This TAMIYA kit of the Israeli Merkava tank has got to be one of my favorite military vehicles.

Designed through years of war experience, this tank is regarded as one of the best in the world. The only flaw in the design was the weakly protected rear of the turret. This was rectified with the 'ball and chain' system.

It was this weak spot that I decided I would super-detail using 'costume' chain and beads.

First lengths of chain 4 links long were cut and then beads 'super glued' to one end. Pieces of short wire were cut and heated and then inserted into the underside of the turret. These were trimmed to length and bent into a hook, the chains were then hung off these hooks one by one.

The figures are a combination of bits from my spares box and Verlinden parts.

The building was made by constructing a balsa frame and then detailed using 'DAS' modeling clay.

The ground work is 'kitty litter' which was detailed with just about everything I could find in my 'spares' box.