Heng Long 3958-1 IDF Merkava IV basic version to metal upgrade

[MrChef]

Merkava 4 tanks were painted a green color that the IDF used during the period they were introduced.
sometime around 2015 the color seems to have changed to a khaki green color.

one thing to note about that chart which I have and have shared as well, The dates are off a bit and in the 90s there was a dark khaki tan that was used, the green came after that, AK markets this dark tan as modern “since 1990” which only applies to the period before the green was adopted.

And all the colors are named siani grey since the 80s so trying to match the color for the era you want will literally drive you crazy. Rubicon can attest to my color color disphoria over this issue. I painted my hooben merk 3 times trying to get the current modern color correct.

I you want the early periods green a dark green is good not nato green, and then get it dirty with thick dust. I literally shoveled thin dirt in my tank after the last paint job and it looked perfect.

For the current color, a dark khaki mixed with 10-20% green gets you in the ballpark. Then get it dirty as there are no clean markavas lol.
I believe the brightness of the real merk in the photo below is a bit over saturataed which brightens the green a bit.

Hey Rich do you want to share that Pic that was in the FB group that you shared of the real Merkava?

I saved the pic but will not post it since it was your post. If you want though or don't have it available I can post it up, just say so.

Anton

[RichJohnson]

I have posted so many Merkava pics I don’t know which one you are referring to and knowledge is free sharing but if it’s something someone else came up with it’s courteous to credit them. As far as sharing a pic of a real tank I posted elsewhere just go ahead, especially since I don’t recall which one you want to reference.

[MrChef]

[keilau]

The Heng Xin ML59 ball bearing gearbox is on sale for $35 at Toucan Hobby US store. It is an excellent upgrade for the HL Merkava, even if you get the Heng Long type B steel gearbox. See post #9.

https://www.toucanhobby.com/products/th16751-dzn1

[MrChef]

The Heng Xin ML59 ball bearing gearbox is on sale for $35 at Toucan Hobby US store. It is an excellent upgrade for the HL Merkava. See post #9.
https://www.toucanhobby.com/products/th16751-dzn1

Thats a freakin steal/deal... I gotta stop following your posts keilau. Last time I won a cheap Tiger I from Toucans Ebay auction. Funny how they always start off cheap. Then,,, then...

Great heads up. 👍

[keilau]

The more you buy, the more you save.

[keilau]

I got an email from twin-horse.com to send the Paypal for the nylon track to a third party. It sounds like a sister business of them and legit. I sent the payment yesterday and am waiting to hear from them. The Hooben nylon track is priced at $85 and does not have the HL track's open pin problem. From my experience with the Tamiya nylon track for German Leopard 2A6, I like nylon the best as track material, strong and medium in weight. From RichJohnson experience with the Hooben track, I feel that it has a good chance working with the HL metal sprocket. I am crossing my figure for that.

I received the Hooben nylon track on 12/19. It is quite fast from China. Twin-horse use a carrier service that provide detail tracking of each steps which is exceptional too.

The track is very different from the HL track. It represents the 2014 Merkava track when Merkava Mk4 was introduced. It is a double pin design. I will try it later today.

[RichJohnson]

Good luck. I know it will fit on the sprocket but I dont know if it will actually run.

[keilau]

Good luck. I know it will fit on the sprocket but I don't know if it will actually run.

The fun of experimental upgrade. If it fits, it should run unless it were too tight or too loose. The tracks came with a few spare pieces and pins. I feel it has a good chance of working well.

[keilau]

The fun of experimental upgrade. If it fits, it should run unless it were too tight or too loose. The tracks came with a few spare pieces and pins. I feel it has a good chance of working well.

NO, it does not fit. The Hooben nylon track DOES NOT fit the Heng Long sprocket. The Hooben track has a 11.25mm pitch vs the Heng Long 9.55mm. The track width are compatible.

Will the Hooben sprocket fit over a Heng Long gearbox drive shaft? At the Hooben parts page, it shows that the Hooben 1/16 tanks use the CNC or Cross Current gearbox for Heng Long. But they do not sell the sprocket separately. Can I buy a pair of the Hooben sprocket anywhere? Back to square one.

[RichJohnson]

The tracks do t fit at all?
I wrapped a section of a few links around the sprocket and it fit and keyed on with the timing. I kinda thought it might work. I’m sorry.
can you file the pitch of the teeth to make them fit if that is the issue?


The hooben sprockets run on a double D shaft. Like Tamiya.
I do not know if the back spacing of the sprocket is similar to the henglong. My hooben has their typical transmissions not a cross drive.
My son might buy a henglong merk, if he does I will test fit the sprocket alignment

[keilau]

The tracks do t fit at all?
I wrapped a section of a few links around the sprocket and it fit and keyed on with the timing. I kinda thought it might work. I’m sorry.
can you file the pitch of the teeth to make them fit if that is the issue?


The hooben sprockets run on a double D shaft. Like Tamiya.
I do not know if the back spacing of the sprocket is similar to the henglong. My hooben has their typical transmissions not a cross drive.
My son might buy a henglong merk, if he does I will test fit the sprocket alignment

The HL sprocket teeth fits into the Hooben track holes alright. But the tank axial length of each individual track piece is 11.25mm for the Hooben. The Heng Long track piece is a narrower 9.55mm which is what the HL sprocket designed for. The Hooben track will not wrap around the Heng Long sprocket properly.

I have emailed twin-horse.com about getting the Hooben sprocket, but have not heard back yet.

[MrChef]

The HL sprocket teeth fits into the Hooben track holes alright. But the tank axial length of each individual track piece is 11.25mm for the Hooben. The Heng Long track piece is a narrower 9.55mm which is what the HL sprocket designed for. The Hooben track will not wrap around the Heng Long sprocket properly.

I have emailed twin-horse.com about getting the Hooben sprocket, but have not heard back yet.

Does the Hooben sprocket fit the Heng Long output shafts? Somehow I vaguely remember that they're not compatible. I do hope it works out for you but also thanks for sharing this information.

[keilau]

Does the Hooben sprocket fit the Heng Long output shafts? Somehow I vaguely remember that they're not compatible. I do hope it works out for you but also thanks for sharing this information.

Will the Hooben sprocket fit over a Heng Long gearbox drive shaft? At the Hooben parts page, it shows that the Hooben 1/16 tanks use the (same) CNC or Cross Current gearbox for Heng Long. But they do not sell the sprocket separately. Can I buy a pair of the Hooben sprocket anywhere? Back to square one.

I have emailed twin-horse.com about getting the Hooben sprocket, but have not heard back yet.

[MrChef]

Maybe a sticky Hooben track issue...

[keilau]

Maybe a sticky Hooben track issue...

What is a "sticky Hooben track"? There is no chance of the Hooben track working with a Heng Long sprocket due to the different pitch of individual track pieces.

[SoCalBobS]

It’s a joke, see the picture?

[cmdrcody]

Maybe a sticky Hooben track issue...

I'd like to be the fly on the wall to hear the conversation between the driver and his commanding officer afterwards this incident.

[Bailinout]

Squeeze the trigger, That should get her back on the tracks.

[keilau]

I received the Hooben nylon track on 12/19. It is quite fast from China. Twin-horse use a carrier service that provide detail tracking of each steps which is exceptional too.

The track is very different from the HL track. It represents the 2014 Merkava track when Merkava Mk4 was introduced. It is a double pin design. I will try it later today.

I found Acemodel-1 on ebay selling metal tracks for 1/35 Merkava. They have different sets for various Merkava revision.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/22561702457...Cclp%3A4406038
The AceModel metal track for Merkava Mk4 has the same shape as the Hooben nylon track. If AceModel did the reserach correctly, their listing provide a handy reference for the Merkava tracks.

Now, only if I can find a Hooben Merkava sprocket.................