The Official M1 Abrams Group Build 2011

Well, I just ran into a problem I am going to have trouble overcoming.  My 22 year old AMT M1A1 has bad decals.  Actually, they are total crap.  Does anyone know where I could get some decals for a mid-late 80's tri-color NATO camo M1A1?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jim

By all means, Jethro -- I'll update p1 right away. Feel free to cut the shrinkwrap and put glue to styrene!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Hi,

I just joined the site and would like to join this group build. I will be building the Dragon M1A2 SEP with a partial interior and markings for a 4th ID tank.

Jethro

T-Bolt, I've got paint on, just been too busy with other stuff to post pics, plus I got a little sidetracked with a couple of other ongoing projects. Hope to get pics up soon......

Good work, Jim, you've stuck with a kit that was less than friendly in some ways and made her look a lot like an Abrams! You're on the home stretch now!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Well, here it is after the build was completed.  Not a terrible kit, but due to its age, there was more warpage that I originally thought.  That presented some really annoying fit problems.  You might say they caused me fits.  Without further adieu.

Now, it's on to the final camouflage painting and other touch up painting.

Jim

Jim -- good repairs there, looking forward to seeing this one with some paint on it, and top your overall impressions of AMT armour.

RBaer -- that was spectacular progress on your Marines beast on the last page, sorry I didn't comment at the time. Any paint on her by this date?

My Tamiya has been stalled waiting for the rack PE base, which is showing no sign of appearing yet... But I did spray the tires with NATO black last week. I'll get a chance to try out the MM Acryl Army/Marines ODS Sand when I spray the hubs.

Yep, been quiet around here, but we're only 13 weeks into a 52-weeker, there's plenty of elbow room. Oh, my Hobbycraft (Trumpeter) -HA arrived, it looks very beefy and impressive in the box, and the nonslip texturing is quite pronounced. As the Tamiya is in sand, I'm leaning toward a three-tone NATO paintjob, and will hopefully knock off this one later in the year.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Buffirn

After making some repairs to my old AMT M1, I am making slow progress on the final construction and painting.  With luck, I'll be done this weekend.

 

Jim

Well, no luck this weekend.  I did make some headway.  Here is what I am working on.

Here are the small turret bustle repairs.

The first coat of green is on the model and I just finished the wheels and treads. 

More to come.

Jim

After making some repairs to my old AMT M1, I am making slow progress on the final construction and painting.  With luck, I'll be done this weekend.

Jim

EDIT:

Everyone must be working on other projects - this thread is really quiet.

I received my Dragon kit and started work on it last night even though I haven't been officially added to the GB yet.

I've decided no TUSK conversion set, but I am still considering the Eduard PE set ... either way I'll be making some tweaks to it.

I'm getting behind. I'm right down to the last two days work on the model but my business is swamping me with new jobs, I'm not getting a free day from my work at all for a few months. I'll be putting in 7 day weeks for a while. I'll check back if I ever get finished.

Count me in, I just ordered the DML M1A2 SEP and I'm also open to suggestions for any mods/PE/AM available (just not the Legend TUSK sets).

I am making progress on that old AMT Abrams.  The kit wasn't in bad shape until I got to the bustle racks.  Thank the Plastic Gods for Evergreen and their plastic rod.  Once my camera quits being tempermental, I'll post some pictures.

While I am on vacation in AZ this week, I'll start on a 1/72 Hasegawa M-1E1.  That should be refreshing!

Jim

I've had a little time, now that I work evenings, to do some more work on the Marine M1. This is more PE than I've ever used on one model before in my life, si it's a bit slow for me. A few more bits amd I think I'll be ready for primer.

Thanks, Phil. I'll go ahead with the BRE in the Acad kit as a Marine tank, kind of how I was hoping to go with this one anyway. I have the Eduard etch for it also. Speaking of which, the etch is so involved, more so than anything I've done before, that I have decided to concentrate on the model I'm using most of it on, rather than try and do two at once. This will make my life quite a but simpler I'm sure.....The Trump/Acad kit bash will be next, maybe with some more etch, not sure.

You're welcome Mike - ordering out of stock items is always fun - you may have made it in time for this month's restock, if not it will likely be (end of) next month before they get it in stock.

