HL Abrams detailing build

[greengiant]

Finished off the rest of the rear deck grills/screens exterior installation today.

[ALPHA]

Got to hand it to you Giant ...that came out great looking...I especially like that divider you added between the engine grill and the lift up grill

You are also braver than me as I wouldn't have touched that grill next to the edge of the hull lol

ALPHA

[greengiant]

You mean the frame for the left side grill that makes the left grill look like two pieces ? Have seen pick of real one where the frame and grill are all one piece but those one piece ones don't have the raised edge anti slip holes on them as far as I could tell. Got the Idea to make them appear separate from a 1/35 scale photo etched grill for the Abrams that I saw once (can't find it again) one of me research trips on the web, that was so good it even had the anti slip holes on it.

[greengiant]

Finished with the screen and grill work on rear hull.

Still must add a few small details later.

[ALPHA]

You mean the frame for the left side grill that makes the left grill look like two pieces ? Have seen pick of real one where the frame and grill are all one piece but those one piece ones don't have the raised edge anti slip holes on them as far as I could tell. Got the Idea to make them appear separate from a 1/35 scale photo etched grill for the Abrams that I saw once (can't find it again) one of me research trips on the web, that was so good it even had the anti slip holes on it.

OH...but yeah that's the area I'm talking about....think you posted a photo either on ATC's thread...or mine...you could clearly see it was two pieces..reason I did what I did on mine...I just didn't put a separator like you did...makes a difference I think

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Finished with the screen and grill work on rear hull.

Still must add a few small details later.

Great Job Giant...wondered how you were going to reinforce that panel...looks nice and solid now

ALPHA

[greengiant]

If you look at the pics of the real thing showing that grills full length in the in the build threads you will only see a full length 1 piece grill on your thread with the banner behind the tank Saying M1A1 Abrams SA (I'll have to look that up and see what it is) and a two piece grill on one I posted of a v2 on ATC's thread that mostly shows the aux battery box but enough of the grill to see it is two pieces.
Here's that picture You can just see where one piece ends and another starts although there is no real outside frame there like I did its more like the grill is folded under on both pieces it that point.

[ALPHA]

If you look at the pics of the real thing showing that grills full length in the in the build threads ou will only see a full length 1 piece grill

Will do Giant...saw one where a crewman was lifting that small hatch at the bottom though...will try to find it again...those engine detail photos are kind of hard to find

ALPHA

[greengiant]

the SA (situational awareness) Seems to be part of an old program to upgrade M1A1's to like new condition with the depleted uranium armor and some newer electronics package with most of the products coming in as used foreign M1A1's and going back to the users after upgrades were installed and the tanks completely rebuilt to as new condition.

[ALPHA]

Found this photo Giant...you can pretty much see the break in the two grill panels...the smaller one having it's own set of bolts



and this one is one you put on ATC's thread...you can just barely see the separation of the upper and lower smaller panel



interesting now that I look at the images closer...the anti slip seems to be something the mechanics did by punching a rod through the original perforated surface

ALPHA