Tamiya M1A2-SEP'ish Desert ghetto-rigged build all done!

[pitstain]

Hi All,

I'm Ian AKA Pitstain (long story) and am a long time lurker, really never posted, but have enjoyed seeing all the top notch work here.

I have built a few Tamiya tanks but previously all with rattle cans, a brush and Tamiya weathering palettes, but with inspirations from some of the builds here and alot of watching Andy's Hobby HQ on YouTube this is my first go with all the sponge chipping, washes and grime/oils and an air brush setup, I ended up buying a bunch of 3rd party gear and pillaged a Trumpeter M1A2 SEP model for some choice pieces as well, only real upgrades are a full set of ball bearings.

I basically built this as a hypothetical "what if" tank that never came home for a proper refit and was "ghetto-rigged" in the field with whatever they had to improve it and keep her in the fight, so its not a rivet counters dream, I just wanted to build a cool, busy, beat up, veteran that never stopped fighting between campaigns.

I wont bore you with the build process pics which you've all seen a million times and go to the finished product.

IMG_20190106_191440 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191432 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191427 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191421 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191415 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191411 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191359 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191349 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191345 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191338 by Ian M Schwartz, on FlickrIMG_20190106_191332 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191322 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191318 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191312 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191309 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191301 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr

IMG_20190106_191243 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191237 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191231 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191224 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191219 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191216 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr
IMG_20190106_191206 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr


And this Christmas the wife got me my next project, this will be decidedly less ghetto-rigged since japan don't play that way.

IMG_20190106_191458 by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr

[pitstain]

Thanks Wardog, much appreciated.

[Son of a gun-ner]

A type ten, something for Abe to kill

Cool present

That looks a grand job you've done there Ian

Mick.

[pitstain]

Thanks Mick, and I have my lawn Godzilla ready for the Type 10 when its done.

[kintaroukinji]

You did a great job. Your painting etc. will be a good reference. These are great detailing, but I think it would be better to detail the exterior mold handrails and handles as well.

[Soeren]

What a fantastic Abrams. You got a fantastic result withe the sponge chipping and the runners and spills look awesome.

[c.rainford73]

Job well done wow!!!

[pitstain]

Thanks guys, I actually just saw the special ops resin handles for the top of the turret side boxes, but I really don't have the bandwidth to rework anything on this now as I am nuts deep in my Type 10 build and have the new M551 Sherridan on pre-order from AAF.

I will post threads on those as I make some decent progress.