FUTURE SHOCK..SAUNDERS M1A2 ABRAMS

[ALPHA]

Now how did we get to a Hetzer ....Since we are on this subject ...and I know your scratch building skill
Here you go ATC....I know you can do this with ease

OMG I WANT!!!!!!!

Knew you would like that ...figure you can build it ...it's a lot cheaper than buying the resin SOL kit...that sucker is in the 400 dollar range...unpowered
Oh...but you must finish your M1 first lol

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Didn't get much accomplished today...got a little busy...but I did get a good start on the grills...finished three
Yes three for three...three cuts of mesh ...three fit
Picture


Carpe Diem Gents

ALPHA

PS. Direction Sensitive...the grills must go in facing a certain direction...so the cut must be perfect

[greengiant]

That mesh looks perfect. Really must get going on doing mine.

[ALPHA]

That mesh looks perfect. Really must get going on doing mine.

A few words of advice Giant....don't pre paint the mesh ...as you can see...just by handling and shaping the mesh...all of it rubbed off
Be careful of the holes when you glue them in...they plug easily ....and make sure the edges of the grill tubs are clean ...had to redo some of the other square ones

ALPHA

[greengiant]

That I will remember. I've had to clean out plugged up holes in much larger Photo etched grills when I got sloppy with the glue.

[ALPHA]

That I will remember. I've had to clean out plugged up holes in much larger Photo etched grills when I got sloppy with the glue.

These are super small....luckily the plugged holes were kept down to a minimum of three...had to take a micro drill bit make the puncture...then chase it with a fine tip exacto ... can't imagine the headache of cleaning out more

ALPHA

[greengiant]

Here are the pics I pulled from Prime Portal. they are of a m1A1 except for the pic of the removed deck laying on the ground which is from a v2. I'm now sure the mesh applies to the A1 and both A2 Abrams variants.
Definitely 3 different meshes from super fine to 2 different larger types over the turbine intake.
Will have to rethink using the very fine soft Tamiya M26 rear grill backing for fine mesh. I think I still have some small piece of it tucked away in one of the many odds and ends boxes I have. Will have to really dig around to find it though.

[ALPHA]

Finished the grills...stuck with the mesh I had...just a little reworking and viola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
change in texture

Picture


It's touch up time gents


ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Here are the pics I pulled from Prime Portal. they are of a m1A1 except for the pic of the removed deck laying on the ground which is from a v2. I'm now sure the mesh applies to the A1 and both A2 Abrams variants.
Definitely 3 different meshes from super fine to 2 different larger types over the turbine intake.
Will have to rethink using the very fine soft Tamiya M26 rear grill backing for fine mesh. I think I still have some small piece of it tucked away in one of the many odds and ends boxes I have. Will have to really dig around to find it though.

Hey there Giant...thanks for the pictures...boy ...you are really doing some extra credit homework
I was able to actually find a finer mesh that what I had...unfortunately it was woven...don't really like the woven stuff ...so I just used the mesh I had on hand
She doesn't have to be perfect...good enough is good enough


Thanks again Giant

ALPHA

[greengiant]

Looks good. Quite an improvement over the molded in grill work. Painted will look even better.

I found a super fine n scale mesh sheet that is not woven and comes as a stiff 4x6 inch sheet with square or diagonal holes and is stainless steel at a US online railroad hobby shop. Cost over 20 bucks a sheet so I kept looking for someone selling the same thing cheaper by typing in different search wordings, and found nothing else. Now I can't even find the store I first saw it on. Could kick myself for not ordering a sheet.
Couldn't find anything with round holes like the far right engine intake grill has.

Will continue to search. Also think I'll go out to my local hobby shop and see if any of the 1/35 scale photo etched model tank grills they carry would be small enough with enough screen in one piece that it would be usable.