Info needed on Aussie Abrams

Armor/AFV
1

Hi folks

A mate of mine is modelling an Aussie Abrams and is looking for the following information:

“I’m specifically looking for images detailing the fridge in the rear basket and the power block/conduit/terminal, I don’t know what it’s called, on the rear top of the turret between the blast off panels.”

Can anyone help as, although I’m an Aussie, modern armour is not my area of interest!

Thanks in advance.

2

This may help. https://forums.kitmaker.net/t/australian-m1a1-meng-build/17007

I built up my own fridge according to the info given on the above thread.

good luck.

fr 11
fr 111400×1050 143 KB

BT5_4261x
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BT5_4263x
BT5_4263x1400×1095 108 KB

BT5_4265x
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BT5_4273x
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3

Thanks for such a prompt reply - amazing!

Link forwarded!

4

Came across these a few years ago

76638458_2789694371050936_275986970579042304_o
76638458_2789694371050936_275986970579042304_o1875×1500 314 KB

76638458_2789694371050936_275986970579042304_o
76638458_2789694371050936_275986970579042304_o1875×1500 314 KB

76717534_2789694811050892_2762988174169866240_o
76717534_2789694811050892_2762988174169866240_o1875×1500 511 KB

78198789_2789692761051097_40530927767519232_o
78198789_2789692761051097_40530927767519232_o1875×1364 422 KB

Mal

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5

Tangental but … Hataka paints makes a modern Aussie paint set. Might be handy info. HTK-AS108 Modern Australian Army AFV paint set - Abrams colours - Hataka Hobby (hataka-hobby.com)

6

Thanks Tim

Yes, he was looking for that website but it seems to have disappeared.

Thanks again.

7

Now on FB

best regards
John W

8

AK have an Australian set of paints for the Abrams. I got mine from BnA.

9

This is from mouse house, although the shop has shut John keeps some info on hand
http://mheaust.com.au/Aust/Research/Abrams/Build%20an%20Aussie%20Abrams.htm
for the colours I recommend the SMS set, as a former Australian military member I do get pedantic on the aust cam paint colours particularly the green and would recommend SMS paints (I have no affiliation to them), to me they are very close to what is used. Avoid AK paint set as the green nowhere near right, I can’t comment on the Hakata paint as I have not seen them.

The green used by the ADF was called Lustreless Enamel Olive Drab and the closes was Humbrol’s French Artillery Green but as best as I can make out this changed in 2006 and the below specs are the relevant colours

Specifications issued by the Aust Paint Approval Scheme dated 2021 lists the following as the specifications for paint [Australian vehicles]:
Camouflage Green (Olive Drab): SAE AMS STD 595 Colour No. 34088.
Camouflage Brown: SAE AMS STD 595 Colour No. 30219.
Black: SAE AMS STD 595 Colour No. 37038.
Pilbara Brown: SAE AMS STD 595 Colour No. 30109.
Off White: SAE AMS STD 595 Colour No. 37875.

Send me a private email with your email address and I’ll take some photos of the turret of the Abrams I completed using the excellent Arms Corps set.

10

Here’s a site that may help. https://www.facebook.com/groups/424456964597244/?multi_permalinks=1670298490013079%2C1669785063397755&notif_id=1660860116059558&notif_t=group_activity&ref=notif

Re colour - Colour can be very subjective. I have no idea what the paint out of the can looks like. But don’t become a slave to ‘exact’ colours. There are simply too many variables. Such as your undercoat. Any colour modulation. Weathering. Is your model an Abrams that sits out in the midday sun? One that bangs around knocking over trees in the NT. Or in the workshop having a refit. Will your model sit under led lights? By a window? How will it be photographed?

My point is to have fun. Build to the standard that you feel comfortable with.

11

Hi All,

Can’t help with anything re the photos & that, but really the paints, the paints made for the SMS range of Aussie colours are actually made by the company that supplies the real paint to the Aussie Army, so you literally can’t get closer than that.

HTH
Mike

12

hey mate,

which olive green in the sms range would you match up with lustress green on the abram because i find the the camo green in the sms rang a bit dark. by any chance have you tried olive or us olive drab in the sms range?

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13

Hi Raven and welcome

SMS Premium CAMO GREEN FS34088 30ml (Link to sms site Premium CAMO GREEN FS34088 30ml – The Scale Modellers Supply) or
2 Tamiya mixes
Mix 1 – RLM 81 – XF 61 Dark Green:5 + XF-7 Flat Red:1 + XF 2 Flat White:2
Mix 2 – WW2 UK+Canada Armor – XF62 Olive Drab 6 parts XF49 Khaki 4 parts
I have mixed 2 and happy with that for the colour.

I have been doing a bit of reading on OD over the past week and found the FS 34087 became 34088 in the mid 70s and having said that I completed an AFV Club M113 Vietnam era and used Mr Hobby H304 FS34087 and I reckon this is a great colour for Aust vehicles especially Vietnam era (a couple of photos of it)

M113 1
M113 1666×500 78.8 KB

M113 3
M113 3666×500 64.2 KB

I have a Mouse House M113AS4 on the shelf to complete and sitting in the box is SMS PL31 Camo Green Auscam (now 34088 above) and PL32 Camo Brown Auscam now CAMO BROWN FS30219 30ml Premium CAMO BROWN FS30219 30ml – The Scale Modellers Supply

Hope this helps

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