This is Tamiyas M1A2 OIF version. It goes togheter in the usual Tamiya "Shake and bake" way, and is a pretty enjoyable kit. It was much, much faster to build than Dragons M1A1, but personally I have to admit that i prefer the Dragon kit...

Well, here are some pictures. The kit is basically OOB with some leftover spares, PE and scratched items. what is missing is some minor detailing and a BRE with a scratchbuilt HEMTT storage box. Tracks are from AFV Club.








I learned it "the hard way" that marking off the No Slip texture with a black marker is not a good idea... However, I have done some tests on a piece of scrap plastic, and I will be able to cover it with paint...

Erik

Looks very nice so far.

To cover the black marker on the turret first and for future projects use a primer such as a grey colour to cover over everything before the base coat. It will blend in kit plastic, PE parts, resin, and white styrene. It works every time and allows imperfections to easily be seen and corrected.

Looks good so far. Only one nitpick though. If you're building this as an M1A2 used in OIF like the kit depicts, then you should delete the APU from the bustle rack, as the M1A2's used in OIF were the SEP (System Enhancement Program) upgraded versions that had an APU inside the hull. In it's place is an air conditioner-like unit used to keep the tanks's electronics from overheating, some reference pics of which can be found on this site.

Tamiya Neutral Grey works just fine for me as a primer.

Are you 100% sure? I thought only 4th. Infantry division fielded SEPs in Iraq. This pic from 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment shows a M1A2 with an APU in the bustle rack in Iraq

Edit: Here is a High res pic of the same vehicle from this site

Hey maybe I'll build that. I have a trump A2 and know a guy that casts icechests and BREs

...which I ordered from you allmost three weeks ago...

Your actually the first guy shipping monday. Im one guy in a garage so I stay buried. It'll be worth it.

I know

Hi Erik,
your job is excellent so far. I would just add the smoke dischargers wiring (just nitpicking ).

I'm pretty sure the APU is correct for a OIF1 M1A2.

I can confirm that priming will cover the marker. I did the same mistake with a green BMD2 and the marker was still visible after the base cover I had to spray at least two more layers to conceal it !

Keep on the good job.
Olivier

Arrrgh, I hate you Olivier!!! :-) :-) :-)
I have added the wiring as a result of your "nitpicking"...

Erik

Ouch, don't hit my head too strong

I think I owe you

Olivier

3ACR has or had the basic M1A2's when they deployed. Only 4ID had the SEP's, so as long as he sticks with 3ACR markings, he'll be fine

Ditto to above. 3ACR has standard M1A2s. 1CAV has a mix of M1A2 and M1A2 SEP and 4ID has all M1A2 SEPs.

Hey Erik

Looks nice your model.
To bad you can see the lines of the marker. But a little extra cover and it will be gone.
I like your anti slip cover. Got to teach me that too
Has anyone any good articles on how to make anti slip cover??

Cheers Roel

I had Gino's article on making the antislip with terra cotta spray paint bookmarked and now I can't find.

Shaun

Help Gino?

Here you go.

Anti-Slip Coating.

I added an Eduard bar armor set for the exhaust to the Abrams, mostly because I had it in my stash... I have seen some pics of M1A2s fitted with this equipment and even though it is a bit different from the bar armor which comes with the TUSK kit I think it will add a nice detail to the finished vehicle. The Eduard kit was a pain to build, and took me a good two hours to finish. I changed the top bar with a piece of rod since it will look better than a folded "rod". I guess the result is pretty ok... Picture is from a dry fitting.

Erik

Looking good Erik. If I could be nit-picky too? It looks like you added the armoured intake plate for the Under Armor APU of the SEP version on the left hull side:


but none of the other UAAPU features are present. If you are doing a straight M1A2 I would remove this plate. Just my thought...
Where is that turned aluminum antenna base from?, looks good.

Cheers ,
Jim

Thanks Gino.

Shaun

:-) It is gone several days ago. I had mixed up some pics between a SEP and a straight A2...

Antenna is from Mr Models .

I guess it is time for some nitpicking again... :-)

I just added a USMC style BRE to the bustle rack along with a scratchbuilt HEMTT storage box and a CIP panel. The HEMTT box was made from styrene sheet and detailed with some leftover PE. Yes, I know... The handles are different from a HEMTT box, but very few will ever know... The padlock is from AAs Warrior upgrade kit. CIP panel from Tamiya and the BRE is made by our own garyj36.






I used this photo taken by Brent Sauer as a reference. His excellent M1A2 pics can be found on Primeportal

Erik

Looks great!

But If I may suggest something I would replace the mesh in bustle rack with some photoetched diamond mesh. The nylon mesh you used (probably from Tamiya kit) looks nothing like the real thing. There should also be a diamond mesh on the bottom of BRE and in fact jerrycan holders on both sides of it should also have mesh on the bottom, not solid plate.
One more thing to note is that EAPU is not mounted over the mesh. It is attached to the steel base plate welded to the bustle rack and there is no mesh in this section of rack.

Other details I noticed are blast off panels on the turret - you used smooth panels without circular covers, but you attached lifting eyes. This is not correct - lifting eyes were not attached to old style smooth panels, as they were not supposed to be removed.

Also please note that Brent Sauer's picture shows SEP tank. If you want your model to be as accurate as possible you must be careful in choice of markings for your model and find a unit that still uses old plain M1A2s.

Pawel

Thanks Pawel, I'm allready aware of most of this. Building this one mostly for fun and to try out some new techniques while I'm waiting for the M1A1 AIM. Only bought the BRE, the rest is stuff from my sparebox, so I think I will let it be as it is. The mesh will be covered with the crews personal equipment so it will not show. Good point about the blast panels, did not know that and will correct.


Erik