ARMOR - M1 Abrams Group Build

here try this

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

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.

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

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

Nice cammo job Dave.

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.

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.

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

Thundergod,

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

later...
Brian.

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

Nice work on the camo, Dave. Looks good.

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.

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.

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.

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

nope!!! jump on in!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

thats great!!! nothing like a dirty AFV!!! well, I'm at about the same stage with my hase. M1e1 and revell m1 tanks. I don't know if I will be able to get to my DML h1a1 (HA) on this build or not. I am trying very hard so I will be able to.

hehe, looks very very dirty Dave
I love it, I couldn't imagine anything more disturbing than a clean tank!

ok! By the way, I seem to be unable to post pics, how can I do it? As I would like to show my progress.
Thinking of buying Tamiya's M1A1 and applying a three color NATO camo.

Carnage, please follow the following to post your pics. Thanks to Shawn for the text:

First you need a compatable webhost Thundergod this is the most common one for the FSM forum is http://rongeorge.com/modules/Gallery/albums.php now go to upload photos section , when that loads log in using name and password as follows User: newfsm
pword: models .....go to admin options , go to add photos,( the window for this may go under your main window so either minimize it or move it to see !)( I am a windows dummy if you couldn't tell ) and add the appropriate amount of photos to that 1-5, Now heres the tricky part after you have added the pix , open the picture form the thumbnail photo right klik on it ,.... copy image location this has to end in photo format .jpg or similar , and put it in between the <<< no spaces of course throughout ,html post (insert imagebox above^) Hope this helps, took me forever to figure this out , Yahoo basic sites are not compatable as are many other free sites so keep this in mind ( they don't allow sharing form them unless you pay ) Good luck ... Shawn

QUOTE: Originally posted by beav 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 do not know the answer to your question but my fictional white Un tank will have the mine plows in green. I don't see why a desert one couldn't have the same thing. the mine plow could have simply been an in-the-field add on.

Guys I haven't touched y Abrams in 3 weeks! I changed from 3rd to second shift and will possibly be changing to first next week! I'm a police officer and I'm only off every ten days so my time management is all screwed up right now. If I can get this new first shift position I'm going to have all weekends off! Anyway I have my base coat on and started my tracks by adding a mettalic coat. What color should the tracks links be?

I am now working on a small dio for my M1, however I am struggling to get the colouring right. I am trying to depict the tank crossing muddy bare ground. Please see the following pics.





Comments and advice accepted.

Not a bad start, Daveash. Some suggestions:
For muddy ground, nothing works better than actual mud. This is the way that I do it:
1) Carve out the general shapes into the base out of whatever material you happen to be using, and sand till smooth and natural looking.
2)Paint the base brown
3)Make a mud mixture out of fine earth, and a 50/50 mix of water and white school glue (you can experiment with this ratio, and see what works best for you)
4) Take this mixture and spread it out onto your base. While still wet, press any track marks, etc into it. You can also apply this mixture to your model to tie it in with the base.
When dry, it will form a hard surface that can either be painted or left as is, as it will look like actual muddy earth, because that's what it is. To represent really wet areas, spread some gloss coat or even more white glue to give it the 'wet' look.

can I get in on this one I have an M1 sitting in the box that is calling out.

yep, no problem!!!

I can finally start working on my M1e1 again now that I am finished all those stupid ac...........