After completing my fisrt kit after a long period I decedid to go for it at full speed.

I got the Dragon M1A1HA OIF and the turret is almost complete to paint.

Here are a couple of shots






I think it's getting quite nice.
The Eduard BRE was a mess to build but it seems quite good. After all the tanks were all dented and scratched after a while.
I had to make the channel that goes to the external APU with plastic card and correct a few minor flaws but the result seems OK

The sight is just pressed in place so the doors are missing. So area few other details that I'm leaving to the last minute before painting.

What do you think Fire away!!!

I like it! What color are you going to finish it in? I don't usually do American armor but I am waiting for the new Dragon M1. Keep posts of you build coming, it is looking good!

Looks like a nice, clean build. Nice work on the BRE. I think you should add the no-slip texture to your tank. It kind of adds the "little extra" to your model. (If you allready have added it, you have my appoligies. My screen is not the best.)

Erik

looks good what color is giong to be?
I love seeing inbuild photo's. it really show's how much work you put in.
ceep us posted

Hi guys. Thx
In fact this is one of the M1 kits with the best anti slip pattern. It's quite accuracte and after my last kit where I add to do it by hand I deserved a break :-)

The kist is going to be painted in sand. I got the Echelon set of decals (http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~kriegsketten/T35004.htm) for the HA and the color is sand.

Overall is a good kit but there are some flaws that need to be corrected. Some very VISIBLE and some for rivet counters

The BRE that comes with the kit is not the USMC version. I add to build the Eduard BRE and it was a pain(!!!) Too soft metal, aalways bending out of shape, dificult to glue and almost impossible to align...

The bustle rack itself is a very complicated build. I don't know how many parts I glued to acieve a decent look...

The fit of parts (especially the turret is less than good. The mantlet protrudes excessively from the turret but these flaws can be easily corrected.

Well. in the end with a couple of hours work an the Eduard detailing set, everything seems to be going well.
I'll post details of the build as I move along.

I'm a sucker for modern armor... The kits waiting on my very recent stack are:

Leopard 2A6 - Tamiya
M113A2 - Tamiya
Warrior MCV + Accurate Armor conversion - Academy
Challenger II - Tamiya
Merkava III + Legend IIID conversion - Academy

On the other hand I'm afraid to start with WWII armor. It's so diverse that I wouldn't know where to begin....

Thx for your feedback guys. Keep it coming

Looks like it is coming along well. Good job on the BRE and other PE. The only issue I see is the smoke launcher base looks to be at the wrong angle. It looks like it will be pointing down. Could just be the angle of the pic though. Other than that, it looks great. Which markings off the Echelon sheet do you plan on using?

Yeah I see what you mean.
But n photo 3 & 4 you can see that they are poiting out and upwards.

Nice job Antonio. At first sight I thought like Gino your smoke grenades launchers were wrong angled.

Be aware that the APU is not the most accurate in the game. You'd have to correct it as it is at least too narrow. I did one myself, check in the features section about my article. It is not that hard to scratchbuild.

Keep on posting pics.
olivier

The Tamiya APU is much better

I'm doing the kit largely based on your example (Olivier) and the precious reference pics from tanx-heaven.
It seems that the best option is ti have both kits and use parts from Tamiya and Dragon.
However, Legend makes a set of stowage item for the M1 and.... an APU is included and at least the top hatches are much much better.

I see you have the best refs :-) I forgot Legend's APU. It will be easier and certainly more accurate than modifying DML one. In the Echelon decal sheet, you'll find all the stencils for it too.

olivier

eh eh eh I've read your article so many times that by now I know it by heart :-)

Olivier's work and site is at the very least inspirational

After a snall period of innactivity waiting for some parts to arrive, the M1 is almost ready for paint
Heres's an update


The APU and rear wheel and sprocket are from Legend (included on the excellent set for the M1)

Hi Antonio,
nice looking Merk in the background too. Your workbench seems to be overcrowded

olivier

Oh yeah... when the desease strikes... it strikes hard.
I have my wife wondering if they reproduce at night :-) :-)
We all know that women can't tell if they are different as long as they have the same color.... right??