I finally got done with some drawings for the abrams interior so I started on the turret floor. I rippd out most of the old interior after I got the new pics so I could be a little more accurate. This is the first three or four hours into the rebuild. The floor is completely scratchbuilt. The turret bustle has been done for a month and many of you have seen those already.

http://community.webshots.com/album/62297765ZSjHDF

Let me know what you think, you can check my accuracy by going to "My Selected Link" and browsing the reference pics, if you want to count rivets.

Rob

Rob

that`s a real restart when do you plan to finish the beast :-) :-)
Ah just teasing just take your time this is going to be a tremendous tank

Looking good!!! I'll tell you, that has to be one heck of a job building an entire interior from scratch. Keep it up!!!

Rob,

This is very very good stuff!!!! Your attention to detail is excellent. Rob, your scratch building is impressive. It doesn't matter how many Abrams kit you have or how many PE or AM stuff you uses, it's the skill really counts.

And sir you definitely have it. More pictures soon?

EXCELLENT - CONGRATULATIONS
ROBERTO

Brother Rob:

Very fine detailed work!! The curvature on all the basket wire is very uniform and crisply attached to the turret sides. Also nice job on the IFF's and the turret floor.

This is impressive stuff. "Da Minister" hits the home run! Good to see some M1 know how being applied here---very very impressive my friend.

Steve aka WeWillHold
ps: nice clear pics also---very close up, but very sharp--good work!

Looking good

Your skills aer awesome man. I need to strive to get that good. I do ok with the oob and PE but the scratchbuild is definitely master class

excellent detailing..it will be a great Abrams when finished

Rob, it looks absolutely great!!!
is all of the witish stuff scratchbuilt or only interiors/extra detailing? Anyway it's extremely good!
Bravo!!!

Great looking model you got there... Where did you get those IFFs; it seems like aftermarket stuff, or am I wrong?

Well done, I can't wait to see it completed.

Mario M.

Nice work so far but.... have you checked the IFF panels....they look upside down to me!
The Browning 50cal could do with some work too. If you are going to make such an effort on the model...go the whole way and make the 50 look better.
I love the stowage bins on the rear of the turret.
Hope this constructive criticism is taken in the manner meant.
HTH

Okay lets see:

Thanks to Rob, Jeff, Dave, Roberto, Steve, Blaster and Graywolf for the kind remarks, I appreciate it.

Fabio, all the white stuff is scratch built, but most of the interior was removed after I got better resources and found out what it really looks like inside an M1A1. The turret floor was done after I got the new pics so it is correct.

Mario, the IFF panels are from the Legends set, the are very well done and the set is inexpensive, so I like them a lot.

Martin, I think we chatted about the IFF panels being mounted both ways. The vanes are removable and just slide in so can be put in either way. At first I thought it was just mounted this way because all the pics I had was of it mounted this way, then you shared your pics and they were all mounted the other way in yours. Since then I have noticed that it is kind of random how they are mounted. I think it was you who said they had IR tape on them, and this is correct. As for the .50, I think the mount is supplied in the PE set Dave is sending me, so it will probably be carved off and replaced. Thanks to Dave for that. I try to take criticism as a chance to improve myself, so don't think I am offended. I thank you for your questions.

Rob

Looking really good there. See October 2002 Fine Scale for another super detailed M-1 featured there by my buddy, John Smith. The pictures show the tank as it is finished and displayed on a base. You'll enjoy it.

:-) Rob, absolutley fantastic. I just love to see scratch built stuff, even if it is armour :-)
Mal

I love interiors so does that mean I love this one?
Yes, yes it does.

Nice work brother Rob, it is looking awesome.
Unfortunately, I am not into the infidel Modern armor so I cannot comment on accuracy although knowing you, it is very accurate.

Andrew

Al, I saw that one after I started this one, it was what inspired me to go back and get even better resources. Mine will be turret off, though.

Thanks Mal and Andy, I appreciate your kind words. And Obe, I am sorry we tease you so much.

Rob

Rob,
That is certainly most execellent interior work there. I am looking forward to seeing more. Think I will head out to the hobby shop and pick up an Abrams myself.

hi rob
i love your work on the interior ,, do you have scale plans to make all the scratch built components ??? im doing an m1a1 ha ,, would love to be able to make the floor of the turret but with no measurements ,, im stuck ,, any help you can oiffer would be greatly appreciated,, thanks in advance

Ian,
I scratched the lower turret interior of my M1A1 HC Angry American using the good old Mk 1 Eyeball. Basically, the floor has to be small enough to fit inside the opening on the hull. I did it all by eye and looked at lots of pics on Prime Portal for references. I used the upper turret parts from the DML models and added details to them as well.

Here are some pics.





Hope that helps.

Gino, where did you get the placards from? Ive thought of just printing some of my own by finidng google images, scaling them down, and printing on photopaper...
Andy

Thats exactly what I did. All were lifted from the internet, resized, and printed off on my home printer using computer decal paper. Works great and I use them all the time on interior builds.

gino,
thanks for the pics ,,i have followed your work for some time as you know ,, my scratch building is not good and all the differrent components leave me scrathing my head ,,if i do not have instructions in front of me , frankly i feel lost ,, i think next time you make a m1a1ha make 2 sets of parts for the turret floor and send 1 to me in the post , then i will have my turret ,lol i think that will be the only way forward ,,,obviously i will pay you for doing all the work ,,,thanks mate and keep up the incredible interiors

Good evening all, I am currently working on building an M1A1 Aim. Dragon kit 35 35. I have scratch built the interior, (didnt came up very well). Anyway i am missing the warning / signs that are normally inside the turret. Do you know where i can get those or at least where i can find images that i can scale down in my printer?
I have about 5 of these kits (and might buy 1 more) planning to built the interior for all of them.
Hope you guys can help me.
Thanks