Muddy M1A1 Abrams * FINISHED *

[wouter]

Gary, dude, thanks for the kind words mate, it's a massive motivation

rbear, same goes for you mate, thanks!

Jeff, thanks mate, being your own worst critic can be a positive or a negative...well, glad you guys are the positive now ^^

Leon, thanks a lot buddy

Hi Bill, thanks mate. I must say I'm really starting to like the layering...something which I didn't use to do on previous builds (well, except for the PzIII then)

BJ, darn fine response mate, thanks a lot!

Well, you guys sure gave me the mojo to move on and have another session. While my daughter was watching with her mom how Sinterklaas arrived in Belgium on the tele (Sinterklaas is a saint who has his birthday at December 6th, and - together with his helper Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), brings the children presents. Santa Claus is based on him), I had a bit of time to dive into the basement

I painted several stowage bits like the oil pains, jerrycans and reserve sprocket piece. I also started initial weathering on the turret...basically the oil dot method, to get a first layer of dust and dirt. Little dots of titanium white, yellow for tri tone camo, and ochre were blended into the flat surfaces using a slightly damp flat brush (with turpentine). On the sides I dragged the dots down.


this technique also makes the turret a bit more matt...so no need for a varnish layer


it's not very clear in the photo, but the drive sprocket piece received the HS treatment. First Mr. Surfacer 1200 primer, then Vallejo Model Air Burnt Umber, hairspray layers (2) and then some Tamiya Nato Green. Apply a bit of water and start scrubbing.
Not sure if I leave the sprocket piece on the turret basket or hanging on the turret side.

I guess the white cross on the water jerrycan ain't comon in the US Army, as was with the Germans during WWII, but the crew of this Abrams defo are fans of German armor...or maybe they are even modellers

I also sprayed some Tamiya X-22 on the running gear, but it ain't looking wet enough...but that's for next time

Cheers

[Leon]

Wouts,the M1 is really looking the biz buddy .Nice work on the oil dot method.

[wbill76]

Looking good Wouts! Love the little 'wink and a nod' with the white cross. The turret is starting to look like a match to the hull and once you've got it all together it will look the part for sure.

[Deleted]

Looks much better now I agree and the oils on the turret are starting to bring it in with the hull too

[imatanker]

Things are starting to blend together very well Wouts, it was tough looking at that clean turret on top of that dirty hull

[wouter]

Leon, thanks bud. I was glad to go back to an 'older' method ^^

Hi Bill, thanks dude, glad you like the white cross touch

Smudge, thanks. Yeah, it was way too clean ey...still is

Jeff, glad you like the progress mate, thanks for that ^^

Before I can continue weathering I need to scratch a periscope first and add the tow cables...hope it won't take me too much time

Cheers

[bullardino]

This new layer adds a lot to the appearance, Wouts

Edit: OMG, the autocorrection software on my wife's new laptop did it again...

[macmcconnell.]

That's one dirt bag very nice

Mac

[paulh.]

Coming together nicely Wouts.
P

[TRM]

Bad....A$$!! Nice work so far Wouts! Closing in on the seamless blend for sure!!

[heico]

This weathering makes the total picture looking a lot better! Especially love the periscopes!

[wouter]

Luigi, LOL, now it makes sense...been trying to figure out for a couple of days what you were saying with 'ladder'...I was desperately watching my photos to see what could be like a ladder

Hiya Mac, glad to have you here on board. Thanks mate!

Paul, thanks dude

T, thanks fella, well, I sure hope so

Heico, thanks. I agree, those shiny stickers really give it something extra. I reckon it's very hard to get that result with paint. I sure can't!

Hi Neems. Thanks Cap'tan! Well, hope he does. Mind though, it ain't finished so I could still mess up the turret . Thanks for the thoughts about the sprocket ring...I agree with you

Cheers

[bullardino]

I usually read before posting, but I was updating most of its software, including BIOS, so I was in a hurry and the ferking laptop scored a goal

[wing_nut]

Fanfreakintastic. I guess you would have to check your ref pics for your tank but the majority of the ones I am seeing for OIF had the sprocket ring under the spare road wheel on top of the turret. Know less than zero about M1's dunno if this was a standard deal or not.

[armorguy]

I like it Wout, it's a long process to create convincing dust and mud effects but it will pay off, as a matter of fact it already does !
Keep going my friend !

[bbd468]

Nov 27, 2013 9:26:11 GMT -5 armorguy said:

I like it Wout, it's a long process to create convincing dust and mud effects but it will pay off, as a matter of fact it already does !
Keep going my friend !

Thats exactly what i was thinkin, only Guy said it much better.  

[Deleted]

Wouts , quite the undertaking in mud-ology you have undertaken here !
Bet you didn't figure it would be this involved did you ?
Makes a plain Jane camo paint job look entirely too easy .
Inspirational effects you have achieved with this one already .

[wouter]

Guy, Gary and Carl, many thanks fellas...seems like ages ago since this one got updated ey

this one got a bit stalled because I promised my cousin around September to paint some figures for him. They are based on a Terry Pratchet book and were a Christmas gift for his girlfriend. So, all my modelling time at the end of October and whole November/December went into painting these figs.

However, I want to finish this Abrams...about time I finished something

So, last week I added some AK streaking grime to the turret, and today I airbrushed heavily diluted layers of Tamiya Buff...excellent base for some further weathering






Far from finished, but at least a bit closer to the chequered flag ^^

Cheers

[danb.]

OMG now that is a tasty Abrams love the mix between the mud and the dusty turret you have well and truly out done ya self on this project fella

Dan B

[wouter]

heya Dan, thanks a lot mate...yeah, it had some ups and downs but currently I like where I'm going...still possibilities enough to mess up though

Cheers

[jackh.]

A bit late in on this Wouts , but thats some very fine work on this M1 love the look .

[bullardino]

Nice dusting on the M1

BTW, what figures did you paint? Rincewind? Who makes them? (I'm a Pratchett fan)

[bbd468]

Wouts, i love this Abrams of yours. You could call it finished right now and bring home some major gongage! However, i look forward to your further updates brother.

[deafpanzer]

Freaking awesome!!! Turret is starting to blend with the hull... can't wait to see it done.

[wouter]

Jack, better late than never, glad to have you here

Luigi, honestly I don't know the names of the figures...one of them was a kind of grim reaper, a sorcerer and three witches flying on a broomstick...the company which produces them is www.microartstudio.com/

I didn't take final shots of those but here's an in progress one


Gary, way too kind bud, it won't win any gongs in current state, trust me, the turret is much too monotone and clean , but thanks for the vote of confidence ^^

Andy, thanks bud, same here, hope to do some progress soon

Cheers

[bullardino]

Ok, the three witches are, erm, witches. One should be Nanny Ogg, another one Esmeralda Weatherwax, dunno the third one...

Was the wizard this one:

www.shop.microartstudio.com/discworld-rincewind-p-202.html

And the last one is, obviously, Death. Or, I should say, DEATH.

[imatanker]

The wait was worth it Wouts

[Deleted]

Ominus!!

[wbill76]

Nice to see this one moving again Wouts, nice start to the turret.

[Leon]

Superb work on the Abrams Wouts.