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Post by wouter on Jul 4, 2013 12:17:48 GMT -5
Yeah, you read that right fellas  I'm going modern again, and what better to start on the 4th of July than an all American Beast: the M1A1 AIM Abrams tank! I don't know much about it, but it looks cool! Main inspiration was Dan B's Abrams Tusk II build. So I scored a Dragon kit quickly on e-bay:  It must be the greatest Dragon kit I've ever seen...it's super complete: a sh$tload of decals and even some lasercut cardbox ration stowage It has the same nasty stuff as German WWII armor: too many roadwheels    one advantage this Dragon kit has over the Tammi ones (for me anyway) is that it has moulded on antislip coating. You'll see that later on. Very pleased with the Magic Tracks as well, the practically fall together, but that's for another update And no additional etch this time, I'll keep it strictly OOB (well except for some AFV Club lense coating stickers) Just one question for the Abrams connaisseurs:  You can often see on the front of the turret rectangular shapes or in this case a sticker line, does anyone know the purpose of that? oh, and a happy 4th of July for our US fellow forummers ^^ Cheers |
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Post by TRM on Jul 4, 2013 12:25:22 GMT -5
Very cool Wouts!! I'm in!!! Not sure on the tape...one of the more modern adept builders might shed a light on it. Getting comfy and grabbing a snack!!
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Deleted
Member since: January 1970
Posts: 0
May 6, 2024 17:55:34 GMT -5
May 6, 2024 17:55:34 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 12:56:42 GMT -5
Wouts,I believe those plates that were fitted to the front of the turret,were like IFF plates you know..Identify,Friend or Foe?(Friend,obviously!  )Usually one on the back bustle as well. |
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paulh
Senior Member
Member since: November 2011
build, fail, learn, succeed - ENJOY
Posts: 2,389
Nov 15, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
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Post by paulh on Jul 4, 2013 13:17:40 GMT -5
oh yeah!
Wouts has been infected!!!! I knew if we held out long enough it would happen...
Bring it on by Belgian friend.
p
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Post by Leon on Jul 4, 2013 14:32:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the modern armor club Wouts.Count me in on this one. |
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Post by fightnjoe on Jul 4, 2013 14:41:44 GMT -5
now this should be fun.
joe
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Post by wouter on Jul 4, 2013 15:12:45 GMT -5
T, thanks bro, glad you're in for the ride  CB, thanks for that explanation mate Paul, glad to have you . I was initially thinking of doing a Chally II first in the far distant future, but Dans build ruined it Leon, thanks mate, and welcome too ^^. Isn't my first modern btw, I did a Merkava IV over here a year ago...seems like ages Joe, let's hope so ^^ Hi jackwagon, hope it will be a fun ride. I will try to make it a (relative, to my standards  ) fast project. Please don't delay yours, maybe I can learn a thing or two from you ^^ Thanks for that explanation as well btw, nice to know and I think it looks cool, especially with the stripped velcro at some areas. Lower hull is a bit warped, but other than that up to Dragons high standards. Moderate flash, but hey - it was way back in 2006 it came out Cheers
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Post by spud on Jul 4, 2013 18:22:25 GMT -5
Something defo wrong with you,
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bigjohn
Reviews member 
Member since: December 2011
John Hale
Posts: 3,438
Dec 21, 2011 2:17:45 GMT -5
Dec 21, 2011 2:17:45 GMT -5
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Post by bigjohn on Jul 4, 2013 18:30:41 GMT -5
I'm all in buddy!
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 4, 2013 19:55:36 GMT -5
Popcorn's at the ready wouts! Looking forward to seeing this. |
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 4, 2013 22:15:58 GMT -5
Hell yeah count me in! Almost bought me an Abrams kit during my trip to Utah but it was an orange box set from Dragon. Like you, because of Dan I want to get a kit one day...
