The Official M1 Abrams Group Build 2011

gnsnow -- that's one for the more Abrams-savvy to field, though hosting the GB I haven't a clue!

Tonight's progress: I've built the rack. The Voyager brass dropped into place perfectly. First the bits:

And the completed item:

The brass is a great visual improvement over the vinyl mesh option and far less fiddly.

I had hoped to be showing the rack in place but I am currently disenchanted with the fit and mystified by the sudden gutlessness of my CA glue... I've tried twice to mount the rack but all it wants to do is drop off again. I'll let the CA residue harden off, file the slots to clean them up, and try again.

Cheers, M/TB379

Well, I got the Trumpeter 5 in 1 kit hoping that the decals would fit the bill.  No luck!  So, I am going to try Verlinden and Archer.  I will also need some enlightenment on unit markings.  I'm a flyboy, don't know alot about muddy vehicles. 

BTW, the 5 in 1 looks pretty darned good.  It will probably end up as a OIF with a mine plow. 

Jim

Jim -- tough luck on the Trump decals, but Verlinden and Archer shoul be able to provide something. I love the Echelons, myself, very cool sheets. If all else fails, let me know and I'll send you the decals from my Tamiya kit, as I'm using the Echelon sheet and have another of these Tamiyas anyway for when I get around to one in NATO markings (if I do, I have the Trump -A1 which is destined for those markings too).

More progress, I got the bustle rack into place last night using some slow-cure gel CA. I'm wondering if my regular has oxydised or something... Here it is:

Today I tackled a couple of the scratchbuilt items remaining, first what I think is the cabin heater air inlet (?) on the port flank:

And the bilge pump dump port on the starboard flank (hard to see, always in shadow under the edge of the turret, which makes me feel okay with a component I know is not very accurate, but my fingers are quite sore enough from cutting and filing brass...)

I tried to get it to angle obliquely outward but it doesn't really show from this angle...

Remaining jobs: Z-springs on the front fenders, use styrene strip for more substantial periscopes in four locations, tackle the tiny, fiddly detail on the flap behind the mantlet, then I can more or less run through to the end of construction. The tires are already sprayed using NATO black.

Cheers, M/TB379

I decided to go ahead with the IFOR decals from the Trumpeter 5 in 1 kit.  I don't think they look too bad.

Now, I just need to dirty it up a bit.  Looks awfully clean to me.

Jim

I just started the Tamiya M1A1 with mine plow, and I was directed here by another member.

It'll be pretty much built straight out of the box, maybe with a few bits of stowage from my spares box here and there.

Welcome aboard Ghostrider114! You're most welcome to build that beast here! We've got six months to go and we should be seeing some great Abrams coming off the assembly line as builds reach the finish.

I'll add you to p1 right away.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

here's the obligatory first shot, with the anti-slip applied

I'm still a bit of a tank noob, and I've heard people mention here that there's a handle that's in the wrong spot on this kit, which one is it, and where should I put it?

GR-114 -- good work, what did you use for the antislip?

I'm doing the same kit without the plow, and the mis-placed handle is the grab-handle on the left front sponson associated with the boarding step. It should be relocated about 5mm forward of the kit position.

If you take a look back at the early pages, you'll find I've done a suit of detail mods to accurise the kit, and I have a few more to go. Simple stuff with wire, square brass, plastic strip and tube, drill out the towing lugs -- nothing too complex but they make the detail difference.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

GR-114 -- good work, what did you use for the antislip?

I'm doing the same kit without the plow, and the mis-placed handle is the grab-handle on the left front sponson associated with the boarding step. It should be relocated about 5mm forward of the kit position.

If you take a look back at the early pages, you'll find I've done a suit of detail mods to accurise the kit, and I have a few more to go. Simple stuff with wire, square brass, plastic strip and tube, drill out the towing lugs -- nothing too complex but they make the detail difference.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

thanks, I used Rustoleum Multicolor textured spray paint, basically the same stuff suggested in that Armorama link a few pages back.

Mike, lookin' good!

I'm still in it, have the base color and outlining done.

Tracks are painted, gathering enthusiasm for washes and dust. I really want to do a heavily weathered example, will probably use the pic of the Marine M1 on live fire exercize in Kuwait as an example. I picked up an old copy of AFV Modeller recently that has a nice model done from that pic, looks really good.

Mine's not quite that far along yet, but I've got the main body of the tank painted

RBear -- LOOKING GOOD! The rust creates depth, the running gear looks great, she's going to be a real eyeful! She gives me a standard to aim for with my own ODS animal...

GR114 -- getting there! Gonna be great!

Cheers, M/TB379

If by "rust" you mean the frame for mounting the exhaust deep wading trunk, thanks. The rest of the brown is only shading.............

There will be some small amount of rust applied to very heavily worn areas, but only some.

Thanks` for looking!

dang these things have a lot of wheels!

