Its turning out GREAT

I really like the colour. The exhaust seems a bit overdone. Also I noticed some smoke streaks on the smoke suppressor (the small tube by the side of the mai gun, dont know the correct term )

What type of lighting you use for the photos?? My table lamp has heavy yellow cast


Keep up the good work and keep us updated. Cant wait to see the model finished

Lucas, You liar!!! I don't belive for a second that this is only your fourth model...

Seriously; this looks good. What stowage are you going to use? The original Tamiya or AM stuff. I can recommend both Legend and Real Models stuff. Both sets last for several models and have moore goodies than Tamiya (which is a pretty good set btw.) Since you have left the hatches open I guess your Abrams will be crewed by a couple of angry Army tankers? Keep on the good work, looking forward to see it finished.

Erik

This is looking quite good Lucas. Hope to see the finished version.

Jeff

Mukund--Yeah, I think I went a bit overboard with the exhaust grime. It was the first time I used my airbrush for detail work, and I should have thinned the paint a bit more.

I use compact fluorescent full-spectrum light bulbs in two desk lamps for my workbench lighting, and they double as picture lights. It sounds complicated, but I got the two lamps at Ikea for next to nothing, and the bulbs are easily available in hardware stores here in the US--just look for "daylight" energy-saver bulbs. You could also use incandescent "daylight" bulbs to get the same type of light. You can also try to eliminate the yellow cast in your pictures with image-editing software--just use the "auto color balance" option or adjust the balance by hand by adding blue until it looks right.

Erik--Yes, it's only the fourth (but I DID build models as a kid more than ten years ago, so I didn't start entirely from scratch ). I'll be using the Tamiya stowage that came with the kit, but may add a couple of items from the HobbyFan set (he HobbyFan packs look so good I'm afraid to mess them up by painting them!). And yes, I hope to eventually populate the open hatches with a couple of tanker figures. Right now I'm thinking of using the ones included with the Tamiya kit, since my figure-painting skills are not very good. That way I can massacre them and not weep over their cost.

looks great

So how you making out Lucas?

Hope its going good on the Stowage.

It really is looking good. 4th tank, wow. Dont worry about figures. With your skills, I am sure they will come out good.

Funny you should ask, Jeff. It's been very slow going with the stowage, partly because my job has been keeping me busy and partly because I'm a bit afraid of ruining the model by adding stowage.

Here are a couple of pictures of the stowage items I've prepared so far. What do you guys think--should I add it or not?

Nice work, love what you did on the wheels and tracks, and the stowahge looks impressive. The paint it´s sound too, what mix did you use to achieve that colour? I have a new M1A1 AIM waiting and want to paint it in that sand colour.

Cheers

Thanks, Klaus. I used Model Master Sand (FS33531). They also sell it under their Acryl line (also called Sand). You can find the same color in both Humbrol enamels (Light Stone, I think) and Gunze Sangyo Mr. Color (H313). I then washed it with a burnt umber pin wash over a matte surface, to get the color to spread into the surrounding area. The wash helps break up the uniformity a bit.

Thanks for the info Lucas, I just bought a couple of bottles of ModelMaster Sand (enamel), but I wasn´t sure if I had to mix it with buff or white before spraying.

Cheers

Your stowage looks good but my I suggest you give it the same color wash as the Tank (burnt umber) this way the dust and dirt effect looks the same.
Yufkey

Your Abrams looks great! I have worked on several M1A1 and A2's and have wanted to put those depleted uranium panels on forward portion of the turret. I see that you used plastic card on yours. Did you cut that card yourself, if so could you share the dimensions with me?

Looking Good their Lucas real good.

And the Mountain Dew well heck even better.

So you going to shoot flat coat to everything when Done?

I am doing stuff a bit different here.

You will see when done.

Could you suggest a paint color for Tracks?

This is my first modern Tank gosh no T/34 with rust or Tiger or Panzer III so don't have much knowledge on things with Rubber.

Again looking killer will be a nice addition to the cabinet or where ever you keep it.

Keep those pics coming

Thanks, Yufkey. I'm thinking of using a burnt umber wash on the stowage and spraying a light coat of highly thinned Tamiya Buff over the tank and the stowage to blend them in together. I'm a little bit afraid of what will happen, though.

Travis--the rectangular panels on the front of the turret are actually CIPs panels to change the thermal signature of the tank to avoid friendly fire. The DU armor is actually welded (I think) onto the turret front and is already included out of the box in nearly all M1A1/A2 kits on the market today. The armor is not obvious to the naked eye (the turret just looks bigger). The CIPs panels on my model are made out of plastic card and are 16.5mm by 23mm, per Tamiya's instructions.

Lucas,

Looks great! Coming together very nicely. Keep us posted.

Thanks, Jeff. Yes, I intend to use a flat coat on the few items that are still too shiny (despite having already received a flat coat ).

For the tracks I experimented with MM Rust, followed by a light drybrushing with MM Metalizer Burnt Metal. The rubber pads are painted in Polly S Scale Black. I think they turned out well.

On my M113, I tried a different method. I airbrushed the track in MM Metalizer Dark Anodic Gray and will do a wash in MM Acryl Rust. I'll try to post pictures later on to show the differences.

Thanks Lucas

I will be waiting to see them.

I just shot the Tracks with NATO Black Tamiya and will try an oil Wash with Burnt Sienna.

I guess can't get those Metal tracks out my mind.
And maybe a Dry brush of steel
Will see how those come out.

Shooting the Finial Sand latter today.

Well would like to see those Pics.

Lucky I paint in the House as raining again.

About 12 inches above so far getting pretty wet around this part of Oklahoma

great!

Thanks, desertfox.

HI deskjockey,
just read through your build, I think it's great after being away from it for years, keep up the good work. It makes me more determined to get my kits out and start too. I now have some free time and after seeing your model some inspiration. Thanks,
Kenny.
P.S. Where in Virginai do you live? I live in Chester near Richmond.
Kenny

Thanks, Kenny. I say, jump right into it--you'll be glad you did!

I live in northern Virginia, in McLean. It is becoming the land without hobby shops, unfortunately.

Time for some updates Lucas?

How are things going?

I finished my Abrams on Tuesday and took a few pictures on the 4th. I'll take some more over the weekend and post them in a new thread for all to see. Here are the quick and dirty ones I took for the PMY campaign:





Comments welcome!

A comment ?....... WOAH, is it enough ?