This is the Hobby Craft /Trumpter M1A2 backdated to a M1A1 with parts from the spares box ( I found out it was a A2 after I opened the box ) . The tracks are from a Tamiya M1A1 kit , I know not the right center guides but it is all I have for now . The fuel drums are from a Tamiya fuel drum set The braces for the drums are made from evergreen plastic , the same with the ERA blocks on the turret and hull . I wanted this tank to have a older M1 look to it so I cut the base plate off the Gunners primary sight and replaced it with the older type from the Tamiya M1A2 kit (they left it in there -perfect excuse to use it ). Still a way to go on this one but it is kinda cool doing a M1 with out the side skirts .

side view before 2nd coat of paint

top view turret


after the 2nd coat of paint

rear view - ooppss missed the seam on the left drum


Note - I left the road wheel arms loose to fit to the base when I get ready to pose the tank on the base - so it looks messed up from the side view .
Here is a link to the refferences I'm using for this build http://www.armorinaction.com/ntc2002.html

Lord Toady,

A truely unique modeling project, looked very good. What's that thing on the coaxial MG for? is it a bucket? #:-)

Real good!

Lord Sniper Dude




Lol--isn't it amazing what the camera picks up that we don't see as we're building? Looks good Toadster, as usual. I like the missing front fender touch, and the drums--can't say I have seen that before-cool.

Dave's question on the bucket---what is that for??

It looks good camo'd up with the netting over the tube---again a little extra touch that adds a lot to the build.

Impressive.

Signed
Lens jr (tm)

Thanks for the comments .Now for a long story about the real tank . The OPFOR at Ft. Irwin / NTC have used the M-551 Sherdin for years so I guess they are starting to run out of parts to keep a task force up and running so they are starting to use M1A1s in T-72 / T-80 VISMOD ( VISualy MODified ) . I have yet to find out which Soviet tank these VISMODs represent . The Scott Cunningham site calls them KVT s ( krasnovian variant tank - maybe ?) The bucket is a stand in for a IR search light . The 155th Armored Birgade left a good number of M1s at NTC in 1999 as part of a payment plan or something like that , my tank was one of those left . I drove it to the motor pool to turn in ( I miss that tank ) . At the time I did not know that it was going to end up a OPFOR tank , there was a post last year on this site about this and that is when I found out what happend to D -22 .

You might want to double check your ERA bricks...from the photos I have (which are prob the same as you have) they look like single ERA bricks, just like on the older Soviet T-80's and T-72AV's. I'll dig around to see if I can find a really clear photo to send to you. I want to do a KVT also, but I'm using some old MB model's White Metal/lead ERA bricks on mine.