Something I've been doing the past days

[BarryC]

Very cool Tomas!

I too think the Abrams looks fearsome with the Mine Plow.
Looking at all the scratches and gouges in the lower surface of you tank is exactly why I want the "nose" piece of my Belly Armor to be a sturdy as possible.

Keep the show rolling!
Barry

[atcttge]

Thanks Barry! I like to play rough with my RC tank hence those scratches and gouges hahahaha! Too bad I couldn't fit belly armour to it like yours. The tank is roughly 15 pounds short for its 1/16 weight and I was hoping the belly armour would help me reach that weight gain goal hahaha!

As soon as my hands stop hurting I'll continue the construction.

[greengiant]

A working removable mine plow will be a great edition. I to have the 1/35 scale version and it really adds loads of interest to the Abrams. My 1/35th one came with a counterweight that is mounted on the tanks rear but I've not seen a picture of a real tank with the counterweight on it.

[atcttge]

That's not a counter weight. That was a box that automatically dispensed flags to mark a lane indicating that the lane was cleared of mines. It didn't work well and was ditched.

[DNAR]

A working removable mine plow will be a great edition. I to have the 1/35 scale version and it really adds loads of interest to the Abrams. My 1/35th one came with a counterweight that is mounted on the tanks rear but I've not seen a picture of a real tank with the counterweight on it.

Interesting. I haven't seen one either. What is your kit greengiant? Is it the old Tamiya ODS? Can you post a picture? I think its the old APU on the right end side and a thin one in the middle.

Tomas I think what you mean is the one from the ABV automatic dispenser for marking the edge of the lane. Or I'm just unaware of trials of this device put on an M1.

[greengiant]

doesn't look like an APU and its made to swivel up if the tank goes up a steep rise from a flat surface and there is the old bustle rack APU. Can't find a Tamiya name cast on the hull bottom and I bought it so long ago I don't recall the manufacture. The plow is meant to be in the up or down position with the upper hinged plated glued in place but I added some hinges and small chains to open them when the plow is down and that allows them to fold down when the plow is up (used to be a perfect fit but as you can see the tiny hinges got damaged an it no longer fits the lower half of the plow very well) Been sitting on a shelf in my basement for over 20 yrs.

[DNAR]

Yes thats it. I have the same kit long time ago. Its also positioned right in front of the exhaust grill. Will ask a few expert on what it is and get back to you. I don't think its a counter weight as the TWMP is used from on newer M1A2 as well as older M60 with out that thing.

[atcttge]

Like I said, it's the CLAMS or Clear lAne Marking System. It's used in conjunction with mine clearing tools like the plow and roller. But it didn't work well so it is no longer in use.

The old Concord book on the M1A1/A2 mentions it. Also in Hunnicutt's book I think.

[atcttge]

Tomas I think what you mean is the one from the ABV automatic dispenser for marking the edge of the lane. Or I'm just unaware of trials of this device put on an M1.

No. I meant the CLAMS. It is no longer in use. The Concord book and old photos of the M1 when the plow and roller were just introduced shows the CLAMS in use. More current photos do not show it is in use. The problem was that the markers tended not be visible anyway or that the device just didn't work well.

[atcttge]

From the Concord book: