Hey Guys...First time really posting anything on here...Been building models my whole life...A friend of mine on here got me into armor and here's one of my first attempts. I borrowed alot of the stuff I have saw other guys on here do...or at least tried too...The base is just a cheap project plaque from Wal-Mart covered in 220 grit sandpaper painted up and weathered...the sidewalk is made from Sculpey...the power pole is dowel rod and Sculpey...I made the Jersey barrier from floral foam and spackle. Let me know what you think...good or bad...don't worry..I'm a big boy..I can take it...*LOL* and please forgive my crappy camera work...still trying to figure it out too..IRL the color is totally different than some of the pics

Thanks,
Dave

nice one. i liked the "picture" sign on the turret

btw, shouldn't it have some ropes or something to hold all the gear together?

Very nice job,I like the weathering on the plow,the stowage looks good,overall everything is nicely detailed.

Great Job. And very funny!

I agree with some ropes for the gear, and maybe add another bit of color to the drum. Looks plain to me. I like the plow.

Regards, Alvaro

My only constructive criticism is that the 55 gallon drum looks to be maybe a bit "too" rusted for a desert environment. Maybe the same for the rebar in the jersey barriers.

Oh, and maybe attempt to drill out the .50 cal barrel.

Very nice. I keep thinking about trying an OIF vehicle.

Looks pretty good. It is definitely a great first effort. A couple pointers though. If it is supposed to be in Iraq for OIF, post '03, there are a few issues stemming from the Tamiya kit you used. The kit represents a tank as seen in ODS ('90-'91), not a modern one in OIF. Firstly, the uniforms are the older 6-color "Chocolate Chip" DCUs which haven't been worn since about '93. The newer DCUs were 3-color (as below). The box on the right rear of the hull is out of date too. It was an external APU (aux. generator) that was used in the late '80-early '90s. It has been replaced by the APU in the bustle rack. I can't see them in the pics, but I am assuming the tracks are the older chevron block pattern from the kit as well, again, not used any more. The same for the cover over the primary sight. There is a newer one now, along with a bunch of other updates to the Abrams since ODS. The rifle on top of the turret is an older (no longer used) m16A1 as well. Lastly, some of the stowage is the wrong color and again its not your fault, but Tamiya's. Their paint instructions for the gear is off too. Overall a great effort. On the next one, if you want to focus a little more on accuracy, post as you go and ask questions and we'll help you out.

3-color DCU camo


Great job on the Jersey barrier and the rest of the base.

Gino has it right. Post here with any question, and this community will give you details you never even thought of! I'm not to sure but a wooden telephone pole might be out of place or maybe it's just too dark and not weathered into the scene. Have to do some researching on the poles used......

Where do you get those Coke and Mountain Dew boxes? They are fantastic!

Soda Boxes

I vote for an ODS build based on the 3ACR markings (it is the original DML M1A1 with mineplow...) as well as the crew sporting the 6 color desert camo AKA chocolate chips...

Several inconsistancies as I see them. You might want to fix them or apply them to another model.
- First, the hull mounted APU was not used in ODS.
- Second, the black sleeping bags did not come into use until the late 90's
- Third, I am not sure that those waterboxes were available in the ODS time... I seem to remember that both the types shown were Kuwaiti brands, not Saudi.
- Finally, the 3rd Cav got their M1A1 Heavies just before they crossed across the berm into Kuwait. The scratching and chipping might be a bit excessive.

The model is well built,especially the bustle rack as I know that it can be a PITA to get right. I would try the DML M1A1AIM kit next if you want a great M1 kit to work.

John

Gino and John have covered things, one thing I noticed is that the plow mold boards only are up like that only when they are in the ground plowing through sand/dirt. Once they are lifted up, gravity folds them back down. I don't think I've ever seen a pic of the plows up and the mold boards up, it looks cool, but would be very rare if at all. Good dio presentation though.

Jim