Kne-Mida (In Scale) – IPMS Israel Magazine No. 48, 8/2008

The Centurion in IDF service – by Guri Roth

Indigenously known as the "Shot", the Centurion had been originally designed by 1943 as the A41, the first Centurions had left the production line by 1945, by the cessation of hostilities in Europe.

By the end of the Suez campaign in 1956, the importance of the use of armored elements within the IDF has led to the decision to buy advanced tanks.
The first tanks had arrived, clandestinely, by 1959 to the port of Haifa.

The early years were spent for extensive training and getting acquaintance with the complex machine.
The Israeli models were mostly 7 & 8, with the extended fuel capacity and the 105 mm L7 gun.
By the beginning of the Six Days war, the IDF already possessed some 500 "Shot"s.
The Shot had shown its superiority over opposing Arab tank elements, including Jordanian Centurions.

During the years after this war and due to the desire to unite the elements in use, some American elements had been installed to the existing frames.
These included the 750 hp TCM diesel engine, automatic drive gear and a new power division.
This model was known as the "Shot-cal"

By the beginning of the Yom Kippur war, some 172 "Shot"s had been holding the Israeli front line in the Golan Heights, facing some 900 Syrian T-55 & T-62.
Engaged in fierce and bloody battles, it had been able to stop the advancing Syrian amour and eventually repel it back to the Syrian territory.

By the end of the war, large quantities of Patton tanks had been introduced into service.
A further need for unification had led to the installation of a new turret control system ("Shot-cal B") and an hydraulic gun stabilizing system ("Shot-cal C").

During the 80's, a new fire control system, gun thermal sleeve and a meteorological pole had been installed, resulting in a much more fire accurate "Shot-cal D" version.

By the end of the 70's, the IDF had begun developing a heavy APC, which will essentially replace the vulnerable M-113.
By removing the turret from the "Shot-cal A" model, the IDF had gained a heavy, roomy and efficient crew protecting APC, able to operate in the same tempo as that of the armored elements.
Called "Nagmashot", it had entered service by the early 80's.

The next stage included addition of a belly armor, and extra upper armor for the infantry compartment, this model is known as the "Nagmachon".
Additional improvements had been implemented in order to adjust to the low intensity conflict fighting, especially in the Gaza strip.

Another significant modification was the "Puma" engineering vehicle, which is based on the hull of the "Shot-cal C".
This model is intended for assisting forces in advancing through hostile territory, neutralizing mine fields and overcoming anti-tanks obstacles.

"shot" models review

For modeling the basic "Shot", one can use the Modelcraft/Minicraft/Tamiya or one of the AFV Club kits 35122, 35159 & 35100.

1. Meteor "Shot" - The original British Centurion tank can be modeled from the AFV 35159 with the AFV AC35009 conversion kit. This is a mark 5 Centurion kit, for which the AFV AG35018 84 mm kit is recommended.

2. "Shot-cal" - AFV had just issued its new 35124 kit. A quick review of this kit led us to the conclusion that this specific model can be built straight from the box.
   
   
3. "Shot-cal C" - It is assumed that AFV is working on a new kit of this model.

4. "Shot-cal D" - Cromwell had recently issued its CA139 resin conversion kit.

5. "Nagmashot" - Legend Productions kit 1148 applies for the early Modelcraft/Minicraft/Tamiya kits.

6. "Nagmachon" - Legend Productions kit 1154 applies for the early Modelcraft/Minicraft/Tamiya kits.

7. "Nagmachon" LIC - Legend Productions kit 1162 applies for the early Modelcraft/Minicraft/Tamiya kits.

8. "Nakpadon" - AEF Designs kit KI-116 applies for all "Shot" kits.

9. "Puma" - Legend Productions kit 1042 is the only conversion kit available for this model.

As for other accessory kits, the "Foreigner" mine clearing mechanism can modeled by combining the Legend Productions kit 1161 with Academy kits 1367 or 1359.
As for the track links, AFV Club kit 35102 is recommended for most models, while for the "Nagmachon" LIC & "Nakpadon" models, AFV Club kit 35162 is recommended.

For completion, color photos of these models appear on pages 19 & 22.

Creating surface plane for Dioramas – by Eyal Reinfeld

Eyal describes creating surfaces for Leclerc & ISU-122 dioramas.
First stage is deciding on the actual scene to be created, in these cases, a UN French Leclerc tank and a WWII Russian ISU-122 tank destroyer.

