yes, it's that time of year again, I've made a start on yet another USMC Hog...

again, the base kit is dragon's M1A1 AIM and I'll 'backdate' it to HC. this time I won't use my home-grown parts but instead seddle on the PSM set (of which I got four more waiting for some glue ).
I've started this kit propably more than a year ago but finally I got to a point from which it shouldn't take me tooo long to getting it done...
so, nuff said, here some pics of last week's work:










Cheers, Max

Nice work on the details!


cheers

Howdy Max, how do you back date an AIM to a Heavy? AIMs are also Heavy and Common. AIM is just a tank reconditioned to a to zero hours/zero kilometers condition and fitted with the lates upgrades. Nice work by the way, you sure have those kits figured out. Four more in the works? Wow!
Outta here, Mike sends . . .
.

nice to see your M1s again

thanks guys!

Mike, I've backdated it by adding the serial number plates to the side skirts as well as the two hooks for the rear mounted EAPU...
well, actually three more in the stash, one more in the works, here's what I've got so far:

I want to make this one a NATO-flaged tank but am still undecided which exact tank to build... any suggestions???
Cheers, Max

what about "Bring It"?

Heh Max

back to work again ?
Looks great .... the PSM kit fits alright ?

Cheers
Christopher

yeah, nice Idea, just don't know what kind of chevron that tank had... neither unit etc...
so far my options are 'get'n plowed', 'corona', 'sancho', 'el jefe', 'el gallo', 'pale horse', 'disturbing the peace/who's next?' (problem is that the blast TAB doesn't fit the old dragon hull so I'd have to scratch build it again) 'valhalla', 'protest this' (well, I'd actually a tank with CIP's)... other than that I've got quite a couple of pics showing non-identified tanks... I'll see if I can post some for clarification...

Chris,
yeah, fits fine... so far I just replaced some PE parts with scratch built items as they're easier to work with...

Cheers, Max

Nice build there looking forward to more pictures.

Max, do 'El Gallo' from Alpha Company, 1st Tanks. 'Alphatraz' never gets any love, even in 1/35th. Andy, great seeing you back up on the net. Drop me a line when you can. Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Hey Mike,
got any pics of 'el gallo'? I do only have the echelon decals... hoping that vehicle somehow got rid of it's plow in theatre...
other than that I found some nice references on 'get'n plowed' in one of the spec-ops magazines, so, 'till I'll get some better info on all the other tanks I'll propably stick with that one (that tank had some weird additional camo spots on it's side skirts, could look interesting on a model... )

Cheers, Max

[quote Andy, great seeing you back up on the net. Drop me a line when you can. Outta here, Mike sends . . . [/quote]

Mike,
Will do, stand by for inbound COMMS.

Tanks
Andy

Alright,
we're nearing the painting stage (so basically nothing new here), still lots of bits n bobs left to do...

I finally added the last screws and the missing weld seam on the AIM kit's rear...


also assembled the smoke dischagers with their respective wiring as well as the MCD power plug and cable...


note the tiny wing nut in the pic above, took me three attempts till it looked right


so this is where things are at right now, already started the construction of the BRE, but it'll propably take some time 'till it's ready for final assembly...

I eventually also made some progress on that old dragon kit. lots of scratch building, re-fitting etc. needed there... and quite honestly I'll NEVER EVER start another project like that...













I'll propably build 'disturbing the peace/who's next' as I found I could slightly modify the Blast models TAB to fit it to the dragon hull.
BTW, did I mention that the TAB so far is the only AM item used on this build?? everything else was taken from the spares box, also the BRE is only part PSM as these here two tanks actually share one bustle rack wouldn't use the perfect scale set on this little bugger. most likely I'll give the Voyager smoke grenades and launcher tubes a try here. got their A-stan conversion and somehow need to get rid of all the brass
if you have questions, feel free to ask

Cheers, Max

Nice work as always, Max!

Looking good Max, you need to fill in the area above the exhaust flange where the DWFK elbow mounts. As it is now water would enter. Nice job on that old kit.
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

thank you guys.
Mike, you mean like this?


been working on the holes in the sprocket wheels as well and I don't have a dremel or something, so I had to scrape away the approx 1.5mm plastic with an xacto...

been tinkering with the idea of replacing the sprocket or at least drilling out holes for the screws as DML molded 'em raised instead of inset... what do you guys think?

Cheers, Max

Excellent job on the detailing Max. Keep on posting !
Olivier

Howdy Max, yes that is the opening that needed filling. Other wise that pig would drown if Fording. Nice job making the holes in the sprocket hubs. Right shape and uniform too. Seeing the level of detail on the rest of the model the sprocket ring bolts need correcting.. You should bore the holes and install bolt heads. And just so you know I save all the pictures of your Abrams work for reference.
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

wow, Mike, thanks for the kudos!! I'm flattered and cajoled...
thanks for the pointer above anyways, that lid between the elbow mounting frame and the rear deck is something that's easy to overlook since it's angled and a little recessed, unlike on the newer DML offerings...
well, I'll propably leave away the screw heads as they're not there on the AIM kit either, I'd rather add 'em on the AIM...

hey Olivier, are you gonna do another USMC hog?? think I mentioned before but your build of 'sinister minister' was sort of like the 'tipping point' for me to think about building these converison parts...


Cheers, Max

Hey Mike ! ..... Why would you do that ?
You should be saving pics of my Abrams instead !

Max, see what happens when you listen to me !
Have to admire your effort on the old Dragon kit ...... did you get my package yet ?

Cheers
Christopher

Howdy Max, you are good. I was fudged up in my brain housing group and mixing my tanks and sprockets. The 3535 kit sprockets have the correct slight indent where the end ot the bolt body is flush with the outer surface of the sprocket like these two:


Somehow I was picturing the nuts and bolts on the retaining ring shown here.

On the older Dragon sprockets the bolt protrudes from the ring so it should really be shaved flush. Not too hard of a fix. Then just slightly dimple with a punch or pin vise. Anyway I have unconfused myself. CARRY ON!
Chris what pictures are you talking about?
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Hey Mike, thanks for the pics much appreciated, haven't found the time to reply earlier...

well, been busy over the holidays:


scratch built BRE:


I also built masters for the handles for the stowage/tool boxes and tried casting 'em... what a mess... eventually I got 6 acceptable casts out of two molds still looking for a proper solution for that as PE isn't really an alternative...



yet I've started on another abrams, just put the basic hull parts together which took me some time as both main components showed some bad ass warpage... luckily DML supplies some state-of-the-art-delicately-tooled-DS-styrene-strutting with every kit (aka sprue...) that's what I call quality control...



I'm half-way through doing the weld beads on the old dragon kit but still no end in sight...

scratch built some optics and attached the cables on the commaders cupola:

aaaand last but not least I drilled out the holes on the sprocket, while I was at it, I noticed that the AIM kit's sprockets are not as accurate as the older ones, they lack a ring around the center hub and seem to be a little too narrow towards the middle.... well, looks like more scratch building will be required on the next couple of kits....



Cheers, Max

keep the pics comin, it's always good to see your work, by the way do you build other kits than the Abrams?

thanks... other kits?? erm... not really
well, I do, but there are just too many interesting M1's out there, i just can't help it...

Cheers, Max

EDIT: here's what else I've got in the works:

Tiger Model have released some "US Sponson Box Handles" (AR0126) :


...but I'm not sure they would be OK for the Abrams

Frenchy