FUTURE SHOCK..SAUNDERS M1A2 ABRAMS

[ALPHA]

Only some bits. Haven't had time to watch the entire series. I'll have to rectify that error soon hehehe

Not sure where you are ATC....but if you don't want to make the investment in the DVD...there are dozens of Fan sites...with better subtitles some even dubbed in English...Many like it...many can't wrap their heads around the concept

For me...it's an alternative....makes this hobby different fun and rewarding at the same time

Hope you do rectify the error lol...take in and enjoy the series...

ALPHA

[atcttge]

I enjoyed the naval version of GuP (which is KanColle). I reckon I'd enjoy GuP.

Currently watching a different anime series though so it'll have to wait.

Agree on making this different. One reason my TCs in my RC tanks are anime characters. Now, if HL can only release that Challenger 2....

Looking forward to your completed M1 especially with the GuP stuff.

[greengiant]

Don't forget that its not an APU ALPHA. So many people follow your remarks they will start to think its an APU in the rear bustle of the SEP versions of the Abrams.
You also seem to have made a flat top on your AVU unit. There is a raised box section with a hinged lid on the top opposite the louvers on almost every picture I used as reference material. I to started with a flat top but kept seeing the one with the raised box on most of the pics of real Abrams SEPs, that I think was added so the crew would have a place to store tools needed to open the AVU.
I must say your louvers look very good.

[ALPHA]

I enjoyed the naval version of GuP (which is KanColle). I reckon I'd enjoy GuP.

Currently watching a different anime series though so it'll have to wait.

Agree on making this different. One reason my TCs in my RC tanks are anime characters. Now, if HL can only release that Challenger 2....

Looking forward to your completed M1 especially with the GuP stuff.

NAVAL VERSION?????????? ...don't think I've seen that one lol
Here's my Kei

then in her Sherman

Thinking of a little more modern version for the paint...maybe some indicator stripes ...or on the flipside...camo...similar to what you are planning...and what Green already has on his ...not much difference between the National Guard camo and the NATO ...but still something to consider as yes..the camo is pretty Cool

And if you don't mind...What other anime are you watching now? One other favorite of mine is MACROSS...The story ..and the technical aspects of the weaponry is outstanding

Carpe Diem ATC

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Don't forget that its not an APU ALPHA. So many people follow your remarks they will start to think its an APU in the rear bustle of the SEP versions of the Abrams.
You also seem to have made a flat top on your AVU unit. There is a raised box section with a hinged lid on the top opposite the louvers on almost every picture I used as reference material. I to started with a flat top but kept seeing the one with the raised box on most of the pics of real Abrams SEPs, that I think was added so the crew would have a place to store tools needed to open the AVU.
I must say your louvers look very good.

You noticed ....actually gave that tool box a lot of thought...to do or not to do ...Then I thought to the Anime...the girls don't usually do field repairs...another added factoid is that other than the mechanic crew on Oarai's team...repairing the tanks were pretty much left to maintenance crews on the Carriers ...Add into that ...that I got a little lazy during the process of making the louvers
Not that it would have been a hard addition...but the thought of making another set of hinges and another latch/ handle...made me feel even more tired than I already was ....
I found one photo of the AVU without the toolbox...it's the reason I kept that ...because just like you say...many have that toolbox installed

I got lucky with the material for the louvers...I cut the sides off a plasticstruct "U" beam..leftover from my Stug build ....upon close inspection...the sides of the U...are tapered..then shaved into angles at the very end...it took awhile to make sure the angled ends were consistent as that feature is only done on one side of the surface....pretty surprised at the result...I'm just happy they look like louvers lol...Not as good looking as yours or ATC's.....but just good enough to pass for Girls Und Panzer

Thanks Muchly for looking in ..very kind words...tips and info Giant

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

By the way Giant
here are the photos of the AVU unit without the toolbox


Thought this one was a little odd...as it looks like the entire AVU unit is missing

ALPHA

[greengiant]

