FUTURE SHOCK..SAUNDERS M1A2 ABRAMS

[ALPHA]

I'm into scale modelling for a long time and also competing in show such as Euromilitaire. I wanted to get my hands on larger scale RC tanks and planning to get one soon. Been lurking here for a while but I can't help looking at the brilliant RC tanks you and the rest of the chaps are doing.

As for the gears, do you need to upgrade to steel? I'm seeing some seller in eBay saying that their version had steel gears and turret fully rotate to 360 degrees rather than a 320.

Slightly off topic, here is my 1/72 static M1A2 TUSK conversion from M1A1
Sorry for the deviation just sharing my passion. ATC if i'm not mistaken will recognise me.

Nice work DNAR....have to admit...1/72nd scale armor is a category I never got into...probably because back in the day...there weren't that many kits available...If I recall ...there were only a couple marketed by Airfix....the rest were Ho scaled Minitanks ....and even they didn't have all that many to choose from
These are resin cast NO????

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Here are a couple of pics to give you the scale I worked in. This is in comparison to a cocktail stick.


Vapor compression unit at 1/72


My fully scatchbuilt 1/72 Challenger 2 TES and 1/72 Canadian Leopard 2 used in afghanistan.

Man ...I don't know if my eyesight could handle the scale now ....did mostly aircraft in 1/72nd...these tanks...amazing as they are...would probably make me blind in time

Thanks for the view...some really nice work DNAR

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

wow, lot of detail for 1/72nd Abrams M1A2 sep1 but you must add the uaapu hatches ect, on the left rear sponsoon. and the exhaust vent on the rear for it.

This photo is long taken last 2012. My version is TUSK II and this have the Hawker battery compartment that I did...not shown in this photo. It does not have the under armour APU.

Alpha full apologies for piggy backing your thread.

Back to Alpha build!

No Problemo DNAR....I appreciate you sharing your passion...think you will enjoy moving up to 1/16th

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

I'm into scale modelling for a long time and also competing in show such as Euromilitaire. I wanted to get my hands on larger scale RC tanks and planning to get one soon. Been lurking here for a while but I can't help looking at the brilliant RC tanks you and the rest of the chaps are doing.

I have to admit...I'm not as Hardcore into it as when I was in my youth....If it wasn't for the Girls Und Panzer Franchise ...I may not have gotten back into it again ...Back in the day...I used to compete as well....it got old after awhile...came too easy to win lol....but with all those victories entered politics...that's when I decided to stop...as it slowly drained the fun out of building...Now I build for me...not for anyone else...don't really care if my tanks are prototypical ...or realistic...so long what is taken in visually is pleasing...it's good enough lol ...I find it's more enjoyable that way

As for the gears, do you need to upgrade to steel? I'm seeing some seller in eBay saying that their version had steel gears and turret fully rotate to 360 degrees rather than a 320.

Going to tell you the same thing I tell all the people entering the Hobby...That would be..."Get what you can afford" ...because upgrades can come later
Steel gears are the best.....realistically though...I only have them in a small minority of my tanks....I won't just go and change them out for no reason...the gearbox has to break first....knock on wood...none of my white metal boxes have failed yet
If that seller is selling the same model as mine...and it's at a good "package" deal price...it's really something to think about ...because it would be the absolute top version released by HL...but from what I've been shown here on the board...many of the models in the same category as mine cost almost double of what I paid here in the US
It's definitely something for you to consider....because moving to 1/16th...is quite a big jump from 1/72nd scale...as you will find one model will probably absorb more material ie: paint ...plastic stock...metal stock....money ........... ....also some of your techniques will have to change....I can clearly see you have excellent skill...and attention to detail ...details will take more time than 1/72 ...and because things are larger...will require more attention
I feel you can handle it though...I detect your passion....If your scratch building is anywhere near ATC's or Giant's skills are...you will not only enjoy...but excel in the Hobby

Good Luck DNAR...Hope to watch one of your builds soon

ALPHA

[atcttge]

but with all those victories entered politics...that's when I decided to stop...as it slowly drained the fun out of building...Now I build for me...not for anyone else...don't really care if my tanks are prototypical ...or realistic...so long what is taken in visually is pleasing...it's good enough lol ...I find it's more enjoyable that way

AMEN ALPHA! Except for victories in the model competitions (I never won anything), the politics and bickering and cliques within the modelling community put me off the hobby for good. The last straw was when this guy I know who had financial issues, couldn't get a proper job because was very picky about it and basically blamed his employers (not himself) for the job, despite an ailing relative who he was the main supporter of, still spent lots of money on reference books, model kits, and such, and then saying "This hobby saved my life!" I dunno. It looked like the hobby ruined his life as he got narrow minded, focusing solely on that, at the cost of actually living. I didn't want to end up like him and the many other bitter people in the hobby so I quit. Thank goodness for mountain biking and mountaineering, but lately work has taken a toll on my schedule and sleep so it's RC tanks in the meantime.

