Good Luck, keep you head down

I'm already longing for them Andy !

TAKE CARE !

Frenchy

Stay safe Andy!
(and make LOTS of pics for us.... )

See you soon, take care & as they say "watch your six".

Anybody knows where to get those yellow colored decals/labels for ammo cans? Thanks.

I've really been impressed with the affect of using the irridescent film for the vision blocks. My problem is where to find this stuff. I've tried craft stores, with no luck ... any suggestions?

Did you try party favor stores? Or the party favor section of a craft store?

Rob

This Tamiya set #35141 has a set of yellow and white ammo-cans decals (water slide), it comes with a lot of nice asscecoires for a modern built!
HTH

Thanks Jurgen.

Assuming that I can find some decent sized sheets of iridescent film, the next question is how does the color shift on the vision blocks and the GPS? Just doing a google search on the term iridescent film shows that the stuff is out there, and in different colors. Any suggestions?

The iridecent film used in the article about it was just some party confetti in the shape of stars. They are large enough to do the vsion blocks.

I've been looking on the internet for iridescent film and think I might have a source. Avery Graphics has a product called "Shade-shifter Iridescent film". It sounds like it's a self-adhesive film used for graphic arts. The shades are pretty interesting ~ green/purple, cyan/purple, magenta/gold... I'll keep the group informed if I can get some.

Now this may seem as a dumb question to many of you but since I've (unfortunatly) never been on a real Abrams or even seen one in real life, I was just wondering;
Why is it that they only carry a half spare roadwheel with them? (building the roadwheels gives me two parts per roadwheel (inner and outer) but the spare one looks like only an outer) If a roadwheels brakes down (what would make a roadwheel brake down?) will they just replace the outer part? Or does the inner part looks in real life exactly as the outer part? That will leave me with the question, would half a roadwheel be enough if it/they break down?
Hmmm... #:-)
(as I said; just wondering....)

edit Or is it just like those American campers (I once rented one) They carry a spare wheel, but you'll never use it cause you wouldn't be able to get that heavy thing up, to change the wheel....?

I believe that the inner and outer wheels are the same.
As for carrying only one,
I think that if you throw or lose a rubber, it would only happen to one,
the same applies to a bearing. I also think, ( and this is just a little common sense)
that if two were needed they would get the other from one of the other tanks from the troop.
I also think that anything more would be a major repair and require the maintance company
to do the repairs, who would not only have the needed parts, but tech skills., and tools, to carryout
a proper repair.
I'm not an expert, just making an educated guess, I carry a spare tire incase of a flat,
But I don't carry a set of them, nor do I carry around the axle, or lift, just a jack and wrench.

GOM is right on pretty much everything. Sometimes two roadwheels are carried but the more common practice is to carry only one and use someone elses if neccessary. The most common problem is tearing up the rubber on one of them, therefore only one spare is really neccessary.

Rob

As promised, here's the anti skdi placement on the hull. I have masked some areas and drawn in the rest. Ignore the white plastic and the green putty.
Rob

I found a photo of an M1 carrying two spare wheels.
I see if I can post it in a few days.
It was in a copy on Military Modeling (the British one)
from 1997.... in IFOR markings

[img]https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showphoto.php?photo=23713&password=&sort=8&cat=500&page=1[img]

[img]https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showphoto.php?photo=23712&password=&sort=8&cat=500&page=1[img]

OK, Lets try this again.....





hopefully that worked, if not they are in my gallery.

Thanks for the pics!

Btw ( ) I LOVE your bustle rack extension!!!!

very impressive scratchbuilding!!

Has anyone seen an M1A2 with a roadwheel in front of the CITV?

Please let someone correct me if I'm wrong, but AFAIK they can't have a spare in front of the CITV because there would be nothing to bolt it on to... The spares carried on top of the turret are mostly (if not all) bolted on the holecover... the round cover wich could hold the CITV or the MCD....

Jurgen, unfortunately, you are slightly incorrect. There is the lifting eye mount directly in front of the mahole cover and on the A1's this is a common spot to bolt the roadwheel. However, on the A2, the CITV, or Commanders Independent Thermal Viewer, would have it's vision partially obstructed by putting a roadwheel there. Not a good practice when you are looking around for people who want to kill you. The common practice, even on A1's now is to bolt roadwheels on the outside of the bustle rack, usually near the back corners.

Rob

Thats what I thought, but I saw it on at least one A2 (or USMC A1, don't remember) and thought the same thing. I must have been mistaken because if I were a tanker, there is no way in hell I'd diminish my visual capabilities for a road wheel.

Thanks, just hope it looks as good after painting, and the
paint brings out all the flaws........

I can honestly say I am having a ball doing this project.
It's been quite a few years since I actually finished a model.
Kind of like modelers block, or something.

Howdy fellas,

Don't want anyone to think just because I've got my hands full, and I've been having computer problems that I'm not keeping up with my Abrams entry.
So, I've got a possibly odd question for you all.
This is in regards to the two tool/gear/stowage boxes that are mounted on either side of the turret and run almost the entire length of said turret. You know the one's I'm talking about, right?
Anyway, I know they open from the TC's position (*meaning, they open outward). But what I need to know is, when in the fully opened position, how far do they open (lid straight up at 90 dgrees or laid back), and what keeps it in that position (length of small chain, hinge catch, etc).
Since I'm a fan of showing things in their 'open' position, this information would be of great help. I'd hate to have all you 'Abramaholic's' pointing and laughing at my wee entry!
TIA

Tread.