IDF Sho't Kal "Gimel" Tank by CDW - FINISHED - Amusing Hobby - 1:35 Scale

[CDW]

Another armored subject, an Israel Defense Force tank purchased from the British and modified to IDF specifications. These tanks began life as a Centurian before conversion to Sho't Kal Gimel standards. 

Edited July 24, 2022 by CDW

[Canute]

Battering ram? That's intriguing.

[ccoyle]

Ah, reminds of my days spent playing "Arab-Israeli Wars" from Avalon Hill.

[CDW]

A look at the parts trees and instructions

 

 

[CDW]

Construction begins with the suspension components. There are two of these

 

and four of these

 

 

[CDW]

With suspension trucks completed and relevant parts prepared, it’s time to assemble the lower hull.

 

[CDW]

[CDW]

From Tank-Encyclopedia dot com:

 

The Israeli Sho’t

The Israeli Army took the best the Centurion had to offer. The first purchase of Centurions Mk. 5, in the early sixties, arrived right in time to help improve an army which was until then equipped mostly with Sherman tanks and light French AMX-13s among other types. The Centurion was the IDF’s first and main battle tank for years, as it became legendary in 1967 and saw extensive modernization campaigns. The biggest change for the local Sho’t (Hebrew for “scourge” or “whip”), was the Continental AVDS-1790-2A diesel engine coupled with the Allison CD850-6 transmission (1970). The Sho’t Kal upgrade (1974) saw the introduction of Mk. 13 armor and pintle mount 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) HMG. The Kal Alef, Bet, Gimel and Dalet were upgrades for the turret rotating mechanism, gun stabilizer, fire-control system and ultimately a new ERA composite armor (Dalet). Now retired or sold, their chassis are still in use through conversions.

[CDW]

Drive gear housing and sprockets assemblies

 

 

[CDW]

Finishing up the drive sprockets and idler wheels. Track link assemblies are next. 
 

 

[CDW]

The track links are beautifully molded, the best I have seen in a model kit so far. All the individual links are separated in a bag and do not require the tedious cutting from a sprue and cleanup. However, the intended “working” feature is not a practical one as its almost impossible to snap the links together without breaking a hinge pin. Therefore I will be cementing my links together once I have conformed them around the sprockets and idler wheels which won’t be until after I have painted the lower hull and wheels.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

moving right along........very nice detail   I wonder if that brace in the front is the attachment point for a mine sweeper.  I saw a kit on old model kits the other day that had such an attachment on the tank

  

[CDW]

5 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

moving right along........very nice detail   I wonder if that brace in the front is the attachment point for a mine sweeper.  I saw a kit on old model kits the other day that had such an attachment on the tank

  

Pretty sure it's a battering ram...an urban warfare tool.

[CDW]

With the track links assembled, moved on to the aft end of the hull where the kit provides a considerable amount of detail. The box on the upper right of the hull is a communications box. Inside is a photo etch brass receiver bracket and a handset. The small door laying below unattached could be posed open to show off the detail if one desired to do a diorama.

 

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by CDW

[CDW]

The tracks are attached temporarily until I get further along with hull construction and am ready for painting. At that time will remove the tracks for painting then permanently assemble afterward. The idler wheel assemblies provide the ability to tighten the tracks as required before cementing them in place.

 

 

[Egilman]

Looking good brother... Setting the tracks is the right move in my opinion, they are nice looking tracks, production molding is getting better and better...

[CDW]

2 minutes ago, Egilman said:

Looking good brother... Setting the tracks is the right move in my opinion, they are nice looking tracks, production molding is getting better and better...

And new company names are popping up all over the place. This is my first Amusing Hobby kit. At first, I thought maybe this kit was a re-pop of the AFV Club kit, but it's not. All I know is the kit is made in China, but I am inclined to believe maybe the parent company is out of Japan.

[CDW]

Slow and steady. The upper hull is a multi piece affair with photo etch yet to be added. 
I moved 42 heavy boxes down a flight of stairs today and loaded them on a truck. Going to take it easy the remainder of the night. Got my cardiovascular exercise for the day. Have not done that much stair climbing in a long time. Reminds me of my football training when I was a lad. 
 

 

 

 

[CDW]

Side by side comparison between the Sho’t Kal Gimel, M50, and T62. The Sho’t Kal was a big tank.

 

 

[Egilman]

1 hour ago, CDW said:

The Sho’t Kal was a big tank.

Yep, they were bulky....

 

Going to be a nice addition to the collection....

[CDW]

Fenders dry fitted. Will be attached permanently after painting lower hull, road wheels, and tracks.

 

 

[CDW]

The idea of counterexplosion (kontrvzryv in Russian) in armor was first proposed by the Scientific Research Institute of Steel (NII Stali) in 1949 in the USSR by academician Bogdan Vjacheslavovich Voitsekhovsky (1922–1999). The first pre-production models were produced during the 1960s. However, insufficient theoretical analysis during one of the tests resulted in all of the prototype elements being blown up. For a number of reasons, including the accident, as well as a belief that Soviet tanks had sufficient armor, the research was ended. No more research was conducted until 1974 when the Ministry of the Defensive Industry announced a contest to find the best tank protection project.

A West German researcher, Manfred Held carried out similar work with the IDF in 1967–1969.[2] Reactive armor created on the basis of the joint research was first installed on Israeli tanks during the 1982 Lebanon war and was judged very effective.

 

The Sho't Kal Gimel has the distinction of carrying the first instances of reactive armor. In these photos, I have just installed the ERA on the upper hull. Also the battering ram has been shown here in its position.

 

 

Edited July 16, 2022 by CDW

[Canute]

Interesting design. Openings look significant, but it would take the "golden BB' for an effective strike on the hull Never was much of a tread head, so this is extremely informative. Thanks.

[Old Collingwood]

So liking this one  Craig, very tidy build  smart looking  tank.

 

OC.

[CDW]

Just now, Canute said:

Interesting design. Openings look significant, but it would take the "golden BB' for an effective strike on the hull Never was much of a tread head, so this is extremely informative. Thanks.

AFV's and anti-tank weapons are ever evolving. This machine represents a specific evolutionary moment in time for the IDF, in or around 1982.

 

Just now, Old Collingwood said:

So liking this one  Craig, very tidy build  smart looking  tank.

 

OC.

 

Thanks for the comment's gentlemen.   

[CDW]

Lots of parts go onto the turret

 

 

[CDW]

Been putting a lot of time in on the turret but there remains more to do. Obviously the main gun, but also a stowage basket that looks a little tedious. Can’t complain as all the parts have fit very well so far. First Amusing Hobby kit has been a great experience so far.

Zoom in close to see a pair of Uzi’s mounted on the turret near each hatch. There are two 30 cal Machine guns and a big IR lamp yet to be mounted.

All ERA armor now in place.

 

 

[Egilman]

Yep that was a very busy beast....

[lmagna]

Starting to run out of places to put stuff! I wonder how well those Uzi's would function after a couple of hours cross country in the desert! I certainly would not want to be the guy to have to clean them!

[CDW]

1 hour ago, lmagna said:

Starting to run out of places to put stuff! I wonder how well those Uzi's would function after a couple of hours cross country in the desert! I certainly would not want to be the guy to have to clean them!

An interesting question to be sure. Seems they would be a dust magnet.