Tamiya M1A2 Abrams- UPDATED PICS 5/30/10

The anti-slip looks great Frank - this one's coming along nicely. 

Daywalker wrote:

A bit anti-climactic though, with hours and hours masking and seconds painting.

The masking may have taken a while, but it's size makes it easier than masking up a "greenhouse" canopy of a German warbird using the "tiny strip" method and then needing all of 5 seconds to spray it.

Keep up the good work.

 Ok Frank, whats with you lurking in these parts?? Did Wingnut get to you too?? Wow fantastic job thus far my friend especially with the non skid sections..

 I am using a Rustoleom paint which is sand coloured that has that particular texture as well for my GBU's.. Pretty sweet stuff I say!

 I am looking forward to seeing your WIPs.. Just incase you were wondering, yes I too have a Tamiya as well as a DML Abrams in my stash..

 I believe the Tamiya kit that I have has been updated and the DML kit, well... It's like the real deal but minaturized.. Unbelievable detail...

 Anywho once I get done with a few builds I may tackle one of these bad boyz.. If you can do it, so can I!!

 Again, looking forward to your build!!

Flaps up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way

The masking for the texture finish paints is a small build in itself...but it looks great. I have used the rust-o-leum terra cotta and I assume it is the same line of paints

Nice progress

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks fellas, I appreciate the feedback!  Good to know there are a few watching.

Tom- Thanks buddy, call me Frank!

Small update tonight...

I had originally picked up a rattle can of black textured paint for the anti-skid surfaces, as that was all my local hardware store had on hand.  Concerned about the black and the kit plastic showing through the final colors differently, I checked out a couple of other hardware store in a larger nearby town.  They had a light sand color (perfect!) which I thought would work better for me.  I added the coating tonight, then spent a LOOONG time removing all of the masking.  Here's how she looks now:

Hi Frank,

I found a link in my references for detail/dimensions of the "USMC" style BRE if you're up to scratching one.

 http://olivier.carneau.free.fr/revues/USMC%20M1A1%20Bustle%20Rack%20Extension.pdf

Richard- Thank you very much!  I like the Tamiya kit, though it does have it's quirks.  I will be very interested to see your Italeri Abrams, are you going to post photos of it while you build it?

dupes- Thanks man, glad to see you stop by!

Hi Daywalker. I can see the armor bug got to you too. And to my own fortune its an Abrams too. Goodie goodie. Now i can look over the shoulder of someone who is clearly putting in a lot of effort on his build. Looking forward to see your progress

Thank god i don't have to do the non skid surface on my italeri variant even though it (the surface) is said to be slightly exaggerated...

Richard

I spent the better part of the day (off and on) masking the Abrams for the anti-skid coating.  LOTS of Tamiya tape was used, along with some blue painters tape (until I ran out) and some Handy Tack.  I sure am glad to have all of that masking finished!  Going to bed soon, so the actual coating will have to wait a day or two.

Thanks for looking!

I actually used one of these which I use at work...

It's a hand-engraving tool made of carbon steel used for engraving metals.

Sorry for the long delay in updates!  I was having some issues with the fit of the hull rear and sides (especially the right side) and last night I finally figured out a way to solve the problem.  Lots of CA glue, a file and some sanding sticks and I am back on track. (sorry! ) 

I finished beating up the road wheels, and glued them all together tonight.  Stuck them on to see how it looked.  Sure makes it look more like an Abrams!

Thanks for looking!

Oh my God, Sir Frank of Opti is here!!!  Building a target as well. Or is it the Mesquline still wearing off LOL (DONT DO DRUGS KIDS, THEY EAT TOO DEEPLY INTO YOUR POCKET MONEY)

Looks like Aaron as been jinxing your build as well. Going to have to remove that 'Good guy' award he got. Rip him down a strip.

I have been known to pay a visit here, just to show these suckers how to do it properly. Theyre a temperamental lot, not easy to please. They do build some good stuff though and definately know thier stuff.

Shes looking great though Frank, and if anyone can sort Aarons jinx, then its you chum. Jst dont stick around here too long............just look what happened to Wingnut!!!

...Guy

sfcmac wrote:

I don't have any pics of the M-1 in tow but do have a Bradley hooked up.  Gotta be a real man to hook them stinkers up!

kinda like this one?

