_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
PHOTOS: MODEL
M1 A1 Abrams
sauceman
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 28, 2006
KitMaker: 2,672 posts
Armorama: 2,475 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 02:33 AM UTC
Paul Toma shares with us his first place entry in the Feb ''09 DMoM contest. This was done using Dragon''s 1/35th scale M1A1 AIM kit.



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
jimz66
Visit this Community
Connecticut, United States
Joined: December 15, 2006
KitMaker: 1,165 posts
Armorama: 1,105 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 05:06 AM UTC
Fifty-One is done and she looks sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Nicely done. Very very very nicely done.
TankSGT
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,139 posts
Armorama: 946 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 05:40 AM UTC
That is an excellent M1 tank model. I love the weathering, subdued and realistic. From the pose of the crew I would think they are going into action. That being said I have one concern.
No self respecting US Army tanker is going to expose his Girlie mag collection to the elements or enemy action. They would be stowed in a secure place because said collection becomes a platoon asset and are swapped between crews. They are nearly as important as beans and bullets .

Tom
DieselRocket
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: October 21, 2004
KitMaker: 128 posts
Armorama: 119 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 06:13 AM UTC
Excellent Abrams! Love it!

A couple questions for you: when you shot your model air, what PSI did you use and did you add anything to your ModelAir paint to keep it from drying too quickly (dusty, pebbly finish, drying on the needle)? I have had these problems with ModelAir.

Thank you! ...and again , awesome Abrams!

SIRNEIL
Visit this Community
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: July 30, 2007
KitMaker: 658 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 06:28 AM UTC
Well done paul
You have built a stunning looking abrams.The leading edges of the plow look excellant and i'm sure that i'll use this photo feature as reference for my next build.
neil...........
thedoog
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: May 14, 2007
KitMaker: 263 posts
Armorama: 260 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 06:56 AM UTC
Without a doubt, the finest-looking Abrams model I've ever seen!!!
Just spectacular!!!
Longinus
Visit this Community
Cluj, Romania
Joined: December 18, 2008
KitMaker: 18 posts
Armorama: 15 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 08:21 AM UTC
Good work,great model.A real credit to you.
DeskJockey
Visit this Community
Virginia, United States
Joined: July 17, 2006
KitMaker: 1,558 posts
Armorama: 1,159 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 02:36 PM UTC
An excellent Abrams, Paul! Great work!
Wolfe
Visit this Community
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: January 24, 2004
KitMaker: 173 posts
Armorama: 95 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 03:13 PM UTC
Great build Paul, I hope my Abrams turns out half as nice as yours
Jim
majjanelson
Visit this Community
South Carolina, United States
Joined: December 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,355 posts
Armorama: 979 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 03:46 PM UTC
Paul Toma - Excellent Abrams!! It looks very realistic and larger than it is, mainly due to the fine details and the superb painting and weathering!

TankSGT -

Quoted Text

...No self respecting US Army tanker is going to expose his Girlie mag collection to the elements...
Tom


Are you refering to the bags of chips (i.e.; "Chile" flavored) next to the Loader? I think he has a different "addiction"
mikey
Visit this Community
Idaho, United States
Joined: March 14, 2006
KitMaker: 229 posts
Armorama: 227 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 04:13 PM UTC
That is just one awesome Abrams!! Good work.
TankSGT
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,139 posts
Armorama: 946 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 - 06:23 PM UTC
[
TankSGT -

Quoted Text

...No self respecting US Army tanker is going to expose his Girlie mag collection to the elements...
Tom


Are you refering to the bags of chips (i.e.; "Chile" flavored) next to the Loader? I think he has a different "addiction" [/quote]

Damn your right. They are snacks. I looked several times to be sure. Guess I need to use my glasses more often. Well no tanker leaves his snacks exposed to enemy fire either.
I've had my lunch slide off my tank when we have had to moveout just when I started to eat. Has any one ever modeled baked beans spilled on top of a turret before.
Off topic a buddy had one of his adult magazines slip on to the main gun during gunnery and get caught in the recoil path and keep the gun out of battery. They had to put the gun against the side of another tank to push it pack to clear the return path and put the gun back into battery,

Still a beautiful M1.

Tom
f1matt
Visit this Community
Manitoba, Canada
Joined: August 13, 2006
KitMaker: 1,021 posts
Armorama: 805 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 04:33 AM UTC
Whoa! Nice Abrams. I should have had you paint my figures. I can't believe I haven't seen this before. Gorgeous.

