M1A2 ABRAMS TUSK II SEP

[iambrb]

Hey I want to play too! So here is my contrib. to da’ campaign:


I originally had it up at the modelers lounge, but never got beyond cracking the box, So I reckon I’ll do it here!
OOPS! Here is the START DATE part of it! Please note that I tried my best to lighten the pic as much as possible to show it un started:


So anyhow here is the box and the MANY (!!) manuals and color guide:











This is really thorough, it appears that Academy is really trying to 'up' thier game. To that end, what made me choose this particular version? Well, it is for the same reason that I see this model falling into. To my way of thinking as to the versions of M1A2 Abrams that are currently out there, this falls in the "middle of the pack" Why you say? Well, if you get the Tamiya, it is very good of course, but the hull & turret lack the anti-skid coating on this generation of tanks, plus it has the usual PITA two-piece barrel that requires alot of sanding to remove the seam. (or additional expense to procure aftermarket) The Academy has the anti-skid coating, as I tried to show here:





Appears I did not get a chance to take some pics of the unique method they use to mold thier multi-piece barrel, when I get to assembly I will show it though.

Not as nice as the Meng, though, is that this kit does not mold the lower hull as one-piece, and the tracks are the vinyl one-piece type:





This is a minor issue to me, with so much of the track run and the lower covered in the final model, but still something to consider.

Lastly I tried to show a few pics of the .50 cal MG's. Although a bit better molded than the Tamiya (IMHO), they are still one-piece molded to their cradles, so their position will wind up fixed:





So based on this, I think it falls smack-dab in the middle of the offerings from Tamiya, Academy, & Meng (I have not seen the Rye offering as yet). A nice caveat to this is that I bought mine for $37 dee-livered from Korea via Ebay. This is a few bucks less than tamiya, and a bit more $20 less than Meng.
So here it is = not actually sure how fast I can get to this, with the greates day of the year approaching and all that, but ‘till then,
'Tanks' Fer-Lookin'!!!

 

[tom1815]

Nice kit, I look forward to seeing what you make of it

 

[Iron Mike]

 

[iambrb]

OK got some progress done!

What you see here is not much, but having to build the lower up as opposed to having it in pre-built ‘bath tub’ form really takes time, as you have to make sure you have everything lined up just-so-as-you-go. I will say that if you decide to build this model, install the arms that will hold the side armor and the little mud grouser thingies FIRST, as wiggling in between the suspension arms in not easy. I had deviated from the instructions in that I did not build it with the road wheel on the suspension arms when installed (as I do not like having to paint all that when done that way) and it made that part very much easier. Otherwise, she is rolling along!

 

[iambrb]

OK a bit more. The turret bustle rack on this thing is more than 20 parts, and took more than an hour of cutting sanding fiddling and gluing. In fact, I got only this side shown plus the commander & loader armored bits there and pretty much ready to install. Note that I broke the loader's gunshield in two so it will have to remain off until I get the MG painted and ready to go, as it will be needed to hold it together.







Am really enjoying it but goodness this thing has a ton of tiny parts tied to it! I think I am going to put this one down and jump to the CV9040

 

[Iron Mike]

Keep pecking away at it, but remember, this is supposed to be fun. :laugh:

 

[Skinny_Mike]

looks great so far!

 

[iambrb]

Ok here is the latest! Been really busy with work and life on general, but did manage to get some bench time. The last two Saturday’s have been really pleasant here in SC, so managed to get most of the assembly done, plus a Black primer and the first coat of Model Master Armor Sand.










As you can see I got a bit done and I think it really looks great! I tried to go easy on the first coat, attempting a bit of modulation. Next up is assembly & the 2nd coat. Still a ways to go but not looking too shabby!

 

[Duke Maddog]

Sensational! You've got the touch man! Keep going!

 

[Iron Mike]

B)

 

[MrT]

 

[jknaus]

James

 

[iambrb]

OK so the campaign is complete with my being able to finish (dag-nabbit!!! ) but I am still continuing on! Do the mods need to move this to another forum or what? Anyway….here is the latest:





So here she is with the paint modulation and 99% final assembly complete! In looking at this I think this is my best work by far/so-far, really leaning on this tank! I know that I have bit of touch up yet to go on the lower hull, but only when photographing this did I realize that there are still a few tee-tiny bits on the turret left to add, namely the commander’s searchlight and a little flashy light thingy on one of the little masts on the turret. Today alone I spent nearly two hours JUST in final assembly of the Commander and loader stations + the M2 over the bore of the main gun…a Tamiya model this ain’t!!! Am really enjoying it though, hope to have it final-final painted and decaled in the next week or so…’till then!

 

[moon puppy]

Looks very cool Bruce!

 

[Iron Mike]

 

[iambrb]

Ok here it is, & I am calling it done! Kit went together REALLY well, but the decals stunk. I wound up having to scrub the first set and reapply, this was not like the Academy CRV9040, which as easy to work with. At any rate, I got a set that would work out of all of them. The sand is made from Doc O’Briens Weathering Powders, and worked very well. Just need to take off a bit of the excess here and there that I can see, and hit it with some dull coat!

 

[Iron Mike]

I'd say it's plenty grubby. B)

 

[iambrb]

I think I need to tone it down just a bit more. Swear it looks less grubby in real life...darn that camera!