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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
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M1 Abrams Mine Plow Cabling
BlackThor_06
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: August 12, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 03:27 AM UTC
Hi.

I'm looking for pictures for the connecting cables for the TWMP.

I understand that the large tube is inserted through the RIGHT vision block of the driver's hatch, but I am unsure about where fine wires are supposed to go. - Trumpeter's instructions seem to show that the latter wiring is somehow plugged into the LEFT fuel tank cap - is this correct?

Again, images for the cabling would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

BT6

PS: Sorry, I somethimes mix up my left and right...argh.
Epi
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 03:33 AM UTC
Give me a few minutes and I will look at the manual for the mine plow for you.
Tankleader
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 03:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi.

I'm looking for pictures for the connecting cables for the TWMP.

I understand that the large tube is inserted through the left vision block of the driver's hatch, but I am unsure about where fine wires are supposed to go. - Trumpeter's instructions seem to show that the latter wiring is somehow plugged into the right fuel tank cap - is this correct?

Again, images for the cabling would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

BT6



Hello Randy,
I don't have my manual handy, but the cable runs through the right vision block of the drivers hatch. What you may be seeing is the quick release chain attaced to the handle of the fuel cell. This chain has a handle on it that you pull that releases the plow from the locking lugs so you can lower it to the ground.

Tanks
Andy
Epi
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 04:07 AM UTC
Randy,
Found what you are looking for, but I couldn't figure out how to pull it off the CD to post the pages here for you. So I did a search and found the TM online for you.

Here you go:

TM for M1 Mine Plow

There is two ways of hooking up the plow to the track, through the vision block and on the left side of the drivers hatch is a junction box.
BlackThor_06
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Metro Manila, Philippines
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 04:59 AM UTC
Thanks for the tips, guys.



Quoted Text

There is two ways of hooking up the plow to the track, through the vision block and on the left side of the drivers hatch is a junction box.



From what I understand, the aforementioned junction box is (at present) mounted on M1A2 SEPs and M1 Panther IIs only - am I correct? Or this also on M1A1 AIM tanks as well?

I also noticed that the illustration below shows that the vision block is not removed for the cable - it seems that it is squeezed between the right vision and the center vision block. Am I seeing this correctly?




And is this a "Full-width" Mine Plow? Looks very impressive.





Again, thanks for the help!


BT6
Epi
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 05:14 AM UTC
Im not sure on that one Randy. Vodnik, HeavyArty, or Sabot would be better to answer that one. But i think you might be correct on that one.
phoenix-1
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Wisconsin, United States
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 05:48 AM UTC
Randy, I think that the vision block is removed and then replaced with a power box that the power cable then plugs into. The full-width mine plow topic has come up in the past. If you give me a bit I can scrounge up the posts for you.
HTH
Kyle
EDIT: found the post. You can see it here.
Tankleader
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Virginia, United States
Joined: April 29, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 05:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks for the tips, guys.



Quoted Text

There is two ways of hooking up the plow to the track, through the vision block and on the left side of the drivers hatch is a junction box.



From what I understand, the aforementioned junction box is (at present) mounted on M1A2 SEPs and M1 Panther IIs only - am I correct? Or this also on M1A1 AIM tanks as well?

I also noticed that the illustration below shows that the vision block is not removed for the cable - it seems that it is squeezed between the right vision and the center vision block. Am I seeing this correctly?




And is this a "Full-width" Mine Plow? Looks very impressive.





Again, thanks for the help!


BT6



Randy,
That is a modified vision block that had a junction box mounted in it. That is where the power cord plugs in from the plow. The old way was removing the vision block and running the cable through the slot. This new method allows the crew to run the NBC overpressure system if they have too.

Tanks
Andy
BlackThor_06
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 06:31 AM UTC
I see. My mistake.

Was this modified vision block already in use in USMC M1A1s during OIF? Does anyone have images of such?

Also, I noticed these these two rods in other pix (some of them had alternating red and white paint stripes at the top end) - what are they and how it is mounted?



I'd like to add this on a Marine M1A1HC that I'm building for the IPMS - BAC (PH) contest.


Thanks.


BT6
sgtsauer
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Missouri, United States
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 09:27 AM UTC
At this link http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/brent_sauer/m1a2_photos_1.htm are other photos (in addition to the one posted above) that I took while I was in Iraq. The M1A2's are from the 1st Cavalry Division. There are several detailed photos of the cable connections for the TWMP.
GunTruck
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Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 10:13 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Also, I noticed these these two rods in other pix (some of them had alternating red and white paint stripes at the top end) - what are they and how it is mounted?



I'd like to add this on a Marine M1A1HC that I'm building for the IPMS - BAC (PH) contest.



Those are Depth Indicator Poles - I mounted them on my M1A2 SEP Conversion. The poles are mounted behind the moldboards, on a small, inverted "U" bracket. The pole bases are coiled, like antenna mouns, to allow them to flex and move while the MCBS is operated. My model is in an On-Display Feature here on site at:

M1A2 SEP Abrams - BOOM STICK

Gunnie
BlackThor_06
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Posted: Friday, November 11, 2005 - 02:51 AM UTC
sgtsauer - The close up shots of the skids were most helpful - I intend to modify the Trumpeter TWMP with mounting tabs for the magnetic roller in place of the plain dogbone. Thanks.

guntruck
Quoted Text

I mounted them on my M1A2 SEP Conversion. The poles are mounted behind the moldboards, on a small, inverted "U" bracket.

- Do you have any detail shots showing exactly where it is mounted on your masterpiece? Two of the pix in the On-Display Feature give me a good idea, but I'd like to be really sure. Thanks

BT6
GunTruck
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Posted: Friday, November 11, 2005 - 06:49 AM UTC
Here's a couple of Technical Manual illustrations that I used:





Note #12 in the bottom photo. I went with an inverted "U" shape bracket because I had already glued a little mounting square there when I began modeling the Tamiya subassembly. Then, I got a copy of the Technical Manual and found out that was the mounting point for the Depth Indicators. I hope these help you out!

Gunnie
BlackThor_06
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Posted: Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 01:54 PM UTC
Thanks, guntruck . Very much appreciated.

BT6
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