I'm currently working on accurizing Tamiya's M1A2--my first, very modest effort at scratchbuilding--and I thought I would post a few in-progress pictures for folks to comment on. I am not aiming to superdetail this model, but just to correct some oversights and errors in order to gain practice.

There were several fixes that I knew were needed to make the kit better but that I decided not to tackle:

The non-skid surface--it was too much for my current masking skills, unfortunately.

The cylindrical do-hickey at the end of the power conduit on the loader's side of the turret--I didn't have much information on what it was or what size it was.

The mine plow power receptacle near the driver's hatch--once again, I didn't know its shape and size well enough.

What I did end up working on were the fender springs, repositioning the grab handle on the front of the hull, making shelves for the front of the side turret bins, scratching a power conduit from the APU connector to the other turret power conduits, drilling holes in all of the lifting eyes (front and rear of the hull and on the mantlet), improving--but not completely correcting--the bottom of the gunner's hatch hinge, and extending the APU connector to mate it to the APU itself.

This was also my first time using PE--I used Tamiya's M1A1/A2 PE fret, which has the gunner's weapon ring, a grill, and the turret basket mesh in it.

In any case, here are the pics!

This one shows the fender springs and other tweaks to the front of the hull:


This one is a closeup of the mantlet modifications:


And this one shows what I did to the turret:



Let me know what you guys think!

Very nice work!

Keep us updated

cheers

I used ordinary masking tape and a new blade in my hobby knife. The masking job is not difficult, it just take a bit of time. Another detail you could add are wireing for the smoke dischargers. Easy to do and looks good. Keep us posted on your progress. Looks good so far.

Erik

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Erik, but I found it impossible to properly mask around and over small details, including handles. It's only my fourth model since I returned to the hobby, so I'm very rusty.

I will try to model the wiring for the smoke dischargers--it seems within my capabilities.

Looking good so far Lucas. Keep us posted on your progress.

I like it Lucas! I think it looks great! Your scratch building work is very good. As far as the anti slip goes, if you dont want to add it, I dont think its a terrible loss. Its an interesting debate on anti slip. Some people say its so fine that once the model is painted and weathered, you can barely see it anyway, and others still say it should be there. In any event, if your not up to the task, dont worry, I am sure it will look great once painted and weathered.

Hi Lucas

Nice and Clean build so far. Show us your updates. Cant wait to see the progress

Nice comeback to the hobby. Keep us posted with more details I pretty sure you can add. Be self-confident

Olivier

Hi Lucas

Have you decided on an ID yet?
Smoke granades Tubes(The ones you used)/ OPU / CITV. I want have all but in OIF. Looking for options

Okay looks good but a few things I see that I should say

First the Front drivers hatch needs to be reduced so flush with Hull.

Second two weld beads at front by hatch.

Third 2 weld beads at rear hull,all this gathered by looking at my DML AIM version,which I assume is the real thing

And also MMIR issue 38

Hope this helps a little

Very nice work, i'm not into Moderne Armour but i realy like this one.

Thanks for the encouragement, folks. Jeff--thanks for the additional corrections. Unfortunately, the model is now at painted and decaled, so I'm SOL unless I want to refinish it. I'll make a note of them for the next build. Here are some pictures of the tank about 80% done. It is painted, decaled, clearcoated, and washed. I still have to drybrush it, put on a few unattached parts (machine guns, side skirts, tracks), add stowage, and weather with pastels. I'm hoping to have it finished within a month or so.





Let me know what you guys think about the paint job.

Looking good so far. Keep us posted.

That looks super cool! what color did you use to paint it with?

Heck with what I said

I thought you had given up on it and would appreciate the extra add ons

You have a fine looking tank their my friend.

Very well done to say the least.

So now it is time to ask the questions

What color is this ?
Marine corps sand by MM by any chance?

Also what color on the Armor Periscopes they are beautiful was going to paint mine Clear Red but as seeing yours well I changed my mind.

I like them better.

Thanks and a great build

I used MM Sand (FS33531), per Gino's guidance that it is a match to CARC paint. I gave it a wash of burnt umber oil paint. The vision blocks are made of reflective confetti that I got at Michaels. You get a little bag for a dollar, and it comes with enough material for at least four or five tanks, plus it comes in a range of colors (blue, purple, green, red, reddish purple, etc.). I'm still not very good at photography, so they show up a bit bluer and less reddish than they are in real life. I'll post a how-to on this one when I have a bit of time this weekend.

Lucas, thats coming out beautiful! Brilliant idea about the confetti! cant wait to see more! Awesome job dude!

Gary

I like it Lucas, especially the colour. It shows the shortcomings of the earlier kit from dragon that I put together. Hmmm I feel another Abrams coming on!!

Looks good!

Like the paint color!!

Keep the updated pics coming!

Cool have the paint color which is recommended and great idea on the mylar.

Their is a store up the road only thing they sell is party stuff.

A billion different colors,have to go look.

WOW

Excellent work Lucas

Very clean build and precise execution. Looks Great.

Thanks for the update. Keep up the good work

So what are you up to Desk jockey?

Any more work or calling it a Done deal.

I have noticed the Headlights suck on the Tamiya kit.

Pics Tomorrow after I get the base coat on the Lower Hull

Nice Paint Job. But more importantly, Nice finish job. Anybody can paint a tank, but it is really difficult to get a good finish. You really did great on this one.

Thanks for the kudos, folks.

Jeff--I'm slowly finishing the weathering on this kit. I was going to airbrush some highly diluted Tamiya Buff on it today to simulate dust, but it rained just as I was about to start and remained too humid for the rest of the afternoon. I'll try again later this week. I'm also working on painting the stowage and assembling bottled water boxes (courtesy of Marcelo). Here are a couple of very quick pictures showing progress so far:






Let me know what you think.

Nice Clean build Lucas.

I really like that look .

Keep them Pics coming

Great pictures also