Nomad,

I have been watching your build and you are doing a great job.  You know there are really no perfect kits or builders for that matter.  We all strive to do the best work we can.  Folks on this site or any other site represent many different levels of skill and knowledge and that's ok you're doing great.  I think you will find many many more good people then bad.  The problem is the bitter and obnoxious people seem to talk the loudest.  Please don't let one of those push you out.  There is a reason why they are called trolls they creep around looking for a place inject themselves.  It was just your turn.

Terry(MrT)

First off I would like to say I have cooled down a bit and think that I will try and keep on building and asking for help on things that I do not understand. Rob, doog, MrT.  and all the others that have "really" helped me I thank you so much.

I just wish that Gino would come back and give me his straight forward opinions. That would help me a lot also.

Rob, Here are some photos of the figure. Personally I do not like it. There is no detail at all. No flack vest or anything. I tried to make the mic on the helmet with sprue. Looking to make more details on the figure with milliput. Been watching some videos on making wiring and such. Also I did find one reference photo of the uniform.

Nomad, good to see you're back!

Isn't that the original figure going back to the early '80s release of the M1? It's an ok figure and good to see you're painting him though you might scrap the seams off the sleeves and boots. 

I looked around for a newer set but this is all I could find available now. The Trumpeter figures I've bought have been a little uneven in quality. Maybe someone here has a set so they can recommend or not recommend it? 

Gamera

Nomad, good to see you're back!

Isn't that the original figure going back to the early '80s release of the M1? It's an ok figure and good to see you're painting him though you might scrap the seams off the sleeves and boots. 

I looked around for a newer set but this is all I could find available now. The Trumpeter figures I've bought have been a little uneven in quality. Maybe someone here has a set so they can recommend or not recommend it? 

Watch, lol. Figures do seem to be a problem for modern armor. Or for ww2 aircraft. I don't think I have any for my 109/548/577 models. Bob

I like the Tamiya figures. They have a lot of details most of the time and because that they are the only ones that I have worked with. I want to look into getting some other brands and see how they compare to each other.

Whoa a Nomad what have you done to that poor figure? Looks like he spent couple years in the desert on bread and water rations. Tamiya has taken skinny to a new thinness!

i am up for some input concerning figures too. I need to venture into figures to add some "life" to my builds, I've been shying away from them for too long.

The Nomex CVC's are more green than drab though. I have couple sets in the closet that I held onto after I retired as they were my favorite uniforms. I referred to them as my combat pajamas. I can snap and post some pics of them if it would be of any help.

deattilio

Whoa a Nomad what have you done to that poor figure? Looks like he spent couple years in the desert on bread and water rations. Tamiya has taken skinny to a new thinness!

i am up for some input concerning figures too. I need to venture into figures to add some "life" to my builds, I've been shying away from them for too long.

The Nomex CVC's are more green than drab though. I have couple sets in the closet that I held onto after I retired as they were my favorite uniforms. I referred to them as my combat pajamas. I can snap and post some pics of them if it would be of any help.

Well this figure is a Academy figure that came with the kit. He is not glued in as of now because I am looking to get the Tamiya Modern Figures. Don't be afraid to start painting figures to go with your builds as like you said it brings life to the diorama.

Just look at the paint guide and then look at reference photos of what you want to figure to look like and jump right in.b Also in the figure forum there is a lot of great help there with the pain there are three or four that have been a BIG help with my build here.

Please send some photos of the CVC's.

Doug

As for the figure being thin.....Well he just did not like the MRE's I gave him.

Looks like your model came out pretty nicely.  I have been out of the net for about a week and haven't seen it develop.  The Trumpeter figures that were recommended are pretty nice.  I would go with them if you can.

These were one of the sets of my “dog & pony” CVC’s so are in better shape than what you would typically come across in the field.  I took a picture of front and back with and without flash of the CVC suit and CVC jacket.
I will definitely try my hand with figures for my next armor build, maybe even have some of those delicious MREs in one of their hands.

For the CVC color, I use Testors Model Master Medium Green (FS34102), then I drybrush with OD Green to fade it a bit.  You can then weather with dirt and dust to finish it off.

Nomad53

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Rob, Here are some photos of the figure. Personally I do not like it. There is no detail at all. No flack vest or anything. I tried to make the mic on the helmet with sprue. Looking to make more details on the figure with milliput. Been watching some videos on making wiring and such. Also I did find one reference photo of the uniform.

He's wearing the 1970s-early 80s fatigues that we called "pickle suits". There was no detail on the uniforms, some of the old school guys had original cotton ones and us newer guys had the permanent press ones. Both of which had the heck starched out of them! Breaking starch was a term we used for putting on a freshly laundered set. The dang things could stand on their own without a person inside. Very old school figure in an old school uniform for a tank that should have a more recent TC.

I know I don't have a Marine in a current CVC uniform, but I might have a more recent commander figure somewhere. I'd have to look.

Gamera

Thanks again Rob, I'm a little fuzzy on anything after 1945 and not that knowledgeable about stuff before. I'll just avoid any Academy Abrams!

