ok gentlemen, we have established that Barracuda couflage net was already in service in 1983, so in theory we would just have to proceed, regarding using a mediocre kit or recovering an old kit built years ago, the problem is not the cost of the kit, but the uselessness of wasting a good model (Panda) by completely covering its turret with a camouflage net.
Lucio
Not really. It is not Barracuda camo on the M1 you posted. Barracuda is panels cut to specifically fit a specific vehicle. The M1 in REFORGER 83 has a standard camo net wrapped around the turret.
As to what kit to use, I would still go with a quality one like Panda. You will get better results by starting with a good kit than a mediocre kit. You will still see parts of the turret through/under the net, and a correctly detailed turret will look better in the long run. Same goes for mixing a mediocre turret with a nice hull…why bother. Then you have a mediocre hull and good turret left over.
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mmmmm Gino, so the camouflage net I posted is not the barracuda? I ask you because in the caption of the photo it said “barracuda”
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According to SAAB, who is the creator of the netting, it was founded in 1957 and Barracuda is just the name of the net.
Another link shows that the panels made for specific vehicles is called MCS…
*Gino’s first photo even calls it MCS not Barracuda ffs…
That looks like Barracuda. What I posted and what is on the M1 are not.
Barracuda is a trademark of SAAB and was not used by the US military until the early 2000s.
Barracuda on an M1A2
German Marder II
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ah but then we are only discussing the name, not the design itself of the camo net, ok no problem, but what I was asking you was if I could use this type of net
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Lucio, it is often quite a leap of faith to cover up a carefully built model with camouflage nets but you will gain the effect you desire; I would however agree with Gino - a good kit is still really required - though of course kit availability, costs, and inevitably personal preferences will prevail.
You might find my tea leaves technique of some value though the US nets I saw during my service - and as depicted on your picture - appear to be a little more linear in their construct, so you may have to adjust the methodology somewhat. My Leopard 1A1 project (still ongoing) gives an example of a certain camouflage net effect but I appreciate it may not be quite what you’re after:
If you’re interested (and as I say you might have to modify the process or experiment a bit) then see “Leopard 1A1” within the Cold War forum.
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I agree with BootsDMS above. To me, the Barracuda net looks different than US camo net. I have also used the tea leaf method, but I used crumbled, dried oregano leaves (being Italian-American, I had plenty). It represents the US camo nets pretty well in my opinion. Use gauze or cheese cloth soaked in diluted PVA glue (Elmers) and then sprinkle the leaves on. Once dry, paint in the desired camo net colors and you are set.
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The result you got is superb, yours is an excellent job, I would not be good as you, besides that I already have the AK sets of camouflage nets available and I was thinking of using them.
@Gino so in your opinion the camo net like the Barracuda available on the market is not perfect for that period?
Correct. To me it looks different than what the US used at that time.
I don’t know much about the exact product you have but I’d go with that.
Back in Dec 2013 I used the Eduard camo net product in Military Modelcraft International’s BAOR special issue on My AA Fox.
Years later I used more from the leftovers of the same piece in Aug 2015 issue of MMI on my AA Saxon.
The Eduard doesn’t have accurate shapes but when it’s all crunched up on the turret, it’s hard to tell. It is however, pre painted.
I mean, if your advice was to spend the money on a good kit versus a less than kit, why not do the same for the net?
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This is a M1IP. Simple fact is. Look at the slope almost to the end of the turret. Then you can see where the squared off basket is and how the end of the basket goes to just in front of the sprocket. It’s an M1IP
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I have the AK set which is the same as the one in the photo posted by you and dated 1982, so I thought it was fine, for the kit I will see what to do
@Skyshark Gino said tha those in the pics is a straight M1 but looking the rear of the turret I have had the same your dubt
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To me it looks like there is no turret basket and there is gear tied to the rear of the turret, then covered by the camo net. Also, if it is REFORGER 83, it can’t be an IP as the IPs were not fielded until '84. We will probably never be able to tell for sure since the turret is covered by the camo net.
From everything I’ve read presence of an extended basket & bustle rack does not make am M1IP as they were retrofitted to straight M1s as well. A surefire ID feature is a gooseneck bracket above the main gun vs. straight bracket and if the front of the mantlet is in view, the opening for the GAS extends past the lower edge . Based on these I’d say your photo is a straight M1 with a retrofitted basket. Here’s an old post that goes into a bit of detail about it.https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=230382&ord=&page=2
Sean
@Armorfarm, to me look the same 
But maybe Gino is right about the version of the photo I’m talking about, analyzing the turret of an M1A1 you can clearly see that it covers the left tank fuel cap, and that of the tank in question is clearly uncovered.
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Guys, if you look at the US camo netting, it has two sizes of disruptive material attached to the netting, a larger cut and smaller cut. Look over the seated guy’s head and compare that section to the section behind his head in the photo of the crew eating. The Barracuda stuff looks to be single sized in its cut.
I don’t know anything about the Barracuda stuff, but the US stuff is supposed to be radar scattering and have active IR reflective properties as well.
Damn; now I need 2 x types of tea leaves(!)
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You crumble your tea leaves into consistent sizes?
It’s my tidy military-type mind!