Hey Everyone

At the start of the New Year there was a discussion thread asking what more we the users of this site could do... Since I've been a subscriber for over a year I thought I could create a build log of my M1A1 Australian Abrams. This is my first build log on Armorama. I've actually had it in my head since Nov to do this but haven't found the time until recently. Here's my progress to date:

Over the past year I've accumulated alot of reference material. Tankograd's Australian Army 1st Brigade and the Australian Defense Force website (http://www.defence.gov.au/media/index.cfm) are great places for reference in my opinion. I've also used other build logs from Armorama and other military modelling magazines.



Here's my project material. I use the Mouse House M1A1 Australian Conversion set along with some accessary sets for later. As per the Mouse House instructions I've used the Dragon M1A2 SEP kit as my base. This is due to the fact that some parts found on later M1A1s are not included in the Dragon M1A1 AIM kit. It's better to convert back then update the M1A1 AIM kit.



If these pictures don't come up, please bear with me as I sort out the links. Thanks!

Rather intereasting mate i will be following this with intereast!

Now that I've figured out posting pictures... Here's the build pics:






A great shot of the turret roof. You can see the Mouse House Umbrella stand, armoured power conduit, the Blue Force GPS Tracker Box, and the top of the cooler.


This is the side of the cooler. I haven't glued it in place yet so the power cable isn't in the right spot. I scratch built the wind sensor tie down. It was relocated on the Aussie variant to make room for the cooler.


I wired the Commander's MG solenoid. You can also see the Blue Force GPS Tracker box just off the Doghouse. There's another mounting bracket that I haven't attached yet as it broke off in transit from Australia... but I still have it.

Looks good man youve done your homework on this one

Being myself an Aussie I'll be following this build. It even might help me with the "What If" Aussie Challenger 2 that I'm planning.

Good luck mate!

BTW, why is there confetti in your "Materials" shot?

Some close ups:


I drilled out the smoke grenade launcher tubes as in all the reference I've seen they've left them blank or have a canvas cover over the launcher.



The wind sensor tie down. I've since glued down the gold foil bit which represents the strap so it doesn't look like it's floating.


I've wired the smoke grenade launchers and the GPS tracker box. I used 32 gauge wire but after further review I could have used an even higher gauge. Still looks good to me. You can also see my attempt at home made chain for the locking pins on the Commander's MG mount.

Dean - The confetti will be used for the Laser reflective armoured glass. It'll be my first attempt using this method to simulate the reflective coating.


To All - I started building this back in Late September of 2008. I typically put in only 1-2 hours per week into my projects. I do aim to have this fully completed by the Fall of 2009 so hang in there if I don't post every week or month. Thanks for the interest so far!!

Ah, okay. Never thought of that. Well, lookin good so far mate. At least you can get the road wheels to all sit flat on the ground

AHH! The one shot I forgot to show... The huge piece of white resin otherwise known as the rear engine deck:



I filled the gaps using Mr Surfacer... I still have a bit of clean up to do. You can also see the etch chains for the fuel caps.

Mouse House has really done a great job with this conversion set. I can't say enough good things about it. For those of you planning on building an Aussie Abrams search for my other posts on Armorama. I posted a few clarification questions around the conversion and have received the answers I was looking for. Cheers!

Carmen, Why is the back deck replaced with a resin piece? Dan

Carmen
Watch out for those Mouse House Roo decals, the red roo's are screened over a white base so you will have to cut all around the outside edge of each Roo you use. I switched to the Echelon decal sheet after I had already applied one of the MH offerings and it was much easier.
Your build looks nice and clean, good work.
Regards
Bill

Thanks for that Carmen. It is good to have positive feed back.



Dan, the rear deck on the SEP differs to the one on the AIM. As the conversion is based on the SEP kit we included the AIM parts to fit.




Bill, in regards to this, i think you may have receved a bad batch of decals. I have tested and checked all of the ones I have, and they are all ok. John has checked all of the ones he has in stock and they are all ok as well. The decals are printed with an Alps printer, and are checked once they arrive from the printer. But it seems that one has slipped throu. I appologise for that.

