The Official M1 Abrams Group Build 2011

That would have been me -- yep, the resemblance to the dynamics of the MBT-70 really flash out!

M/TB379

Definitely has a different look, doesn't it.......

I think it was here, someone made the comment about a resembleance to the MBT 70. There's pics floating around somewhere of M1's without skirts at the NTC, maybe as VISMOD-type units? Might be a nice modeling subject.

Good lookin' beastie! SWEET! I'm just shoprt of this stage myself, I got a few more items done but no chance to post the pics. She's masked up ready for overall paint at this time.

I love the M1 minus skirts, she looks amazing this way...

M/TB379

Looks like you're moving along nicely. I've never built one of Dragon's M1s, but heard they build into good replicas.

I got some pics of mine as it sits now, looks like I need to re-do or fix the smoke dischargers, since I have the "barrels" oriented incorrectly. Dumb mistake on my part......I may cover them with tarps.

Skirts and CIP's(?) are painted, awaiting application of pastels and pigments on running gear and tracks and turret before I install them. Stowage will come from Tamiya's accesory set. I'm on the lookout for a couple of resin crew figs, watching the "sale" section of the Squadron monthly....

Anyway, the pics:

More work on the hull, with PE parts installed.

Rear hull done, with the lights off. I'm gonna install them after I paint and weather and sealed the hull.

Front hull done!

During all this time, I'm building the tracks little by little. It's a tedious job because each track has two prominent flash marks that has to be sanded well. Hopefully I could have it finished by tonight.

Thanks for the welcome. :) After building planes for a year, building armor again is a nice change of scenery. :)

Here's the main gun assembly. If I ever build this kit again (or the M1A2 SEP version), I think I'd go use the plastic gun tube next time. Fit is excellent, much better than Tamiya.

Here is the turret and the hull, with the suspensions finally glued in place. I test-fitted part of the non-ballistic side armor, as reference how low or how high the suspensions should be.

I'm really enjoying this kit a lot. A little over-engineered, but the quality and accuracy of each piece is wonderful.

Welcome aboard GD! It's great to have a new joiner at this late stage -- the build finishes in a couple of months. I'll add you to p1 right away.

I have that kit in my stash and can vouch for Echelon decals, I'm using them too. This'll be a great project!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Started the kit last night by building the sprockets and road wheels.

Also start work on the hull, and the suspension system. The suspension is well engineered, although a little bit fiddly to work with. And the instruction manual can be confusing.

The suspensions are not actually glued in yet. I wanted to make sure that all the wheels are gonna be touching the ground, plus I want to make sure they're in the right height.

Just saw this group build while browsing online, and I thought I'd join, since I love the Abrams. I am going to build Dragon's 1/35 M1A1 AIM kit, as one of the Abrams that participated in OIF's Thunder Run.

Here's my kit and one of Echelon's decal sheet.

Looks good! I'm still un-motivated on mine, plus picked up the M60 for the IDF GB I'm also neglecting. Too many irons in the fire right now, I guess.

Here she is, the stage she's been at for a few days (busy on a couple of others so still not got to the Z-springs, maybe this weekend...)

I love an Abrams at this stage, she looks so sleek!

Some of the bits are just balanced, as you can tell by the eraser supporting the barrel.

Given how much of the wheels are visible, it may be totally AMS to template-spray both sides of both ranks, but I know there's paint everywhere it gets at the factory.

Besides the Z-springs to scratch and fit, there's not much to do. The bracket that holds the crosswind  sensor in the stowed position needs to be added, and I'll decide if the stowage cans and tact board are going on before or after painting... The periscopes all get done after main painting, as do the radio masts, so any time now she can come apart again to get her overall ODS sand coat; the tracks will be painted separately, of course, and there'll be the usual shade and fade tints, then a thorough dirt and rust job. Topside MGs are somewhere in this process too.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

I made some more progress on the Tamiya -A1 in the last couple of days. I sprayed the wheels (template method, using MM Acryl Army/Marine ODS Sand). Tamiya  molded the kit in a plastic very close to the correct shade for the period so it's a bit hard to tell what's painted and what's not.

