Well, looks like I am the first to post some pics on this campaign.
Dragon M1A2 Sep with warrior tank crewmen and the Legends Tusk set.


Legends Tusk set


Warriors Tank crews

I have to say that I have really enjoyed this Dragon kit. The detail has been crisp with minimum flash. Why does Dragon insist on the little things, like the little wire handles that get lost in the carpet!

The rear deck needs a little work, maybe it was just me but I had some problems getting part # U13, U14 & U16 to fit right. Also I had to do some major trimming/sanding to get W14 to fit right.

Legends Belly armor is just cool. Actually the whole add-on is just great. Minimum flash through out the kit. What I don't like is the way the casting sprue was part of the belly panels itself. They come in two pieces while I have seen one aftermarket product that had the sprue piece on the side and it was all one piece. I had to do some cutting to seperate the two and make it look right and then lots of squadron putty to cover the seams and the cutting marks.

I need some help on the gas caps. Can anyone tell me if I have them positioned right? I like the fender details like the rod that helps hold the skirts up. Dragon sure can pack a kit with detail!

And finally, the rear grill assembly. Dragon and their attention to detail!! As I was cutting out the rear grill pieces part # U12 and U11 I realized how fragile they are!! So, if anyone is building this kit, get a fresh x-acto blade and cut out the grill as one piece, not screen by screen as I found out.

I am going to attribute this to battle damage. I hope.


This overhead view of the front shows the anti-skid as well as the details of the rods and hold down fixtures. I had to ask Gino about p/n D4. Turns out that is a track link that crews use to hold up the fender when perfoming maintenace. Who Knew? Enjoy everyone.

Nice to see this Campaign, as the very first Campaign I entered, was an M1 Abrams Campaign.

The one requirement back then was we needed to have Armorama members names on the vehicle.
It was a great idea as I got to know many of the members better. (I just joined the site back then, and really didn't know anyone here.)

It looks as if you are off and flying there Mike, and I may have a spare set of the parts you damaged, if I have I will get them off to you as soon as possible. I may need an extension on this campaign as I was not expecting anything to happen for at least 3 months.

Darren, thanks for the offer, you don't have to do that. I can't imagine the postage you have to pay just for some plastic being sent across the pond.

Hi all, was wondering being a fairly new member to this site, if it was to late to join this campaign, I started a M1A1 AIM about 6 weeks ago an have done some documenting of is build, except for the tracks I have kept it SOB, as I am getting back into building armor after a very long break from building. Happy tankin

The campaign just started. To join, click on the CAMPAIGNS tag, click on the Abrams campaign, then click on the "ENLIST" button.

Here are some rear grill photos of an M1 Abrams for some detail shots. Also some of the fenders for the top detail if any one needs them.

I thought the photos might be of use to those who like a good detail shot. Since I am working on putting photoetch detail to the tops of my fenders. I hate photo etch!!

I should have read your message more thoroughly. You aren't supposed to start a campaign kit until the campaign starts. The decision is up to the Campaign Leader.

These skirts have most of the rubber seal strip rotted away (black areas) while there is a small section with tan paint on it at the far end:

These are some of the un-armored skirts and the rubber seal strip is wider (but painted tan):

This picture from Prime Portal shows the narrower seal strip and bolted mounting strip that is offset from the edge of the skirt (on the DML AIM and SEP kits the armored skirts have a weld seam around the edge):

So the photoetch mounting strips should be offset for the armored skirts vs, the regular skirts.

Here is the kit I'm building for the campaign.



It will be out-of-box. I'm building it for a guy who used to work for me. Years ago, he was an M1A1 crewman in Germany.

Here are some in progress pictures. I have some assembly to do still before priming. I broke the barrel off of the loaders M240. That will be a last minute repair before priming as well.

31 OCT 09 UPDATE

On Saturday, I removed all of the road wheels, return rollers, etc from the sprues and did some assembly.

I reattached the barrel that got broke off of the loaders M240 machine gun as well.

In the process of cleaning flash and mold seams from the tow cables, I broke both of them and had to repair them as well.

I also did a quick shoot of primer over the model and associated parts.

I will start shooting color today at some point.

Here are a couple of pics.

[quote]These skirts have most of the rubber seal strip rotted away (black areas) while there is a small section with tan paint on it at the far end:

These are some of the un-armored skirts and the rubber seal strip is wider (but painted tan):

This picture from Prime Portal shows the narrower seal strip and bolted mounting strip that is offset from the edge of the skirt (on the DML AIM and SEP kits the armored skirts have a weld seam around the edge):

So the photoetch mounting strips should be offset for the armored skirts vs, the regular skirts.
So Jeff, are there two types of skirting on the Abrams at one time or the other? I am kind of confused.

Mike,
[quoteSo Jeff, are there two types of skirting on the Abrams at one time or the other? I am kind of confused.[/quote]

I apologize if I've caused any confusion.

AFAIK, all models of the Abrams have two types of armored skirt: some that are "thick" for protecting the crew and some that are "thin" for areas that are less critical such as the engine compartment.

The thick armor skirts have a small weld line around their entire edge. The first four skirts on the right side are "thick" (pictures from Prime Portal):

...and the first two on the left side are "thick" (in the lower right of this picture you can just barely tell the thick edges and the thin edges):

This picture is taken from the last skirt on the right side and shows the bottom edges in the lower right:

With all of this said, the photoetch strips on top of the first two left side skirts and the first four right side skirts should be mounted in towards the tank.
The photoetch strips on top of the remaining skirts on the left and right sides should be mounted out away the tank.
If you are building the DML AIM or SEP kits, they appear to have this all correct.
Does this make any more sense?

Shot some pre-shading tonight and flat black for the road wheels. I will start putting some actual color on it tomorrow.

Thanks Jeff, that makes it alot easier to understand. That is interesting that they have the skirts to protect vital areas. I thought it was all across for the whole tank so what you provided clears it up. Amazing what you learn on a model forum, almost as good as the History channel.

Brent, I loved that Tamiya kit. It was a fun build so enjoy, the mineplow was a real treat.

Brent, when I built my Tamiya Abrams I put the APU right where you did, GIno commented on it and said it should be in the stowage basket. The pics posted show it. Hope that helps and it isn't to late to change it.

hey mike!

i think brent's M1A1 is an ODS era model,and these had the APU mounted at the rear.M1A1s in OIF and OEF have the bustle rack mounted version,but i have no idea when this change took place

HTH

steve