OOPS, forgot to enlist but just finished this AM so hopefully got in under the gun (intended pun)...

:)


Gary

Everyone, make sure you specify what kit (and scale, after-market parts, figures) you used for your builds. We are going to be making features of finished campaigns and we need that information.

Hi guys Here's my Abrams. Is it to late ? Its Academy model and enjoyed building it except for decals

OOB Tamiya 1/35 M1A2 Operation Iraqi Freedom. I think I put that in an earlier post, but here it is again.

OOB Tamiya 1/35 M1A1 Abrams, "Desert Storm"...



Gary

Model: Italeri M1A1 (IT6449)

Aftermarket: Eduard Etched set (ED35894)

Painting: Citadel "Black" as an undercoat (Rattlecan)
Tamiya NATO Green/Black/Brown for cammo (Airbrush)
Valleyo paints for details (Brush painting)
Citadel "Purity Seal" for semi-gloss coat
Oil colors (Black, Burned Umber) for washed
Citadel "Purity Seal" for non-gloss final coat

Other: Revell Decal solution for settling

Dragon 1-72 M1A1 Abrams with mine plough, OOTB without using any aftermarket parts.

Anybody have any idea when the campaign ribbion is going to be posted?
Tom

here's what I used on my M1A1HC "GOT OIL"
Base kit: Dragon 'M1 Panther' (hull) and Dragon 'M1A1 USMC' (turret and NBC parts)
USMC parts: resin casts of scratch built pieces
EAPU and 'sleeping mines': Academy
stowage: HobbyFan, Verlinden, Legends, Real Model, Tamiya and some scratch build items
painting and weathering: Tamiya and Gunze acrylics, Humbrol, ModelMaster and Revell enamels, Schmincke and 502 Abteilung oils, patsel chalks and Mig pigments
Markings: TL decals and custom cut masks...

Cheers, Max

It seems the campaign leader is on deployment right now. If he isn't back in a few weeks, I shall award ribbons.

hmmm that would explain why he hasn't replied to my PM asking for a 1 week extension, due to army tasks. Oh, well.
I will still post a pic when i get it done.

In his place, I will extend the campaign for a week.

Great. That should enabel me to get a picture of the diorama the M1 was planned for in

The M1 is already "stuck in the mud" up to the bazooka plates, just some pigments and he's ready to wait for the recovery guys.

Thank you
My entry was Dragons M1A1-HA Abrams w/Tank Crew. The model was built straight from the box. Accessories are from Tamiya's Modern US Military Equipment set, Italeri 423 Modern Battle Gear, and various resin piecies. Everything was painted with Model Master's enamels. The figures came with the kit.
Tom

Ribbons are posted, Please let me know by PM if i forgot you. Great campaign guys and sorry I wasnt much of a campaign leader and slow on the awarding of the ribbons. Til next time




Herky

Thanks for the campaign.

By now the M1 is stuck in the mud. Inspired by a picture in Tankograds "BAOR in REFORGER" (where the tank was a Challenger)

I didnot get my pictures here due to a computer virus on my server where can I ship pics to????

Send them to me at [email protected] and I wil try to get them uploaded under your name in the KitMaker gallery.

Update:
It used to work but I tried sending email via that address and have not received anything. So, send to [email protected]

I removed myself from the campaign earlier, since I didn't complete my Abrams.

I am converting the Italeri M1 Abrams into a M1A1 Abrams, using scratch built items and items from other kits. My progress has been VERY slow due to the amount of research I've been doing, and of course work and the honey-do list have taken precedence.

Here is what I did complete so far:




Oh, it's 1/72 scale, too. Please let me know what you think...

hey Jeff,
looking so far, especially given the fact it's in braille scale...
I thought about building a 1.72nd abrams as well, but I'm not yet really convinced of any of the kits out there(revell's turret shape sucks, dragon... pffft and trumpeter's is even worse...) how's the italeri kit? could you post some more pics of the parts?

Cheers, Max

Max,

Thank you for the comment.

There are good things and bad things about the Italeri M1 Abrams kit #7001, which is supposed to be a re-boxed ESCI M1 Abrams kit #8070.

The ESCI/Italeri M1 Abrams appears to have correct turret front faces compared to the Revell Germany M1A1/2 Abrams:


The ESCI/Italeri kit has link and length tracks of the older "chevron" M156? tracks, but without center guide horns, since the road wheels are molded solid instead of separate pairs. Otherwise, the tracks do have decent details on both sides, and the drive sprockets have the "retaining wheel" molded with them, but I sanded these off quite easily to gain a flat surfaced sprocket, and I drilled the mud holes, too.


The older 105mm Main gun is simplistic, but the MGs are decent. The turret and hull do not have anti-slip molded in, but the details are otherwise ok. The molding isn't as crisp as the newer Revell kit, but isn't bad. The plastic does have a tendency to "flake" if you try to sand or scrape it too much.

You can check out the instructions for the Italeri M1 Abrams kit on the Henk of Holland Italeri Kits Page.

I hope this helps...

Thank you Jeff,
the turret shape and the two-part tc hatch look promising, seems like I'm going to get that one...
btw. any progress with your dragon M1A1?

Cheers, Max

Max,

The Italeri M1 Abrams' TC Hatch is mutliple parts for the actual hatch like the larger 1/35 scale, but the base with the 360 deg periscopes and the CWS mount is molded to the turret top. Revell's M1A1 kit is also molded the same, but their M1A2 kit has seperate parts for BOTH the M1A2 Improved CWS and the M1A1 CWS.

The Italeri/ESCI kit is decent especially for its age (originally ESCI from the '80s), but I think overall the Revell M1A2 kit is molded better with more options. Both the Italeri/ESCI and Revell kits are also very close to the same scale, where the Dragon kits are slightly smaller (I read the Dragon kits are actually closer to 1/72 while the others are about 1/70). I haven't obtained a copy of the Trumpeter M1 series of kits to check them.

I had progressed quite a ways on my Dragon M1A1, and planned to use the Italeri parts (tracks, drive sprockets, etc.), but I was unhappy with the toy-like items on the Dragon kit to allow it to be motorized, and also the side skirts were molded with the hull top. plus the aforementioned size similarity to the Revell kit, which I plan to have both on a small dio together. So I am now converting the Italeri/ESCI kit to M1A1 standards and using Dragon parts on it. Here is how my Dragon M1A1 looked before I stripped it (PE from Eduard and PART, CDR's CWS from Revell, resin turret storage bin from CMK, scratch items):

I'm Done!! (wel almost)
Here's my Abrams it was inspired by this photo:


I used the Dragon M1A1 AIM,
Mine Roller from Trumpeters 5in 1
Legends TUSK and,
Tracks by Bronco.





Still need to add figures, stowage and do a few touch ups.
Now that all my Army tasks are done for the summer i'll have more time to finish. Hope you all like it.

I apologize for not being able to finish my contribution. I started out strong but spring and summer rolled around and that was that. Once again, sorry.