I've added the flank grab handle, lift lugs around the cuppola, skate ring for the loader's MG, plus the NBC unit, and am presently scratching rhe missing fillet with the heater drain. Then I can add the APU on the rear hull and some missing bolt heads on a couple of plates previously added to the transom above the engine grills. Tact board also being scratched at this time...

Photos soon, I like to get an Abrams mostly built up and take some shots with the tracks temporarily mounted but the skirts off, she has a very "MBT-70" look at that stage.

I've been inspecting the Trumpeter -HA, and I think I can knock that one off before the end of the year as well...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Looks good!

I'm thinking I may get back on mine in a bit, just got a little burned out on it.

This thread has been a bit neglected, I admit, but I'm only just getting back to doing some bench time after finally submitting my PhD last week and working all hours I can find into the bargain...

cyeargin -- that TUSK II is looking fantastic! I'm looking forward to seeing her in some paint!

I've finally made some progress on my Tamiya ODS -A1, here's the evidence:

I've been stalled at the stage op the tiny details for a long while. This kit is largely Tamiya's original moulding, and the mantlet does not feature the hinged protective flap at the back. As with my IP M1 build a few years back, I scratched this section. eEch hinge is composed of seven parts, being .010" plasticard and .020" styrene rod. Okay, they're a bit overscale, but half-millimetre resolution is not bad for someone with my eyesight. I went ahead and installed the coax MG, MRS and main gun. Note the lift lugs are drilled out too.

There's not much to do now. I can close up the main hull, set up the return rollers (it doesn't matter that they're inacurate, they'reinvisible behind the skirts) and add the various bits and pieces to get her ready for painting. There's one more small mod to do, the NBC unit is missing the heater drain hole, which will need a fillet of plasticard adding and a hole introduced.

I'm thinking of doing the periscopes after painting, by introducing some styrne from the back, possibly with metallic decal for the optics. I'll make up the Z-springs from wire, and see if I can scratch convincing antenna bases.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Ok, not the best photos in the world, but here a few progress shots of my DML M1A2 SEP/TUSK II, just to prove I actually am building something, LOL

Sorry guys!  I've been neglecting my modelling duties for a while but the smell of CA has brought me back.

I'm hoping to break the shrink wrap on the M1A2 SEP very shortly.

Great work so far everybody! 

Guys,

Good work, everybody!!

I'm stil in it but I just haven't had any free time, it might be the middle of Sept before all this work slacks off some. My tank is build and painted but I wanted to wait on weathering before posting.

thanks, I can't wait to see how the rest of these turn out

Well done GR! I especially like the figure work, the "scene" it creates is busy and engaging. You have our second completion and I believe yours is the fiftieth model completed in group builds I've hosted.

Cheers, updating P1 now,

Mike/TB379

I'm going to leave the APU on for now, although I am pretty sure I put it on cleanly enough that I could remove it later if I wanted to.  I even went through the trouble of painting the tail light that's hidden under it before I installed the APU.

I could probably weather it a bit, but that's not really my style.

Since I've fixed everything else that I can fix without tearing the whole tank apart, I'm going to declare this Pig done!

here's some pictures of the beast:

oh, that, ok, I was just following the kit instructions there too, it said to drill a hole next to the filler cap and put the end of the wire in it.  I completely forgot about the TC periscopes, I'll have to try and "paint" those with a sharpie I guess

Ahh ok, I can see the power cable (aka vinyl tube) peeking out from under the barrel.  Actually I was talking about what now appears to be fine chain draped on the front hull leading up beside the driver's hatch. 

PS: Remember to paint in the periscope windows on the commander's cupola 

Phil_H

Hi Ghostrider,

I have a couple of "niggles" for you, one of which is kind of significant, the rest of which you may take as suggestions rather than criticisms.

The significant issue is that your tracks appear to be reversed. When viewed from the front, the point of the "vee" shape of the track pads should be pointing down.

