well, I'd opt for the dragon kit, the tamiya abrams is nice, but once you've built the dragon kit, tamiya's appears like a chunky toy... that's why I've put my tam M1 aside for now...
a build log seems like a good idea to start out with, but hey, at least you already got one of the CIP's

cheers Max

I know it's a bit but as the Towed Assault Bridge has been mentionned in this thread, here's a picture showing one being pushed into position by a M60 :


The TAB adapter can be seen fitted to the M60 hull front :



Keep on the good work Max !

Frenchy

wow, Frenchy... I'm speechless...

Cheers

Little update,
base paint and camo job done on the kfor m1, next up decals (going to take some time, since I forgot where I've put em ) detail painting and so on...





the chipping effects in the pic attatched below were done using the hairspray technique... I'll do the same, without rust though, on the rest of the DWF...



Got more oils onto this one, (see remains of selfadhesive thingy on left side front fender), put on some more scratch built stowage on and started applying some pigments.
I tried using several layers of pigments, each one "sealed" with a light overspray of vallejo flat varnish, to simulate the dust. well, it turned out part nice (see TI phone and black exhaust areas) part invisible (see the rest of the tank )... still a little irresolute about how to create the final dusting... I've got the MIG pigment fixer, should I throw on some more pigments and give it a try, applied via airbrush?










What do you'll think, any opinions on the pigments thing?

Cheers Max

Very nice Max !

Your camo looks almost as good as mine .... almost !

See you made "Got Oil?" a little less spotless, attaboy !
Pigment distribution is realistic, dust has the notion to get "dusted off" for a tank in motion, so your good.
Maybe your tarp in the bustlerack needs to be a little more dusted, a more "flat" appearance maybe.
Some "dominant" fuel stains around nozzle‘s would mess things up to a realistic level.
I like what you a doing ... looks very good, nor perfect yet .... but all right for the time being

Cheers
Christopher

I have the Legends gear stowage resin set, but there is no painting guide. I get that tarps and other stuff are olive drab/green, but what about the ice chest/cooler and other non-military items? International orange?

Hey,
sorry for the delayed reply...



Chris... well... what am I supposed to say?... thanks...?

however first things first, the stowage is going to get dusted up once all of the tiny details have been fitted...
adding the fuel stains (esp the dominant one on the vehicles front, see page one) will be one of the very last steps of this build, since the majority of fuel stains I've seen on real vehicles look pretty much "non dusted"...

Bill, I suppose you're building an OIF1 vehicle, right?
Because if so, the cooler box wouldn't be accurate, no matter if it's kept in "Golden Gate camo" or in some other color... As far as I know
the first cooler boxes started to appear during OIF2.
Yet, if you want to add it, I guess a light blue and white top would be the best choice

Cheers Max

Look ‘in good, Max!

I agree with Chris' comments/suggestions.

On the desert tan CARC M1A1, you have the smooth fenders and headlight guards that are more associated with M1s, M1IPs, and M1A2 SEPs, but I understand these have been installed on M1A1s as replacement parts or during the AIM program rebuilds, so they aren't necessarily wrong. What I don't know is this the case for USMC Abrams? If you don't know, maybe someone like Mike Mummy or Frenchy can chime in...

Mike Mummey probably knows....I don't

Talking about coolers, I've got a few OIF pics dated April 2003 showing Rubbermaid 5 Gal. water coolers like this one :



Frenchy

Ouch!
forgot that the legends set also includes that kind of coolers, I was referring to those square boxes... so sorry for the misinformation.

Jeff,
you're propably right on the headlight guards, I didn't even think about that... however, as for the front fenders have a look at this pic:


Cheers Max

He Max,

the fenders could be either type, depends on how the spare-part situation is you would get what‘s in supply. I‘ve got pics of M1A2 SEP with X-ed replacement fenders, so for Iraq it would be authentic.
With the guard protecting the lights it may be different because the A2 SEP hulls came from early versions as Jeff correctly pointed out,
and from my own experience they are quite robust and not easily damaged.
So your guards will probably have to come off.
If you need the other ones just let me know.
Luckily there are people who watch out what you are doing !

