Basic painting now completed. I need to finish up some detail painting and then next I will do a little highlighting of the top facing parts. Then final decaling before the real fun starts with the painting.

Very Nice work Robert.

Good attention to detail.
The Abrams is coming along pretty well.

Keep posting the images .

Thanks

Michael

Awesome work Bob

Thanks everybody.

I put on the rest of the decals. I only need to do the three red barrel rings. I will have to source three single red Echelon rings. I can mask and paint, but the Echelon decals are so good it is not worth the risk of red paint bleed under the mask, and a crooked mask.

I put a grey/blue filter on but it is not noticeable in this lighting. Before that I did some chipping with a pastel stick, and I also made some scratches with colored pencils on the sideskirts. The filter blended them in, and later I will do some more scratches to show newer ones.

Track end connectors were hung by the real crew on the grab rails, so I sliced a couple off leftover track and then drilled out the holes. I similarly drilled out the holes for the spare track that will go on the bustle rack. I lost the handle for the loader's MG so I made one from a GI WWII shovel - I wound a little tape around the end for the rubber part, and painted the stem. Later I will cut the stem the proper length and glue under the MG hopper.

Next I will do an orange filter, then pin wash and weathering.

looking forward to the finish line, nice

Looks better everytime Robert!

this build is really motivating to finish mine, after 3years

Same here. Mine is 90% complete. Think I'll pull it off the shelf, next month.

Orange filter applied to the turret, but not the hull or gun barrel yet. Still wet. Noticeable difference.

Later I will pin wash the detail w/ brown and also a wash will be applied as I weather the tank.

Started on some stowage. I am using a lot of the Tamiya stuff and I had to spend a fair amount of time to remove mold seams. I added grab handles to the CIPs and I will soon put the chevrons on them. Crews were issued at least one cooler, but my tank had two, and a drinking cooler as well.

I decided to have a go at making the MRE packets. In my previous build of the OIF M113 I used epoxy putty to make a couple that were on the track floor. I wanted to have an easier way, and more importantly, something that would be more consistent in size and shape. I decided to use lead foil wrapped around Evergreen strip of 1.09 x 2.84 mm. After wrapping the plastic strip in foil I pinched the ends and voila. I will put one or two in the spare roadwheel on the roof, and I probably will show an MRE box partially opened with a few packets spilling out.

I finished with the barrel rings and I placed the spare tracks on the bustle rack ends. I went to the effort of slicing the track horn off so I could reglue it at an angle as it is in real life when they unbolt it and attach it. I sliced the drilled out horn and reglued the half around the bustle rack rod. I then filled any gaps with Tamiya putty. It seems like too much effort, but what the heck...

Very nice... Between the tracks, and the weathering, and the little details, like the civvie GPS on the .50 cal mount, it really pops. I like the orange filter effect. Initially it seems a bit much, but I can see where the look is headed, and the effect it had on the sand tone. Looking forward to more!
Take care,
Larry

Thanks Larry. There still is a ways to go on the painting. A brown wash along with a dark brown pinwash. Then everything will get dusted at the end.

Some progress:
Stowage in varying degrees of completion. I mounted the jerrycan racks and one CIP. The other CIP and exhaust deflector will go on at the very end since they will be dangling from the turret due to the accident.

Close-up of the jerrycan rack. The kit is incorrect in how they hang. An 'L' shaped bracket was welded to the back on both ends. You can see one here pretty well. Space has to be left so it can hang over the grab rail.


The CIPs need grab handles placed near the top sides. In turn, they were tied to the grab rails.


I tried to do some writing on the MRE packets. I think they look ok from a normal distance.

Looking good Bob. I like how you did the damage. On the MRE bags, I would print some labels for them on computer decal paper in dark brown.

Your work continues to impress.

I agree, with Bob concerning the MREs. I doubt that they would be legible, in 1:35 scale.

I appreciate the comments, as always. As far as making decals, that is something I am not up to at the moment. I agree the packets would look better with them, but I think they are OK at this time. Only a couple will be truly visible - I will pick the best ones to show on top.

Last night I did some pinwashing. You can see where I have not done it yet on the left rear deck. I will likely go back over some areas with a clean, wet brush and remove any areas I think are too heavy.

Playing around with stowage. There will be a tarp over part of it.

Scratched a bucket and I plan on showing some CDs spilling out of a CD storage carrier. I did not exactly get center holes for all of them but it is very easy to punch out more if I need them. I used that party confetti stuff. I plan on only showing two or three CDs.

Nice work Rob,

The bucket and cd's look good and very
small to work with.

Michael

I may ditch the CDs. They are not coming out the way I had hoped. The act of drilling the hole damages the silver. I am experimenting with getting an image online and reducing it and printing it out. It won't have the pow factor of the silver confetti, but it may still look good, and more like a CD in the end.

Today I did the tow cables. The kit cables aren't exactly like real cables, but since they fit the cable ends the best I went with the instead of AM stuff I have lying around. For the rear cable I had to leave the cable end off until I threaded it through the tow pintle. I also had to slice off one bolt from each shackle to get the cable end to fit into the shackle. I then used Grandt Line bolts as replacements. You can see I have not pinwashed the cables or shackles just yet.

Tow bar attached too. I pinwashed it but still need to do an overall wash/filter and then highlight.

Later I will put two razor wire coils over the towbar.

I don't like the look of one of the fuel caps in front so I will play around with some thinner to remove most of it.

awesome Robert!!! it's getting better everytime

You got me motivated a while ago with this build to finish my A23 Saddam diorama!! stay tuned for a update soon

I can't wait to see your finished. Everything from the figures to the base to the tank itself were sensational. It's been too long sitting in that unfinished state.

Have you considered using sequins, for the cds? I think you can find some small enough. I believe my grandmother used them, for dolls she made.

Matt, that is worth a thought. I will check that out.

Loading up the stowage now. A couple of MRE packets in the spare wheel. Packing tube on the roof - for maps.

Getting close. I did some rain marks, mostly in burnt umber oils. I added the dangling equipment on the right side, due to one of the accidents. Did a dusting too. May go back for another visit on that.

Still have to do the razor coils, spent shells, and scratch a pair of MOPP suit pants to hang from the right rear taillight.

I started with the figures. The interaction between TC and loader here will be important since Sgt Booker was trying to keep the loader down in his hatch while he worked his M4 - the .50 kept jamming and it was easier in some respects to engage dismounts with the M4 instead of the .50 cal.

looks really good! nice work, nice detailing! and excellent weathering job.

You are taking it to the next level. I can't say this enough. Truly superb work!

Nice work, the hog looks excellent and it's really useful having descriptions on what you did and how. Thanks for sharing.