This is Trumpeter’s M1A2 in progress for the Abrams Campaign. The model includes some of the Eduard pe set for grills, latches, grabs, a Model Point 120mm tube, and some of the Legend’s resin accessory set for the bustle racks.

The turret face is not corrected. I tried model putty, but could not create the fine clean edges along the turret bottom, and also tried Toad’s method, (described in his earlier RRB post), but couldn’t quite get that to look right either. I also busted the top rung of the turret baskets near each smoke dispenser. I plan on covering these errors with tissue bedrolls/storage. Overall this build was a tough one as my pe and resin experience is pretty limited and it showed during construction, (can anyone tell me why CA sticks pe and resin parts to anything except the model?? hehe).

Things still to do include, decals, install/paint lenses/lights, pe storage straps for the turret basket, complete painting/weathering the existing storage items/straps/roadwheel, a simple base, and putting fellow Abram’s Campaign participant’s names on the tank, (a campaign requirement).

The sun was setting when these pics were taken so I apologize for the shadowing across the model.

Carlton aka “Toad”, Dave Tong aka “Lens”, Jeff Nelson aka “JR”, and Rob aka “Bro” Abrams will have their names hand painted on the storage boxes---I don’t know if that’s allowed in “real life” but they are going on this one (hehe)

Helpful comments are appreciated. Thanks
Steve

A pic of Model Point's 120mm tube










Sorry, took this one in a shadow.

Hey Steve ..you look like it's coming along quite well ..You are a brave man doing the Trumpeter kit when there are others around that probably go together much easier...painting looks to be well done ...you faded the inside of most panels ..One trick to make this look more uniform is to lightly go over every thing with a mist of the original color just to bring it all together and not look so harsh between the colors...Keep up the great work ..can't wait to see it all finished...
all the best

Rick

Steve - I like the progress too! I know the RRB isn't supposed to be all "fluff and mush" but for a Trumpeter kit, that's a bit of alright going on there so far...

Trade 'ya my Italeri M1A2!

Gunnie

I can see that it's coming along very nice Steve. Did that model came with an APU? I'm just starting & have a long ways to go. Can't post pictures yet.

Lord WWH,

This is looking very promising, I especially like the multi media pic with the metal gun tube and everything, your dry brushing skill is again instrumental in creating this nice piece. Very nice!

SteveWWH,

Nice to see you post your M1A2. I am really impressed by it especially the painting and weathering. Keep it up man.

Nice work on this !@#$%&*$$#@@$% kit !! I have spented almost a week of modelling time try to fix the #@#$%$%^$%^#%^ turret and i am not done yet , maybe today . A silly question , did the APU showed in the instruction sheet to be in the right side of the backplace of the turret ? Cause i see it on the right of yours so probably Trumpeter has gone wrong also there? It will not be the first point of course!!!!! Nice work on painting and weathering

Where did you get your Modelpoint barrel from? It looks like the changed the design on it again...I have one that has a resin fume extractor and no MRS on it....

Steve-

Absolutely wonderful looking M1 ya got there..... man :-)

I especially like that barrel - I am currently fighting with the Italeri kit POC, so I am envious... hehehe

The build looks very solid, with your trademark WWH special paintjob! That tank looks super - especailly considering all the trouble you went through for it. Thumbs up from me!!!!

Later-
Nelson

PS- GREAT JOB!

I was wondering that myself, I have several of their barrels for the M1 and Leo 2 and they all have resin bore evacuators and no MRS, the website still shows this style also. Anyway, nice job so far on what can be a tough build in places.

Mike

The Model Point tube was ordered from Alpenflage, (aka Bob), an Armorama site member, and hobby shop businessman. Alpenflage takes PayPal and ships pronto.

Maybe I'll get a little discount for this plug

STeve

Nice model Steve!
It is looking great I like the stowage of equipment
I see lighting holes did you add those yourself?
I have the kit but have not looked.
Goosh I better get the lead out and start mine.

Part of the Abram's Campaign requirement is to place the name, or nick name, of another Abram's Campaign participant on your vehicle.

I've chosen four, and placed their names on various storage boxes on the M1 using some old transfers:

Carlton, aka "Toad" an Abram's specialists that has been extremely helpful to many of us here with this campaign,

My good chat bud Lord Nelson aka "Jr",

Dave Tong (SS-74) affectionately known as "Lord Lens", and

finally the Abrams Campaign Leader, Rob aka "Bro Abrams".

Their dedication pics follow below.

ps: Copula vision blocks still have to be installed on this M1 before completion.
pps: I cobbled some old decals and named the gun tube "Bad Time" which effectively describes the process of building this model (hehe)
Steve

This one turned out great. I only hope that the one I am working on comes out 1/3 as good as yours. You have turned a sows ear into a silk purse. Well done.

Ya done good on this one . I'm glad you hung in there with this monster. I know you had quite a time with it . Just for kicks you should add a lock to the PE handle on the turret sponson box . Add a pic of the gun tube decal for us. So, I guess the Tamiya 105mm is next ?

Great job overall Steve! Very effective dry-brushing and detail painting. What did you use for the prism blocks? They look very nice.

The names on the boxes give this beast a lot of personality. I can just imagine the havoc these guys will create. Just don't put Dave in the driver's seat

I got a question Steve, does that conduit coming from the APU in the bustle rack molded with the kit?