FUTURE SHOCK..SAUNDERS M1A2 ABRAMS

[ALPHA]

Photos
First one is the gun shield

Frontal armor plates


Did this on a whim...didn't really think the original casting had enough impact...found this textured material
finally some of the turret grab handles


All suggestions and Critiques are welcome

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

I chose this photo in my research...not for the detail for the cupola...but for the profile of the grab handle in the background


ALPHA

[greengiant]

The tape dispensers were a great idea. Yours look great. Having windows makes sense if they are as bullet proof as the light solid armor would be
Take those thick armor panels off the turret front. There was no added armor plating up there. Just a recognition square right on top of the armor that only shows up I believe when looked at in some secret point of the infrared light spectrum, It's there to prevent friendly fire incidents in the dark and also to allow other Abrams to see each others positions by comparing the way they look to the way the square side and rear panels that hang in the sides and rear of the turrets which can be seen in the dark the same way. The little black corner decals HL provides need to be put on the corners of those super thin plastic panels that are molded in. On the real ones they are there to show people they are there and remind them not to step on these panels, which could cause them to be damaged. some have a small no step sign stenciled on them ( I did that on my build) apparently but not positively they are routinely painted over without losing their effectiveness that's why the corner of the areas are marked even on the nato camo ones.
Usually those not in a combat zone have some kind of clingy plastic and paper applied over these areas that can be easily stripped off .
In other words the turret front is flat without added armor. just two very thin veneers with black corner markings( they look to be less then 1/2 inch thick on the real tank)

[jackalope]

Umm..... No I said there are way to many anti slip surfaces to NOT do them. In other words you need to do them. You read too fast!

[ALPHA]

The tape dispensers were a great idea. Yours look great. Having windows makes sense if they are as bullet proof as the light solid armor would be
Take those thick armor panels off the turret front. There was no added armor plating up there. Just a recognition square right on top of the armor that only shows up I believe when looked at in some secret point of the infrared light spectrum, It's there to prevent friendly fire incidents in the dark and also to allow other Abrams to see each others positions by comparing the way they look to the way the square side and rear panels that hang in the sides and rear of the turrets which can be seen in the dark the same way. The little black corner decals HL provides need to be put on the corners of those super thin plastic panels that are molded in. On the real ones they are there to show people they are there and remind them not to step on these panels, which could cause them to be damaged. some have a small no step sign stenciled on them ( I did that on my build) apparently but not positively they are routinely painted over without losing their effectiveness that's why the corner of the areas are marked even on the nato camo ones.
Usually those not in a combat zone have some kind of clingy plastic and paper applied over these areas that can be easily stripped off .
In other words the turret front is flat without added armor. just two very thin veneers with black corner markings( they look to be less then 1/2 inch thick on the real tank)

Good thing I didn't glue the panels on permanent ...wanted to get input first ....The tape dispenser looks right...I'm definitely going to use it...just a FYI...they come with paper tape I got from Walgreens...the tape isn't put in it...they give you two rolls and the dispenser is a toss in

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Umm..... No I said there are way to many anti slip surfaces to NOT do them. In other words you need to do them. You read too fast!

Dyslexia ...happens when you sandpaper black textured panels making sure the pattern is straight ...........

ALPHA

[greengiant]

Well I made a mistake about how the commanders 50 cal and copula work. The copula base, hatch and periscopes don't rotate.
The ring that the 50 cal and the handles are mounted on does. Just as in the picture you posted of the real thing when you were talking about the nonslip. When I looked at it, the fact that the 50 was off to the side while the copula was stationary didn't register forgive my brain freeze.
Now I will have to go back and redo mine to make it correct. Sure wish I had found this picture while I was doing my build.

[ALPHA]

This picture is from my research page.

Just like in the photo you have Giant...the Hatch is facing forward....and the gun is off to the side...reason I figured that ring could move
Thing is...I don't think you need to correct yours...the cupola does move...because in this photo

The armor plates have to be in the right position for the view ports to correspond to the lenses hidden behind them...the only way that can happen is if the cupola rotates
Thought of making both the ring and the cupola rotate...but when I thought about it ...realized I probably wouldn't move them around that much ...especially with a figure in it...so facing the gun mount to the rear similarly to the barrel support on my Sherman just seemed like the logical solution

ALPHA

[greengiant]

But notice that the hatch is still facing the rear and has not turned along with the 50 cal mount. On the M1A1 version the stubby little copula with its remote control 50 mount it rotated and the hatch and periscopes rotated with it. because to close the hatch which just fit into the space at the rear of the periscopes it had to.
I have not been able to find a Picture of a real A2 that has the hatch in any other position then the rear so my guess is that the 50 mount moves on its own ring built into the copula and the periscopes and hatch stay stationary so that the hatch can be closed at any time and it will fit behind the periscopes because neither the hatch or periscopes rotated, only the 50 cal mount and the grab handles are rotated. That's why there are no pictures if the A2 showing the 50 cal pointing straight backward.
That's the only conclusion I can reach unless I can find a picture or at least a description of how the A2's 50 cal is rotated that indicates the whole copula rotates.

[atcttge]

But notice that the hatch is still facing the rear and has not turned along with the 50 cal mount. On the M1A1 version the stubby little copula with its remote control 50 mount it rotated and the hatch and periscopes rotated with it. because to close the hatch which just fit into the space at the rear of the periscopes it had to.
I have not been able to find a Picture of a real A2 that has the hatch in any other position then the rear so my guess is that the 50 mount moves on its own ring built into the copula and the periscopes and hatch stay stationary so that the hatch can be closed at any time and it will fit behind the periscopes because neither the hatch or periscopes rotated, only the 50 cal mount and the grab handles are rotated. That's why there are no pictures if the A2 showing the 50 cal pointing straight backward.
That's the only conclusion I can reach unless I can find a picture or at least a description of how the A2's 50 cal is rotated that indicates the whole copula rotates.

See under "120mm Gun Tank M1A2 Abrams" down the following link. No pic but has a description as to how the Improved Commander's Weapons Station works:

http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m1abrams.html