VedranJ Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Items I'm using: - Meng M1A2 TUSK I/II Abrams - Eureka 0,9mm Tow cable - Tamiya modern us military equipment set - Voyager Modern straps and buckels - Live Resin M4 with M26 (will be modified without shotgun) - Meng fridges and water bottles - Miniart Modern US Tank crew (after they release it) Tracks - 960 parts in total... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 http://www.bhmpics.com/walls/brown_m1a2_abrams_tank-wide.jpg Before/After... Some dryfit...: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Bad solution for optics...meng made parts with fit that is to thigh...and it doesn't look well... I decided to correct that with some scratchbuild... Mirror foil 45°: Transparent foil to close it, and red tinted mirror foil for bottom part: Finished: Loader's hatch (same as driver's) is designed well... A bit more optics: EPLRS antenna - steel wire 0,6 mm, lenght 30mm, from plastic part up. Other two are 0,17mm, lenght 45mm from plastic part up. Tow bars, from a colleague, Dragon kit I think... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Browning mount on gun is modified to look like one without browning. CREW Contol box is scratchbuild, DUKE antenna also. Photos are without primer so you can see what is modified, and after that with primer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Some dryfits of things that will go up on turret (some things will be added later, so you can't see them in photos) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crushkill Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 I'm about to start a pretty serious build of some vehicles from 2007-2010 Iraq, where did you find those MRE boxes??? Also the kit looks fantastic so far, following with interest! I will say this, I've never seen an Abrams with that weird rounded armor on it, all of our tanks had the traditional block reactive armor. The TUSK upgrade was prevalent though, nothing more intimidating than looking at the business end of a tank with a .50 and 120mm coaligned Quote Link to post Share on other sites
murad Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 the hack you did to the optics in the cupola IS looking incredible. i'm looking forward to the finished beast! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Looks like it is coming along nicely. Good job so far. ...where did you find those MRE boxes??? They are part of the Tamiya Modern US Military Equipment set that he listed above. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crushkill Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 6 minutes ago, HeavyArty said: Looks like it is coming along nicely. Good job so far. They are part of the Tamiya Modern US Military Equipment set that he listed above. Thanks Heavy! One more thing I gotta add to the buy list lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) 15 hours ago, crushkill said: Thanks Heavy! One more thing I gotta add to the buy list lol. But be careful...MOLLE system slowly replaced ALICE after 2001. Also,on Croatian forum they told me that jerry can I used is not in use any more (they introduced plastic one in '93). Fresh update from yesterday: Some parts are painted... Edited October 19, 2016 by VedranJ forgot to put photos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, VedranJ said: But be careful...MOLLE system slowly replaced ALICE after 2001. Also,on Croatian forum they told me that jerry can I used is not in use any more (they introduced plastic one in '93). Again, depends on the unit and when. 3ID still had all ALICE packs for the invasion of Iraq in '03. I didn't get a new MOLLE rucksack until my second trip to Iraq in '08. There were still some metal fuel cans hanging around in the early to mid 2000s too. Edited October 19, 2016 by HeavyArty correction Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crushkill Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 50 minutes ago, HeavyArty said: Again, depends on the unit and when. 3ID still had all ALICE packs for the invasion of Iraq in '03. I didn't get a new MOLLE rucksack until my second trip to Iraq in '08. There were still some metal fuel cans hanging around in the early to mid 2000s too. I'm still in the Army, and see metal fuel cans all the time. And some of us older guys still prefer ALICE packs over MOLLE rucks. You can get away with pretty much anything old, it's the new stuff that takes forever to get out to the force. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 Sleeping mats are made of aluminium sheet, thickness cca. 0,25mm. Little canals for straps are made using non-sharp side of skalpel blade. Binocular is modified one from Tamiya box, M4 is from Live Resin, also modified with homemade optics. Straps and buckles are Voyager. Big dryfit, ratchet and strap in smaller basket will be connected differently at the end, this is only a dryfit. Some may say that this is overkill but i like it this way, Abrams is not interesting if not loaded. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
murad Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 awesome looking stowage, the straps and belts are rather unique. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crushkill Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 it is a treat to watch this one come together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Silenoz Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 nice build, with a lot of eye for detail... need to remember the trick for the optivisors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share Posted November 2, 2016 All parts finished, now painting. Armored glass is transparent, only edges are painted with a mix of blue and green. Velcro tapes are made from tamiya tape by this photo:http://www.bhmpics.com/walls/brown_m1a2_abrams_tank-wide.jpg All parts together (almost all): Quote Link to post Share on other sites
speedlimit Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 I like how busy the turret looks. Can't wait for more progress pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Those accessories are outstanding. How'd you do the camo pattern on the rucks? I have never been able replicate the ACU pattern. Just a humble suggestion, don't forget a sling for the M4 and if it were me, I'd paint the magazine a dark aluminum/grey color instead of the same color as the weapon itself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Fabulous job on the project. I have saved this one for my "Build Articles" folder and it will be my inspiration for my Meng M1A2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VedranJ Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 On 04.11.2016. at 0:57 AM, 11bee said: Those accessories are outstanding. How'd you do the camo pattern on the rucks? I have never been able replicate the ACU pattern. Just a humble suggestion, don't forget a sling for the M4 and if it were me, I'd paint the magazine a dark aluminum/grey color instead of the same color as the weapon itself. Primer first, then Revell 43 as base color. For pattern I used Revell 47 and Gunze H313 to make small "dots". Wash is MIG panel line wash Deep grey. Basic painting is done. Now gloss coat and weathering. Sand color is Gunze H313. Masks for rubber on wheels are home made, wheel hubs are painted with classic brush. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gambler Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Superb work! Very neat and precise construction. Cheer's, Jeff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Silenoz Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 nice paintjob so far. Will you add a myriad of tones to the reactive armor blocks? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 On 11/14/2016 at 5:34 AM, Silenoz said: nice paintjob so far. Will you add a myriad of tones to the reactive armor blocks? I'd suggest using moderation in this area. I've seen some models with multiple different tones of ERA, to the point that they almost look checkerboarded. While I do admit that on some tracks, there were a few blocks painted green, the vast majority of these were standard Sand color. Also, if you are modeling a specific M1, at a specific time, I'd check references. The supplemental, curved anti-EFP armor panels were seen much less commonly than the standard ERA bricks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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