AFV Modeller - Issue 22 - 1 - M1A1 (HA) Abrams

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M1A1 (HA)

Abrams

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Derek Brown describes his incredible small scale Abrams

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The completed engine bay.

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The engine bay components.

Test fitting the engine deck panels.

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The engine bay after painting.

Two shots of the completed engine pack - its hard to believe this is 1:72nd scale!

The 1/72 scale Revell M1A1 HA (Heavy Armor) kit is a beauty to build, and with a little work and the use of after-market sets from PART and Eduard, makes a very nice replica of the US Marine Corps main battle tank. My subject vehicle is an M1A1 HA nicknamed "Hard Lighter" of 'B' Company, 1st Marine Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom, March of 2003 I selected this particular vehicle to model due to the mine plough configuration and the unique markings on the turret panels, which were scanned and reduced from the outstanding Echelon set.

One of the biggest tasks I faced was the tracks which were completely upgraded by sanding off the 'football' style tread patterns and replacing each link with the correct ‘Bigfoot’ style pad. There were a total of about 400 individually cut and sanded pads for the tracks and to show off all that hard work I scratch built a new right front fender in the raised position using thin aluminum.

The rear engine panels were opened up and new rear engine grilles made. I wanted to be able to remove the scratch built engine/transmission pack so I hinged the rear panels to open just like on the real tank and I replaced the solid engine deck screens with Trimaster screen. The tail light housing units were replaced with scratchbuilt replacements, which look much better than the moulded-on kit units due to their scale thickness.

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The turret components.

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The turret interior after painting.

A close up view of the turret basket.

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The side skirts were modified to represent the M1A1 HA in configuration and thickness. This area is perhaps the weakest point on the Revell model, since they incorrectly moulded the right hand side skirts the same as the left. The panels are not symmetrical on the real tank. Panels 1 and 2 on the left hand side of the tank and panels 1 through 4 on the right hand side of the tank are armoured and therefore thicker than the rest of the side skirts. I added mud holes to the rear drive sprockets which was easy to accomplish and adds an obvious detail otherwise missing on the model.

The engine pack was made to represent as close as possible the dimensions of the real unit, utilizing photos and drawings that were provided courtesy of contacts in Iraq and armour web sites. The result is a engine that fits to the mounting brackets with very tight tolerances. With care the engine can be removed from the tank as the real one does, by first opening the hinged rear panels and lifting the engine up while at the same time gently pulling back towards the rear of the tank.

The engine pack itself was made from various sizes of cut brass tubing and plastic stock, with Trimaster screen used for the intake trunks. Once created the entire engine was primed with Mr. Gunze 1000. The engine was painted a variety of metallic shades, with a final oil wash of Burnt Umber

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and Paines Grey used to bring out the

takes two sets to build the plough - one to

This tank represents a Marine M1A1 HA

highlights. The plumbing and wiring was

build it the first time and the other to learn

that was originally painted in the factory

made with varying sizes of solder, which

from your mistakes and built it correctly the

NATO green scheme and then repainted

made the wiring process very easy. The

second time. Once it is done however, it is

sand during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the

pliable solder allows you to tack one end

stunning. The main gun was scratch built

interior of the various compartments (such

and then shape and form the solder as it is

using various sizes of brass tubing. The

as the battery compartment) as well as the

‘walked’ to the end point. It is much easier

small rings around the gun were made from

underside of the engine deck panels were

than pre-bending and shaping copper wire

heat-forming stretched sprue and a strip

painted green. Certain replacement parts

prior to assembly and It is possible to

around the same diameter brass tubing as

such as road wheels, the number 7 skirt

actually connect the electrical plugs

that of the gun barrel. Pieces were then cut

(back end of the tank), pieces of the mine

attached to the end of each wire bundle to

and added to the brass barrel.

plough and fenders were typically not painted before being added to the

the appropriate panel connector. Fuel lines,

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hoses and electrical lines were painted

The bustle rack extension was made with

otherwise desert-sand painted tank. This

accordingly (red, black or silver) and then a

small styrene rod for the rails and drilled

afforded an opportunity to add a bit of color

final flat coat was applied to obtain a

strips for the supports which was added to

and interest.

uniform appearance. The engine

the modified PART bustle rack. The smoke

compartment was painted off-white and

dischargers are made from turned brass

This model was awarded the "George Lee

then weathered using oils and pastels.

and the extras on the chassis (panel

Best of Show" at the 2004 International

These engine bays can get quite grimy

supports, bumpers for the wheels, mud

Plastic Modeler’s Society convention held in

during operations.

scrapers, etc) were added using various

Phoenix, Arizona and the model is

pieces of rod and strip plastic. A scratched

dedicated to the crew of "Hard Lighter" and

The mine plough is a photoetched set from

MCD (Missile Counter Device) was added

all the other men and women serving in

PART and its a real beauty of a set but the

on top of the “manhole” and the doghouse

Iraq.

instructions can be misleading. It almost

includes a complete optics sighting system.

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