A full article appears in www.degem.net

A weekend with your son, a model in two days – by Alexander Zimbalov

In this article, Alexander gives us a great idea for a wet winter weekend: building a paper model with your 5 years old son.
The two governing parameters are simplicity and looks, since the kid has to love the end result.
The candidate model was a light house at the city of Kolobrzeg, Poland.
The model is made by ABC Company, it is composed of 49 parts and it occupies two A4 pages.
All together, it took 4-5 hours to finish the model.

Multi Engine Trainers: The Avro Anson,  Airspeed Oxford and Airspeed Consul – by Ilan Warshai and Noam Hartoch

Basically three types for training purposes, they were acquired and introduced into 114 squadron, the multi engine training squadron of the newly established flying school, at Kfar Sirkin, in 1949.

Avro 652A Anson

By 1948, 5 RAF surplus mark 1 had been acquired.
Four of which had reached Israel not before Dec. 1949, after having been confiscated by Greek authorities during its transfer flight to Israel.
It had received the tail numbers 2901-2904.
By 1950, two additional mark 10, 2905 & 2906 had been purchased, followed by additional three mark 10, 2907-2909.
Eventually, all had been withdrawn from use by April 1956.

Airspeed AS-10/40 Oxford and Airspeed AS-65 Consul

The first eight Consuls had arrived to Israel during March and November 1949.
It had received the tail numbers 2801-2804 & 2806-2809.
During 1950, additional 2, 2805 & 2810 had been purchased, followed by 2811 in 1951.

Some of it had been sold to the than civil arm of the IAF, "Al Sam".
For this purpose, it had received civilian registrations as follows:

1. 4X-ACO for A/C 2803
2. 4X-ACV for A/C 2807
3. 4X-ACR for A/C 2808
4. 4X-ACP for A/C 2809
5. 4X-ACQ for A/C 2810

Later on the need for additional Consuls had arisen, but this time, the civil type, AS-10 Oxford
had been purchased.
The first two, 2812 & 2813 had arrived to Israel in Dec. 1951 and two additional, 2814 & 2815 in July 1952.

It service in the IAF was of no significant events.
It had been used initially for training Dakota crews, the trainees having gained 30 hours of instruments flights.
By 1949, the navigator's course was established, during which the trainees began with the Consul/Oxford, than transferring to the Dakotas.
Eventually, all had been withdrawn from use during 1956/1957.

Marking and coloring

All Anson had been painted silver-dope, save for 2901 which had been camouflaged.
All had dark marking strips, probably red or orange.
A single strip had been applied on the rear fuselage and two over the wings.
The IAF emblem had been painted on both sides of the fuselage and over the starboard wing and under the port wing.
The Oxford/Consul had been painted in the same manner, although at least two had been panted yellow.
The tail number had been painted black adjacent to the IAF emblem, on four locations.
It had the last two digits only without the prefix 28 or 29.

Anson kits

Excellent kits exist in 1:48th scale, most by Classic Airframes, which represent three sub types of mark 1.
These are kits 4118, 4119, 4120, 4121 & 4122, of which 4121 is the most recommended for an IAF model.
Special Hobbies had issued kit 48081, an equivalent to 4120, with PE parts.
There are some PE detailing kits by Flightpath and a canopy masking kit by Eduard.

In 1:72nd scale exists the old Airfix mark 1 kit.
A much better Special Hobby mark 1 kit 72074 had been issued a few years ago.
PE detailing kits by Flightpath and a canopy masking kit by Eduard, exist for this scale also.

Consul/Oxford kits

A single 1:72nd Pavla Oxford AS-10/40 exists in the market.
The kit contains decaling for IAF A/C 2814.

IPMS-ISRAEL annual contest

The annual contest had been held at the IAF House in Herzliya on Dec. 9, 2007.
The event marked the beginning of the 20th year of IPMS-Israel.

Building a WWII Tiger Tank Assembly Factory diorama – by Asher Shmuelevitz

In this article, Asher shares with us the various stages of modeling a German Tiger assembly factory.
Asher chose to model a TAKT8 (stage 8) of the assembly line.
The diorama was design on the base of a 50x60 cm rotating tv base.
Asher details the hangar floor, walls, roof and other internal accessories.
Asher also details modeling the "Zimmerit" armor and single piece track links.

Creating diorama bases – by Daniel Oren

In this article, Daniel details 4 different diorama bases:

1. A road made of circular stones.
2. Large rectangular bricks.
3. Small bricks
4. Country side with a small hill

The article contains many photos which clearly explains the major steps in creating each base.

IPMS-ISRAEL visit to Ramon Air Base

This year's visit was in Ramon air base, home of the Sufa (F-16I) and Apache squadrons.