HL Abrams detailing build

[greengiant]

I saw the blank negative idea a while ago on some other site were someone was doing the periscopes on the Abrams.
I thought I was done with the major changeover items. But the 2.4 rx started doing crazy things so I put in the old rx 18 and transmitter from the HE Abrams that I took the elevation and recoil out of and wired it up exactly like it was in the HE.
Now whenever I raise and lower the main gun the main gun the recoil starts running and firing over and over again as long as the stick is pushed down.
The gun recoils normally when the stick is pushed up.
Never had this happen before on any HL tanks that I installed recoil in and I just can't figure out what the problem is.
This is starting to drive me bonkers.
Anyone have any advise on what my problem is?

[greengiant]

I figured it out.
With the HE Abrams I didn't use the little square board that the elevation and recoil ( or airsoft micro switch ) wires are normally connected to.
When I put the old rx 18 in the HL Abrams I but in the little board and then proceeded to solder the wrong wires to the wrong places over and over again. Finally my brain kicked in and I soldered them correctly. Got to quit staying up till 2:30 AM to watch COMBAT and TWELVE O CLOCK HIGH reruns.
Now I can continue with the exterior details.

[twain7]

Greengiant how do you know so much about the sep v2? were you a tanker, tank mechanic? I worked for GD for 6 years and the details you put on the tank and talked about are things that only someone who has a close personal relationship with the tank would know. i dont know if you noticed but the guide wheels are wrong also. there isnt a long and short one there is only short ones, and they are missing the holes in them to let mud through. the sprockets are also missing the mud holes. do you plan on putting the bustle rack extension on it also? btw nice work on the VCSU. cant wait to see what else you do to your tank. I just started mine and have a very long way to go.

[greengiant]

The last tanks I was a turret and ordinance mechanic on were M60's, M551 Sheridan's and various things like the M114 and M109sp Howitzer for 7 1/2 years regular army. Got out in the late 70's.
I just did a lot of research. I know return rollers are incorrect but you can't see them with the skirt doors closed. Don't think I will cut out the mud slots as they may weaken the plastic sprocket. The bustle rack extension was not an automatic upgrade of the SEP program as I understand it the Marines had their M1a1's fitted with them and when they went through the SEP program they were reused during the rebuild process and when reissued could end up in army or marine units The one I'm doing is not the SEP v2 It is the M1A2 SEP. On the v2 the vent for the APU in the rear sponson is no longer located on the hull rear but I believe was rerouted through the left rear engine grate, the right taillight has a protective cover on it, there is a GPS antenna just behind the commanders thermal sight tower and there is a completely remotely controlled 50 cal mount for the commander also the loaders protective shields and bullet proof glass are standard. There are few other visible differences like water can holders on each side of the rear bustle . The main reason that I am not doing it as a SEP v2 is that I have not been able to find detailed picture of the commanders new remote control 50 mount from all angles. Only head on pics. The 1st SEP tanks took part in operation Iraqi Freedom alongside M1A1's , some still with nato camo on them. The SEPv2 has replaced most of the first SEP program tanks to the point that the National Guard will be getting them as their SEP's are turned in for rebuild.
twain7 I did finally decide to do the rear sprocket holes. They are a bit oversize (kind of lost control of my dermal tool) but they do make the sprockets look better.

[greengiant]

Continuing with exterior mods on things that should be there on the A2 model and on the SEP version. Just to make it clear I'm doing the 1st SEP improvement version or SEP v1 not the SEP v2.

[greengiant]

a few more pics of the process.

[greengiant]

2.4 Ghz mfu quite working correctly replaced with Regular rx 18 ( not a simple plug and play change ).
Had to add smoker and volume switches, The drive motor plug ins need to be plugged into the rx 18 in reverse of the way they are with the 2.4 unit or up stick gives you reverse movement. Simply moving the wires at the motors will make the direction of movement change but the steering function will remain reversed ( stick left will turn tank right ect. ).
I don't know why.
I did the wire resoldering thing first and then put them back the way they were and just out of curiosity moved the motor cable plug ins to each others locations. Why that fixed the steering and direction problem I have no clue, but it did.

[greengiant]

Well that's all it takes to change The HL Abrams M1A2 into a IR battle ready, HL system, SEP version with recoil and elevation and some stowage items from a HE donor. The HE can be the M1A1 or the M1A2 with or without suspension.
I still have to make up some towing clevis for the front and rear and I think maybe some loose canvas draped in the turret top.
I think I'll try to make up the folding tow bar that many of the real Abrams seemed to carry with them.
These are the last pics of the conversion with some weathering.
If I add anything in the way of stowage items I'll add them to this post later.

I hope anyone who tries this conversion has better luck with the 2,4 Ghz rx 18 then I did.
It still works for driving a tank and controlling sound, a smoker and turret rotation. I may use the old HE hull with it to make a camera carrier.

[PainlessWolf]

Good evening,
I've been following this build and you've done a lot of detail work, GG. The tank looks battle worn yet thoroughly cared for. That's a hard look to pull off in scale. Great work!
regards,
Painless

[greengiant]

The one or two pictures I've found of the SEP version in nato camo in Iraq had arrived just as Bush announced we had won. As near as I can tell the all were with the 1st armored Division 82nd airborn. They didn't have much chance to get banged up.
The nato camo just doesn't lend itself to much in the way of showing wear and tear other then being dirty. The sand finish would lend itself to that much more readily.

I should also mention that although I did a flat panel for the glass of the gunners periscope the real one is slightly V shaped with the center dividing line being a little more forward then the outer edges.