Tamiya's M1A1 Abrams 120mm Gun MBT

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

After seeing a History channel programme on the Battle of 73 Easting, I just had to build this awesome bit of kit. Seems last year I built mainly SciFi, this year I'm build conventional kits


I'm building this straight out of the box as a learning project ready to do my M3A3 Bradley later on.


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Having done so research and speaking to the armour builders in our club I decided to add the non slip surfaces, there are plenty of ways to do this with PVA and sand etc but thought I would try the texture paint from B&Q that a member told me about.


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I used masking tape and Maskol to mask the top turret after a successful trial on some plastic card, I'm pretty happy with the results.


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As I have a few long term projects on the go this one will be a slow build but hopefully I'll learn a lot as I go.


Comments welcomed as always


Adrian

 

[monica]

have seen that stuff about before ,the textured surface ,but never seen it used ,dose look good to me,

 

[dougie]

looks like one for the memory banks. wonder what will get pushed out this time? maybe the other half's birthday

 

[Polux]

First at all...nice choice Adrian!


I'm fascinate, this new tip is simply genial. The result looks very good :eek:


Thanks to share it

 

[noble]

That looks good to me might use this on mine.


scott

 

[Steve Brodie]

I have heard of that before but never seen it used, looks excellent. Nice one

 

[papa 695]

A very nice start Adrian and a great tip with the paint. I will pinch that idea

 

[Richy C]

Nice , I like the textured paint idea too , how fine is the texture Adrian .


Richy

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Thanks all, Richard, it's a very fine mix, I've found its best to apply one thin coat then another once its dry. It appears thick when you apply it but shrinks right back to a great effect.


Adrian

 

[Lee W]

Hmmm think this could interesting!


Lee

 

[takeslousyphotos]

That looks good Adrian ............ I've got half a tin of that in the garage. I used it on an uplighter. Now I know what to use the rest on. Valspar also do a Matt Coat which I use it gives a first class finish and none of that "white speckle" stuff going on.

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Progress on my build, took about 2 hours to mask the main body but the texture paint works really good if your going to use this method I'd recommend that you leave it to dry for a couple of days.


Should be adding the wheels tonight after I have undercoated it then I can work on the tracks, luckily they are the rubber one piece ones from Tamiya


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Comments welcomed as always.


Adrian

 

[noble]

That's looking very nice.


Scott

 

[rememal]

That is a cracking idea for the non-slip, Adrian, I will have to look into it. Thanks for the tip. View attachment 108014

 

[noble]

I saw this at B and Q it was selling for £8.30 a can will need to try it on mine when I get around to it.


scott

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Sprayed the primer on my Abrams, then did the top coat on the turret before realising I hadn't pre shaded it, so that's why the two different tones in the picture


Should work out ok once I paint it, I have 3 other tones of sand colour to add as well for variations in the panels.


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Adrian

 

[Plastickitbasher]

what a fantastic method thanks for sharing

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Just a little update to show the non slip areas now that I have added the top coat, having looked at photos online it's pretty close


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Actual image of the surfaces


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Adrian

 

[tommy1drop]

Looking great Ade, ready like the non slip surface

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Quick update, I'm using Vallejo Model Air for the first time on a large scale and apart from a small clogging issue they seem ok. I've bought the new Flory pigment set and have to say I like them a lot they are much finer than the MIG ones.


I'll try and do a review of them soon.


The main body has had an oil wash and next up is the pigments to really dust it off


Looks like I could have this beauty done by the end of the weekend then I may start the new Bradley with full interior.


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Comments welcomed as always.


Adrian