I remember building a 1/35 what-if M1A5 Super Abrams with 155mm gun. I was a WHAT-IF. Yet, one of the older veteran modelers who reaped prizes for his build condescendingly criticized it for being unrealistic. Hello? I said it was a WHAT-IF. Wot's funny is that I once listened to him talk about the Leo2A5 and the turret side armour panels, saying these swung out to protect the wingman tank. I told him those panels swung out to make room for the removal of the engine deck cover. He said "Yes, that's another reason" without fully acknowledging his error. Guy didn't know his facts and yet pontificates.... HAHAHAHAHA! Gawd wot a loser....

Oh I have many stories to tell, but I figure some of them are registered here and lurking, and knowing them they can be so vindictive making snide remarks, character assassinations, so on and so forth, so I'd rather PM them to you if you'd like to hear my sob story hahahahaha! Anyhow, I am really DONE with modelling, thanks mainly to the "horror stories" of those I know, i.e., I don't want to end up like them. This RC tank thing is different since I'm not really into the accuracy thing. Just like you - I am for visually pleasing for meself. Which is why I chose to convert the HL M1A2 into a SEP v2 because it just looks so badass hehehehe (although some TCs have found the CROWS 2 to be an atrocious thing as it enlarges the tank's silohuette - which is ironic since the M1 was designed to have a lower profile vs previous American tanks).

[ALPHA]

but with all those victories entered politics...that's when I decided to stop...as it slowly drained the fun out of building...Now I build for me...not for anyone else...don't really care if my tanks are prototypical ...or realistic...so long what is taken in visually is pleasing...it's good enough lol ...I find it's more enjoyable that way

AMEN ALPHA! Except for victories in the model competitions (I never won anything), the politics and bickering and cliques within the modelling community put me off the hobby for good. The last straw was when this guy I know who had financial issues, couldn't get a proper job because was very picky about it and basically blamed his employers (not himself) for the job, despite an ailing relative who he was the main supporter of, still spent lots of money on reference books, model kits, and such, and then saying "This hobby saved my life!" I dunno. It looked like the hobby ruined his life as he got narrow minded, focusing solely on that, at the cost of actually living. I didn't want to end up like him and the many other bitter people in the hobby so I quit. Thank goodness for mountain biking and mountaineering, but lately work has taken a toll on my schedule and sleep so it's RC tanks in the meantime.

I remember building a 1/35 what-if M1A5 Super Abrams with 155mm gun. I was a WHAT-IF. Yet, one of the older veteran modelers who reaped prizes for his build condescendingly criticized it for being unrealistic. Hello? I said it was a WHAT-IF. Wot's funny is that I once listened to him talk about the Leo2A5 and the turret side armour panels, saying these swung out to protect the wingman tank. I told him those panels swung out to make room for the removal of the engine deck cover. He said "Yes, that's another reason" without fully acknowledging his error. Guy didn't know his facts and yet pontificates.... HAHAHAHAHA! Gawd wot a loser....

Oh I have many stories to tell, but I figure some of them are registered here and lurking, and knowing them they can be so vindictive making snide remarks, character assassinations, so on and so forth, so I'd rather PM them to you if you'd like to hear my sob story hahahahaha! Anyhow, I am really DONE with modelling, thanks mainly to the "horror stories" of those I know, i.e., I don't want to end up like them. This RC tank thing is different since I'm not really into the accuracy thing. Just like you - I am for visually pleasing for meself. Which is why I chose to convert the HL M1A2 into a SEP v2 because it just looks so badass hehehehe (although some TCs have found the CROWS 2 to be an atrocious thing as it enlarges the tank's silohuette - which is ironic since the M1 was designed to have a lower profile vs previous American tanks).

