This is Dragon’s older M1A1 kit. I’ve been working on this one on and off when time permits for a while now (a bit over a year) and it’s almost there - just needs a few bits and pieces.
I know there are various antennae, connectors, conduits etc to be added to make tihs kit more accurate, but this one is a strictly OOB build for an 11 year old, so I don’t think he’s going to miss them. [:D] (A little ironic perhaps cos these are the things I’m used to telling people to add)[8-]
I somehow managed to glue the lower turret pan too deeply into the turret shell on one side, and as a result it’s a little askew in the rear of the turret. Unfortunately, when you hang the BRE on the bustle rack, one end fouls the engine deck, so this one is going without. (It’s not the right BRE for a USMC Abrams anyway.) My first link and length tracks, so yes, there is a bit of a kink just below the right idler. [xx(]
PS: Yes, the MG barrels are slightly bent, and the ammo box on the .50 isn’t straight.
It looks just fine to me. The kid ought to just love it.
I’ve got photos of two USMC M1’s coming back from Iraq heading for the depot in Alabama. Man did they take a beating from normal everyday use. Your’s in comparison represents a tank new to the theatre LOL.
Hehehe - yes, I’ve seen pics of very tired looking USMC M1A1’s. My preference is for lighter weathering. Actually it appears lighter in the pics than on the model itself. I think the blue background tends to wash it out a bit.
Sounds and looks like you’re keeping things simple Phil. Personally, I’m getting tired of all these Abrams with the whole PX strapped to the bustle rack. Your build is refreshing and well executed, in that we can actually see the turret bustle details, and I’m sure that the 11 year old will be thrilled with it.
looks fine from here. I think enjoying the build is the most important. It’s only when you are going for competition that everything else gets considered.
Really a nice job, I’m sure your litle soldier will love it! [:P]
Funny, but we just recently had a thread going about the pro’s and con’s of using blue backgrounds. I can see in your pics the same funkiness-of-color that plagued mine when I used it. Some guys swear by it; I prefer an off-white…
Thanks for looking. Coming from some of the best builders that I’ve seen, your comments are greatly appreciated and very encouraging. [#toast]
It is perhaps a little dark - the base colour is straight Tamiya Buff. I think I have found a suitable custom mix using Tamiya paints, so I’ll try that next time.
Yep, I wanted to keep this one simple for a number of reasons. It was my second build after a break of about 15 or so years and was very much a refresher course - revising old techniques, applying new ones, and basically getting to know the kit, as I have three other variants of the same kit to build (eventually).
This one may eventually end up with a few packs and MRE boxes (included in the kit) in the rack, but I’ll wait and see how they look. The packs and mats are moulded in this soft rubbery vinyl material and it seems impossible to clean up the mould seams without gouging into them…
I’ve photographed a few builds using the blue background and have noticed that it does seem to cause a funny colour shift. In the side-on shots above, the background went up behind the subject and you can see a bluish cast across the top and blue reflections on the skirts. The overhead pics were done with the background laid flat and it looks a little more natural. I’m going to look for some alternative background colours.
Once again, thanks guys, and Happy New Year. [#toast]
Does your camera allow a manual setup for white balance instead of auto? If so you can put a piece of white paper (or grey card… look it up) at that lit spot and custom set the white balance that way, then your camera might not go nuts. My point&shooter camera can give me ten different color cast in ten different shot in the same lighting.
Looks Great. Everyone build them with everything but the kitchen sink hanging off the tank, it is nice to see “the tank”.
Since it is for a 11 year old, some of those antenna, etc. may just get broken off. Considering it is a OOB for an 11 year old I think you have already gone beyound good.
