is exas well as the dusting too.
2 Likes
It looks great. Nice job on it.
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Looks mighty fine to me.Nice Doher model.
Richard
2 Likes
Nice job. I’m glad someone got to build it to the end..
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