Fear me! Fear my power!  That shall serve as an example for the non-believers!

Ack someone call a priest!

Sorry Frank!

AAACCCKKK!!!

Looks like Sarge found me!   No matter how hard I tried to evade, he put his hound to the task and found where I was hiding.  DAMN!  I may have to try hiding in another forum...

I know, maybe the Ship forum...

Hmmm... nope!  He'll prolly find me there too.

Thanks Aaron!  Thought I would take a quick break and try a tank.  But, these things are a lot different to build!  No seams to fill, or rescribe, no canopies to mask, no rigging wires... But- there's textures to replicate!  And, rust to boot!  Battle damage, dents, etc.  Not easy to do if you're not used to it.  I tell ya, I gotta hand it to all of you armor builders.  These things are not easy to build!  I think I made a boo-boo on the Abrams, and can't quite figure out how to fix it yet.  Where the rear plate meets the sides of the hull, the Tamiya kit STILL has that poor fit that I remember from Abrams kits I built long ago.  I tried to smooth things out, but unfortunately I already installed the tailights so I can't get in there to sand the poor joint.  I filed down the port side, to level it with the rear plate and now there is a large gap between the hull side and the side armor.  Not quite sure yet how to fix it, and the starboard side is much worse!  Thought I would try it first on the easy side.

Oh, well...

I shall figure it out eventually.  DARN YOU SARGE!  YOU DOOMED ME!!! 

J/K

 SOOOOO did you get a lotta work done on them models last night?!!!!! Bet you were too busy out carousing and partying like some track jocky!!!!  Probably researching the diff between  cherry juice and apple juice as to which to use for the M-1 hydralics!  Well Ilet you ponder on that one!

 Here are a few pics that are of no use at all but cool.

Gunner! Sabot! Target Frank's stash! Range one two hundred or heck just laz it!  Battlesight even!

 Red 5 this is six calling for Blue 6 to come around in flanking action!  Escaping plastic!

Red 5  Blue is in position take care to avoid the moldy cheese obstacles!

Target marked! All units engage! ROE is in effect! Fire!

Target hit!  Recording secondary explosins of Liquid cement and paint! No Optivisor though! Maybe next time! Dern political figures pulled the plug!

  That'll show him!

 I don't have any pics of the M-1 in tow but do have a Bradley hooked up.  Gotta be a real man to hook them stinkers up!

 Now someone get this man drug tested!

Frank look at this conversion set! Only $75 bucks!

Yes Mikeym_us the first link is for the DML - (Dragon kit) and link 2 is for Tamiya and Academy. I know it did not tell you academy but you know that academy kits are just a copy of the over priced Tamiya kits. So a lot if resin parts as well as PE- Photo etch parts will fit academy. I'll go back to your first post page to see what company your kit is from.

Still keep at it man.

 Hey....?   Is this actually the optivisor wearing aircraft forume super hero  known as Daywalker?  Secret identity the Mild mannered Frankie?  Oh heck now I know the place has gone to pot!  Jeeze marieeze!  Don't you have an RA 109 or an FAA Corsair to be working on? Perhaps even a PBY?? Oh the horror!

 I'm telling you I have played with the real thing and no matter how hard you try it just isn't gonna fly like in the recruiting commercial, at least not to far and the landing ain't happy!  It ain't powered by no Pratt and Whitney radial either.

Shackles and Anti-skid surfaces what are you thinking! Next thing you know you'll be trying to build a ship or even ( heaven forbid) an artillery piece.

 If I actually thought you could make an armor model with ANY degree of success I woulda  sent you one or two myself!   Gosh wait until the doog gets back and seez ya on his turf!  It will be a scene where all heck brakes loose like Bondo at the disco!

 What's next peanut butter pizza! Man I tell ya I just find this so hard to accept. Gonna have to meditate on this a good bit and find out how I really feel.  Heck I bet your even thinking about getting a new shirt!  And it's not flannel either ! Oh this is how it starts and before you know it anarchy reigns supreme and a new world order will expose us to who knows what! Fear change I say! especially the Canadian coins! They don't work in Vending machines anymore!  And you know why ? I'll tell ya why!  Cuz some bloke  that  builds model planes decided he wanted to do a tank.   Ok I'm over it! not!!!!

Great job so far btw!  Bet it will even smell like diesal when your done doing what you do!  Can't wait!