Hi.

Now that I finally figured out how to upload photos ( thanks Insolitus), I want to show you some pictures of my M1A2. I built this one for a competition earlier this year, before the new Dragon Abrams was released. It came in second of thirtyone entries. It´s the Tamiya kit with Eduard etch and a lot of scratchbuilt small details, for example wiring for the CVC-helmets and "hinges" for the side skirts. The crew is from Nemrod with Hornet heads and their arms slightly modified. There are probably several detail inaccuracies, but I took ideas from several tanks and pictures and put them all into one tank.

Here are the pictures, hope you them.

Torbjörn

Nice looking Abrams. I really like all the small details you have put into it like spent brass, maps and stowage. On the other hand I think it is a bit over weathered. The heavy weathering takes focus away from the general build. The road wheel with the oil leak looks very good. Better get the crew to change that one.

Erik

yeh i looks really good, I espicially like the empty shells and "linkages.....(im not sure if thats a word) the little black things that hold the shells together as a belt.

looks really good nice job.

congrats on 2nd place too

Thanks for your comments. Erik, you may have a point about the weathering, lots of the added details disappear in the dirt. Maybe a little too much, but it was the first vehichle where I used pigments. On this tank which I tried to add as much detail as possible, but after reading all the posts here I decided if I was going to add all the things that was mentioned here It would never be finished. I had to stop somewhere.

It was really fun build to do and I´m really happy with it.

Sweet Abrams Torbjorn. Good to see you around again. Hope youve been well.

Nice job. I'm a big Abrams fan too. I've got 4 built and three under construction. I like how you have "everything but the kitchen sink" in and on the racks, GI's like to have as much junk with them as they can carry. Weathering might be a little heavy, but maybe they've had a rough week.

Thanks. I think that I will get my share of Abrams since I´m currently working on four more and a Bradley which I will use in a planned Thunder run diorama. It´s going to be my biggest project ever (if I manage to complete it).

Very nice! What figures did you use to crew this beast?

Thanks Pete. For the crew I used Nemrod M1a1 tank crew, Hornet heads, Royal Model microphones and scratchbuilt wiring for the helmets. I had to change arms between the different figures and make some modifications to get the poses that I wanted. The water bottle is from Accurate Armour.

...........forgot one thing, the flags on their arms are from Echelon.

Wow ! 5 vehicles in one diorama. That's going to be a monster. Good luck, be sure and show us in progress shots. It will be great to watch it come together. I haven't tried anything that big. I'm working on a three stage diorama from Desert Storm. Stage one and two are completed. I'm just learning to photograph models, so I don't have any pictures loaded of stage one, but there is a few pictures of #2 in my folder. They were taken by a friend at last year's local contest.

Looks like the crew hasn't been doing their PMCS. That road wheel needs new seals. Very nice looking Abrams.

Charlie

I like the two coils of razor wire on the back. They turned out better than mine! Is it the Eduard razor wire?

-Matt

Matthew, it´s Eduard razor wire, set no35639 Barbed wire razor 1. I`m very impressed by your "Boomstick Abrams". I think it´s one of the best looking Abrams I´ve ever seen. The things like the dices and the custom painted helmet really makes it special.

I personally find that build a bit over-weathered for my tastes, but the crewmen are fantastic - quite handsome, even.

Nice work!



BT6

I'm working with the Eduard razor wire right now. I'm not happy with how it turned out on my tank. I was wondering how you got your razor wire into such neat coils. I've tried making various jigs to help me but I still can't make a nice neat coil of razor wire. Could you give me any advice? The razor wire looks perfect on your tank.

-Matt

great work. I liked your abrams very much. In fact I don't like modern armor but your model is looking great to me. especially small details. Can't wait to see your great diorama finished.

G'day mate, I have to say that you have done a really good job. I noticed that a lot of the detail is in the minor things that you wouldn't normally notice. Keep up the good work. Cheers

Close, but no cigar. They're simply called "links".

Very nice model. Yeah, they get that dirty in the field!

My only comment would be regarding the spare track sprocket piece on the roof. Those critters are heavy but unless it is secured somehow, it would be a hazard. A sudden stop - and the Abrams has GREAT brakes - and the thing would go flying.