I know right...I got stories too......I recall times when I actually felt sorry for guys who "knew it all"...I would wonder to myself...What happened to them in their life...that caused them to loose their Imaginations...What caused them to confine themselves to stay "within the box".... But that's where I leave it...It just isn't worth trying to get into the psych of such things

But I will pontificate with two words ATC...."GRAB HANDLES"

ALPHA

[DNAR]

I'm into scale modelling for a long time and also competing in show such as Euromilitaire. I wanted to get my hands on larger scale RC tanks and planning to get one soon. Been lurking here for a while but I can't help looking at the brilliant RC tanks you and the rest of the chaps are doing.

As for the gears, do you need to upgrade to steel? I'm seeing some seller in eBay saying that their version had steel gears and turret fully rotate to 360 degrees rather than a 320.

Slightly off topic, here is my 1/72 static M1A2 TUSK conversion from M1A1
Sorry for the deviation just sharing my passion. ATC if i'm not mistaken will recognise me.

Nice work DNAR....have to admit...1/72nd scale armor is a category I never got into...probably because back in the day...there weren't that many kits available...If I recall ...there were only a couple marketed by Airfix....the rest were Ho scaled Minitanks ....and even they didn't have all that many to choose from
These are resin cast NO????

ALPHA

Thanks Alpha. These are all 100% scratch built. Thanks for the advice also. I will keep track of your build as well as all the important thing to make this chassis rolling.

[ALPHA]

Thanks Alpha. These are all 100% scratch built. Thanks for the advice also. I will keep track of your build as well as all the important thing to make this chassis rolling.

Wait a minute DNAR...you mean to say you carve out the hulls and everything ...in 1/72nd scale??????????????? That's Freakin amazing
Terrific work...you will do well moving to 1/16th....

ALPHA

[DNAR]

Thanks Alpha. These are all 100% scratch built. Thanks for the advice also. I will keep track of your build as well as all the important thing to make this chassis rolling.

Wait a minute DNAR...you mean to say you carve out the hulls and everything ...in 1/72nd scale??????????????? That's Freakin amazing
Terrific work...you will do well moving to 1/16th....

ALPHA

Thats right ALPHA, I do all of my scratch building work myself and not rely on aftermarket resin (though there are places for it like tires etc.). I work with 1/35th scale as well but due to space constraints here in England 1/72 would save me a small area in the flat.

Hearing horror stories from ATC, you and the others also put me off scale modelling (plus family life and heavy work which demands a lot from me). I have my own horror experience to tell but this is not the place for it. ATC is my very good friend and seeing his work here, i can 100% be sure its from him by the way how he scratch build things.

You guys are great here, there are a lot of questions I wanted to ask with regards to the hardware of this RC tanks but I don't want to distract your thread. I will likely get the version that you have got ALPHA. Does it comes with ball bearings on the metal road wheels?

[ALPHA]

Thats right ALPHA, I do all of my scratch building work myself and not rely on aftermarket resin (though there are places for it like tires etc.). I work with 1/35th scale as well but due to space constraints here in England 1/72 would save me a small area in the flat.

I find that fantastic DNAR ...your work is commendable ....Now about that space issue...Hopping to `1/16th...is going to make a definite impact lol...especially the M1

Hearing horror stories from ATC, you and the others also put me off scale modelling (plus family life and heavy work which demands a lot from me). I have my own horror experience to tell but this is not the place for it. ATC is my very good friend and seeing his work here, i can 100% be sure its from him by the way how he scratch build things.

Yeah ...horror stories have their time and place...think everyone has some...in most cases it just seems better to keep them in memories History bank

ATC is something else lol....made my build a lot more fun

You guys are great here, there are a lot of questions I wanted to ask with regards to the hardware of this RC tanks but I don't want to distract your thread. I will likely get the version that you have got ALPHA. Does it comes with ball bearings on the metal road wheels?

No Worries DNAR.... conversations just move it whatever direction it goes...no one can plan that kind of thing lol...distractions are a common happening...they might bother some ...but they don't bother me

Yes the M1 road wheels were fitted with bearings from the factory...it's not mentioned in it's description...took me by surprise when I went to paint the lower...the wheels also have removable rubbers ....I did experience two problems....one was the front idler's brass bushing wasn't pressed in completely...so when you tighten the retaining screw it would lock up the wheel (it's the only wheel that doesn't have a bearing)...I just gave it a couple of taps with a jewelers hammer and it became free rolling...the other is one of the guide wheels on the top ...had a tower that was a tad short...extended the tower a little and filed the inner of the outer part of the wheel and that problem was solved....pretty small problems for a tank like this...so far it's been nothing but a pleasure working on it


ALPHA