Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a highly detailed, professionally assembled and painted 1:35 scale military model of the Israeli Merkava Mark 3 main battle tank. It features a front-mounted KMT-4 mine roller attachment, intricate turret-mounted machine guns, and realistic weathering, housed in a custom acrylic display case.
Story
Engineered in Israel during the late 1980s, the Merkava prioritized crew survival above all else by placing the engine in the front. This miniature replica captures the tank configured for hazardous mine-clearing operations.
Maker / Origin
While the original plastic kit components were manufactured by a major hobby brand like Academy, the true 'maker' of this piece is the anonymous scale modeler. This hobbyist spent dozens of hours meticulously assembling, gluing, painting, and weathering the tiny parts to bring this historical machine to life.
Condition & Value
The model appears to be in excellent, fully assembled condition with no obvious broken parts or missing pieces. It has been well-protected inside its clear acrylic display case, which has kept it free of dust and physical damage. Excellent condition on fragile models like this commands a premium.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.