DML M1A1 AIM Build/Help Log

Looks like you are off to a good start.  

A note on the accessory set though, it is very old and doesn't really have ant "modern" gear in it.  It was "Modern" in about '85 when it was first released.  All that is usable out of it is the M1 road wheel, ammo cans, water jugs, a couple 120mm rounds, and maybe the helmet.  The rest is either outdated or for an M60 tank.

For more "modern" (as of about '03-'05), get the Tamiya Modern U.S. Military Equipment Set (below).  This gear is correct for an OIF tank.

The binos are also usable. The helmet's are not really usable though. The style of the helmets are PASGT (paz-get, I believe this is how you pronounce it), which are pretty outdated. The current helmet being issued widespread throughout the US military is the ACH which is derived from the MICH style (mish or mitch, I'm not entirely sure). The visible difference being that the ACH/MICH doesn't have the lip. It also might have better ballistic protection but I'm entirely sure. Special forces do usually have their pick of helmets, mission depending, though. Currently, a very popular helmet being used is the Ops-Core FAST line. There's a few versions of this: the Ballistic, Carbon, Base Jump Military, and Base Jump Sport. The differences being weight and ballistic protection: the ballistic having much more ballistic protection over the others and also being the heaviest. Also popular is the Crye AirFrame. There are others but these are the ones that I really know of. Also, the ALICE system isn't used too extensively in the US military, it is still used in some cases though. Much, much more common is MOLLE. I think ALICE was beginning to be phased out after Desert Shield/ Desert Storm.

ALICE Rucks were very popular in the airborne community, at least thru the turn of the century. They survived jumps and rigged up better for jumping. The standard K-pots were still around for quite some time as well. When I retired in '07, we still had the original style K-pots but we got the new liner/suspension system- after we came back from deployment in '06... go figure.

Like I said, the gear is good up to about '03-'05.  We were still wearing PAGST Helmets and ALICE gear in '03 when I was on the invasion in 3ID.  Pretty much all the gear in the new set I referanced is correct for early OIF.  Around '04-'05 we started updating with MICH helmets, MOLLE gear, ACUs, etc.  When I went back to Iraq in '08-'09, we had all the new gear.

I kept my K-pot until I retired in 2011. Still had ALICE gear although I could have turned it in for more up-to-date gear. The original Tamiya set was great for the time and still is if you want to model a Desert Storm or earlier tank or a vehicle during the 1990s.

I plan on having a rather more modern Abrams. From the more recent OIF. And thanks for the info Arty, Stik, and Rob.

I have a little update... Work on the chassis so far.

 Work is slow going. It's very tedious... That combined with forum's checking and updating every few minutes, and various "breaks" here and there... and it's slow...

I have a little update... Work on the chassis so far.

You mean the Hull.  Tanks have hulls, not chassis.  Keep plugging away, its looking pretty good.

I painted most of the pieces between Saturday, Monday,  and yesterday and got one of the photoetch pieces done:

I will be doing much of the rest of the PE today. And I will be start the rest of the assembly process and paint some sprues that I missed.

Also, because I forgot to post a picture of the main gun assembly before painting, here it is:

And here's a Trumpeter AAV7A1 that I was building in tandem with this build that I just finished yesterday:

A little update. Sorry for the time in between, I kind of forgot about this build log here. I finished the road wheel, drive sprocket, and suspension assembly. Today I'll work on the tracks, I'll probably only do one but one never knows.

Well... I have here another update. After a few days of no progress on the DML M1A1 (it seemed like weeks, though) on account of me working on a birthday present for my dad, I finally made a little bit of progress:

I finished up both tracks. The MagicTraks were surprisingly good to me, considering this is my first time ever using them.

I'm also now working on the upper hull and turret.

I also painted the windows clear red.

Well seeing as I have begun to start slacking on the kit... Might as well post a small update: 

I have almost completed the turret. Probably about half way there? I need to know what to paint the electronics glass, though. The clear part that goes into the doghouse, I believe it is called..

The tracks are halfway finished. I just need to finish painting the other track and then a major block I've had will have been taken care of.

Here is the cupola and the other hatch on top of the turret:

I also completed the HVAC. Nothing special. Interesting to assemble though.

Now for all of the "correcting painting" that I needed to do, like where I missed with the spray or had to shave off when taking parts off sprue, I had to mix my own version of Modern Desert Sand... It's pretty close too. I was able to save some and mix more to put in a Testors 1/4 oz. jar for future use.

After a short... Hiatus of sorts, I have an overdue update:

I'm finally get closer to the day that I may see this model kit finished. Now it may look like I didn't actually do much but believe me, I did quite a bit.

The M2HB isn't actually glued down yet. I just have it fit in for now. I don't want to break it.

Almost finished with one track; one quarter to go. Half way down on the other track.

Turret so far. Little bit more to go.

Almost finished the bustle rack subassembly. Sorry for lousy photo quality.

 And for the two sides, I used a rather... interesting tool to get that 90 degree angle for the end piece: