ARMOR - M1 Abrams Group Build

How could you show those DIRTY pictures here, Dave? Children might be watching.

He-he-he. I love it. Looks really muddy and dirty.

Just an update on my progress over the holiday weekend.
Applied decals over future gloss coat
Washed with oil / spirit mix, this again caused paint damage so stopped
Washed with artists watercolour burnt umber / lamp black mix, seems OK
Made a mud mix of white glue / water, cigarette ash, real dirt, brown and yellow oil paints and some industrial ink thinner (methanol). I applied this mix very sparingly at first, then went for it all over. I think that I will be able to remove any excess without causing too much damage to the model.
Started a base set in a sheet steel frame with polystyrene tile as a filling material and covered in wall board adhesive ( I had some left over from a job ).I carved out two deep track ruts, installed some real rocks and covered with sand befort the adhesive sets. Tomorrow I will brush off the excess sand and seal it before starting on the paint finish.
Here are 2 pics of the model to date




Comments welcome

CIP louvres and panels on Abrams, what col. are they?

oh, i'm way behind!
promise...i'll start building my M1A1-HA next week.
i have a thesis to defend this week.

nope!!! jump on in!!!!

Just asking. Is it a little too late to start now? If it is not, I would like to join

FInal dustcoat went on Saturday. It's been a busy weekend, but I'm done, completely done. It's sitting on the shelf next to the K1A1. I'll snap a few pics when I have time. My room's a mess, so cleaning is what I'll be doing tonight.

QUOTE: Originally posted by thundergod So both of these would be in use? Trying to make a fuel stain soI want to be right.

Yea, that's right all of them would be used on a daily basis, nice and grubby in the sand and dirt.

Since my last post I touched up a few spots and gave it a good coating of Future floor polish. It now looks like a showroom model. I will give it another day before I start the washing and weathering. While waiting, I have made some luggage for the vehicle from some pharmaceutical wipes, a textured tissue paper. I have made bed rolls, folded tarpaulins and some smaller kit bag-type things.

Nice work on the camo, Dave. Looks good.

So both of these would be in use? Trying to make a fuel stain soI want to be right.

Thundergod,

yup and the two next to the driver's hole are the four filler caps.

later...
Brian.

Is the gas cap on a M1 the two caps in the rear behind the tail lights?

Just a tip for doing washes. Try using painters watercolor, the one in a tube, with water & a drop or two of vinegar & dishwashing soap. I do mine using the "sepia" color which is almost black. It gives good highlights to recessed lines. This could easily be removed, if you don't like the outcome of your wash, by wiping with a damp piece of tissue.

Just checked it before I go to bed, no permanent damage. I will put on a clear coat to seal it in the morning just in case.
Only got till 11am tomorrow as it is my home towns biggest game of the season at noon and I can`t miss that. The pub will be full for the day. I may get an hour or so in the evening if I can get out of bed.

Nice cammo job Dave.

never made a wash myself yet(scared) and i don't have the stuff.

Reasons whyI am scared to death of doing a wash but they do make the model.

Thanks for the resize.
I just almost wrecked the day`s work by rushing along and starting an oil wash. I tested on an unseen part and no problems at first, so did a quick wash over the whole model. 10 minutes later and my test area started to bubble up, I had to quickly hot-air gun dry everything and hopefully not to much damage. I will not touch it until morning, fingers crossed.

lol, that helps a lot
so many nice and helpful people on this forum, y'know

here try this

well, I decided to change my hasegawa m1e1 into a m1a1 from the recent Iraq conflict. so I am putting on some extra details.

After another day`s work on the M1A1, I have pencilled in and freehand sprayed the 3 colour camo. The brown colour is not quite right but it will darken as I start the weathering etc. Should get a lot more done over the Easter holiday break.
The tracks are fitted but masked off until the weathering begins.

Beav, just as thungergod said, I create mine with stretched sprue as well. Good results, and very cheap!

QUOTE: This might be the worst Dragon kit I have built.

hehe, try building their MAZ 543-TEL (The SCUD launcher). It's a bi***. It took FOREVER to fill all the gaps. That was definitely the worst dragon kit I ever built

Well, since the tank is done, I decided to start detailing it a bit. I'll be 100% done tonight. I ended up painting and weathering spare wheels, track links, knapsacks, ammo boxes, and a helmet
Tonight, all that's left to do is colour some tissue and wrap it up.
I saw a builtup model on Armorama.com ( http://www.armorama.com/modules/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=528&password= )
I like the way this guy built his. It's very nice. I especially like the 'cloth' tied around the antenna posts. That's pretty much what I have left to do on mine. Gotta admit, building this M1 turned out to be a lot of fun, albeit it took a lot longer than what I originally planned.
If I have any complaints with the Trumpeter kits, they're as follows:
The road wheels for some reason just appear to be a little too small. Dunno, maybe it's just me. In a few weeks, I'll take pics and post.
The fit of the bustle rack, especially around the sides of the turret, is just CRAP, but that's not a surprise, since I've had that experience with pretty much all Trumpeter kits. Other than that, great kit, and a VERY fun group build!

Beav

Anttennas are created by streched spures I do mine over a candle the split ones you might be refering to if I am correct are Dwights and mine are bent over and held down by string which gives it a split look and there is a post that I posted a few days ago titled" M1 mineplow referances" you might wanna check out, hope that helps

Tigerman

I know whatcha mean. I had the same issuies but it turned out nice.

well I put some paint on tonight on one of my hasegawas.

Well I started the Dragon M1A1 and whoa what a puttiers dream. This might be the worst Dragon kit I have built. Every part seems to need T.L.C. Parts don't fit well and the front of the hull is inaccurate as seeing the front of the box. This is what I get for trying to save $20. I should have bought Tamiya's eons ago and I could have saved time and grief as well as some extra money from buying kits that just stink. I'll see how much more I can take on this piece of plastic. May have to move on to the next group build. LOL

QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could the M1 plow be in Euro camo/OD? just attached to a Desert storm M1?

Also, um, lets see, i forgot!
Oh yeah, Antennas! how are those created? I have seen some fancy ones that split halfway through, and some straight ones also-what is the easiest?

I know I'm late but I I'll try to build an M1 by June 15

Here are 2 pics of my in progress Tamiya M1A1(if I got the link right). I am doing 3 colour camo and have just completed the base colour. I have done the tracks first in gunmetal, then dusted in matt black and then sprayed with "real rust" dissolved in water. The photos seem too bright so the effect on the tracks may not be apparent, but I will try to get a good shot in natural light for my next update.



All observations welcome