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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
DML M1A2 Abrams SEP 3536
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 06:04 AM UTC
Hello,

meanwhile I have been going on building the SEP I began last August (2007).

Assembling is not very funny as the instruction has got lacks of precision and not all parts do fit very well.

But the expected overall look of this high detailed tank will reward for efforts I have invested so far.

Only a few small parts are left to put on before I start painting.


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lespauljames
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 06, 2007
KitMaker: 3,661 posts
Armorama: 2,764 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 06:09 AM UTC
nice so far, i would freak out with that p.e
CombatKrieg
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: January 19, 2008
KitMaker: 517 posts
Armorama: 382 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 06:49 AM UTC
Hmm looks like a lot of work needs to be done... Awesome stuff so far...
afv_rob
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: October 09, 2005
KitMaker: 2,556 posts
Armorama: 2,199 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 07:47 AM UTC
Nice work so far! This kit is a real joy to build, but be careful when you get to the gun mantlet-there are some serious fit problems there, the whole construction of that part is very difficult!
marsiascout
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Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Joined: March 24, 2008
KitMaker: 1,247 posts
Armorama: 913 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 08:21 AM UTC
Looking really nice! I´m going to build one soon!

Lars
CaptainA
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Indiana, United States
Joined: May 14, 2007
KitMaker: 3,117 posts
Armorama: 564 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 12:19 PM UTC
This one is in my lineup to be built also, as soon as I finish up my campaign connitments. (Like that will ever hapen)

If you go to the edit button, and edit your post to put a line between you picture and text, the thread won't be so wide.)

Viel Gruss
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 02, 2008 - 11:50 PM UTC
Hello Carl,

vielen Dank for your advice I followed right after I read it.

But somehow it does not work.


I hope you enjoy the pics and these new ones of the completed hull.


As you can see I assembled the skirts movable, and the rear skirts click into place very cleanly. The front does not in the same way, but that does not matter.

Their mobility is sufficient to mount the tracks I gonna paint before.

Therefore I have not put on the sprockets yet.

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Now I am going to finish the turret...
marsiascout
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Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Joined: March 24, 2008
KitMaker: 1,247 posts
Armorama: 913 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 01:56 AM UTC
Why didn't you use PE for the last stowage basket (if it's called like that) on the turret.

Lars
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 03:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Why didn't you use PE for the last stowage basket (if it's called like that) on the turret.




If you mean the Busstle Rack Extension (BRE) as in the pic below, it doesn't come in PE in the kit. It is plastic w/a PE mesh for the bottom. Same as there is for the regular busstle rack. I'm assuming he hasn't added them yet.



Hope that answers your question.
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 04:39 AM UTC
Hello,

thank you all for your interest in my current project.

The turret is almost completed.

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HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 06:39 AM UTC
Looking good. A couple corrections though. In the above pic, you have the mesh for the fuel can holders mounted on the top of them. The mesh should be attached to the underside. This leaves a lip up top for the fuel can to sit down into and allows the strap to be attached. Also, the round discs between the rails on the rear of the BRE should be removed. They are excess pour plugs from the molding process.
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 07:13 AM UTC
Hello Gino,

many many thanks for your note; I really appreciate this!


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HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 08:45 AM UTC
Looks much better. Keep up the good work.
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Monday, August 04, 2008 - 09:54 AM UTC
Hello,

here’s something off-topic:

The latest accessory kit (LP 1163) by Legend Production for the M1.

Absolutey finely molded and free of bubbles or anything else.

Lucky Model offers it for 19,98 USD and free shipping; I think that’s a good deal...


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The jerry cans have also crisp details (numbers etc.) which the photo does not show very well.
Splinty
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Michigan, United States
Joined: February 06, 2004
KitMaker: 114 posts
Armorama: 103 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 12:28 AM UTC
Nice looking build so far...
210cav
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Virginia, United States
Joined: February 05, 2002
KitMaker: 6,149 posts
Armorama: 4,573 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 02:10 AM UTC
Great work, the Legend accessories look very realistic. Lucky Models does a good job in getting those products out for considerably less than anyone else.
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 08:42 AM UTC
Hello,

thank you all for your interest and your kind and constructive comments.

Rob, the main gun is already built and that was months ago but you are right: I remember its mantlet assembly was indeed difficult ( like many other sections of this tank e.g. rear deck).


Here are some pics of the weapon stations.

Assembling those tiny and tiniest parts required more time I had thought.

Both are movable.

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No, the red is not my blood...
seb43
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Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 11:10 AM UTC
Look good the build and the legend kit also but the bags looks like Alice and not Molle ??
Keep us posted
cheers
seb
Ric_Cody
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Georgia, United States
Joined: May 22, 2005
KitMaker: 299 posts
Armorama: 294 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 12:32 PM UTC


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I noticed in this pic you put the mount in the wrong spot. It is actually mounted to the center part of the weapons mount. There is one "pin" at the top of the weapons mount, and under it in a 1/3 moon if you will are smaller holes cut into the mount. The pin at the top is where the "cradel" would be attached.

Ric
junglejim
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: February 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,728 posts
Armorama: 1,629 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 12:47 PM UTC
Good eye Ric, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it looked like something was wrong there. The pin (green arrow) should go with the hole (red arrow), then the other pin lines up with the 1/3 crescent holes.


Jim
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 02:12 PM UTC
Thank you both Richard and Jim for your support.

It is really a joy to be assisted by guys like you, Gino and all the others following my project with this attention.


This time it should be correct...

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RoelGeutjens
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Belgium
Joined: March 17, 2005
KitMaker: 410 posts
Armorama: 383 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 11:03 PM UTC
Hey Jupiterblitz

Nice detailing so far on that M1A2. What PE set did you use? How are the tracks could you tell me a little more about them?
I wonder how your paint and wheatering are going to look like on this beast.

Cheers Roel
Jupiterblitz
Joined: December 30, 2007
KitMaker: 885 posts
Armorama: 796 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 11:56 PM UTC
Hello Roel,

I only use the PE-parts included in this set.

This PE-sheet is really reasoned and includes all necessary parts to detail the M1 more accurately. Some parts you will not find in third party sets e.g. the small number plates for the skirts.

The tracks are easy to work with. The plastik track horns have to be cut off from the sprues and they are 200 which you nearly all require.

Cutting took 15-20 minutes, I put them into a little box and then I attached them with simple plastic glue.

I spent totally 2-3 hours to assemble the tracks and I think they will look great at the finished model.

35th-scale
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Kildare, Ireland
Joined: November 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,212 posts
Armorama: 2,807 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 01:23 AM UTC
Looks great so far. Looking forward to following the painting & weathering process

Cheers
Sean
marsiascout
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Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Joined: March 24, 2008
KitMaker: 1,247 posts
Armorama: 913 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 04:31 AM UTC
Super work!

Lars
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