Incredible work! Unbelievable detail
2 Likes
Looking great so far. Nice 3D work.
2 Likes
I neither have the skills nor patience to scratch build like this, so please 3D scan your work and make it available!
2 Likes
Beautiful job. Shame they missed quite a bit.
2 Likes
Damn Ezra you are really going the whole nine yards on this kit. But then again, that’s what all of us do when we build our ride. You live in it, so you know every part like a kit designer never will. Any M1A2 kit will disappoint you because you know the vehicle so well. It’s what you roll in.
You have always been an excellent modeler but now that you’ve ventured into 3D printing you’re a raving maniac. Your work is so astounding it puts aftermarket to shame. Your attention to detail and fidelity in scale are outstanding. This is going to take you quite a while to build but it’s going to be a Best Of Show winner when you’re finished.
7 Likes
Alright so I’m on block leave right now with my parents back in NM and despite spending my whole time at the range I have found time to spit out some prints.
I’m working on printing the majority of the turret interior.
All the parts printed very nicely and any print layers won’t be visible under paint. Also don’t mind any dust particles they will of course be washed away before paint.
The turret floor posed to be a problem and I had to cut away part of it then add a backing and fill and sand it. But I powered through.
Once I get back to Texas I can scratch build everything else missing as well as add the no slip texture to select areas of the floor.
Even with the turret cut away you still have trouble seeing everything once the roof is placed on…
What do yall think?
20 Likes
It looks great so far. Nice work with the 3D parts.
3 Likes
Very nice 
2 Likes
I’d say amazing work, but since I’ve been following your “modeling career” on Armorama from the beginning, this level of quality from you no longer amazes me. Drive on!
4 Likes
Details are top notch 
2 Likes
The details look great.
3 Likes
DUDE!! Great work!
2 Likes
Wow! Great work and attention to details. Impressive. 3D design and printing has certainly added to model building.
2 Likes
Absolutely incredible work.
2 Likes
Thanks guys!!
Been tossing paint on the engine bay and adding all the cables and piping. Sorry I don’t have any in progress pics as it was lots of back and forth of adding wires, adding pipes ontop of the wires and repeat.
There are 3 more parts I need to print but apart from that and some small detail touchups it is almost ready for washes and adding the shine back to the heat shields.
Don’t mind the rough detail painting… it’s been years since I’ve attempted something of this scale. luckily I can make it all disappear with weathering and believe me these get disgusting after weeks in the field.
don’t pay attention to the final drives, qdp and plenum painting as they will be covered with trash bags and tape once painting is finished.
Getting so close to finishing this engine bay…
14 Likes
I want to start this saying I know Shepard Paine is rolling in his grave right now.
Now I am totally against the use of AI when it comes to creativity but I was feeling very burnt out when it came to designing these last complex parts for the air cleaner box. Plus I had been seeing so many ads for Meshy AI so I plugged the photos in and after a few tries I got this printable file spit back out at me.
Here is the reference I used…
I really want to hate it but it does look close enough…
Plus it saves me a good 3 hours of CAD work so I think I found my solution.
Please don’t rip into me too hard I just got tired of designing parts for this monster of a build so I’m trying to save my soul here.
I’m really not trying to be known as the young modeler using AI for his models.
Gonna try to print these out on sunday…
11 Likes
Looks great. I don’t see any problem using AI to assist in your design. It is a tool like any other. I have used it a couple times as well. It usually gets you close, but you still have to refine it to get what you really want.
3 Likes
Nothing wrong with using AI, work smarter not harder.
4 Likes
It’s okay to use AI. Just don’t let AI use you!
3 Likes
Alright so I forgot my build plate for the printer at my girlfriends place and she is gone for a few days so printing the last few pieces is on hold.
Dont worry I have made a good use of my time and managed to slap some oils on the engine bay as well as veryyy quickly scratch built all the missing details and paint the drivers hole. It will be nearly invisible once the build is finished so I did some pretty mediocre work to it.
I tried to go fairly subtle on the engine bay weathering and keep the white fairly… well white… but I still need to add all the mud mixed with fuel on the floor and packing corners but I will finish weathering the whole exterior of the tank before I add that.
Im loving the results so far.
And the drivers hole. I did it in about 2 days and like I said almost none will ever be visable.
Im probably going to take a small break from this model now so I dont become burnt out…
Plus I need to do some work on the 1/1 scale car.
But yeah till the next update…
9 Likes