The Official M1 Abrams Group Build 2011

I'm building a Tamiya M1A2 Abrams with Voyager PE. Echelon decals, aluminum barrel and AFV Club tracks. I hope I don't make a fool of myself since this will be the first time I post pictures of a model I'll build.

Mike- My build is the Tamiya 1/35 M1A2, with scratchbuilt details and Legends stowage set.

Order of battle updated, gents! KC, congrats on being first to post a pic!

I'll get a box shot of my Tami M1A1 up later, so it looks like we'll have a Tamiya threesome heading off from the start line together.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

As promised, here's the one I'll lead off with:

Note the sticker in Hebrew, this was an eBay win from far across the world!

This kit has the same lower hull as the 1982 tooling, Cookie Sewell has an article about the Tamiya kits (review of their -A2, actually) at Hyperscale in which he says the lower hull is the biggest let down of the updated editions. Can anyone recommend a data source for what the lower hull detailing should look like? Perhaps it's something that can be scratched onto the stock part with a bit of ingenuity... (Of course, I could take a look under a Dragon or Trumpeter...

Here's that review:

http://misc.kitreview.com/armourreviews/m1a2tamiyareviewcs_1.htm

Cheers, M/TB379

Here is what I'm going to be attacking over the next twelve months...

Thunderbolt, if you need any info for your Tamiya lower hull let me know.  According to the PMMS review, this kit is supposedly the most accurate M1A1 kit for it's time.  It looks REALLY REALLY good.  If you need other references, I have the older Dragon M1A1-HA from the mid 90s in the stash as well.  Just let me know what you need, scans of the instructions, macro photos, whatever.

Matt -- that looks one heck of a kit! Many thanks, I'll take you up on that offer, a look at the lower hull would go a long way to providing the info needed to gussy up the Tamiya part with details that came along long after it was tooled. Hopefully some plasticard and ingenuity and it'll be a bit closer to its real life self!

Mike

Over the holidays while doing research I found these two sites

http://vodnik.net/pages/m1-comparison/m1comp1.htm

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26b%3D43%26ni%3D21%26va%3Dm1a2%26xargs%3D0%26pstart%3D1%26fr%3Dslv8-tyc8&w=2848&h=2144&imgurl=data4.primeportal.net%2Ftanks%2Fjeff_derosa%2Fm1a2_details%2Fimages%2Fm1a2_details_013_of_125.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.primeportal.net%2Ftanks%2Fjeff_derosa%2Fm1a2_details%2F&size=777KB&name=M1A2+Abrams+Deta...&p=m1a2&oid=3d61d9c2c6ef582224177a6bc3110b86&fr2=&no=50&tt=19600&b=43&ni=21&sigr=11q876dsg&sigi=12nnvtcm6&sigb=13d8rm2lu&.crumb=s8Aio4UHl5x

Sorry for the long link. I didn't know it would be that long but the site does show some great close up photos of the M1A2.

KC -- terrific links, that comparison site will take some careful studying to make sure that as many details as possible are up to speed.

Here's a thought -- when did the T-158 track replace the T-156? Before or after ODS? Maybe that shows up in the text, it'll certainly guide whether to settle for the original tracks or if it's worth finding some AMs with the guide horns in the right places.

Cheers, M/TB379

Alright...

My build for this GB is one I started a couple of years back.  I started with the basic Tamiya 1/35 M1A2 kit, and added some missing details to the turret top, and the front deck.  I also upgraded the small steps on the front skirts with wire.  The square pieces on the top front of the skirts was replaced with some sheet brass folded to shape. 

In these two photos, you can see the added details to the turret:

The added bits to the skirts:

I spent a lot of time masking the turret top and hull for a coat of textured spray paint to replicate the non slip surfaces:

Some other details added here and there.  In this photo, you can also see the brass tow cable brackets and holders I fabricated from brass sheet and wire:

Lightening holes drilled in main sprockets, and road wheels beat up a bit:

Base paint laid on, and decals added:

Stripes on barrel were masked and painted on.  The "F4" on the rear board was cut into it's individual components, and applied one by one to eliminate any silvering from the decals. 

That is where I am at right now!  Next up, to clean up the stowage and begin placing it around the vehicle.  Lots more work to do!

You'll be the first one done by the looks of it, Frank!  You're busy on an Abrams for my GB, I'll be busy on Fw 190s in the next few weeks for yours!

I better get the badges made...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

You'll be the first one done by the looks of it, Frank! 

Hahaha... not likely mate!  I just finished the original build for the first RD GB.   I build at glacier speed, so I will most likely be one of the last ones finished here.

I'll be looking forward to seeing that 190!

I might have jamed my self up. I found photos of the tanks that are in my Ecelon decals set and the ones in the 1st Cav Div have those extra bustle racks in the back, the model I have does not have one.

Anybody know if there is an after market rack? I'm not that good with scratchbuilding so I either find another rack or I'll get a different set of decales.

Any ideas?

KC -- yes there is! I saw it recently, as in this last week, but can't remember where... Websearch on it! The secondary rack io definitely made ion 1:35...

M/TB379

Thunderbolt379

KC -- yes there is! I saw it recently, as in this last week, but can't remember where... Websearch on it! The secondary rack io definitely made ion 1:35...

M/TB379

If you ever come across it please let me know. I thought I had seen one when I searched for the other things but wasn't sure.I know Legend makes a storage set but it didn't have the extra rack.

I think I found it, it was a PE set. I hope that's all I need.

Eduard makes a bustle rack extension set, seen here.  HTH!

Daywalker

Eduard makes a bustle rack extension set, seen here.  HTH!

That's what I just ordered. Thanks.

