M1 Abrams wreck-finally done

scratchmod

It breaks my heart too and have tried to stay away from this subject. I had no idea we lost sooo many M1's over there, I guess it's time to face reality and accept it. I think some of the oldtimers from WWII are still trying to deal with it also. As a Desert Storm vet, I have seen the loses on the Iraqi side and very little from our side. War does suck, but on the other hand what type of model would we be building, cars.....

 

Rob

 

First of all i would like to say thank you for your service. My stepfather is a mechanic in the army reserve ad has done a tour in Iraq and may be going again, but he showed me pictures alot like the ones on this thread, and he said that almost all of the time the crews survive, which is the most important ting. but he also said that alot of the pictures can bemisleading, he said that alot of the tanks that he saw and removed from hostile areas looked fit for nothing but the scrap heap. even with the way they appeared on the outside, he said almost all of them were repaired and returned to combat. I actually plan on joining the military after high school (only gotta wait til june) and i hope to be in M1s. hope all goes well

 

Very nice.  I'm jealous of your ability and patience!

Excellent work!

Thank you all for following this build and all the kind feedback. This was a definate challenge for me, being my first modern tank and all. As far as the roadwheels go, I try my best with the limited knowledge of the M1 that I have. I have learned a thing or two from you guys and if I build another M1 I'll be more prepared and will try to get it right.

Thanks again for hanging in there on this one.

 

Rob

Excellently done, I must say.

Just in case it inspires anyone else to have a crack, though, I will agree with an earlier poster that the roadwheels are wrong. Any fire which burns up an Abrams to that level is going to melt the roadwheels.

Below are a set of roadwheels from an Abrams lost in a towing accident.

Here is said Abrams.

 The bent rings where the roadwheels would be are the steel wear plates on the insides of the roadwheels.

NTM

Rob,

     Great job on the M-1. Your talent is very evident. I feel the mark af an artist is when your work evokes an emotional response whether in paintings, music, dance, photography and even in modeling. Alot depends on the viewer and where they are coming from with the type of response you get. One day I hope to have a talent like yours.

-Stephen

scratchmod wrote:

Gentlemen thank you for your support on this project and glad you like how it turned out. I never thought it would offend one person that much, not my intention. I knew from the start it would be a touchy subject for many of us, I'm still glad I built it. Now onto better things. Rob

sorry for any doubt that this job insnt a great job it in my top ten it just trigered somthing.  great work and dont let anyone else tell you deferent!

camo junkie wrote:

newarmorman wrote: Rob, I think your M1 is fantastic, really, I would like to apologize to all of you guys about my rant the other day, it all just piled up on my brain. My son left Saturday for Afghanistan on his Birthday no less,on Memorial day weekend, and my wife is in the hospital! I guess I just lost it! Again I would like to apologize to all of you fine men and all of those you have lost and worry about. I will take a minute now to pray for them all, and say goodbye for now. Keep on modeling and forget about morons like me. Sincerely, Newarmorman as scratch has said...what r u talking about. we wish your son and wife well. hope everything turns out for your family. we all say things we regret...its when we learn not to say them again that we grow as people! good luck, no worries (at least from this guy), and start modeling and showing us all some pics!!!

Agreed... My best to you and yours.  At least you didn't challenge us to a build off! 

Sorry Inside Joke!

newarmorman wrote:

Rob, I think your M1 is fantastic, really, I would like to apologize to all of you guys about my rant the other day, it all just piled up on my brain. My son left Saturday for Afghanistan on his Birthday no less,on Memorial day weekend, and my wife is in the hospital! I guess I just lost it! Again I would like to apologize to all of you fine men and all of those you have lost and worry about. I will take a minute now to pray for them all, and say goodbye for now. Keep on modeling and forget about morons like me. Sincerely, Newarmorman

as scratch has said...what r u talking about. we wish your son and wife well. hope everything turns out for your family. we all say things we regret...its when we learn not to say them again that we grow as people! good luck, no worries (at least from this guy), and start modeling and showing us all some pics!!!

You guys crack me up

Rob

What, I have no idea what your talking about brother, all is forgotten, Semper Fi. Your son is in my thoughts and I hope all the best for him and a safe return. Keep on modeling, it does help.

Semper Fi

Rob

Rob,

I think your M1 is fantastic, really, I would like to apologize to all of you guys about my rant the other day, it all just piled up on my brain. My son left Saturday for Afghanistan on his Birthday no less,on Memorial day weekend, and my wife is in the hospital! I guess I just lost it! Again I would like to apologize to all of you fine men and all of those you have lost and worry about. I will take a minute now to pray for them all, and say goodbye for now. Keep on modeling and forget about morons like me.

Sincerely,

Newarmorman

disastermaster wrote:

the doog wrote: .....as when I get uncorked on these matters I usually tickle my tonsils with my toenails......lol! Yeah......   I found that pic!

ha ha. 

the doog wrote:

.....as when I get uncorked on these matters I usually tickle my tonsils with my toenails......lol!

Yeah......

  I found that pic!

Fantastic Rob you captured it perfectly i am floored at the amount of colour in it compared to the real thing, super work thats all i can say.