So if it's not forthcoming by then, feel free to drop me a msg.

Why thanks, Phil -- that's mighty decent of you! Hopefully it'll be on its way soon, though,

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

It's out of stock at the moment and they'll be getting it in from the distributor, hopefully that won't take too long.

Hi Mike,

If it doesn't arrive in a timely manner, drop me a PM and I'll put  one in the mail for you - pretty sure I have one floating around here somewhere.

Cheers,

Phil

Thanks for the info, Phil -- I've ordered it up, and might get a couple extra in future against the many other M1s in my stash. It's out of stock at the moment and they'll be getting it in from the distributor, hopefully that won't take too long. Still, I have a long line of projects on the bench and it's no disaster if I'm not back to the Abrams until next month. It's a year-long build, I can take my time... The paint arrived, I have a few scratched details to go, then I could get the running gear into colour...

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

I see there's a PE base to the bustle rack, which set did that come with? My Eduard set came in but that part wasn't featured, and I haven't been able to locate the Tamiya PE fret so far --

Kentucky Colonel

The models bustle rack has a Voyager's PE base.

Mike, Voyager also supplies the bustle rack PE mesh as a single item so you don't need to buy a full set just for the bustle rack base. AP 010 (Lucky Model)

RBaer

A quick question for those of you in the know: which branch (Army or Marines) used the BRE? I've decided to do one Army, one Marine tank, both OIF, and am at that point, almost......

Explained here: /forums/p/134353/1378708.aspx#1378708

Kentucky Colonel

 Today the Army uses a BRE but a different model.

Certain Army units used a different style of BRE as explained above. The "USMC style" BRE (as used on your model above) is now used by both branches.

Cheers

RBaer

A quick question for those of you in the know: which branch (Army or Marines) used the BRE? I've decided to do one Army, one Marine tank, both OIF, and am at that point, almost......

I'm not "in the know" but I was told it was the Marines that used the Bustle Rack Extension and that Eduard made the one they used which is why I ordered it. Today the Army uses a BRE but a different model.

A quick question for those of you in the know: which branch (Army or Marines) used the BRE? I've decided to do one Army, one Marine tank, both OIF, and am at that point, almost......

The models bustle rack has a Voyager's PE base. The extra rack is all Eduard's and brass rods.

It's going to be a couple years before I get close to the skill levels people on here have.

KC -- looking great! There's something amazing about a model at this stage, just ready for colour!

I see there's a PE base to the bustle rack, which set did that come with? My Eduard set came in but that part wasn't featured, and I haven't been able to locate the Tamiya PE fret so far -- . The good news is the MM Acryl match on ODS sand came in too.

Cheers. M/TB379

I guess it's ready to prime and start painting.

Cheers Mike.

This is the kit, for anyone with a passing interest. I built the Revell Abrams a few years back, this will be an interesting comparison.

Tony, welcome to the Armoured Brigade -- I've updated page 1. It'll be good to see a Braille-scale kit join the ranks of the bigger guys. That remins me, I think I have a couple of Dragon 72s in the stash someplace...

Update, the paints I ordered arrived at the LHS today, I'll swing by and pick them up tomorrow. The Gulf Army/Marine Sand by MM (Acryl) should be there, along with Eduard PE for the bustle rack, so I can move the M1A1 along again at last.

Cheers, M/TB379

Hi all,

I was in a hobby shop today, and saw a Dragon 1/72 M1A1 with mineplow. I thought of this GB, which I've been keeping an eye on, and decided to go for it.

Could I join too please ?

Thanks

Tony

RBaer

T'anks, Tbolt. AFIK, anyhing in OIF had the anti-slip.......but I could easily be wrong here. It's happened before.

All the Abrams we have seen coming through the port here definately have anti-slip (I know; I get to crawl around on them, LOL), and I dare say if anything the anti-slip molded on the Dragon models isn't rough enough.

T'anks, Tbolt. AFIK, anyhing in OIF had the anti-slip.......but I could easily be wrong here. It's happened before.

Between the IDF and anti-tank GBs, and all the other stuff I have going on, this one has been a nice diversion, nothing radical (for me) until now, when I need to decide exactly what vehicles I'm doing......hmmmm.