Some progress tonight, after having my garage door opener chain break while I was pulling in after work...$335 later...

Lower Hull with everything but the road wheels and drive sprocket added:

The turret plug is about halfway complete.  One thing I found really odd with this kit is the backplate mount for the smoke grenades.  The mold and sprue attachment points were thick and very rough.  I'll have to putty them up just to meet with the base of the turret.  I also broke one of the two antennae (surprise, surprise) but luckily it was the straight antenna to the left of the cupola.  Easy fix down the road, just cut off the remaining piece so I still have the antenna base to drill out and install a new one later.  Why something that small and delicate had six sprue attachment points is beyond me.

Of course here are the obligatory "wheels stuck in styrofoam while drying shots":

That's the update for tonight.  After everything on the turret plug sets up, I'll fill in the gaps.  Oh the top section of the rear bustle snapped on me as well, did my best to get it together as best I could.  Those should definitely be PE addons in this kit, in my opinion.

Kentucky Colonel

Daywalker:

Eduard makes a bustle rack extension set, seen here.  HTH!

 

 

That's what I just ordered. Thanks.

Hey guys,

Be aware that there were two distinct types of bustle rack extension used during OIF.

The Eduard set referenced above will provide what's commonly referred to as the "USMC style" bustle rack, used by the USMC and by army units post-OIF. This design is made up of tubular rails and and sheet metal brackets with a mesh base with "outriggers" on either end of the BRE to carry jerrycans. This style of BRE is included in Academy's "M1A1 Iraq 2003" kit and Dragon's M1A2 SEP kit.

The other style is often referred to as the "3ID style" BRE which is essentially a box framed with angled and flat steel stock, with mesh sides and floor. I believe these were manufactured in Kuwait during the build-up. This type was (erroneously) included in Dragon's older USMC M1A1 (Heavy Armour) kit #3531 and (correctly) in the newer M1A1 AIM kit #3535

Note that if you are using the latter type of bustle rack extension, you may wish to scratchbuild one or more three-can jerry can racks in a similar pattern, attached to the turret side rails.  (Note that this is included in Dragon's M1A1 AIM kit #3535). I haven't found many photos of these, but they can be seen in the photos accompanying Echelon's decal set #35014 "US Army's 3rd Infantry Division OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM"

 EDIT: KC, you should be good to go with the "USMC style" BRE, seeing that it's going on an M1A2. Note that it's also not a permanent fixture amd can be mounted/demounted as required.

Phil, Thanks for the heads up. I've got pictures of the real tanks that from the Echelon decals set and I'm going by that as much as possible. I would post a link to the pictures but it will be another long link. Maybe I can post a picture or two instead.

Two of the  tanks in the Echelon set were damanged and were on their way to  the repair yard when they came under attack and were damanged more. Just a few days later the same repair yard was under attack and they used those damanged tanks to fight back.

I've thought about doing one of them damenged or how they looked before they got into the fighting.

Here a couple pictures. I'll be doing the C31. The C33 in the last picture had a mine plow which I don't have.

Here's a pic of the BRE when empty.

http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08871

(on a USMC M1A1, but it's mounted exactly the same on an M1A2)

Looking at the pics above, you can see the EPLRS antenna left of the spare roadwheel. It's not included in the Tamiya kit and you may wish to consider adding it.

http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08885

Rightmost antenna mount, centre of pic from rear of the right-side corner of the turret looking forward . It projects from the turret side aft of the stowage bin.

Below is a link to a pic of the power connector block (not present in the Tamiya kit) beside the driver's hatch.

http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/brent_sauer/m1a2/images/m1a2_21_of_33.jpg

Note also that if you are depicting an M1A2 SEP, you may have to add the VCU (Vapor compression Unit) to the bustle rack. The Tamiya kit does not provide this, only having the EAPU (External Auxiliary Power Unit) , as the kit pre-dates the SEP mods.

So is the C31 a SEP or not. Those photos were taken in April 2004.

Looks like they were SEP tanks. I guess I'll forget the Echelon decals and  go with a straight M1A2 and use the Tamiya decals. Unless I can find a after market VCU.

Kentucky Colonel

So is the C31 a SEP or not. Those photos were taken in April 2004.

I would presume so, as there are references indicating that 1st Cav began receiving M1A2 SEP's about mid-2001. Looking at the pics above, it's difficult to see any of the distinguishing features to positively identify it.

EDIT: Re the VCU, you could do it the easy way,  just scratch an approximate shape, then put a "tarp" over it and pile on a load of stowage. then all you'd need to do is add the armour for the VCU plumbing on the underside of the turret bustle. I'm almost sure I've seen diagrams of this. -even better, check Gino's M1A2 build pics here

A couple more questions.. Can I use a bustle rack extension on a straight M1A2 or should I leave it off? Or ever build a USMC M1A2?

Update, I might try to do it the way you last posted. I'll try that first and see how it looks then make up my mind.

Thanks!!

Hi KC,

The USMC doesn't use M1A2's.

I believe you can put the BRE on a "straight" M1A2. I don't know where this pic was taken but it seems to show a non-SEP M1A2 with the same type of BRE you have ordered.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2008/08/m1a2.jpg

Note the EAPU in the bustle rack (not the VCU) and that this tank still has the left rear filler cap. I'm taking these to be indicators of an "early" M1A2, but I'm more than happy to be corrected)

Thought I might post this here. While doing some research on some other forums talking to Iraq vets I was offered a private tour of the M1A2 SEP and M1A2 TUSK tanks at Fort Knox. He said I could craw all around inside and out all I wanted. They are in the progress of shipping the entire div to Fort Benning, Ga. They will not have any tanks at Fort Knox any more. I'm going to try my best to get over there soon.