Of course not Manny lol

psstoff995 wrote:

lol I don't know if I can do that in real life, but I know I've put my foot in my mouth a few times online...

Not me...lol...

lol I don't know if I can do that in real life, but I know I've put my foot in my mouth a few times online...

Nice model Rob, looks very well done.

Doog, how exactly does one tickle their tonsils with their toenails? I've been try to figure out how someone can be that flexible...lol ;) 

 

Rob, another incredible job from a real artist here--you really do have the knack for these depictions. In all seriousnesss, I'm jealous of your talent!

As far as the "controversy", there is NONE, period. Only one man's hyper-sensitive opinion, which is perhaps understandable given his perspective. That's all I'll say, as when I get uncorked on these matters I usually tickle my tonsils with my toenails......lol!

Gentlemen thank you for your support on this project and glad you like how it turned out. I never thought it would offend one person that much, not my intention. I knew from the start it would be a touchy subject for many of us, I'm still glad I built it.

Now onto better things.

Rob

newarmorman wrote:

My son and several of his friends (fifth generation, Marines & Army) have been to Iraq and Afghanistan 8 times, my son is leaving in a few days for the 3rd time!! I can assure you! We only lost 1 M1 to enemy fire, however if damaged and the boys were under fire! It is always chosen to destroy the remaining hulk than to tow it back or work on it in place, than to risk any American lives! As an example one Abrams was hit 160 times including 40+ RPG's and kept on rolling, but the damage put our boys at risk! It was decided to burn it in place, rather than tow it back and take a risk for nothing. It honored our men, burned in place! I hate that you all get a kick out of burned out tanks. First they don't burn by themselves, second, if its ours, it might have burned for a reason!!!! Our boy's are over there! Do you care? No.... I think it will be great to see your build!!!!?????!!!!!???? What is wrong with all of you? Our M4's burned to! They were called Ronson's it will be neat to see the build!!!!! ????? OUR BOY's DIED..... Wake UP! OUR BOYS! YOUR BOY'S! OUR MEN! Are there any parents out there? Would it be cool to see the build of the burned out tank your child died in????? NO I Think NOT, but would someone please check the accuracy of that serial number, because we wouldn't want to make a mistake, or screw up the accuracy of the build!!!!! What a bunch if moron's!!?!! War is fun!! People die!!! The pictures are neat!!!??? I hope you, or your child/ children never die in one, but if so, please get pictures for accuracy, because we wouldn't want to model it wrong!!!! OOOOOOOKKKKKKK????? Newarmorman P.S. I Model for the honor and fun of putting together pieces of plastic well, so the image of the real thing can honor and respect the memory of the thousands killed needlessly. I am a parent praying for a fifth generation Marine (my son)! I lost my big brother, and my family has sacrificed over 100 years to protect our nation and what it stands for! But could we who research and build our machines, and theirs, Please.... take pause to think! Somewhere out there is a family, a mother, a father, or otherwise,...... that died for that machine. Either to design it, build it, drive it, or die in it, and because of our stupidity, someone out there is crying right now, or has in the past, or will be in the future. Countless people have died at or in war, and countless more have cried and continue to cry! I was just 12 years old when I found out I would never be able to hug or play with my big brother again! ( KIA, third tour, Viet Nam), I put up with the barbs and jokes, because my dad walked funny! ( Lost his left leg, Korea). How come your Grandpa needs a wheelchair and sometimes falls out of it and writhes around on the ground? ( Paralyzed, shot in the back, by a Japanese officer on Corrigidor! the writhing around, Malaria, just a bonus! after the starvation!) Now my son is leaving for his third tour to the middle East. This time to Afghanistan, his assignment will be to build a base, to help defend the villagers against insurgents and terrorists that take their crops or profits from them to buy weapons to kill us in our own country or around the world!! Oh by the way,....... the crops?....... Marijuana and Poppies, go figure!?!

Dude...I think maybe you have been smoking some of that crop when you wrote that...go give your political rant on another forum...if your family is so down on the conduct of the wars the US has fought or the miltary why does generation after generation in your family continue to sign up for it? Last time I checked there was no draft in the USA...are you trolling???

WOW great build man looks real I hope I am at your level of skill one day. Thanks for building somthing to help people remember what the Army and Marines go thru over there sometimes civilians need something to give them a moment of pause.

Newarmorman I find it amazing that you can sum up a person by looking at just one post/model that they have built. I am active duty military and I think its important to model all aspects of military life otherwise civilians quit seeing us as human or even real. I run a shop of 27 guys and if theres a choice between me or one of them going home in a metal box its gonna be me not becuse I am thier boss but becuse I feel that every one of them is my son. I can and will make the hard choice if I have to but I hope it never comes to that. I want you to think about something how would you feel if in 20 years nobody cared your son was there becuse they were so detatched from what it was like and thought it was like anyother job? This isnt a video game that some 10 yo can play over and over and never die, it makes a statement and to me its that there are prices to be paid for freedom that to many take for granted.