That's an early M1a1 which hade no APU on the bustle. I believe there was a small APU mounted in the engine compartment ( thus the vents in the forward part of the rear deck).The way to tell the difference between the M1 105mm and the M1a1 120mm is the shape of the bore evacuator. The one in the picture has the rounded shape of the 120 mm main gun making it a early M1a1. Plus it has the early commanders machine gun and no tower in front of the loaders hatch just a spare road wheel mounted where the tower was eventually placed. This picture shows that spare wheel mounted in front of the tower location cap which is visible usually the spare was mounted right on top of that cap. When the turrets electronics package was upgraded which required a stronger air conditioning unit to cool all the new computer stuff and a larger APU to handle the power requirements thus the separation of the combined unit into separate units ( along with no more worries of fuel leakage from the old combined unit, if hit, being sucked into the engine and starting a fire). All the 120 mm models have a kind of rounded contour the 105 mm model had the sharp edged shape like the M60 tank series. Just for the record all the Hobby Engine Abrams, no matter what they call them have the sharp edged bore evacuator of the 105 mm main gun. I used to have two of the HE when they came out long ago under the 21st Century nameplate ( no suspension ) one with the regular bustle and one with the double bustle which they called the Marine version. They both had the old style M1A1 bustle mounted APU and the road wheel in front of the loaders hatch. When HE took over the molds and added the suspension to the lower hull they dropped the double bustle version but never bothered to change the main guns bore evacuator shape. The road wheels I made up to put on the HL bustle came from those long since butchered up 21st Century models.

[ALPHA]

That's an early M1a1 which hade no APU on the bustle. I believe there was a small APU mounted in the engine compartment ( thus the vents in the forward part of the rear deck).The way to tell the difference between the M1 105mm and the M1a1 120mm is the shape of the bore evacuator. The one in the picture has the rounded shape of the 120 mm main gun making it a early M1a1. Plus it has the early commanders machine gun and no tower in front of the loaders hatch just a spare road wheel mounted where the tower was eventually placed when the turrets electronics package was upgraded which required a stronger air conditioning unit to cool all the new computer stuff and a larger APU to handle the power requirements thus the separation of the combined unit into separate units ( along with no more worries of fuel leakage from the old combined unit, if hit, being sucked into the engine and starting a fire). All the 120 mm models have a kind of rounded contour the 105 mm model had the sharp edged shape like the M60 tank series. Just for the record all the Hobby Engine Abrams, no matter what they call them have the sharp edged bore evacuator of the 105 mm main gun. I used to have two of the HE when they came out long ago under the 21st Century nameplate ( no suspension ) one with the regular bustle and one with the double bustle which they called the Marine version. They both had the old style M1A1 bustle mounted APU. When HE took over the molds and added the suspension to the lower hull they dropped the double bustle version but never bothered to change the main guns bore evacuator shape.

Where do you find all this information Giant ....Pretty amazing stuff...did you change your evacuator?...I will have to go browse your build again lol...I chuckle because I probably have gone over it 100 times plus ...yours and ATC's
Have to admit...it's always more fun when builds happen so close together

Thanks for the info Giant...explains a lot about that missing APU

ALPHA

[greengiant]

By reading everything I could find about the Abrams series tank including blogs that real world users posted. Just type in M1 Abrams series US tanks in your search engine and read every thing that pops up and look over every diagram and picture including models others have built in various scales, some that where there when I was researching are no longer there but most are. One that was interesting was from a tanker who was issued the first lot of the 105 mm version which had no anti slip coating which he said he preferred over the improved models but he admitted he was out of the service before they where deployed in battle. The HL evacuator is the correct shape for Abrams with the 120 mm main gun so there was no need to change it. Another thing to note is that the overall barrel length is the same whether it is the 105 mm or the 120 mm.

[ALPHA]

By reading everything I could find about the Abrams series tank including blogs that real world users posted. Just type in M1 Abrams series US tanks in your search engine and read every thing that pops up and look over every diagram and picture including models others have built in various scales, some that where there when I was researching are no longer there but most are. One that was interesting was from a tanker who was issued the first lot of the 105 mm version which had no anti slip coating which he said he preferred over the improved models but he admitted he was out of the service before they where deployed in battle. The HL evacuator is the correct shape for Abrams with the 120 mm main gun so there was no need to change it. Another thing to note is that the overall barrel length is the same whether it is the 105 mm or the 120 mm.

I did read the information on the barrel on your thread....I was relieved I didn't have to mod it lol....the evacuvator didn't cross my read....I did do a lot of searching for info...but I never came across the things that you found
Not going to do the anti slip ...even though I should lol....So far I like the clean look...the surface does look sketchy to do anything on without it though..another reason is because ...(not sure why) everywhere here has discontinued carrying "texture" paint

Thanks again Giant

ALPHA

PS. Sorry no pictures today...spent a few hours trying to get the cupola off with no success ...came up with another method...but set that aside to do the shield for the gunners gun