@Johnnych01 -
I quite agree. Part of my build strategy was to get everything that would be printed/painted as a piece of the whole ready, so that I could see all the imperfections at one glance. Leaving off the CIPs and the FCS radar and the ADATS skull was a two-fold benefit:
detail painting the ADATS face
Having the recesses available for prime/paint. I know that the recesses have more of the nubbins that need sanding before priming. I currently plan to use Mr. Surfacer 500 for the base coat.
Kind thanks for the feedback. It’s a gift.
That resin makes my eyes hurt and water! First time I’ve built out a big piece, and that color is nothing like I’ve ever seen!
Its a nice change to see an Abrams with a different set up … Scottcast did do just a turret conversion this and I had thought about getting it … but its out of stock now.
Yesterday I ordered the RFM M1A2 SEPv3 as the hull and accessories donor. Sprue Brothers had one at a good price. The SEPv3 allows me to continue the “alternative universe” story-telling and modernization, and the intricacies of the hull & running gear are easier for me to use in an above-ground vignette. Will advise when it arrives later this week (planned), and focus on “the merge”.
I’ve already earmarked it for a fighting position diorama with perhaps a UKR or POL turret. Sorry!
The interesting thing is that the M1A1 SA acquired by the UKR DF are pushed through the Anniston Army Depot and upgraded to near SEPv3 levels before transfer to Ukraine. The trick is to find out what isn’t on the UKR (SA), or what is slightly different between the POLISH SEPv3 and the kit.
I’m uncertain as to what this (below) will mean when I finish kit-bashing the banana tank AGDS and the RFM SEPv3
I’ve not built an advanced RFM kit, so I might have whole bits (such as the Trophy) that I don’t use. I need to see the Polish SEPv3 up close. Will advise.
I used a Fiskars hole cutter: it worked quite well with a little learning and some final sawing with an X-acto saw blade.
I chose to bash the Academy Minicraft #1345 M1A1 instead of using the BananaTank supplied hull. The hull is monolithic, and seems a bit kludgy for the show entry I’m trying to make. The hull and running gear are three whole pieces, and I want more detail on the suspension and hull. The detail is fine for a bit of practice by an unskilled resin user like me, but I feel good about the merge!
Nest steps are finish the hull, attach crew kit, and land an RWS somewhere, and get to painting (not necessarily in that order).
I’m updating the 1996 project to something of a response to the drone threat seen in Norgorno-Karabakh in 2020, and in Ukraine. The US Army is fielding the Stryker M-SHORAD, but this seems like a fist in the face to “tanks can’t survive the drones”.
I’ll mount CIPs (combat ID panels), rucks and sleeping tools, and a tarp or two. Paint will be acrylics, and I’m looking at the “new” US two-tone ODG I’ve heard mentioned.
My local AMPS-Atlanta chapter helped me focus on the how-to for opening up the hull bore.
Looking great so far. One note though, if you are bringing it up to 2020-ish standards, you might want to use a different hull. The hull you have is an M1 hull without the access panels on top of the engine deck. By 2020, it would most likely be an M1A1 or even an M1A2 SEP v2 hull. Anything newer would most likely be an M1A2 SEP v3 hull. Either of these would get you the RWS as well.
That’s a good idea. My conundrum is that GDLS never built one, and this would be something like “grab a couple hulls out of storage and lets make weapon we can get to Ukraine (or Taiwan)!”
And the price of contemporary SEPv3 kits makes me twitch when I talk about kitbashing them. But I do have an RFM SEPv3 and a Dragon SEPv2. I’m borrowing things from the Dragon in a few places (gunner’s hatch, MAYBE the RWS). I didn’t want to cut the RFM, and I made a few steps using the Academy-Minicraft before I found the Dragon. I could theoretically cut the Dragon, but I’m basking in the success of having opened up the current donor!
I already built a standalone RWS that I might adapt. Some of the challenge is that I’d prefer a low-pro mount that doesn’t obscure the radar mast. I’m trying to “creatively elevate” the dish when it is erected.
I hear you. It just depends on how “accurate” you want it to be. Based on all the upgrades that have been done on Abrams over the last couple decades, I doubt there are any M1 hulls left. Most M1 hulls were used to upgrade to M1A2s when they were originally built. Since then, they have been rebuilt into newer versions. There haven’t been any new-build Abrams in a lot of years.
Also, for a newer one, you might want MOLLE rucksacks and gear like the below Legend set.
Legend 1/35 US Army Soldier Load & Equipment Carrying System MOLLE II Set LF1237
Yes, these are older ALICE rucks that were used up through the early 2000s. In '03 during OIF 1 in 3ID, we still had ALICE rucks. When I went back to Iraq in '08, we had transitioned to MOLLE rucks and other gear.