Cheers
Christopher

Yeah, luckily
still I'm not quite shure wether I'll replace the headlight guards, would be a lot of work and if I can get the stowage done within the next few weeks I'm pretty close to finishing that one...
Anyway, here's another update. I finished painting the details, applied some filters, washes and rust streaks, yet there's way more to be done...









Hope you'll like it!

Cheers Max

Looks okay!
Gonna put the KFOR markings on ?

Cheers
Christopher

Hey Chris,
yupp, I'm going to use some kfor markings, yet I have no idea where i'm supposed to get these from... the heck with it, I don't have to worrie about the markings until I've put the first few layers of dirt on anyway...

However, got another update for you'll!
finished the first stage of the wheathering job, containing all kinds of spots, streaks, chips and other rub-off effects.
I'm now done with all of the "permanent stowage" as well, meaning all of those stowage items that wouldn't have been in use for a while, so they'd be just as dusted up as the rest of the tank...
enjoy!













As for GOT OIL, I applied even more oils and pigments, which turned out great. However, when I took some pictures, they turned out looking just as the last ones, so I'll try to get some better ones next week...

Cheers Max

Starting to look really good. Recalling the pics of the original tank, the Alpine Tanker fig. in Nomex coveralls would make a perfect crew.
One thing though with the tow-bar strapped to the turret, sure it‘s not of green colour?
Pro Art Models has just released this PE set of " PAU-35038
Modern Clamping Tools " something like this set should provide proper "tie-down" options for your straps.

Nice
Christopher

Hey thank you Chris!
and another "thanks" for pointing out the strap color, I'll take care of that as soon as possible...
Unfortunately you'll neither see the alpine figures, nor those fancy tiedowns on this tank, it's going more into the direction of knots and tamiya figures with new heads, yet I'm not even shure if I'll convert the bdu's into nomex suits...

cheers

Not the straps ..... the tow-bars !!!!!!!

Cheers
Christopher

Like these pics (from PrimePortal):
OD Green Tow Bars


Tan Tow Bars (which look like they have tan paint over the OD Green)


and an USMC M1A1 HC with Tan Tow Bars (I do not remember where I got this picture off the web)


I haven't seen any rust brown colored tow bars, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there.

I hope this helps...

oh dude, watzlawick will be proud...

however, turns out the straps should really be more of a green color, so thanks again

uhm, as for the tow bar itself, though I'm pretty shure that it can't even rust anyway I'd say it's a brownish color, even if it's just painted in brown. check this out:



Hey Jeff, thanks for the pictures, (must have been several month since I've checked by primeportal the last time)
looks like there's a RWS thingy mounted on the M1 in the first pic, is it?

Cheers Max

It appears so, since the standard .50 Cal M2 mount is rotated to the left side of the CDR's cupola above the middle of the turret bustle rack.

In the picture above, the tow bar appears to ba base OD green color with either dirt/mud on the outside surfaces or has had brown paint slopped on. But it is a rough picture, so it's actually hard to tell.

ok,
got a huge update for you'll, however I'm too lazy to explain everything right now, so I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves...

















the crew in progress:


my first figure painting attempt after at least two years...
(don't worrie, it's just a test head, I'll use the resin heads from the previous pic for the final figures...



















that's it for now... hope you'll like it

cheers Max

Really nice work, Max!

Looks like we are getting somewhere.
The fuel spills on the rear deck need more "exploiting", when refueling it‘s not like handling a coffee pot, besides when being "tiped off" take it literally. That goes for both of‘em.
I shall send you some pics.

Cheers
Christopher

Hi the Tamiya m1a2kit has the KFOR markings I can send you them it will take a bit of time maybe 3 weeks until im back home let me know and you can have them as I wont be needing them for that build.
Cheers cuny12