Matt
liberator
Visit this Community
Luzon, Philippines
Joined: May 15, 2004
KitMaker: 1,086 posts
Armorama: 783 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 05:41 AM UTC
well done paul. one of the best abrams i've seen. the weathering and mine flow look real. thanks for sharing. ed
morarU
Visit this Community
Moldova
Joined: March 02, 2009
KitMaker: 7 posts
Armorama: 6 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 08:21 AM UTC
Great model!I hope I can build and paint this nice!
tomapaul
Visit this Community
Bucuresti, Romania
Joined: September 17, 2007
KitMaker: 425 posts
Armorama: 304 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 08:29 AM UTC
Thanks a lot guys!I really appreciate all the kind words!
Guerry, I use 1.5atm - 2.5 atm.The acrylic paint was thinned with water and a few drops of isopropyl alcohol.The fact that the paint dried quickly didn't bother me.I just had to clean the nozzle 2-3 times.
Matthew, YOU where the main inspiration for me.
Thomas, those where really good stories...
Thanks again everybody!I had a lot of help during the build from you guys.
Happy modelling to all!

parrot
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 1,607 posts
Armorama: 1,581 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 08:59 AM UTC
Just a masterpiece.
scratchmod
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: November 07, 2008
KitMaker: 796 posts
Armorama: 763 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 12:50 PM UTC
Totally awesome Paul. I'm just now getting into modern armor and my first Abrams and yours is a work of art. Every aspect is done to perfection.

Rob
majjanelson
Visit this Community
South Carolina, United States
Joined: December 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,355 posts
Armorama: 979 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 03:07 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Off topic a buddy had one of his adult magazines slip on to the main gun during gunnery and get caught in the recoil path and keep the gun out of battery. They had to put the gun against the side of another tank to push it pack to clear the return path and put the gun back into battery,...


Tom,

I saw that happen during M728 CEV Gunnery with the 197 SIB at Ft. Benning in the late '80s. Instead of a magazine, the AC Engineers had a roll of toilet paper fall in and kept the 165mm out of battery. I told them that the only difference between the Active Component and the National Guard was that for us, it would have likely been a cooler!!
bison126
Visit this Community
Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 - 11:48 PM UTC
Hello Paul,
you've done a superb job on the painting (not to speak of the building of course).
I really like the weathering, just what was needed on the right spots. Congrats !
RotorHead67
Visit this Community
Virginia, United States
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 1,174 posts
Armorama: 772 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - 05:02 PM UTC
Paul,
Hands DOWN. This has got to bt the best Abrams I have EVER seen
TankSGT
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,139 posts
Armorama: 946 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - 05:12 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Off topic a buddy had one of his adult magazines slip on to the main gun during gunnery and get caught in the recoil path and keep the gun out of battery. They had to put the gun against the side of another tank to push it pack to clear the return path and put the gun back into battery,...


Tom,

I saw that happen during M728 CEV Gunnery with the 197 SIB at Ft. Benning in the late '80s. Instead of a magazine, the AC Engineers had a roll of toilet paper fall in and kept the 165mm out of battery. I told them that the only difference between the Active Component and the National Guard was that for us, it would have likely been a cooler!!


This guy would keep his girlie mags rolled up in the ammo honeycomb in the bustle of the M60. He also ran over an M60 MG it looked like a banana. A grunt dropped it, when the tank pulled out of a hide position in front of him and scared him and this nut (my buddy) ran it over.

Tom
tomapaul
Visit this Community
Bucuresti, Romania
Joined: September 17, 2007
KitMaker: 425 posts
Armorama: 304 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 12:40 AM UTC
Thanks everybody!
majjanelson
Visit this Community
South Carolina, United States
Joined: December 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,355 posts
Armorama: 979 posts
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2009 - 06:30 AM UTC

Quoted Text

.... He also ran over an M60 MG it looked like a banana. A grunt dropped it, when the tank pulled out of a hide position in front of him and scared him and this nut (my buddy) ran it over. Tom


Tom - I had a CEV Driver who threw his LBE just outside his drivers hatch while we were in the field. The TC/Gunner traversed the Turret, and the overhang caught the LBE and the driver's .45 against the hatch, and bent the 45 into a "banana". Of course, the .45 is a little bit cheaper than a M60 MG, but I think my driver drilled for a couple months "for free".
 _GOTOTOP