Hi,

Few days ago I received from my friend a photo of very strange looking Abrams tanks. First- they have no side skirts. But they received another very interesting things: fuel drums on the rear part of engine deck, big searchlight close to main gun, several ERA blocks, front skirts from rubber. Generally they look like imitation of Soviet/ Russian T tanks. Sb took photos of them at desert- so I have an idea that these Abrams play a role of agressors tanks during military exercises at NTC.
Am I right? Where can I find more detail photos of them? This can be a really interesting subject for conversion.

TIA,

Michal

I think you must have pictures of the Krasnovian Variant Tank (KVT) - based on the M1A1

Try these links:

http://www.az.ngb.army.mil/153fa/1-180FA/OPFORphotos.htm

http://www.az.ngb.army.mil/153fa/1-180FA/1180photos.htm

http://groups.msn.com/OPFORLAND/211acrphotos.msnw?albumlist=2

The link below goes to the real stuff, not Vismod...

http://www.omd.state.ok.us/180CoA/opfor_armor.htm

IM pretty shure you are right on the 11th ACR site they are listed as a variant . the 155 TF turned in quite a few to the FT.IRWIN motor pool back in 99 including my tank "DOUBLE-TROUBLE" or D-22 i think it was some kind of pay off deal or some thing all i know is i miss that tank IT shot great ran pretty good to. well enough crying . GOOD TOPIC (but a shame for an m1 to end up a soviet drag queen) have a good week end TURRETTOAD 13 OUT.

Once again, another useful bonus in Armorama, I've read a lot about the NTC, but never crossed my mind to try some of these vehicles.. At last a possible use for that Tamiya Sheridan I had abandoned.......Jim

I believe Pete (aka username Epi) did a build up of one of these tanks. I believe it is the features section here and was one of our first articles on this site.

Never mind, his kit is a rotational unit M1A1.

Rob,

For sure I will contact Pete. He was a very helpful person during construction my Leo w/ MILES. But he prepared a great article about building "normal" Abrams.

Michal

Those are KVTs or Krasnovian Variant Tanks as mentioned earlier.

Currently, they have a desert "Iranian" camo (think of the IRIAF F-14A Tomcat's desert camo - that's what the current KVTs look like - remove the black and white, though), and no ERA, and no dummy search light (actually a paint bucket).

The MILES gear they use simulates a 105mm gun. Some of the KVTs have metal bars on the hull indicating that these are plow tanks.

I'm building one currently. :-) Not yet done but it's an interesting subject for the M1A1. BTW, they use regular M1A1s, not the older M1IPs or M1s. I used a little 'artistic license' by painting it the current desert camo, then adding the other VisMods used on the old KVT (camo netting on the barrel, faux fuel drums on the rear deck). The site www.armorinaction.com by Scott Cunningham has lots of NTC pix of these and other vismods. Check it out.

Pete made an NTC Abrams, but not a KVT.

Here's some pics showing the old and new KVTs from Scott Cunningham's excellent www.armorinaction.com site:

Old KVT VisMod:




New KVT VisMod:



What I'm doing is a mix of both to make it really unique. :-)

Hi,

Can you send me few photos of your KVT Abrams during construction?

TIA

Michal

The pix I do have of my KVT is the almost-complete model, minus MILES straps and the wiring that goes with it. So it's not really in-progress pix, which I reckon you're asking.
I used Tamiya's M1A1 with mine plow (the mine plow I used for the M1A2 for a diorama). I just left out the skirts (because I already damaged them :-) ).
I'll dig around to find my KVT pix. If ever I can't find 'em, I'll take new pix ASAP (the KVT right now has some MILES straps, i.e. a failed attempt to do so, and some wiring as well).

Oh well, one of the seekret projekts has to be shown now... #:-)

As promised, here's some pics of my KVT in progress:





















I plan on removing the paint again, redo the blast panels, do better MILES belts, make the cage for the kill light, and other fiddley-bits - all when I have the time again.