M1A1HA, 9/18/23 update. Delay of Game, two week penalty!

[BarryC]

Hi Gents,

Thank you ALL for your positive input. I gotten more done and will post after Christmas, maybe Monday!



Merry Christmas to all!

Barry

[BarryC]

Lower (bottom of) Turret Details, yeah I know I missed Monday!!

While getting ready to mark out and apply welds to bottom of turret I discovered/remembered that there were missing details on the HL piece.These pics show the detail that are missing. I only had these two photos so off I went. I was also using the RFM and Dragon 1/35 and the Trumpeter and Tamiya 1/16 models as reference.





This was my piece based on the a fore mentioned references.



Seeking more references I contacted fellow modeler and member here, Sean McAndrews ( Mr Abrams) as he should be known, IMO!
He provided the following photos as reference.







Using the reference photos he provided I refined and enhanced my initial effort with the following results.





Still a couple more details to add and refine then a coat of primer and then welds.

TTFN,
Barry

[tankme]

But what the hell is that round part? I mean does it have a purpose? To me, it doesn't even look like it goes anywhere except into a piece of steel plate. It has holes around it so it looks like something bolts to it.

[BarryC]

Derek,

We surmise that it is a Fresh Air Intake for the NBC system. The bolt holes are the openings for the recessed fasteners holding the "teardrop" shaped piece and screen onto the tank. The screen is held captive between the "teardrop" piece and the elevated structure that is welded to the tank. I believe the fasteners are Hex Head Cap Bolts. allowing a smaller hole to recess the fasteners than a Hex Bolt would need.

Barry

[HERMAN BIX]

Thats an update alright!
Cant be long before you are on the painting mission now eh!!
Best get it done asap before the M1A9 SEP V97 makes it into service!!

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Given the level of detail you have accomplished again and again and again, I wonder if experts in unfriendly places are scratching their heads trying to figure out if your awe-inspiring updates reveal any secret innovations.

[BarryC]

Thats an update alright!
Cant be long before you are on the painting mission now eh!!
Best get it done asap before the M1A9 SEP V97 makes it into service!!

[BarryC]

Given the level of detail you have accomplished again and again and again, I wonder if experts in unfriendly places are scratching their heads trying to figure out if your awe-inspiring updates reveal any secret innovations.

Doc. you and Herman are too funny. Thank you both for the kind words!

Barry

[BarryC]

Quick Update,

Mounted the Air Intake and installed the Counter Sunk Hex Head Cap Bolts.

Barry

[BarryC]

2/9/23 Update, Turret Bottom Details FINISHED!!
Well, I have completed the detailing of the bottom of the turret.

This involved reshaping the bottom contours to better match the real tank. After completing the details shown in the previous post. This required building up using epoxy putty and reshaping via filling, filing and sanding.









I also wanted to better hide the gap between the turret and upper hull. I built up the turret bottom using styrene strips to fill in the area between the bottom ring out to epoxy putty build up without having to redo the rollers I had installed earlier.



Long story short I have achieved what I wanted and now it’s time to move on to the next step…..I have not decided what that is yet, maybe just a coat of primer on the bottom.



TAFN,
Barry