The wheels, final drives, idelers and Friul tracks are finished and weathered.
Used mainly pigments to do this but used some Mig Engine grime and Oil effects to give the wheels a stained appearance.
Things are progressing on the hull, will provide an update soon.
For those in the know, the Namer is supposed to be based on a Merkava Mk IV body, but this kit has Mk III running gear. Irrationally leading me to assume that there could be parts of a Mk III lurking under the armour in the engine compartment…
So, i’m suspicious about the engine exhaust ‘signature’ on the grille.
Is it going to be the same as a Mk IV (two seperate signatures side by side) or the same as a Mk III (and I don’t know what that signature would look like).
You’re not wrong: the first generation is indeed equipped with a 1.200 HP AVDS-1790-9AR V12 engine of the Mk.3. The latest generation has been updated with a 1.500 HP MTU MT883 V12 engine of the Mk.4.
That is very useful, many thanks.
The lower hull and running gear are weathered and assembled. The overall effect is passable but it is worth noting that I (and you) could save yourself time and effort by not worrying too much about this because when the side armour is fitted, virtually all of the suspension and running gear is hidden from view.
This is a case for me of, ‘I know it is there’.
Dark washes topped up with pigments and oil effects.
Now with the tracks fitted. 110 Friul links worked perfectly, and created just the right amount of track tension.
Any further pigmentation and weathering effects will be done when the upper hull is attached.
Nice work on weathering the lower hull and gear. It sure makes the whole area look real to me. 
Hi @Khouli - a quick question to you as I am building the same combo - SS-018 + SPS-021.
The SS-018 step 48 states:
Hi there Daniel.
Apologies for the delay in response but i’ve been away for four days and didn’t pick up my messages until this morning.
This is a good question because I have thought about it myself. The truth is that I don’t know which is correct. Because SS-018 specifically directs the builder to Step 3 of SS-021, the implication is that the electric motor should not be fitted.
I do not know if this is correct or not. My choice is that I am not going to fit the motors as per SS-018 instructions, but I would guess that if you wanted to fir the motors then that would be okay too.
Work has begun on the upper hull.
Straightforward enough. These clear parts (G6 & G7) are a pain though.
They are small and not particularly crisply molded and just wouldn’t fit their respective holes in the hull. The solution was to ream the holes in the hull with a rat tail file just a tiny bit. You have to be careful, because the gaps between the holes is really small anyway, so you risk damage if you’re not careful. After this, the clear parts fit much better.
I’m building the available Version A, the vehicle that mounts the Trophy APS system.
I painted and assembled the cupolas and prior to fitting, pre-painted their recesses in the hull and in fact, all other nooks and crannies and areas like around the aforementioned headlights that would otherwise later require me to do some tedious masking (the cupola periscope lenses and headlights for example). so it looks a bit ‘Panda-ish’ at the moment. As always it is a base of NATO Black over sprayed with Vallejo Sinai Grey and modulated with some Ammo Faded Sinai Grey.
Some nice PE grills come with this kit and a nice touch with Meng is that the PE is sandwiched between two clear vinyl sheets and isn’t physically attached to the PE sprue, so when you peel back the sheet, the part comes away cleanly and no cutting or clean up is required.
I’m guessing that’s a mortar next to the Section Commander’s cupola, no idea what size bombs it fires though. One thing I find unusual is the driver has three periscopes, but there doesn’t seem to be an access hatch for that position at all. Not sure if this is part of the vehicle design or an omission by Meng.
I don’t really know what the interior colour ‘should’ be so went with Creamweiss for the hatch interiors. The hatches are poseable but there’s no interior detail, so its up to you if you opt to open them (and therefore paint them).
Have now begun work on the Trophy APS sponsons.
Really looking the part now. The lower hull came out terrific and has a very convincing real look to it. Nice idea about the pre build and painting of the cupolas and the " nooks and crannies" should save a bit of pain in the long run.
As far as I know it is a 60mm Soltam mortar:
Soltam 60mm mortars
Thanks Daniel. What did you decide to do with the mine roller motors?
Hi @Khouli,
I haven’t decided yet regarding the motors, but most probably I’ll install them if they can fit.
As a side note - I just stumbled upon this picture on Wikipedia: Namer where it shows the inside portion of the hatch painted in IDF Sinai Grey. However it seems more like a “parade” or “demonstrator” vehicle - the hatch “lever” (or whatever it is called in english) is also painted in Sinai Grey and not red, so… I do not know. In my case I’d probably paint the inside in Sinay Grey but levers in red…
Interestingly, Meng’s own CAD drawings show the motors as not fitted:
But DO include these ‘Q’ parts that aould normally be omitted if you went straight to Step 3 of SPS-018
So, i’m going to leave the motors off, but include those Q parts (whatever they may be, I don’t know).
I’d say that is the most likely colour scheme. The IDF seem to paint the vast majority of handles and loops red.
The hatch interiors were not called out for a colour at all in the instructions - but, the inside of the rear ramp is - and this is flat white. I just assumed the entire interior was the same and went with off-white for the hatch undersides. However, thinking about it, it is usually common practice to paint access hatch interiors the same colour as the overall base. So, i will re-spray mine.
Thanks mate!
I’ve somehow missed these Q13+Q14+2x Q3 parts in step 1! I’d guess I’ll do the same!
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