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Post by wouter on Jul 5, 2013 6:52:40 GMT -5
Spud, sure is mate BJ, Bill and Andy, glad to have you with me fellas ^^. Andy, you should have bought the kit mate, I was hesitating about that one as well, but then I found this one at evilbay. Just buy it and send the bill to Dan Tracks are done. there are two ejector pinmarks per link on the inside. Easy to sand them down. I only sanded the lower trackruns of course, the upper run will be invisible behind the skirts so no waist of effort ey The instructions don't suggest a track count so I had to figure it out. At the left I used 80 links, 79 for the right, seems to work for me ^^    Detail is just awesome! These for sure are the best Magic Tracks I've used so far! The lower hull is slightly warped, so I used Wing_nuts trick with the piece of sprue  Cheers
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 5, 2013 9:38:17 GMT -5
LOL! Actually I really want that Tamiya M1 kit... its expensive but maybe for Christmas from myself. (evil laughter) Great work on the tracks... they do have great details!
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danb
Reviews member
March 2013 MoM Winner
Member since: November 2011
Posts: 2,808
Nov 17, 2011 9:22:52 GMT -5
Nov 17, 2011 9:22:52 GMT -5
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Post by danb on Jul 5, 2013 12:42:18 GMT -5
WOOOOOHOOOOO yeah Wouts im liking this one great start i would like a DML Abrams to try Dicky was telling me at the weekend of a Tusky in Nato colours with sand Tusk armour that will be my next Tusky thats unless Dicky gets there 1st lol Dan B |
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 5, 2013 14:25:33 GMT -5
Looking good wouts! I'm not a modern armor expert but I think that the Abrams has a 'live' track system meaning there wouldn't be any sag at the sprocket or idler positions but I could be wrong...so encourage you to verify first before making any potential changes/adjustments in your tracks. I don't know that it will make much difference once the side skirts are fitted regardless but better safe than sorry! |
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Post by wouter on Jul 5, 2013 14:56:28 GMT -5
Andy, Chrimbo is still so far away Dan, welcome dude! Your plan sounds good indeed! I'm going for the Nato livery as well. Not that I don't like the sand colored ones, but I don't see three tone Abrams' models often Bill, thanks mate, and I think you are right indeed concerning the sag. But as you stated, everything will be covered by the skirts - quite a shame though, plenty of detail anywhere Cheers
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Post by Leon on Jul 5, 2013 15:49:13 GMT -5
Nice work on the tracks Wouts.Great tip on fixing the warped hull. |
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modelfreak72
Full Member
Member since: January 2012
Why worry, each of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.
Posts: 1,479
Jan 28, 2012 23:21:46 GMT -5
Jan 28, 2012 23:21:46 GMT -5
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Post by modelfreak72 on Jul 6, 2013 1:07:15 GMT -5
Wait! What's this?!? The woutmeister doing an M1? SWEETNESS! Looking good sir! Been thinking about buying that kit, after building Tamiya's been curious to see how Dragons stacked up. I'll be watching you! |
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Post by wing_nut on Jul 6, 2013 7:49:51 GMT -5
Hey , it's Deja Vu all over again! very happy to see you doing this kit my friend. Since my build speed has slowed to a crawl I can keep an ever watchful eye here for any pitfalls that lurk in the future. Could not agree more about how complete this kit is. I have not made the tracks runs yet but I am having a problem getting them seated into the drive sprocket fully. I'll try to get some pics one of these days and post them in "that other thread"  |
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Post by wouter on Jul 6, 2013 9:44:37 GMT -5
Leon, thanks mate, and yeah, glad to see Wn posted that trick, most handy mister Freakstah, you read that right ! So far it's a good kit, some issues here and there, but nothing we can't handle I reckon (I hope!) Hiya WN, glad to have you here mate ^^. mmm, problems to get them seated around the sprockets? Well, I didn't really have an issue there I must say...Looking forward to see you post that pics and hopefully I can help. Cheers
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Post by bbd468 on Jul 6, 2013 11:45:42 GMT -5
HEY Brother Wouts, there ya are!!! Man, im all over this! Very much lookin forward to this build and i have it on the ole wish list too. Great start on her bro, keep bringin that Wouter magic! Gary |
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Deleted
Member since: January 1970
Posts: 0
May 6, 2024 17:55:34 GMT -5
May 6, 2024 17:55:34 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 12:57:35 GMT -5
nice work so far like it lots
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Post by wouter on Jul 7, 2013 10:42:34 GMT -5
Hiya Gary, yeah, I'm here, did you miss me bud? . Glad to have you here matey ^^ Mister Smudge: thanks a lot! Well, managed to do some more last couple of days. I glued the upperhull onto the lower hull. General fit was ok, just a bit of a gap here and there, but not too bad. I also added the engine compartment. It consists out of different hatches and it's a bit like doing a puzzle, but all worked out well:   As you can see some Milliput application and some sanding was required  on the front I added the fenders (where I sanded down the rubber pieces) and added the lights, the hatch was assembled as well. I left the clear parts like the headlights and periscopes off so I can paint them seperately  anti slip texture and welseams are awesome. And there is a ton of casting numbers as well!!!! Love that!  rear engine bay doors can be assembled workeable, in case you might add an AM engine. I didn't so I glued them fixed  I also started gun assembly. The kit provides a plastic barrel and a metal one. The plastic barrel is actually much more detailed (rivets and raised detail) than the metal one, but I messed up sanding down the seam lines...I really suck at that. So I ended up using the metal piece. The gun mantlet isn't a great fit though, need to rework that a bit   Well, that's it for now Cheers |
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Post by Leon on Jul 7, 2013 11:48:23 GMT -5
Wouts,you are really making great progress on this .The anti slip texture and weld seams look awesome. |
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Post by wing_nut on Jul 7, 2013 12:58:45 GMT -5
Looks great so far wout. Hmmm? Leaving the headlights off until painted huh? DOH! Why didn't I think of that? At least I have glued in the periscopes yet. I have not looked at the barrel yet but glad to hear the plastic one has the better detail. I usually prefer the plastic, even this it is a bit more work, since it takes paint so much better than the metal. I always manage to chip it off a metal barrel.
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Post by wouter on Jul 7, 2013 13:39:05 GMT -5
Looks great so far wout. Hmmm? Leaving the headlights off until painted huh? DOH! Why didn't I think of that? At least I have glued in the periscopes yet. I have not looked at the barrel yet but glad to hear the plastic one has the better detail. I usually prefer the plastic, even this it is a bit more work, since it takes paint so much better than the metal. I always manage to chip it off a metal barrel. yeah, I hear you on the metal barrels. Often they are cool, but paintwise it can be a nightmare indeed. Btw, at first I didn't get why dragon had moulded the hub caps of the wheels in clear plastic. I just found out that they are in reality also translucent, got something to do with checking oil levels of the suspension or something like that ^^ Leon, thanks bro Cheers |
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Post by deafpanzer on Jul 7, 2013 16:10:58 GMT -5
Nice details! Gun looks pretty good too. Drinking Duvel helps? Hmm, I better buy more...
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Post by wbill76 on Jul 7, 2013 16:42:01 GMT -5
Making good progress here wouts! Got to love all the nice detail on the hull and such, looking forward to more.
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Post by wing_nut on Jul 8, 2013 6:25:13 GMT -5
I knew there had to be a reason those where molded in clear plastic.
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Post by wouter on Jul 8, 2013 8:46:17 GMT -5
Andy thanks bro...Duvel helps...not quite sure though. Was drinking it a couple of nights ago and wanted to do some more mogelling...decided in the end that it wasn't a really good idea Hi Bill, thanks mate, yeah it's a greatly detailed kit. Though sometimes a pain in the a$$ here and there, typically Dragon Hi jackwagon, thanks dude! Yeah it's strange indeed. They mould the lower hull of their Tiger I kits deliberately warped so it 'grabs' nicely onto the upperhull, but in this case I totally don't understand it... Thanks for the info btw I have found two interesting shots of an Abrams at some training facility somewhere in Germany I think. Looks cool and muddy, might go for that. So no need anymore to leave the clear hubcaps off ^^ Hope I can pull that off...a realistic muddy appearance is quite hard to get right for me   Nice contrast between the dry caked on mud and the more wet parts Cheers
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)Usually one on the back bustle as well.
) fast project. Please don't delay yours, maybe I can learn a thing or two from you ^^
