Good day to all
Like many before me this is my first attempt to do an active build using a Blog. I have been modeling off and on for the past 20 years. Some times taking two to three years breaks in between. I have decided to build the M1A1 AIM Dragon Kit. I know that there have been a few done like this before. So I thought I would give it a try.





As you can see I have used a combination of PE to include Eduards

Here is were I decided to add a little to the tow bar by making cotter pins that are actually used to keep them secured in place.

Here is everything that well be used. Any and all feed back is welcomed???
I will improve the lighting as well.

Looks great so far. My work monitor is a piece of crap, so I have to get home to fully enjoy your pics. Keep us posted on your progress.

Erik

Thanks I'll make sure I keep this updated. I have primed the kit and I'm ready to paint but I'm waiting on some decales to arrive by mail. Besides that I'm trying to make up my mind on which color sand to use. Maybe someone has some suggust on what worked best for them???

Yuf,
I used both the recommended MM Armor Sand as well as a home brew of Tamiya buff and white, mixed 50-50, then cut with 40% thinner for the airbrush and gave what I personally thought as a better CARC sand color.

John

Looks like you have a good start their.
Can't wait to see it done.

Looking good, Yufkey. I really like the nice, clean build you have going.

Like John, I use the MM Sand color (Gunze and Humbrol both make identical colors that you can use).

Keep the pictures coming.

Looking good so far, I really like the second pic...it has that si-fi look. Keep us posted. Oh, what rubber tracks are you using.

Joe

That’s for all of the references. I painted the lower hull and wheels using Tamiya Desert Yellow but I did not like the result. I thought I would try something different but like that old saying; go with what you know. I have decided to paint the kit MM sand and the tracks are AFV Club MBT Tracks. More pictures coming real soon.


Tamiya Desert Yellow

I was hoping you would be posting a thread for this build when you mentioned you had this kit. Looks really good so far. A very tidy build. What decals are you putting on your tank? Which unit?

I was going to use Echelon Fine Detail M1A1HA Part 4 OIF. I am waiting on it to arrive by mail. I really wanted to use Echelon Fine Detail M1A1HA Part 3 OIF but the web page I order from was out of stock. I just check the web page and the M1A1HA Part 3 OIF is in stock so I will be ordering that one and using it instead. I'm not sure which unit I will use? I have been stocking up and preparing for this build for sometime now. So while I'm waiting on the decals to arrive I can go ahead and paint most of the Kit, focus my work on the tracks, and stowage. By doing this; most of the work and painting will be done. All I should have to do by then is apply the decals and being the weathering process. I bought some MIG Filters and their New Wash color Natural so I'm kind of curious on how their product will work? If any one has any experience using the MIG Filters and Wash please let me know how they worked out for you??

Since you added the BRE and jerry can racks, it can only be from 2 units. 2nd BDE, 3ID drew tanks from the PrePo fleet in Kuwait. These vehicles had the locally-made extra BREs and jerry can racks. The two Tank Bns that drew them were 1-64 AR and 4-64 AR. You need the Echelon sheets 35014 or 35015, or the kit supplied TF 1-64 AR decals to have accurate markings for the accessories you have added.

Great and clean build, congrats. How did you managed to bend the bustle rack included in the kit? I tried to do it on mine but I failed Oh, also like the CIP panels on front of the turret, nice addition.

Keep us posted, looks promising.

Cheers

It's Abrams-mania !!! Ahhhhh !!! Nice build and to all those who also posted Abrams builds stop tempting me away from my Leopards! I'm absorbed with my C1 Late build anyway ... Nice work though, all these M1s look fantastic!

Here are some pictures of what I have painted so far. I like the way MM Sand color turned out compared to Tamiya Desert Yellow




I thought I would show you all a picture of the Stryker I was working on too


Hey Klaus
That Bustle rack was a little hard to do, but I used a lighter and Mission Models Etch Mate. It makes using PE parts a lot easier. For the CIP I used Styrene I got the size from DeskJockey by the way thanks.
Gino
Thanks for the heads up on the proper decals to use for the build I would like to keep this build as accurate as possible for the vehicle markings and the kit it self. On the other hand I will use a little creativity when placing the stowage. That’s the part I enjoy when modeling. It gives me the opportunity to image if I was crew member how I would arrange the gear.
.

Looking good! Love all the details on the turret. I noticed you didn't trim the plastic above idler wheel (is that what it's called?). That space is tight for the tracks.

Keep us posted.

Ronnie

I am also working on both a Stryker (painted) and an Abrams (almost done) too. Yours looks great with some paint on it. Color looks just right. Such a great kit. Both are really.

Which Stryker kit do you have? The one in the picture is a Trumpeter. I have another which is from AFV Club. I have been stocking up for that one as will.

I have the M1126 from AFV Club. It is stock except for the stowage from Blast.

I have that kit to along with the Blast stowage which is a very nice and clean resine kit. I also have the Real Model wheels. I don't know if I'm going to get the Eduards Slat Armor or not. That will be my next build.

There sure are a lot of Abrams being built. I love it. I like how yours in comming along. I did a stock box build of the Dragon M1a1 just to see how the kit looked without anything added. I still have a few more to build though. There are pictures of it in my album.

Hey yufkey

like how your abrams turned out so far, looks with the MM sand!!

there can't be enough kits done in my opinion

espacially like the 3D looking CIPs on the front

go on like this and keep us updated


greetings Alex

Looking better every Time I see it.

Keep up the great work Yufkey

Your Abrams is coming along quite nicely, Yufkey! And the Stryker looks great!

Thank you all for the positive feedback. Right now I am in the process of painting the tracks and road wheels. I must admit this is not my favorite part of the build.

Here are some photos from this weekends work. I finished paint the road wheels and i'm just about done with the tracks but I still need to paint the back side of them. I still have a few parts left to paint. Also I have added a few items too.




As you may see I still a have a little ways to go with painting