Approaching the half way mark on this GB, gents, fairly laid back, good work happening on several projects here but no completions yet. I had hoped to have my M1A1 ODS finished in the first half of the year, but real life has been like a ferret with rabies... Never mind, it'll get done, I just don't know if I'll get that Trumpy HA done as well...

Six months to go, here's hoping we see some great rolling fortresses trundle into the display case in the second half of the year!

Now, back to the bench...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

what would you guys recommend for the ID panel on the back of the bustle rack?  Obviously, the Tamiya tank doesn't come with one.  I'm not sure I want to get a whole sheet of styrene for a one or two square inch panel

Ghostrider114

what would you guys recommend for the ID panel on the back of the bustle rack?  Obviously, the Tamiya tank doesn't come with one.  I'm not sure I want to get a whole sheet of styrene for a one or two square inch panel

I'd be happy to mail you a piece.  Tell me what thickness you want and we'll get the ball rolling.

Jim

thanks again for the styrene, that worked nicely.  I've finished the tank itself, aside from decals and some minor details.

Now that this is done, I'll get started on that mine plow, which is practically a whole different kit in itself.

And figs too! Moving along nicely.

I'm still tucked in to another project, although I did take receipt of a couple of Trump tow bars the other day.....don't know if I'll use one on this model, but the other hull I started at the same time I began this one will get one for sure, whenever my "rabid ferret" allows me time to get back to it.

I did manage to paint three CIP's........

I was board and I ran out of Modern Desert Sand paint for the tank, so I painted those guys while I waited for more paint to come in the mail.

To be specific, those are from the Tamiya US Modern Elite Infantry set, along with most of the gear I have stowed on it.  other stuff comes from the Academy Tank Supplies set II and US Machine Gun Set, as well as the Italeri Modern Battle Accessories set.  I went all out on this one.

I've got the filter on mine, dacals and a flat coat. I messed up a couple of key decals, had to use something else so I'm not totally pleased there, but hope to have pics up soon.

Some things came out the way I wanted, some didn't, waiting for a little inspiration.......

I've got the mine plow on, but the instructions have me a bit stymied at this point, I can't figure out all that chain and wire that I'm supposed to put on it.  I know a couple of you guys have done this kit before, would you be able to post pictures of how the chains attach to this thing?

Ghostrider114

I've got the mine plow on, but the instructions have me a bit stymied at this point, I can't figure out all that chain and wire that I'm supposed to put on it.  I know a couple of you guys have done this kit before, would you be able to post pictures of how the chains attach to this thing?

This may help:

thanks, that helped quite a bit.  Although I think I'll try to find some cheap jewelers chain to replace the stuff the kit came with, am I right to assume that it shouldn't be shiny brass like the kit chain?

Buffirn

I decided to go ahead with the IFOR decals from the Trumpeter 5 in 1 kit.  I don't think they look too bad.

 

 

 

 

Now, I just need to dirty it up a bit.  Looks awfully clean to me.

Jim

I have decided to call this one done.  I need to work on my weathering techniques on some more less than perfect builds.  Maybe that AMT T-72?

Jim

Jim -- no worries, I know exactly what you mean, you finish a job you're proud of and there's a sticking point when it comes to working in grime! I'll go ahead and list this one as complete on p1. That's a good looking camo job and the decals look like they went down perfectly.

Good one!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Ok, I got some better chain and finished that up, now all I've got left is the decals.

One thing I'm curious about though, the front fender decals say VII2CAV and L43, I know from past armor builds that those designate the tanks unit, but what unit is this one?  And also, I know the decals represent an ODS tank, did this unit operate them in OIF?

GR, can't help you there, maybe somebody else will chime in.

I have a couple of pics of where I am now, not totally happy here, but still a lot to do with pigments. I hope to get this one looking lighter and dusty, we'll see.

I've started detail painting, and still have to add stowage. I have the APU to go in the turret basket, and a few water cans, road wheels, etc as well. I'll probably pull a few items out of Tamiya's modern acc set too. CPU's are painted, not washed or weathered yet. Side skirts are ready to go on as soon as I dust up the tracks and running gear.

GR114 and RBaer -- great work, guys! It's marvelous to see these beasts approaching completion, and the decals bring a project to life as always. I look forward to adding these builds to the Honour Wall in the near future!

M/TB379

RBaer

GR, can't help you there, maybe somebody else will chime in....

It's ok, after posting that I got time to do my own research, as far as I can tell, the markings represent VII Corps, 2nd Armored Cav. Regiment.  Of course VII corps disbanded after ODS, and 2nd ACR was apparently converted to light Cav.  so it can't really represent an OIF tank like I planned, but I've come this far and really the only inaccuracy for OIF would be the unit markings, so I think I'll just keep rolling with what I've got, I'm almost finished anyway.

Update: After further research, I realized that the kit also includes markings for 3rd ACR, which did deploy to Iraq with M1s so I think I'll use those instead