I built a motorized version of the old Tamiya M1 kit back in the early 90s- wonder what happened to it?  You guys got me interested enough to look around at some of the newer kits. Nomad- it you decide to pick up another Abrams I've found a bunch of the new Tamiya  M1A2 kits on Ebay for about fifty-five bucks included shipping and handling- expensive but much less than I've seen it at the retailers I looked at.

If anyone is interested. Someone on another site posted a sale list and is offering a Tamiya M1A1 with mine plow for only $25 and an M2A2 Bradley for $20. A little more but still great prices are the Tamiya T-55 and T-72 for $35. No relation to the seller, but saw the good deals here http://www.network54.com/Forum/409173/thread/1405116127/FS+-+1-35+scale+Model+Armor 

Well this thread has been a wealth of information for me as well. I have the same kit in my stash, from Hobby Lobby for 40% off, and will tackle it one day. The kit inaccuracies do  not overly concern me. How to build it as best I can mostly OOB using stuff from my spares bin, etc, does. Watching this thread has been illuminating for many small details on the Abrams, and I will reference it when I do tackle mine.

stikpusher

Well this thread has been a wealth of information for me as well. I have the same kit in my stash, from Hobby Lobby for 40% off, and will tackle it one day. The kit inaccuracies do  not overly concern me. How to build it as best I can mostly OOB using stuff from my spares bin, etc, does. Watching this thread has been illuminating for many small details on the Abrams, and I will reference it when I do tackle mine.

Awesome stikpusher, glad that this thread could be some help. I did not know that when I first started this thread that the wealth of information would be as great as it has been. I have found out that there are some well accomplished modelers here.

Good luck and have a great build when you start your kit.

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Though after looking over my stash this weekend I decided not to pick up a new Abrams since it looks like I'm working my way to hoarder status and the last thing I need is to add anything else to it...  

Gamera

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Though after looking over my stash this weekend I decided not to pick up a new Abrams since it looks like I'm working my way to hoarder status and the last thing I need is to add anything else to it...  

My wife would agree with you there about being a hoarder with models all tho I do not have a stash put back at the moment..

stikpusher

Well this thread has been a wealth of information for me as well. I have the same kit in my stash, from Hobby Lobby for 40% off, and will tackle it one day. The kit inaccuracies do  not overly concern me. How to build it as best I can mostly OOB using stuff from my spares bin, etc, does. Watching this thread has been illuminating for many small details on the Abrams, and I will reference it when I do tackle mine.

Nomad53

deattilio

Whoa a Nomad what have you done to that poor figure? Looks like he spent couple years in the desert on bread and water rations. Tamiya has taken skinny to a new thinness!

i am up for some input concerning figures too. I need to venture into figures to add some "life" to my builds, I've been shying away from them for too long.

The Nomex CVC's are more green than drab though. I have couple sets in the closet that I held onto after I retired as they were my favorite uniforms. I referred to them as my combat pajamas. I can snap and post some pics of them if it would be of any help.

Well this figure is a Academy figure that came with the kit. He is not glued in as of now because I am looking to get the Tamiya Modern Figures. Don't be afraid to start painting figures to go with your builds as like you said it brings life to the diorama.

Just look at the paint guide and then look at reference photos of what you want to figure to look like and jump right in.b Also in the figure forum there is a lot of great help there with the pain there are three or four that have been a BIG help with my build here.

Please send some photos of the CVC's.

Doug

As for the figure being thin.....Well he just did not like the MRE's I gave him.

The DML Abrams driver would work with an M113A2. Is it the Tamiya kit? That kit is, as pictured on the box art, an M113A3, but doesn't include all the proper fittings for a true M113A3. Any ways, the driver would be good up until a later stage of the war in Iraq.

Rob Gronovius

The DML Abrams driver would work with an M113A2. Is it the Tamiya kit? That kit is, as pictured on the box art, an M113A3, but doesn't include all the proper fittings for a true M113A3. Any ways, the driver would be good up until a later stage of the war in Iraq.

Nomad, fine job, and it looks like you learned a lot about modeling in the process. Stick around.

I will openly confess to having built several of these Academy M1A1 kits, just for the sheer fun of modeling, and because they can be had for very modest prices. I have one on the shelf, 90% done but no ***, that I built up the front of the turret to match a Trumpeter turret, that may come out nicely one day, if I ever decide to dust it off and finish it. I even did one for a "WW3" GB a while ago, lots of fun.  And this comes from a self-diagnosed rivet counter.

You are right in saying that I have learned a lot on this model. The help and advice that I got was very helpful.

.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Doug

I picked up the Abrams kit at Hobby Lobby about 6 months ago, they had a 1/3 off sale on all plastic models and I was still able to use the 40% off coupon. I thought if they were giving them away I'd grab one but I haven't started it yet. I don't remember but I'm sure it was slightly under $20. Terry

jibber

I picked up the Abrams kit at Hobby Lobby about 6 months ago, they had a 1/3 off sale on all plastic models and I was still able to use the 40% off coupon. I thought if they were giving them away I'd grab one but I haven't started it yet. I don't remember but I'm sure it was slightly under $20. Terry

Wow, I wish they would do that here at my Hobby Lobby. I sent a email to Hobby Lobby and asked them why they do not change out their choice of military models. I am tired of walking in and seeing the same thing all the time. I told them that Tamiya had a lot more choices of models than Hobby Lobby carries.

Doug