Hi everybody.

I'm new here so I introduce myself.

I'm Lars Franken, I live in Holland and I'm 13 years old.

The dio that I'm making is 50 cm in length and width. It has a road a destroyed wall, a building, a M1A1HA tank from Trumpeter and some figures that are trying to advance. I don't have photo's of the dio now so I place them later.

The photo's I have are some ( There are more) of the equipment for the abrams that are resin ones from legend. The rest of the equipment I have to paint later.


The jerrycans from the side.


The jerrycans from above.


The pions (is that right in english?).


Some equipment (with one spot i have to repaint and I need to give it some shadows).


A sleapingbag (also needs some shades).

Lars

Looks good Lars.
Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks Tom.

Something I forgot to say: The buidlings and the wall are made with Balsa foam (also called Jilly foam). Very easy to use.

Lars

Hey Lars

Your stowage is looking good to me. I wonder how you made those cones? (Pion is nederlands )
Doesn't matter it was funny. I would like to learn how you made them.

Looking forward to your dio

Grtz Roel

Hey Lars.
I'm also working on a new OIF dio and I can tell you for rubble around your destroyed wall,use kitty litter.A little diluted glue where you want it,sprinkle the litter and let dry,then add a little more diluted glue.The litter soaks it up and looks very realistic.Also a bag of it costs next to nothing and will last you for years.

Thanks.

The "cones" where in a kit from legend: Legend M113 OIF Stowage Set.

The rest of the stowage is also resin.

The three sets I use are:
-Legend M113 OIF Stowage Set
-Legend M1126 Stryker Stowage set
-Legend Modern US backpack set

This is the M113 set with the cones:



And Tom:

Thanks I can use that. I also gonna make some blocks and bricks for around the wall.

hey buddy nice stowage , love the cones!!!
nice to see someone of a simalar age to me (18) on this site!!

post more pictures and check out me current diorama!!
(Arnhem Dio WIP)


Proost

James

The batteries of my camera are empty. If the're full I make some pics of the dio itsself. I have also picked out some more equipment. I'll showe them to.

Lars

And there is the update.



All the stowage. (maybe ther comes a little bit more) The big box that is standard in the kit (I don't know how its called) is not included.



The building and one part of the wall.



The total view.

Lars

And one question. Is A M1A1HA only used by the marines. I heard they have other grenade launchers and some other stuff. IF that's so I have to buy an other abrams or build another version.

Lars

M1A1HA is used both US Army and Marines, but the latter uses a different array of smoke grenade launchers, have some electronic equipment to counter the enemy´s ATGMs and have a telephone in the right side of the hull to allow the infantry to communicate with the tank crew, as the main features that are different between an US Army and a Marine M1A1HA. So if you don´t use the Marine style grenade launchers and don´t use the electronic devices you have a M1A1 used by US Army. The telephone is not a problem if you wanna build an Army Abrams, because no kit have reproduced it (well maybe last Dragon model have it, don´t know). If you get the instructions from Tamiya´s M1A1 and M1A2 you can see the main differences between them, because that kit have been designed to allow you to build an US Army M1A1, a Marines M1A1 and an US Army M1A2.

Ok, Thanks.

Now I can keep using this kit.

Lars

For such a young kid this is outstanding. Heck it is excellent for any age and I think you could teach me a thing or two. Your attention to detail is impressive.

The only thing I am unsure of is the amount of gear stowed on the exterior of the AV. I think there is a little too much. We have some guys on this forum who were actually over there so they can possibly shed some light on that.

Looks good, Lars. With all the stowage I think you will achieve a very realistic "lived in" look of the vehicles.

I am looking forward to see more as your diorama progresses.

Thanks guys! But still I have much to learn.

I also started to paint the alu or steel colored stowage and one bag. When there's too much stowage I put something back in the sparepart box.

Lars

you seem to be a very tidy modeller!!! keep it up

And there's the second update. I've painted some stowage and I started to build the cuppola (is that right in english?).








Barbed wire, still needs some weathering


I think a rationbox


A wooden box, 2 jerrycans, some rope and a clothe?


a cloth? And 2 ??? Can anybody tell me what these are.


And a spare track.

Cya
Lars

The thing used to carry wounded or dead people is called stretcher

Thanks, I didn't knew that.

Lars

The "gun office" is almost finished. If I keep building tonight it will be done. I will make some photos tomorrow.I hope its finished on the 13th of April, so I can be a part of a competition in Belgium. Moveloe's Model Force '08

Lars

Hey Lars,
Pretty good for a young buck like you!

Some corrections on your questions you asked:
A cloth?: It is actually suppoded to be a foam sleeping mat. drill the center out and sliip it over the antenna when done.
A 2??? is actually aluminum folding cots and not a stretcher.

You don't see to many "jerry cans" anymore, they are called plastic water cans (tan or black) and plastic fuel cans (olive brown). The ones you have pictured are water cans.

Ration boxes are called MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat).

Just want to keep you up to date with all our Army terms and slangs and such.

Need any help, don't hesitate to ask and keep up the good work.

Ok.

Could you tell me the difference between water and fuel cans?

Lars

Here you go budy:

Fuel Can


Water Cans

Ok, now I know the difference.

And there's the next update. The turret is finished and needs only his stowage and the mesh for the back.

The pictures aren't so sharp but here they are:











Some places need to be filled.

Lars

Lars,
Buddy, what you have there now is a track in training. The thing on the front manlet above the main gun barrel is called a Hoffman Device. It is used during training exercises and simulates the main gun being fired by popping of small smoke charges. The same goes with the "bubble gum" light you have on the top of the turret towards the front left. That light is the kill light for the MILES gear to simulate a hit. Last part is the anteenna you placed on the right rear. That has to do with traing also.

If you are doing an OIF dio, you need to remove those three items on your turret buddy.