Minor points/suggestions for consideration:

• (especially as you are planning to do an OIF vehicle) The rear hull APU should be deleted. As far as I am aware, this was deleted just prior to or during the ODS timeframe. Amongst other changes, an OIF period M1A1 would have a bustle-rack APU and the power connector box alongside the left blow-out panel on the turret roof. In some cases, the APU was removed but the connector box remained. http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/marc_peters/m1a1/images/m1a1_24_of_71.jpg 
  http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/marc_peters/m1a1/images/m1a1_25_of_71.jpg
• The roadwheel hubs incorporate a clear oil reservoir and usually appear black http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08861
• The centre grille (of the three grille sections on the rear hull) is the engine exhaust and is usually discoloured by heat/soot http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08875
• At the moment you have the power cable from the MCB leading up to somewhere near the front left filler cap. On later build/upgraded M1's there is a power socket/receptacle in this location. Prior to the installation of the power socket, the power cable for the MCB entered the driver's cabin through the rightmost periscope housing. (you may be able to see it here: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/peter_van_iren/m1a1/images/m1a1_07_of_11.jpg )
  Following is the power receptacle on the M1A2: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/brent_sauer/m1a2/images/m1a2_21_of_33.jpg
• The spare track section you have hung on the turret rail appears to be the later T-158 pattern with rectangular track pads, which is different to the T-156 pattern on the tank.

As I mentioned above, these are suggestions only, should you wish to tweak your kit a little.

Ok, that's just more proof that I need to do research before diving into a kit.

I didn't know about the APU, I could probably still remove it though, since it's not got much holding it on.  I've seen pictures of the road wheels looking both black and camo, so I thought it was just painted that way, that's good to know.  I was wondering about the exhaust grill, I noticed that some of you guys painted yours like that, I thought it was a camo thing too.  For the MCB cable, you mean the Vinyl tube, right?  the kit instructions made it look like that just goes down under the drivers hatch, which is how I had it, I suppose that's an easy fix though.   I just noticed the tracks, it looks like I installed the left hand track the right way around and the right track backwards.

BTW, the spare track is T-156, you can't see the pads because it is mounted with them towards the tank, but they are the same style as the rest of the tracks.

Hi Ghostrider,

I have a couple of "niggles" for you, one of which is kind of significant, the rest of which you may take as suggestions rather than criticisms.

The significant issue is that your tracks appear to be reversed. When viewed from the front, the point of the "vee" shape of the track pads should be pointing down.

Minor points/suggestions for consideration:

• (especially as you are planning to do an OIF vehicle) The rear hull APU should be deleted. As far as I am aware, this was deleted just prior to or during the ODS timeframe. Amongst other changes, an OIF period M1A1 would have a bustle-rack APU and the power connector box alongside the left blow-out panel on the turret roof. In some cases, the APU was removed but the connector box remained. http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/marc_peters/m1a1/images/m1a1_24_of_71.jpg 
  http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/marc_peters/m1a1/images/m1a1_25_of_71.jpg
• The roadwheel hubs incorporate a clear oil reservoir and usually appear black http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08861
• The centre grille (of the three grille sections on the rear hull) is the engine exhaust and is usually discoloured by heat/soot http://svsm.org/gallery/m1a1abramsjh2/DSC08875
• At the moment you have the power cable from the MCB leading up to somewhere near the front left filler cap. On later build/upgraded M1's there is a power socket/receptacle in this location. Prior to the installation of the power socket, the power cable for the MCB entered the driver's cabin through the rightmost periscope housing. (you may be able to see it here: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/peter_van_iren/m1a1/images/m1a1_07_of_11.jpg )
  Following is the power receptacle on the M1A2: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/brent_sauer/m1a2/images/m1a2_21_of_33.jpg
• The spare track section you have hung on the turret rail appears to be the later T-158 pattern with rectangular track pads, which is different to the T-156 pattern on the tank.

As I mentioned above, these are suggestions only, should you wish to tweak your kit a little.

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

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

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.

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?

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

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