Tamiya 1/35 Israeli Merkava MBT
About the Israeli Merkava MBT
In 1948, one of the many problems facing the new Jewish state of Israel was a total absence of armoured fighting vehicles, and the restrictions applied to nations who had tanks, but were refused the ability to sell them outside of their own countries, made the situation for Israel almost hopeless in obtaining any. They managed to get some derelict Sherman tanks that were going to be scrapped and a few armoured cars, but the number obtained was insufficient for the creation of a viable force. It was these conditions that eventually led to the to the development of today's impressive Merkava line.
Following the cease fire of the 1948 war, several dozen Sherman tanks, of all types were purchased from all over the world and standardized on a production line set up in Israel, and designated the M-50 Sherman. Later, they were able to purchase the British Centurion tank which went on the same production line for rebuild to their own specifications. The country was still dependent upon other countries products for their armour needs, and often, due to situations beyond the control of Israel, they were denied shipments of requested items. The production line was receiving requests for modifications of M48 Patton tanks as well as Soviet T54 and T55's. Following the six day war, General Israel Tal felt an urgent need for self-sufficiency in major weapons such as aircraft and tanks, due to the serious cutbacks in re-supply from leading nations. He became obsessed by the idea of building tanks in Israel, and although backed by some military experts, he was regarded with some suspicion and doubt by many others. Here, with feverish ardour and imagination General Tal started the venture which in nine years produced the remarkable Merkava.
The Merkava is manned by a crew of four and its main armament is the 105mm M64 L71A tank gun, with secondary armament of a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun located in a vertical armoured slit in the turret and two additional LMG's on the commanders hatch and the loaders hatch, these are used for close-in combat and against low-flying aircraft. The driver is located to left of the power pack and can enter the rear compartment by lowering his seat back. The fighting compartment extends the whole width of the hull and is air-conditioned for crew comfort in the desert environments it was designed to operated in. Engine is a Teledyne Continental AVDS-1790 V-12 Diesel which produces 900hp.
Operating in the Southern deserts, the Merkava crews enjoy hitherto undreamed of comforts. Cooled water from a container installed at the rear provides water for drinking through a special pipe into the turret. In hot weather this is an absolutely vital necessity, making all the difference in the fighting capability of the crew. With the troop carrying capability, via the large rear door, the Merkava is truly one of the most modern and versatile armoured systems in the world and was extensively proven in the field of combat against the highly touted T-72 Soviet armour used in the recent Lebanon conflict.
Suggested Paint Colors
X-1 - Black
X-10 - Gun Metal
X-11 - Chrome Silver
X-18 - Semi Gloss Black
X-2 - White
X-23 - Clear Blue
X-7 - Red
XF-1 - Flat Black
XF-15 - Flat Flesh
XF-49 - Khaki
XF-5 - Flat Green
XF-56 - Metallic Grey
XF-57 - Buff
XF-61 - Dark Green
XF-62 - Olive Drab
XF-64 - Red Brown
Returns & Refund Policy
At Sword & Board, we want you to be satisfied with your purchase. If you are not entirely happy with your order, we are here to help.
1. Cooling-Off Period and Returns
In accordance with the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, you are entitled to cancel your purchase within 7 days of receiving your items for a full refund, subject to the following conditions:
- Condition: The items must be unopened, unused, and in their original factory-sealed packaging. Due to the nature of our products (e.g., Trading Card Games, board games with components), we cannot accept returns on items where the shrink-wrap or security seals have been broken.
- Return Shipping: The cost of returning the item to our Milnerton store is the responsibility of the customer. We recommend using a trackable shipping service, as we cannot guarantee receipt of returned items.
2. Defective or Damaged Items
If you receive an item that is damaged in transit or has a manufacturing defect (e.g., missing components or printing errors):
- Reporting: Please notify us at info@swordandboardgames.co.za within 48 hours of delivery. Please include photos of the damage and your order number.
- Resolution: We will arrange for a courier collection of the defective item. Once inspected, we will offer a replacement, a store credit, or a full refund.
- Manufacturer Defects: For certain products, we may facilitate a request for replacement parts directly from the supplier to resolve the issue quickly.
3. Non-Returnable Items
The following items cannot be returned or exchanged:
- TCG Singles and Sealed Product: Due to market volatility, Trading Card Game singles and sealed "blind" products (booster packs) are non-returnable.
- Gift Cards: Digital or physical gift cards cannot be redeemed for cash.
- Sale Items: Items purchased on "Clearance" or during specific "Flash Sales" are considered final sale unless defective.
4. Pre-order Cancellations
You may cancel a pre-order for a full refund at any time before the item has been dispatched.
- Note: If a pre-order is cancelled after we have specifically secured stock for you, or if it is a high-value special import, we reserve the right to charge a 10% administration/restocking fee.
5. Refunds
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund.
- Approved Refunds: Refunds will be processed via EFT within 2 to 3 business days.
- Store Credit: If you prefer, we can issue store credit immediately upon approval of the return.
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