Alright, back with pics for Y'all. Thank you, Thunderbold379 for letting me join in on this GB.
First off, this is, in fact the "Flames of War" Zvezda game piece. I don't play the game, and don't know anyone who does. I just happened across these little kits at my local hobby shop, and found them an affordable, if easy, fun and quick model to make my own (and experiment with new techniques without fear of ruining a $50+ model). At only 15 parts a tank, this is my third one. (the other two being T-72B's.)
Right out of the box, I found that the Abrams did not have as much detail as the T-72's did. Instead of a clever way to make the metal frame on the turret basket, it was solid, as are the side skirts.
No matter, I just raided my spares box and attempted to cover up the lack of detail with 'stowage'.
If the smoke grenade launchers look a tad out of scale, it's because they were left over from a 1/72nd scale kit. They look a lot more "in scale" on the T-72.
In the bottom Left-hand corner, you can see my attempt to scratch a 1/100th 50-cal. machine gun for the commander's cupola, using a "barrel" from a spare piece, a 1/144th fighter jet's nose gear, and a chunk of spue shaved to shape.
First coat of paint (and the base color for the camouflage) was Model Master Acryl Pale Green. I'll be honest, an Abrams in this color looks sickly and ill.
Then, I painted the machine gun:
Heck YES! It looks almost perfect (not as good as if it had actually been included, but still...)
Then, the completed lower hull and tracks got painted:
Finally, to cover up the lack of detail on the side skirts, I manufactured some "add-on armor" from "logs" and "metal brackets".
I'm not sure how they are so glossy, because they aren't in real life.
Aaaand, that is where it sits right now.
Keep up the great work,
Klik