RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

G'day All,

Started pulling my M1A2 apart last week to see about getting the BB unit to function and as with all strip downs like this decided it was time for the beast to get painted up as an Australian Army M1A1 AIM SA in the AUSCAM camo our Defense force uses. The beast will not be based on any particular tank from my research pix...

Once I had it apart had a go at getting the airsoft unit to work but nothing appears to be happening I will order a new unit from Tankarmy when I order the roadwheels,etc. Having given up on the bb unit I started drawing all over the hull and turret with a lead pencil marking out the camo scheme, after about 3 hours drawing lines (and redoin em when I wasn't happy!!).

Next evening after work started masking up the hull for the olive drab. (I got a big rattle can of it and Black from the paint supply place up the road, they are Rustolem brand and come up nice) Used a trick a had seen elsewhere to mask up the hull using bluetack to do the edges then masking tape to cover the rest (see pixs). Over the next days I worked my way thru the hull and turret painting the all the green first then did the black.

Very happy with the result now it looks like one of our Tanks!! I was going to reassemble it but decided to gather all the upgrades for it first rather than having to strip it down again later. I will be pulling the gearbox's out next and degreasing the inner hull then I will put in some styrene plating as I have seen others do to blank off some of the holes that can let dust and water in (I like to drive in all conditions so I want to make the hull reasonably sealed) and will being adding some ballast wt so I will be adding some cross bracing too...

Cheers Bruce

part 2

more pix...

Have just finished painting he turret fittings (side racks, smoke dischargers, etc) haven't done the rear rack yet as I want to add the extended section first.

painted a couple of the original road wheels green so I can cut em in half later as parts stowage on the turret.

Cheers Bruce

Hi Bruce, Welcome to the "Abrams Club".

Great start, cammo looks great!

Barry

Thanks mate!

Its actually my second one I had a Hobby engine one but got rid of it as its rubbish!! There are a couple if things I dislike about the HL version 1/ its got the wrong engine sounds (how hard is it for em to load a proper gas turbine start up on !!) and 2/ its so sloooooowww..... I remember seeing a Tamiya leopard1 back in the mid 80's and it was sweet as !! Good speed, metal tracks....but Tamiya have always led the way pretty much in rc tanking!!

Going to get the UltimateII g/box's from Tankarmy once some big bills are out of the way......

EDIT: I have another rc M1A1 too a 1/72 Dragon microXtech one! I need to fix s the nimh battery in it is kaput.....!!

Some pix of the 1/16 with the 1/72 alongside, the Biggun has its side racks, and other bits added.

Cheers Bruce

Ps I was reading your build last night and will be borrowing afew ideas mate!

Made up the rear rack extension from some leftover evergreen styrene bits out of the scraps box, used some flyscreen mesh for the mesh. Hardest bit was finding enough rod the right size for doing the railing....

4 and a bit hours later and its nearly done, just the little extensions on the sides to make up.

here are some pix during construction..

Bruce

Good progress mate, going to look a treat.
For what its worth, Bunnings have rolls of brass fly screen.
The stuff is expensive, but its huge and will last a normal man a lifetime.
It solders and holds form very well.

Actually nearly went up to Bunnings when I knocked off from work....but then I got sidetracked!!

Will have a look next time I'm in there,I've got some brass mesh for my ship building but its much to fine for the tank, also have some stainless steel TERMI mesh that a mate gave me but its also to fin a mesh for the tank.

Going to replace the HL 0.50 and 0.30 with these from Shapeways: (the 1/16 version)



https://www.shapeways.com/product/P3LQZ ... d=62271464

I used it on my T-34 build. And I have donated a fair bit of it around !
The stuff is perfect for Thoma Schurzen, but Im not going to do a Pz IV any time soon

HERMAN BIX wrote:I used it on my T-34 build. And I have donated a fair bit of it around !
The stuff is perfect for Thoma Schurzen, but Im not going to do a Pz IV any time soon

I have a Clubmate who works in the roofing industry he came across a big offcut of TERMI and spread it about to the rest of us...very useful for vents mesh in 1/72..

Just been looking over on Shapeways again.....$$$$$$$ came across a designer doing 1/16 high detail small arms

Check these out!!
0.50 cal on tripod! hmmmmm


pair of Heckler & Koch 416 HK m320 Variant IV. With HK M320 40mm grenade launcher, Magpul parts, Elcan Specter optical sight, TNV/PVS-14 Gen3 Night Vision Monocular, Aimpoint Comp M4 Red Dot Sight, SureFire MAG5-60 High Capacity Magazine, Magpul-PMAG-30-M3.

Although the m1a2 Tusk set is cheaper (its in the cheaper white nylon which is a more flexible) and you get 3 guns for the price!