Tamiya 35127 - 1:35 Merkava I

Plastic model kit of the Israeli Merkava Mk.1 main battle tank in 1:35 scale

The Merkava is a tank built around its crew: the engine was moved to the front of the hull, where it forms an additional barrier protecting the men, while the fighting compartment was shifted to the rear. Tamiya 35127 reproduces the first version of the vehicle — the Merkava Mk.1 — in 1:35 scale from tooling dating to 1983.

The model captures the characteristic wedge-shaped turret and steeply sloped hull, as well as the coil spring suspension typical of the Israeli design. Mesh is included for the ventilation grilles, along with a commander's bust figure for the hatch. The decals cover two Israeli vehicles.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and running gear parts
• 105 mm gun
• Mesh for the ventilation grilles
• Vinyl band tracks
• One figure — commander's bust
• Waterslide decal sheet for two Israeli options (tactical numbers 820035 and 837522)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35127
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 245 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The build is straightforward, and the vinyl band tracks considerably shorten the work on the running gear. The mesh for the ventilation grilles is best cut with a sharp knife and fixed with cyanoacrylate glue. The large flat surfaces of the hull and turret are ideal for airbrushing and for practising colour modulation.

Israeli tanks of this period were finished in a uniform sand-grey shade (Sinai Grey). Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a good final coat. A wash brings out the welds, hatches and grilles, while pigments can recreate desert dust on the tracks and lower hull.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the mesh
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail
• Optional: weathering pigments for desert dust

About the vehicle – Merkava Mk.1:

The Merkava came about after Israel ran into difficulties buying tanks abroad and decided to build its own. The programme was led by General Israel Tal, and the experience of the 1967 and 1973 wars led to a solution unusual by world standards: the engine was placed at the front of the hull, ahead of the crew.

The powerpack therefore acts as additional protection against frontal fire, while the space freed up at the rear of the hull can carry ammunition, wounded men or a small number of soldiers. The Merkava Mk.1 was armed with a 105 mm M64 gun, two 7.62 mm machine guns and a 60 mm mortar useful against infantry positions. It entered service in 1979 and received its baptism of fire during the fighting in Lebanon in 1982.

Original vehicle specifications (Merkava Mk.1):

• Type: main battle tank
• Main armament: 105 mm M64 gun
• Secondary armament: two 7.62 mm machine guns, 60 mm mortar
• Crew: 4
• Combat weight: approx. 63 t
• Powerplant: Teledyne AVDS-1790-6A, 900 hp, mounted at the front of the hull
• Key feature: front-mounted engine as additional crew protection
• Service: from 1979; baptism of fire in Lebanon, 1982

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade and made wooden models, releasing its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the world standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures. Tamiya instructions are clear and well illustrated, with painting guides referenced to the company's own paint range. Besides kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.