First class modelling Rob , you have a lot of talent. As for the subject of war and losing people i feel very sorry for anyone who has lost and i respect all of you out there that have served or are serving. I consider myself very lucky as i never have had to  nor would i want to. Im just a builder and to think i sometimes think ive had a hard day, well i cant imagine what a tough day in war would be like. I think soldiers should be paid  a lot more than polititions as they risk thier lives to save others, should be the highest paid job of all.All that said i dont think anyone me included model to reprecent true war or think of people suffering and dying when they build a model. Its more like fiction,for instance i wouldnt think anyone supports what the ss did in the war but that doesnt stop most of us building them and thier vehicles, we dont mean anything by it   its just modelling   a hobby   we dont think of the trauma and if we did i dont think military modelling would be a past time.  Poor old Rob only built a model i dont think he exspected all this on his post  nothing was said when its was a German tank.

 

  Lighten up, Francis.

newarmorman wrote:

Hey, Got my point across didn't I? Blown up is blown up Right! I only hope its never your son or your family! I think, you all will think differently then. A friend is one thing, your own child or parent is another! Semper FI to you also my friend. I was not insulting you or your build ! My name isn't Newarmorman for nothing! I spent 6 weeks in Okinawa, helping my son get his head straight after 3 of his buddies were killed while taking Baghdad! Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. I only want people to think about what we are doing, and will do, not to mention what we should have done! Do not try to tell me not to look if I don't like what I see, as you are the one that posted it for everyone to see! The point is Army/Marine? We all need to take a look at WAR and at some point, " SAY NO"! WAR IS STUPID! Figure it out. Nobody wins at war, except politicians, and big business. We all know war is good for the economy? Huh? Well if I hurt your feelings I am truly sorry! I love and admire armor and those that model it, because armor is probably the only common sense solution to the inevitable. Button up and hope the hell you survive! But pick up a weapon and look your enemy (?) in the eye and pull the trigger, thats reality, son! Check out our streets, video games.....its OK, Kill, its just a game!!! Enough with my diatribe, I really love and honor our boys! I just don't want to see it trivialized! I too like your build, its great, and looks really good! To all of you that reacted to my reply, thanks! You really do show that you care about what we do. We memorialize history. History stinks and we are doomed to relive it if we don't take a different path! I am sure that all of you have been touched somehow by the ravages of war. Maybe someday we will do something about it, we need to love each other, not kill each other! If I insulted anybody, I am sorry! Newarmorman

You know I thought long and hard before replying because I could not see how I could do it without offending you.  What I really hear is a lot of pain and fear for your loved ones which is understandable

First of all Rob great work and a great monument to the reality of War which is the failure of human reason but will always be with with us.

I was a platoon Daddy in Desert Storm and I have watched my friends sacrifice their health and their lives for each other and our duty.  My Grandgather was with the third army all across Eurpope and is the reason I joined the military at 17.  I have lost many friends since 9/11 and I too have found solice in modeling armor.  Don't you dare tell me I don't know what is feels like to hurt over someone I lost just because they were not a blood relative!   I am almost ready to do T-55's coming over the sand and I too have long nights that the only way I can sleep is to model. This is a place to share ideas, our hard work and tears trying to make something made out of plastic not for poltical or personal agendas.

I am done I wil not respond to this any further, but I will always respond to friendly constructive feedback and ideals

Peace not Pieces,

 

    So many things I'd like to say but I think I'll stick to what it is.

  Rob you've done an outstanding job on this build and reminding everyone of the bravery, commitment and sacrifices of the men and women serving in the armed forces.

newarmorman wrote:

Hey, Got my point across didn't I? Blown up is blown up Right! I only hope its never your son or your family! I think, you all will think differently then. A friend is one thing, your own child or parent is another! Semper FI to you also my friend. I was not insulting you or your build ! My name isn't Newarmorman for nothing! I spent 6 weeks in Okinawa, helping my son get his head straight after 3 of his buddies were killed while taking Baghdad! Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. I only want people to think about what we are doing, and will do, not to mention what we should have done! Do not try to tell me not to look if I don't like what I see, as you are the one that posted it for everyone to see! The point is Army/Marine? We all need to take a look at WAR and at some point, " SAY NO"! WAR IS STUPID! Figure it out. Nobody wins at war, except politicians, and big business. We all know war is good for the economy? Huh? Well if I hurt your feelings I am truly sorry! I love and admire armor and those that model it, because armor is probably the only common sense solution to the inevitable. Button up and hope the hell you survive! But pick up a weapon and look your enemy (?) in the eye and pull the trigger, thats reality, son! Check out our streets, video games.....its OK, Kill, its just a game!!! Enough with my diatribe, I really love and honor our boys! I just don't want to see it trivialized! I too like your build, its great, and looks really good! To all of you that reacted to my reply, thanks! You really do show that you care about what we do. We memorialize history. History stinks and we are doomed to relive it if we don't take a different path! I am sure that all of you have been touched somehow by the ravages of war. Maybe someday we will do something about it, we need to love each other, not kill each other! If I insulted anybody, I am sorry! Newarmorman

i agree with camo junkie would you rather have war in your backyard or over in there backyard its your choice realy but war is inevitible.  losses come with war take that into consideration.

Rob, first-class modelling.

I'm done.