M1A1 Thunder Run: Finishing Turret Upgrades

[ALPHA]

LOL...Bet you got a headache from mine


ALPHA

[Uncarina]

Not at all!

Cheers, Tom

[ALPHA]

Not at all!

Cheers, Tom

Really??????????? I sometimes think I do too much research .............

ALPHA

[Uncarina]

ALPHA,

Better than not enough! I find it to be half the fun with this hobby!

Cheers, Tom

[greengiant]

Great work on that copula. You have some major scratch building skill. One thing, all the pics I've seen on the real thing show a spare road wheel on the turret top rather then a spare rear sprocket ring and have you figured out what the extra large storage boxe in the sides of the turret that seem to cover the storage rails are? I've looked at the pictures over and over ( all seem to show only the right side) and can't figure out what they are.

[DNAR]

Great work on that copula. You have some major scratch building skill. One thing, all the pics I've seen on the real thing show a spare road wheel on the turret top rather then a spare rear sprocket ring and have you figured out what the extra large storage boxe in the sides of the turret that seem to cover the storage rails are? I've looked at the pictures over and over ( all seem to show only the right side) and can't figure out what they are.

The large stowage box that covers the side turret rails are not a stowage box at all but its an exhaust deflector that can be bolted on the back exhaust area. There should be a corresponding frame for its attachment. This of course is not the long stowage bin that is attached to the turret itself which is enclosed by the side turret rails.

With regards to the road wheel it has a corresponding attachment on the front left top of the turret (where the CITV is) , but it can be attached to anywhere the crew would like it to be and same true with the sprocket.

Great build by the way! Are you going to do the Army or the USMC tank?

[Uncarina]

Great work on that copula. You have some major scratch building skill. One thing, all the pics I've seen on the real thing show a spare road wheel on the turret top rather then a spare rear sprocket ring and have you figured out what the extra large storage boxe in the sides of the turret that seem to cover the storage rails are? I've looked at the pictures over and over ( all seem to show only the right side) and can't figure out what they are.

Greengiant,

Thank you very much! DNAR has posted the response, and it seems most commonly that the exhaust deflector was mounted here. I'll have to scratch build that, but it should be easier than the cupola. I'll also have to scratchbuild two jerry can holders (you can see one here: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr33 ... aaa2-1.jpg) and the extended rear turret bustle. I'm actually looking forward to that since it makes these Abrams more distinctive. For the spare road wheel, it appears that for "All Bout Da Bones" this was mounted over a sprocket ring, as was commonly done in the 3rd Infantry Division tanks in 2003. Please keep me posted if you see anything that needs improving or modification!

Cheers, Tom

[Uncarina]

Great build by the way! Are you going to do the Army or the USMC tank?

DNAR, Thank you very much indeed! The feedback you, ALPHA, and Greengiant give is very encouraging. Here's what I'm building: “All Bout Da Bones”, an M1A1 Abrams from 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1-64 Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. I have the Peddinghaus decals for it, which only lack the small Stars and Stripes located on the left side of the 120mm gun.

[ALPHA]

ALPHA,

Better than not enough! I find it to be half the fun with this hobby!

Cheers, Tom

I'd agree with that....thing is ...sometimes I felt I spent too much time looking for images than building


ALPHA

[Uncarina]

A quick update: finished adding the vision blocks to the cupola, added casting numbers to the inside of the commanders hatch and other locations.

Cheers, Tom