Those minor detail changes look good. Now i want to start my Aussie Abrams kits. One is planned for the one colour sand camo and the other is for the new three colour camo. The new one is cool. Bah…so many projects to do…
Very nice photos too by the way. [t$t]
Boomer…
Nice work on t this one Brian, the subtle weathering is just the right touch for this one IMHO. [Y]
Redleg and Bill, thanks my friends, I appreciate the kind words!
Boomerang, I have been considering doing some kind of Aussie armor. So far I have built American, Russian, German and now have started on British armor, but for a while now I have had a hankerin to do something in Australian markings. Been toying around with some options.
Brian
And what are the options you have been toying around with? [8-)] [:D]
Boomer…
Hey Boomerang,
I have tossed around the possibility of:
Vickers Light Tank
Matilda
or even a captured Fiat M13/40 (just imagine that thing with the kangaroo’s painted all over it!!!)
Problem is I have not really delved into decal sources for these kits. So I don’t know what I could realistically do with the above ideas.
Brian
Renegade huh? Oh now you went and did it, I’ll have to get me one of those…
G
New Hampshire… Heavyarty pointed out the colour of the TC’s cupola vision block lenses. Just out of interest, looking at your new pics the drivers lenses are coloured too. One pic of your model shows clear lenses over a sand colour. Only trivial again. But colouring these would break up the sand colour and look great. The middle block is blue and the two outer ones are red.
Also, you said you wanted some contest at the rear where the engine grills are. Your exhaust stains are spot on!! [Y] They look exactly like the Abrams at where i work. If you want to contrast it more, the Aussie Abrams have two of the three grills black (not sure if all Abrams are like this). The paint burns off these real fast (the heat from the rear of an Abrams is tremendous. You don’t want to get to close and the smell is quite sickening. If ours go out on a publc road i do believe they attach a warning sign for the public to stay back at least 30 metres. No tailgating these baby’s!! [:P]
Here are some pics to show you the coloured vision blocks and the black grills…
Don’t get me wrong…your tank is great. I have saved all the pics. Hope you don’t mind…[;)]. Your paint job is really fantastic. Wish i could paint like that!! You’ve got talent man!![t$t]
Oh, by the way, you said you are baulking at doing a world war two Aussie tank because of the markings.? I remembered Italeri do the captured Italian tank you mentioned. They do the 1/35 Carro Armato M13/40 with the markings for the catured Aussie tank. Has biiig Kangaroos on it!! It doesn’t show it on the box art but the decal sheet has the markings you want. I looked it up for you. It’s kit number 6213. It’s a limited edition kit. I have been thinking of getting one too.
Anyway, hope all this stuff is of interest to you…
Hey Boomer,
There are three segments to the rear grille. In the pic above, you can see the engine exhaust in the centre, surrounded by the mounting flange for the DWFK (Deep Water Fording Kit). Left and right of the engine exhaust are the transmission cooling air outlets. These outlets don’t get as hot as the exhaust and don’t get “burnt” like the main exhaust. I’m surprised that our tanks don’t mount the exhaust deflectors when they get driven on public roads…
Phil… your right mate. The grills either side of the actual turbine exhaust don’t get near as hot. I work for BAE at Puckapunyal and have been watching with keen interest the painting of the new camo colours. It only takes a couple of manouvers from the paint shop and the paint has burnt off. I have never seen any of the SOA Abrams with exhaust deflectors at Pucka. Mind you i don’t think they would get to far out on the road. Not very reliable i’m afraid. [:(]. Most of the ones at SOA are down and out at the moment. If they are taken anywhere it is always on the MAN Tank Transporters.
Needless to say they are an awesome looking tank and i love the sound of the gas turbine engine. The new colours make them look a lot smaller…but maybe they just shrunk in the paint booth…[:P]
The M88’s look great in the new camo as well[H]
Boomer…
I’ll be interested to see what they look like in Aussie 3-tone.
I’m guessing we’ll have to wait till the official “public release” photos though. [:(]
Mouse House Enterprises is showing illustrations of the new cam on their website. I saw it tonight. It gives you an idea. But unfortuneately they have it wrong. Not sure where they got the camo plans from. It’s close but it’s wrong…[
At Pucka 7 tanks were painted and then the scheme was changed.
http://www.mheaust.com.au/Aust/Research/Abrams.htm
Boomer…
Hey Boomerang,
Choosing a route for weathering was tough. I spent 3 hours looking at picture after picture and was surprised how clean these things remained. I found rear grills that were all black, some with just the middle grille in a burnt umber color, and a majority all still sand colored. In the end I decided to just go with some Tamiya Clear Smoke and went that route.
And thanks for the info on the Italeri kit. You are my hero!!! The Carro really is my first choice simply because the novelty of those massive kangaroo decals would be, IMHO simply AWESOME. Seriously, just think about being an ANZAC out there, plucking away with your rifle, when all of a sudden this little tank comes speeding by covered in white 'roos…Yup, I am sold on the Italeri kit! [:D]
Brian
I just found out the Tamiya kit also comes with the kangaroo decals! I am more inclined to go with the Tamiya simply for the extra upgrades (metal barrel, photo etch) but also the link and length tracks. Plus, what experience I have with Italeri kits, I would pay the extra cash just to not have to deal with all those ejector pin marks that the Tamiya kit would not have. [:D]
Brian
Hahahaha…i didn’t know the Tamiya kit came with the ‘captured’ markings. I would rather go with the Tamiya kit also.
Now your my hero!!! [:D]
Boomer…
Well, I could not suppress the urge…ordered the Tamiya kit from Sprue Brothers. I’ll let ya know how those decals look. [;)] I just started a new project, but I think the Armato will be the next one in line, so hopefully within a month or two I should have this one started.
Brian