When I find a vehicle or aircraft that I especially interesting, I like to build different versions and paint schemes in a series. M1 Abrams is my new series. Hmm I have not finished any Abrams yet, but I am building 3 from RFM. One of them is the M1150 Breacher.
First I wanted to make one depict a USMC Breacher from Helman, when they worked along Danish Army Leopard 2A5’s But I finally decided to build an US Army version that I saw with my own eyes here in Denmark.
RFM has a nice range of Abrams models. They kit looks great a first view, but when you start building the kit, you will find a lot of flash and unnecessary push holes. There are also a lot of missing weld seams.
All Breachers are rebuild older M1 Abrams tanks of different production lots, since the original production line stopped many years ago. So don’t trust blindly the RFM work drawings. Check your reference picture of the very vehicle that you want to build, since there are minor differences between the Breachers.
As I wrote above, all Breachers are rebuild older M1 Abrams tanks of different production lots, so there are many differences between the Breachers. If you choose to build a USMC Breacher, then you should be able to build according the RFM instructions but notice that there are some differences between USMC and US Army Breachers.
Check your reference before you use part F1-F2, Breachers are also seen with F3-F4 front fenders.
The big plate on the rear of the turret G10 are also seen in various designs, both the “soft” edge version from the kit and one with a plainer plate with hard edges’
Its been a long time since I posted new updates on my Breacher.
Let me start with the tracks. I always use workable tracks on my models. This time I choose RFM’s own aftermarked 3D printed resin tracks. They are very nicely detailed. I tried to give them a worn look. There is a lot of spare tracks in this little kit. There is even 2 new drive wheels in a much better quality than the ones in the main kit.
The trackpads were painted with AK Real Colors new Markers.
Nice work so far Bobber, thanks for pointing out the differences between Army and Marines too. I have this kit as well as the Tankograd reference book so I’ll be watching. I’m tempted to get the workable tracks too but I need to look at the kit tracks before I do that to make up my mind.
You must check you reference when building the rear section of the Linear Demolition Charge launchers (Part N78 N103 N77), since they are seen in different versions. I had to make some parts in Evergreen to depict the very vehicle that I am building. Another part that is missing in the kit if you want to do an Army version is the mount for the BFT Blue Force Tracker.