Jason
No worries, when I get home I'll check a random selection from the sheet I have to see if they are ok.
Bill

Dan - Ah Yes, the back deck. I think Jason answered it perfectly but to help illustrate the differences I've prepared the following for you:

Mouse House Engine deck with etch grills





Dragon M1A2 Abrams SEP kit part. Three minor differences. One of which I have no idea what part is to go there.... The third is the interlocking grooves on the left side.

Is the handle on the rear of the deck suppose to be on the M1A1? If so I'll have to slice it off and put it on my build... Good catch!

Boggie - I've checked my decals and they indeed look fine. Great feedback though, I wouldn't have had any idea until I was going to put them on! YIKES!!

Great start nice clean build

Looks great so far keep it up

Really nice work so far, I like!

Martyn

Guys, Thanks for the info-served on M1A1's, but not SEP's. Dan

Looking good. I have the Mouse House Aussie AIM conversion too. I did an in-box reveiw of it here on Armorama. I can't wait to get started on mine. Yours will help on the placement of some items. Keep up the good work.

Great WIP Blog - very informative and clean.

Chris

Another ABRAMS!This is my lucky day!
Very nice build so far!

I have some HI RES pics with Australian M1A1.If you want I'll send them to you.

Very nice build, Carmen! I'm mulling getting the Mouse House conversion, and your pictures (and Gino's review) are swaying me. Just one minor thing I noticed--the main gun seems a little too low--the gun housing should sit flush with the top of the turret, from all the pics I've seen, but yours is a tad lower than the turret top (Picture 3 is the clearest).

Looking forward to seeing more pictures!

Your Abrams is looking really nice Carmen.

Great to see another Calgary modeller posting projects.

Looking good Carmen! Looking forward to seeing this at the fall show. Later, Matt.

Thanks All for the positive feedback!

Lucas - Yes I see what you're saying about the gun breach. I double checked and the gun was lowered in that picture, the first picture in that line shows it a bit more inline with the turret roof.

Tomapal - Thanks for the offer about the pictures but I think I've exhausted the Australian Defense Website of High res photos. I also have some great walkaround pics. As I continue on through the build and painting process I'll be sure to post a few with the corresponding references. Cheers!

Erm.... A heads-up for the Aussie M1 markings.... the artwork's done and they will be coming in a month or two max. I'm talking about WHATEVER you need to built WHICHEVER Aussie M1 you have in mind (based on WHATEVER references you can find)... The works (placards, stencils, including the mish-mash set of digits)...

Many thanks to Tony and Greg who really went through with the help!

Hi Carmen
What a great build
May I make a suggestion when you are applying the markings etc add a little KIWI as there a lot of NZers in the ADF.
Just an idea and we don't have any tanks in the NZ army


Cheers

Chris

Haha....I know Carmen....he is all about accuracy....if there isn't an actual Kiwi marking on the tank it is not going to be on his project.

Good suggestion though.

Erm... I'm assuming you two are refering to Carmen with regards to Kiwis right? A little confused...

Lawrence - THAT IS AWESOME NEWS!! I've been pondering how to do all the stencil markings for my M1. As you can see from my materials picture I was going to use the Echelon Abrams generic tank name sheet for letters and numbers. They're close but not exactly the same style of font the Aussies use in their stencils.

Also I wanted to touch on the "Lift Here" Markings on the rear. Since the Aussie have a portion of the engine bay door (please mind my lack of true AFV nomenclatura) or exhaust screens painted black compared to the US versions the "Lift Here" on the right hand side is in the same sand color as the tank but the kit decal sheets are either White or Black. Will you be adressing this in your decal sets??

Chris - Great comment, but I have already picked out an actual troop tank to model my abrams after. I'm keeping it a bit of a surprise until I actually post the pictures. Thanks for the feedback!!

I should have more pictures of the Build progression within a month. Stay tuned...

Yes, no need to be confused....but you also are all about accuracy and you do a great job.