Once I get ahold of something I get obsessed, like the idea of an IDF Chieftain, and specifically what might had they looked like 20 years later. Basing my suppositions on what the IDF did with the Centurion and using the leftovers from the Chieftain I just finished, I started on the hull. My idea was to do an engine deck like the Sho’t with a Continental diesel ala M48/60. I’m about halfway there, using a Dragon engine cover, part of the Chieftain deck and plenty of stock. I HAD to use the Mig Chieftain exhausts I picked up recently since they are so nice and I still think one of the coolest parts of the Chieftain. The tracks are Batash as seen on Merk 2D’s, late Achzarits and some late Magachs. I disguised a Merkave drive sprocket.
IMG_4675 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4673 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4671 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Sometimes I wonder about myself. I have a very healthy stash, mostly really nice kits, a bunch of AM for most of them and here I am doing this. It sure is fun though.
Now I need to find another Chieftain, probably Tamiya so it’s “cheap”, for a turret. I need a head slapping emoji.
Hmmm. PM sent.
While the Chieftain exhausts are sold by Ammo by Mig, they are actually made by FC Modeltrend.
I’d still call them nice, probably the best parts I’ve gotten from FC too. Comparing them to Takom parts, they seem a little big though.
A very interesting project Russell and something i thought about doing.Im following with much interest.
I don’t, I’m officially weird and have it in writing from my previous employers’ medical officer…
I’ve been growing my stash for over half-a-century and it’s a monster! Yet now when the mojo emerges from under it’s rock all I seem to do is glue bits (often scrounged from friends) and scrap together until the urge passes…
And that is the only reason needed…
Cheers,
M
This is going to be good,carry on please👍
Will be tagging along 
Brilliant conversion!
I agree ripping out that Leyland engine for something more reliable would be exactly the sort of thing the IDF would do.
Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.
The IDF did trial a couple of Chieftains at one point, and made several recommendations ( They were initially going to keep the L60) … and they wanted to buy them to counter the Arab nations Soviet bought tanks… UK Gov vetoed the sale in the end.
If there was one thing I would have changed it would have been the L60!
The engine change makes sense to fit in with Shots and Magachs.I pondered doing one myself c1982 Lebanon war.Thought about making it Blazer clad to fit the era but not sure about the urdan cupola and wonder if the turret baskets would have been not big for the Idf.Interesting what if tho.
Richard
An interesting project. Looking forward to more progress.
Just for discussion purposes, the most probable exhaust position would have been on the rear engine deck, similar to the reengined Centurions. But I agree those Chieftain exhaust are love at first sight.
Some ideas since you are going for the heavy modifications:
Side skirts, new gun (L7 or the Merkave 3/4 120mm), new FCS like on the Shot Cal Dalet (new gunner’s sight, crosswind sensor), new commanders panoramic sight (like the Merkava 3 one perhaps and you can also use Mk3 details for the FCS ), stowage for recovery accessories on the hull, spare track links, air cleaners for the engine.
You know, I could almost reverse-engineer this What-If; what if the Brits, frustrated with Chieftain, bought Merkava, say around 79/80?
120mm gun fitted; Chieftain cupola, NBC pack on the rear of the turret, different searchlight? Hmmm. Then in a BAOR black/green finish. Crew in bone-dome helmets?
Well - just a thought; addictive this What-If business(!)
Very cool project there Russel!
Let me check my stash, I might have an old Tamiya Chieftain turret since I built my Chieftain from an Accurate Armor conversion set several years ago. It isn’t a Stillbrew version obviously.
Some ERA is a possibility, but I may want this thing to be pre-1982. The turret I got from Robert has Stillbrew armor so I will want to integrate whatever additional armor I do with that, unless I end up using a different turret…
Regarding air filter housings: I have looked at possibilities as to where/how to mount them but since the Chieftain fuel tanks are where they are I’m very limited. There simply isn’t room to mount them on the fenders since there aren’t any back there. I may have to “say” the air filters are under the front intake grills, not yet on in the pics above. They’re on now, I’m working on hinges and details. I’ll get pics up later tonight.
It’s a given there will be provision for added stowage on the turret. It the NBC unit wasn’t on the rear of the turret, I’d add a big rack there but it would prevent access to the NBC unit itself, unless I delete it.
I plan on using the Chieftain TC cupola since it is low profile and not dissimilar to an Urdan unit. Sights are still being pondered. I’ll probably stay with the provided gun. I like the soft shroud and it was a very potent weapon. Given the time period, it would have been VERY potent. The only reason I can think of for changing it would be its ammunition, unique to it and different than anything else the IDF fielded.
I’m going to a show this weekend and I’ll be haunting the vendor’s tables so maybe I’ll come home with something useful…
Okay. Pics of the engine cover, finished.
IMG_4678 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4677 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And then I got to pondering air filters. I suppose I could leave it as is, but then it hit me. Merkavas also use Donaldson filters, with the access in the SIDE of the hull. So looking at the back of the Chieftain hull, I started using a piece of tape, about the same size as the access door on a side-loading housing, moving it around while trying to keep it in a realistic area, ie close to the normal intake of the engine. I could build a wedge to fit to the sloped hull side for the access door. The only issue I see are are access covers and fuel fillers that would be where the filter would be. Below is a pic of the tape where I like it the most. I could easily adjust the size of the side stowage boxes the give access to the filter access door. The fresh air intake would be from the grills at the front of the engine cover, both sides.
IMG_4680 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The fuel filler and service cover are arrowed.
Thoughts?
Not an answer to your query per se, but photo’s of a couple of the modified Chieftains - but first Chief Mk 2 in Israel - with General Tal, Mk 4 for Israel in Yuma, Khalid & ersartz M1
The extra fuel tankage meant vertical sides, though probably not for the M1 vismods.
Mal
Great pics, especially of the Mk4’s built for the IDF. I’ve never seen those pics before.
I think the digitally camo’ed tank is a Khalid, help here? I was kind of hoping Takom would carry on their Chieftain lineup with one. Even a conversion would be nice.