Here is my submitted model: an 1/35 Italeri M1A2 Abrams with Eduards photoetched parts and various scratchbuilt replacement parts. I took this outside to get the natural light. Some of the image is photoshopped, but 95% of it is on the background - getting rid of bird poop, etc. Due to Graduation and my open house, I had to put up my model tools and paints. I have a few minor details to attend to, including: painting the head lights and the handle on the loaders hatch, and minor painting of unit markings on the side skirt and minor weathering and paint scratching.



If I added a decent background, I'm not so sure I'd be able to tell if this was a model!! You'll notice that there are no tow cables (at least in this view). Due to a fairly major drawback of the model, I set the storage bins too low to put the tow rope on (and thats after prying - literally - the bins off and reattaching; I got lucky doing that and getting away with little damage. I added on of the tow cables to the back. You can see it in my gallery in my Abrams folder.


Close up of Oddball rule. I chose Guntruck - as the name was too large I used Gunnie -for the dedication and skill that he has in modeling. Following his build of his Italeri Abrams gave me invaluable information and confidence to build on my scratchbuilding abilities. Thanks Guntruck for all your help.

Looking good Jeff, alltough I don't thinkt he tow-cable could be "stored" like that, I think the cable itself is of a too strong structure to bend like that..
I could be wrong though

Well fine. Then I'll make a full size tow cable that can bend like that and sell it to the military so then my model will be correct. I'm surprised more people haven't taken this route to correct there mistakes then to simple redo it. Seriously, when I originally attached it , regardless of how I tried or how flexable it really is, it just seemed like it would have way too much sag and/or wouldn't stay in the places I put it to alieviate the sag, should it be real life.

Good build there Jeff. I have to agree with Jurgen regarding the tow cable, but overall it's a good build. Glad you made it.

I love it especially the second pic! Looks real, just add a background!

Yeah, the tow cables and really the stowage bins were the only problems with the kit. A few other fit issues that are more dramatically shown to Guntruck's Abrams were present, mainly in the front plates area next to the main gun and in the rear hull sections where the rear piece (the engine grills), the upper hull, and the lower hull meet. A few other inaccuracies or size problems existed again in the stowage bins and bustle rack area with the bars not being the correct length/fitting well, I ended up just using rod.
The tow cables and antennaes were in fact twisted 24 (or 26) gauge wire. For the tow cable, I twisted two lengths together, doing this for thre pieces. I then twisted the three together, forming a triple twisted pair wire. I cut the ends off the kit tow cable and CA'd them to the wire. The effect and texture is pretty cool. In retrospect, I would've added one or two more twisted pairs, as the diameter of the redone cable seemed a little to thin for the tow cable ends that I attached. The antennaes are just single twisted pairs being twisted so that the "spacing" was different to appear that they are different wires.
All in all, I loved the kit, even the problems that came with it. While everyone is talking about and building Tamiya's, Dragon's, and Trumpeter's Abrams kits, a few of us are sitting back building and solving the problems and enjoying the detail of the Italeri kit (thought the Eduard's PE set had a definite spot in the detailing of the model) That is the joy of modelling. For my first armor model, I'm definitely proud.

Shonen, I definitely will try to find a suitable background, but it'll take a while as I have been completely pinned down by graduation, open houses, and work, so I don't know when I'll get around to it.

My next project (insert dums): Tamiya M4A3(105)(HVSS).

Thanks everyone for their comments, keep 'em coming.