We learn more about one of Israel’s leading armour modellers.

Takom, IDF Merkava 2B.

How did you get into modelling? What are your first memories in the hobby?

The first time I became aware of this hobby was back in the early eighties. I was about thirteen years old when my parents came back from a trip to the United States and bought me a plastic model kit. It was the 1/72-scale F-4 Phantom II by Monogram. It was a wonderful model with dark olive-green parts that I could not out down until I had finished building it. I was amazed at how the construction process progressed, and how suddenly from the strange, green plastic parts a complete fighter plane emerged with all its details, missiles and bombs. I was very proud of the finished model, which although not painted, looked perfect to me.

AFV CLUB IDF M109 Doher 1.35.

From that moment, until when I entered the IDF about five years later, I was principally interested in aviation, mainly in military aviation. In that period, I built and painted dozens of models of airplanes and helicopters. At that point I was 100% sure that when I joined the IDF I would become a fighter pilot. I was indeed accepted to the prestigious IAF flight school, but a short time later I was dismissed from it and sent to an artillery unit. I was acutely disappointed and over the years I abandoned modelling completely. Thirty years later, I bought my youngest son a 1/48-scale Spitfire model as a gift. And with his enthusiasm, mine grew as well. At some point he gave up, but I didn’t ...