M1A2 SEP TUSK w/ Full Interior - Update 18JAN11 Dio Done...

Gino, people like you always make me fell a bit inferior when it comes to modeling. It always makes me feel that I have a lot more to learn in my modeling prowlness.

All I can do is strive to meet a level near to yours. Nice job.

I am so with you Mechtech!  Maybe we should vote to expel him from the forums?  Wait a minute! Maybe it is a bad idea because we will never improve ourselves when we see his posts.  Gino, outstanding work so far! 

A bit inferior????..... Not in my case a whole lot inferior geeze thats some amazing work...Thanks for the insperation though I have an Academy M1 on the back burner that I would like to get to soon.

john

Looking good so far...almost a shame to put the turret on the hull with all that detail.

Wow,that is very impressive detailing,too bad you gotta cover a lot of it up.

Excellent!!

Thanks for the compliments guys.  I take it this one is a hit.  No need to feel inferior.  I bet any one of you could build this as well.  All it takes is patience and good referance pics/drawings to do.  I think you guys should give it a try.  I bet you would surprise yourselves with the results you get.

Great stuff Gino!  Now how about some color!?!

That's all I can say

Rounds Complete!!

Very nice work on the details Gino and up to your usual standard when it comes to modern subjects. Look forward to seeing more progress on this one.

Holy smokes Heavy...that is some stupendous work there!

Wow, man, wow.

Thanks guys.  I hope to get some paint on it tomorrow.  I was at the do-it-yourself garage today working on my truck doing some fall maintenance.  New tires, changed oil and filter, lube the chassis, and changed the trans fluid and filter.  Gotta love getting greasy.

Mike, wipe your chin, you're getting the floor all wet.

Nothing further... out here.

Thanks Kevin.  Hope you get your tongue back in your mouth w/o issues.

WOOOOOOOOOW!

I can't wait to see how this one is going to turn out.

Pulling out all the stops on this one.  Looks great.

Thanks guys.  I was able to get some paint on it over the weekend.  I hope to have some pics of it with decals posted soon.

Insert "eager toe tapping icon" here.....

Patience my good man, patience... 

I've read about the do-it yourself garages on a mechanics forum I go to.Thats cool that they have them on base for you guys.Do all bases have them? Thank you for your service also,and keep up the outstanding workon your M-1.

John

John:  Thanks for the compliments and your support.  The Auto Craft Shop (as the military calls them) are great.  Every post I have been to has had one so far.

Are you going to put this one is a dio?

Are you going to put this one is a dio?

Yup, as I wrote in my original post, it will go in a simple maintenance dio with a couple mechanics looking over the engine.

WOW, I'm just blown away---what a freakin' awesome, cool model! I've never seen an M1 so tricked out and detailed before. Just .....just fabulous--your consistency never seems to falter.

I gotta hand it to you, Gino--I don't know how you can relinquish possession of these when you're done! You must be getting some darned good paycheck to make it worth it! I'd never be able give up a work of true art like this!

10 out of 10--man, I can't WAIT to see the dio!

Thanks Doog, glad you like it.   I started it knowing it was for a customer, so no loss there.  I am getting paid pretty good for the build, but not raking in the dough from it.  Mainly I am enjoying it.

Gino, though I have my reservations about your painting style, I always found your building top notch. And this one is extra-cool too! The coolest thing for me in this build is the way it shows how little space is left for the crew in this huge turret after you subtract the volume taken up by the armor and ammo. The thickness of the armor is massive.

Could you please write something about the TUSK option - since when it is used and what it does? I could look it up on the internet, but I bet you have something interesting to say about it. Thanks in advance, good luck with painting and have a nice day

Paweł

Pawel: Thanks for checking in and the compliments.  You're wasting your breath my friend.  You're not going to change my mind on the painting techniques.  I still don't like the look of preshading and won't use it.  To each their own. 

As to the TUSK, I'll give a brief description for you.  It stands for Tank Urban Survival Kit.  It was developed after the initial invasion in Iraq to make the tanks more survivable in the cities as they patrolled them.  It includes belly armor against mines and IEDs, side skirt armor against RPGs, armor sheilds around the loader's MG and hatch, a barrel mounted .50 cal MG for engaging non-armor targets with the main gun sight, and day/night sights for the TC and loader's MGs.  It is pretty effective and has been added to many (most) tanks used in Iraq.

Gino - I know it's your model and you will paint it as you see fit. So I was just expressing my opinion. Thanks a lot for the explanation, I learned something new again, that's what I like! I look forward to the next update on this WIP, have a nice day

Paweł

HeavyArty

Pawel: Thanks for checking in and the compliments.  You're wasting your breath my friend.  You're not going to change my mind on the painting techniques.  I still don't like the look of preshading and won't use it.  To each their own. 

As to the TUSK, I'll give a brief description for you.  It stands for Tank Urban Survival Kit.  It was developed after the initial invasion in Iraq to make the tanks more survivable in the cities as they patrolled them.  It includes belly armor against mines and IEDs, side skirt armor against RPGs, armor sheilds around the loader's MG and hatch, a barrel mounted .50 cal MG for engaging non-armor targets with the main gun sight, and day/night sights for the TC and loader's MGs.  It is pretty effective and has been added to many (most) tanks used in Iraq.

Tusk has gone by the wayside Gino they now have TUSKII it is supposed to be even better than TUSK. Don't know why when it looks almost the same as TUSK.