FUTURE SHOCK..SAUNDERS M1A2 ABRAMS

[greengiant]

Thank you thank you ALPHA . It states that the A2 has a non rotating copula just as I thought. Now unfortunately I will have to modify mine, but at least I'll know its right.
And these pics I found on prime portal show that the 50 cal mount is on a ring integrated into the non rotating copula allowing it to be rotated 360 degrees and face to the rear if the hatch is closed.
It will be a while though as I'm working two king tigers right now.

[ALPHA]

But notice that the hatch is still facing the rear and has not turned along with the 50 cal mount. On the M1A1 version the stubby little copula with its remote control 50 mount it rotated and the hatch and periscopes rotated with it. because to close the hatch which just fit into the space at the rear of the periscopes it had to.
I have not been able to find a Picture of a real A2 that has the hatch in any other position then the rear so my guess is that the 50 mount moves on its own ring built into the copula and the periscopes and hatch stay stationary so that the hatch can be closed at any time and it will fit behind the periscopes because neither the hatch or periscopes rotated, only the 50 cal mount and the grab handles are rotated. That's why there are no pictures if the A2 showing the 50 cal pointing straight backward.
That's the only conclusion I can reach unless I can find a picture or at least a description of how the A2's 50 cal is rotated that indicates the whole copula rotates.

I actually saw this post early this morning....went to do a search for photos...You're right...there aren't any pictures with the hatch in any other position but that stationary one....got tired though.. so took a nap before replying

and before coming back to reply...sat for awhile and just thought about this image...how you can clearly see a seam above the weld that joins the cupola to the turret and it dawned on me how correct you are...what I saw in my mind...was a design similar to a ring on ones finger...the ring being the ring that has the gun support...it is then capped off with the view ports ..who's structure holds the hatch
I had completely overthought the design when I first replied...It "is" simpler with the ring design...the way I thought it might have worked would have had too many moving parts...So you are correct in your conclusion....I was just lucky for doing my tank how I did

Bottom line:..........Yeah you have to fix yours lol....not too much though...once you get the view ports off...it shouldn't be too hard to put a sleeve under that...and create ...for lack of a better description... a "thimble" or "spool"...so the ring can rotate on it

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Thank you thank you ALPHA . It states that the A2 has a non rotating copula just as I thought. Now unfortunately I will have to modify mine, but at least I'll know its right.
And these pics I found on prime portal show that the 50 cal mount is on a ring integrated into the non rotating copula allowing it to be rotated 360 degrees and face to the rear if the hatch is closed.
It will be a while though as I'm working two king tigers right now.

Think you want to be thanking ATC Giant...he provided the link to the page....now with that said

DANG!!!!....there's texture on the view ports

That texture is growing on my mind like a fungus

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Interesting Images just found
Frontal armor on the Abrams



This one looks like protective covers more than armor...perhaps added to aid with the anti slip coating
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... _(MSS).jpg
The last one is too big to post...has armor added to the skirts as well...not the Tusk

ALPHA

[atcttge]

The first picture - That's not add-on armour. That's steel plates to simulate the weight gain of depleted uranium armour. Those appeared during the M1A2 testing when that Abrams variant was still being developed. Sometimes they are welded to prototype tanks to simulate additional weight of other stuff (e.g., electronics, etc - such as that on the M1A2 with CROWS in that photo).

Second photo - The line you see is velcro tape for the MILES gear training system. MILES belts with the laser tag sensors were stuck on the tank during training. Sometimes, it seems the tape backing of the velcro belt is left behind. You can see the same on the photo in the link you provided.

Third photo - the square panels on the turret glacis are Combat Identification Panels (CIPs). Similar as the "window vane" CIPs on the sides and rear of the M1, but different design.

[atcttge]

Now, if you want to give yourself a headache (hehehehehe ) check this out:



Camouflage netting that reduces the thermal signature of the tank. It's similar to the Barracuda system used in the Leo2 tanks (IIRC, Canada used the net on their Leo2A6Ms in Afghanistan).

[ALPHA]

The first picture - That's not add-on armour. That's steel plates to simulate the weight gain of depleted uranium armour. Those appeared during the M1A2 testing when that Abrams variant was still being developed. Sometimes they are welded to prototype tanks to simulate additional weight of other stuff (e.g., electronics, etc - such as that on the M1A2 with CROWS in that photo).

So never seen in action with that ...Interesting ATC...looks like it would have been helpful...in another photo I found but didn't save lol...there was an RPG hole that probably wouldn't have happened if that plate was there

Second photo - The line you see is velcro tape for the MILES gear training system. MILES belts with the laser tag sensors were stuck on the tank during training. Sometimes, it seems the tape backing of the velcro belt is left behind. You can see the same on the photo in the link you provided.

I've found many photos with that velcro tape on the tank...but this is the first one I found that the panel actually looks like an addition...if you look at the edge of the turret...you can see the profile change ...similar to the forth photo that you have to click on...the difference is ...in this second one no tape is visible...on the forth ...the tape is clearly seen...Interesting though...learning every day

Third photo - the square panels on the turret glacis are Combat Identification Panels (CIPs). Similar as the "window vane" CIPs on the sides and rear of the M1, but different design.

Now this I can get into lol.....I'm not going to use those other panels...so I could foreseeably use those black panels I had glued on...and taken off

Thanks for the input ATC


ALPHA

[greengiant]

I've seen that camo thermo signature reduction cover test picture before. Wonder if they ever bothered to produce and stockpile them somewhere.
Also note that on the second pic you can see a very faint outline of were the front CIP panels where and that they are also absent from the side racks. Also most of its smoke grenades appear to have been fired. Then there's the little spotlight on top of the turret mantle that must have been a crew or unit add on. perhaps its a tank just in from a single tank daylight patrol of an already secured area near its base?

[ALPHA]

I've seen that camo thermo signature reduction cover test picture before. Wonder if they ever bothered to produce and stockpile them somewhere.
Also note that on the second pic you can see a very faint outline of were the front CIP panels where and that they are also absent from the side racks. Also most of its smoke grenades appear to have been fired. Then there's the little spotlight on top of the turret mantle that must have been a crew or unit add on. perhaps its a tank just in from a single tank daylight patrol of an already secured area near its base?

Hey there Giant...actually I found several pictures with that light mounted on the barrel...just chose that one because it had that ?armor? ... and yes...you can see the shadow where the CIP was...didn't notice that...interesting bit of stowage they have on the "top" of the turret...a bright yellow igloo cooler

ATC...I like that camo cover....it would make painting a lot easier if you could find the right material ...just think...no need to texture the upper surfaces...coordinate colors...just put that "blanket" over and it's done

ALPHA

[greengiant]

I seen other pics with civilian items as part of stowage and the most common are colorful insulated coolers. Nice to have a cold drink handy. When I was in Germany the most likely thing you'd in top of tank turrets were scraps of the bright tinfoil that hashish keys were wrapped in.
Where all the pics with the spotlight on tanks without the cip panels? That would indicate they are from the same unit and the mod was made by the units ordinance guys.