As some of you may have been following in the Armor Forum, I was building an M1A2 SEP with full engine, interior, and TUSK. I have completed it and added it to a dio base with a couple of figures. Here is the in-process build.

I added some tools from the spares box and a field table. I also added two figures for scale and to add a little life. The mechanic is from the Warriors AAVR7 Maintenance Crew set. I changes his hat from a watch cap to the boonie cap and swapped out the sledge hammer he was carrying for a wrench. The tanker is Alpine's excellent OIF Tanker #1 with a new head and a CVC helmet in his hand. The story line is that the tanker is explaining an ssue with the tank to the mechanic.

Here it is overall:




And some closer pics:




More can be seen here.

As always, all comments are welcomed.

Looks good Gino

Outstanding work as usual, Gino; love that M1A2 SEP kit; working on one myself right now.

Very cool, Just finished reading through your original post. I think your choice of base and diorama bits really brings home the feel of this build.

Gino,

Looks really good.

One image looks like you have the drip pans under the final drive access ports.
It may be the images, but the desert boots seem a little green hued.
What about placing the tarp with the MGs on a pallet?
Water bottles? Sand? TMs? Personal weapons?
Don't take this wrong, 'cause I like your SEP!

Thanks to all of you. I thought the simple base with some accessories would showcase the tank and portray the maintenance aspect well. I don't want to overcrowd it with more details. The boots are a sandy color, I guess the lighting or something changes the hue on them. And yes, there are drip pans up under the final drive access panels. Even in Iraq we have to be environmentally friendly.

You didn't forget the tools. I've seen many dios of maintanence where the tools were left out. It's the little things that really bring it to life.

Its always great to see this behemoth with the engine open- and a good setting too Gino- not too much clutter but enough to get the point across.

Thanks Matt and Karl. It was a fun build.

Great work Gino! Your customer's going to be really pleased with this one. The figures really complement the tank perfectly.

Could you tell me how you made the concrete surface? It looks perfect

Thanks

Anirudh

Thanks Anirudharun. The tarmac is actually a .jpg that was sent to me by Mike Grandison. He used to offer .jpgs of tarmac, airfields, helo landing pads, etc. He now sells them himself as printed items. I simply printed it off on heavy card stock, then scored the separation lines, and finally darkened the lines up with a black sharpie. Lastly, I added extra oil spills, crack lines, etc. with paint and a sharpie.

great details and story. The base is a perfect size, simple and sweet

what, no floor jack?

Thanks KoSprueOne. I'm still looking for that 70 ton floor jack.

As always awesome job Gino!!!!

Eric

Thanks Eric. It was a fun build.