This might not be the right section for this post but please bare with me. I'm 2 days into this hobby so I have a bunch of questions and here's 3 I've come up with for today.

-Where can you get modern military weapons such as the m4, m4(sopmod), m240's, .50 cals etc. ? Do they come in accessory sets, could someone give me a link to a reasonable online US dealer?

-Second question is, with the m1a1 and any tank for that matter, do you put the model together and then paint it? Or do you paint them by parts and then piece it together? I've seen some Work in progress' where the tracks were on the tank but unpainted/weathered but the road wheels were painted so I'm just curious how this process works.

-And the third question... Where can I locate the printable MRE boxes, water boxes and other type of equipment that is placed in the bussel racks on the outside of the abrams? And is there a specific way of building the box shape so that it maintains its shape.

Again alot of thanks for any help you can give!
-Evan

You can find most of those weapons in figure kits and various vehicles...academy does however have a .50 cal set and dragon has an M-16 set

I personally build all the parts that are painted the base color and leave off the parts that are painted differant until the end

Tamiya has a set of MREs and they are also in their Modern Equipment Set
For printables I would PM Wolfe, he made a good set
You pretty much just print-cut-fold-glue them togeather

Hope That Helps
Evan

Thanks Evan That helps alot...

http://www.proartmodels.be/gallery/gallery05.htm

The link above is what I have planned and as you can see there are a few weapons I would like to get ahold of ... the M240B, the AT-4's , .50 cal and a few M4's would be nice to start so I was just curious other than buying figure/vehicle kits is there none offered as "weapons kits"?

I looked for it in a few places for ya, but, I can't find even one.

The item you are looking for is Dragons (DML) Modern Fire Support Weapons Set in 1/35.

It's one set that I KNOW a bunch of people are looking for right now. Me included.

Good luck!
Cuhail

Hi Evan i don't know if this'll be of any help to you but Plus Model have just released a Vietnam era US weapons set which includes the M-16 M-60 etc

Once you settle in at your new location, I'll send you a couple of Pro Art's AT-4's.

whats a at-4???

Calvin

http://www.combatreform.com/w04.gif

It's an anti-tank rocket for light infantry. A one shot then throw away, non re-loading rocket launcher. Kind of like an improved LAAW I guess.

Rob that'd be awesome, also sent you a message!

As I've been browsing late tonight I have yet another question:

What are these "photoetch" pieces I've seen at the online retailers.

That's very thin metal. You can make nice details with it and so improve your kit. But I'd say, don't buy PE right now. Just build models and try to improve yourself with every model. "Improvement" (Aftermarket) sets can be bought later. Focus right now more on your building skills and materials you're buying.

Lars

P.S. Blast Models also makes various M16, M14 etc. weapon sets.

Hi Evan ,
if you get the Dragon modern Marines set there is a sprue with extra weapons included the figures would also be ideal for your dio,gathering from how youve explained.

Blast Models do some nice weapons sets including the Ar-15/M4
But they do have a funny site..
go to www.blast-models.com, click "enter site", click the UK flag for english, then click your location: EU or non-EU. After that this link should work http://www.phpshopxml.com/blamod.shop/CID/04f2eeb97d2fbb00cd71405ae4a24e9f/function/itemPageDisplay/shopItemCode/BL35106K

I've used Blast a number of times in the past and always found them to be reliable.

Cheers,
Sean

http://www.tank-model.ru/catalogA5.htm (the Israeli Fn is halfway down the page it has a wood stock but that is easy fix)
Here is a link to an Israeli Fn which is the US 240g (g = vehicle mounted designation without heat shield) on this site they have a bunch of Modern US weapons including a really nice M14 which would be common place on that vehicle as a personal crew/sniper weapon
Its a big site look around they have some nice stuff
I wish I could tell you where to get the AT4 I could use some myself

Thanks alot for the responses
Sean those blast model kits are exactly what I was looking for thanks! Hopefully shipping doesn't take too long to the US.