Good idea, but I think they’re too solidly attached – if they won’t budge, I’ll let them be…
M/TB379
Quick update, wheels stencilled into NATO Green and assembled, extra paint appllied to the lower hull…
More later…
M/TB379
Getting there Mike. What do you use for Nato green ?
Here’s a progress shot of my little M1A1. I’ll probably leave it now until the weather cools down and I can paint.
Cheers
Tony
Tony – it’s Tamiya XF-67. 68 is the brown and 69 the black, very nice paints indeed.
Your “palmtop panzer” is coming along nicely as well – I have a Dragon 1:72 Abrams, I might have to dig it out at some point!
Cheers, Mike/TB379
Thanks Mike. I have the brown and black, but not the green. Guess I’ll pick some up next time I’m in a store.
I tried a Dragon Abrams a couple of years ago, but made some mistakes and junked it. I’d really prefer 1/48, but the 1/48 kits of modern armor aren’t too crash hot.
Cheers
Tony
I know it’s waaaay too late to join in on this GB, but I thought I’d mention that Zvezda put out a 1/100 th Abrams. (It is intended as a game piece for a sort of table-top game, but is very detailed, though it could be better, and is fun and easy to build and upgrade.) I’ve got it sitting at my workbench right now.
Klik
1/100 is the scale used for the ‘Flames of War’ game.
Klik – if you’d like to come aboard with the 100th scale model, by all means – this GB runs until July 31st!
Cheers, Mike/TB379
Sure, although at this point, it is nearly 1/2 done! At only 15 pieces, these little dudes go fast. I do have “in-progress” pics I can post up tomorrow, if you’ll let me.
Klik
By all means, the more the merrier!
M/TB379
Sweet! I’ll get pics up this afternoon, then.
Klik
Alright, back with pics for Y’all. Thank you, Thunderbold379 for letting me join in on this GB.
First off, this is, in fact the “Flames of War” Zvezda game piece. I don’t play the game, and don’t know anyone who does. I just happened across these little kits at my local hobby shop, and found them an affordable, if easy, fun and quick model to make my own (and experiment with new techniques without fear of ruining a $50+ model). At only 15 parts a tank, this is my third one. (the other two being T-72B’s.)
Right out of the box, I found that the Abrams did not have as much detail as the T-72’s did. Instead of a clever way to make the metal frame on the turret basket, it was solid, as are the side skirts.
No matter, I just raided my spares box and attempted to cover up the lack of detail with ‘stowage’.
If the smoke grenade launchers look a tad out of scale, it’s because they were left over from a 1/72nd scale kit. They look a lot more “in scale” on the T-72.
In the bottom Left-hand corner, you can see my attempt to scratch a 1/100th 50-cal. machine gun for the commander’s cupola, using a “barrel” from a spare piece, a 1/144th fighter jet’s nose gear, and a chunk of spue shaved to shape.
First coat of paint (and the base color for the camouflage) was Model Master Acryl Pale Green. I’ll be honest, an Abrams in this color looks sickly and ill.
Then, I painted the machine gun:
Heck YES! It looks almost perfect (not as good as if it had actually been included, but still…)
Then, the completed lower hull and tracks got painted:
Finally, to cover up the lack of detail on the side skirts, I manufactured some “add-on armor” from “logs” and “metal brackets”.
I’m not sure how they are so glossy, because they aren’t in real life.
Aaaand, that is where it sits right now.
Keep up the great work,
Klik
Thanks for sharing this with us, it’s almost bizarre!! Will update p! for this project.
M/TB379
Hey, I’ve just about finished the Abrams. All it needs is a bit more weathering to “tone down” the paint.
As for how to do that realistically, I could use some tips.
Will post pics when I’m all done.
Klik
That’s all happened quickly Klik. Looking forward to the photos.
Here’s some progress on my 1/72 one. I had the idea of brush painting the camo pattern, then softening the edges with the airbrush.Lots of weathering to go. I’ve seen a few photos of some very dusty KFOR Abrams.
Cheers
Tony
Ok, Back with pics.
To recap, this was intended as a test-bed for me. I tried several weathering techniques, but none worked to achieved was I hoping to go for, except dry-brushing. I haven’t actually sprayed with dullcoat yet, so it seems a bit “shiny” for a tank at this point.
After construction, the odd camouflage scheme went on. I tried to mask unusual, random shapes, but the tape insisted on peeling off the base color, so I abandoned that approach and applied random strips of two colors over the attempt, instead of repainting it completely. It kind of gives it a “field applied” look, like a late-war Panzer. (on a side note, I am calling this scheme an “After-America” post war-type rebel scheme).
Note that I had to change the background because it was blending into my workspace. I also painted the “stowage” and add-on armor panels. With that all done, weathering began (and took a couple days to get right).
Sorry if the following pics are a tad dark, I couldn’t use my flash because it was washing out the pics, and I was in a bit of rush to get these on here, so I didn’t have time to find a better light source.
Now, compare that with a flash (that was taken waaay far away to dilute it a bit).
and, until it is “dulled” with a quick shot of Dullcoat, and unless it needs something further, I’m calling it done.
It will join the (ever-expanding) 1/100th Tank Brigade:
If you want more and/or better pics, just ask.
Klik
Klik – very fiddly work, and amazing stuff! Well done! Shall I hold off posting it to Page 1 until you’ve done the dullcoat?
Cheers, Mike/TB379
No, no reason to wait for the dullcoat. Dug out a lamp for some “glamour shots”:
I’ll let you pick the best one.
Also, in my rush to post pictures, I left out an overall top view:
and a last, final picture showing the lenses that I painted:
So, that seems to be it for this kit.
Yes, it still needs dullcoat to tone down the glossiness, but all that is nearly invisible in the right lighting.
To recap on this kit, it had almost no detail, which is why I added add-on armor and stowage, but that wasn’t all. I also added a machine gun to the commander’s(?) hatch, and front lights (from a spare track link). In all, although I had troubles with the paint, I greatly enjoyed this kit. Simple tank models are a great way to take a break.
Even though this was a very quick addition to the GB, I’ll still be lurking and following everyone’s builds.
Keep up the great work,
Klik
No worries, Klik – updating page 1 right away! Thanks for taking part and adding a most unusual kit!
Cheers, Mike/TB379
I agree with Mike, nice work Klik, especially as it all has to be so fine.
Here’s some more progress shots of mine. I finished hand painting the camo, then used my airbrush to feather the edges of it, and tidy up any brush marks. I used a lighter shade for the top surfaces.
The first photos show the sharp edged camo, the latter show it with feathered edges. I’ll assmeble the wheels and start the tracks, the gloss coat, decals, filters, pin washes, scratches, dry brushing, dirt, flat coat etc.
Cheers
Tony
