This time, I will make a modern tank after a long time. I have made a military truck once before, but I haven’t made a modern tank since last March. I chose the M1A2 Abrams tank released by VOIIO. Abrams Tank is the first tank selected in this blog, and it’s been 13 years since then.
The plastic is a little soft. I think it contrasts the dry plastic feeling of the Italian kit. It’s easy to work. Amazingly, the assembly instruction manual is all color. It seems that CG is used a lot for illustration. The first assembly process is from the rear of the tank.
The molding color is unusual. It is a part color like German gray. I don’t know much about the manufacturer VOIIO. It is for the first time so I will make it according to the assembly instruction.
(2020/07/18)
I think the parts fit very well. The kit was released in 2019, so the parts must be more accurate. Or maybe the technology of the manufacturer is relatively high from the beginning.
On the upper surface of the tank body, a rough mold has been reproduced to prevent slipping when a crew walks.
This rubber belt track looks good mold.
I thought it would be easy to glue for plastic, but it didn’t work. Even though I used an instant adhesive, I couldn’t get the expected adhesion strength. I thought the recent belt type was easy to attach, but it’s not so.
I have no choice but to use a multi-purpose adhesive called Cemedine Super X., It would be better to check if the remaining rubber parts can be bonded well before I use it on the caterpillar parts.
I saw a movie called “Under sandet = LAND OF MINE” yesterday. Soon after the war, young German soldiers were mobilized to clear mines on the Danish coast. It was quite a tragic story, but it made me think a lot and was an exciting movie. I recommend it.
(2020/07/20)
Applied glue to both sides.
I fixed it with many clips to press and bond it strongly.
The Abrams tank has quite a big turret, and there is also a rough surface here.
Ultimately, I was worried about using only glue, so I used a stapler to fix the connecting part of the track more firmly. If I make this part a hidden part with a side armor, I think there will be no problem with the appearance.
There are not so many parts, and it is easy to assemble. The belt type is also the reason. I usually like the connected assembly type, but if I can hide this much with a side armor, the belt type is no problem. The mold is excellent, and it looks bent at the track’s connection.
(2020/07/22)
When there is a chance, my cat relaxes in a box of plastic models. This is a typical scene of a cat keeper.
Abrams has more parts on the top of the turret than the chassis, so it isn’t easy to assemble them. This may be true for all modern tanks.
The rack at the rear of the turret with a meshed photo-etched part.
It was quite a precise feeling.
The Remote Weapon System (RWS) is mounted in front of the commander’s hatch, and the M2 machine gun is mounted on the M153 CROWS II (remote-controlled gun turret). The 7.62 mm machine gun M240 is also mounted around the loader hatch on a rail-like gun rack. It means that the strengthening of urban warfare capability has increased the power of small firearms.
(2020/07/24)
For now, the assembly of the M1A2 Abrams has been completed.
The turret does not rotate smoothly if this Combat Identification Panel is attached too low.
The rubber caterpillar and wheels are not bonded so far. I don’t think I can fix it well, even with superglue, so I thought it would be better not to work with it. If you are concerned about this part, the plastic caterpillar is more convenient. If I’m concerned about this, the plastic-separated tracks are convenient.
I like the feeling that modern tanks are high-tech weapons because this area is messy.
(2020/07/26)
Since equipment such as jerry cans is prepared, I decided to paint as much as possible on the Abrams.
I applied a high-performance primer before painting because it was a track part that could not be bonded easily.
I contrasted in black and white first.
The box painting is remarkable. The package of Abrams in all colors of NATO green was as cool as the three colors of sand camouflage, so I decided to finish it with Nato green this time.
(2020/07/29)
I’ve just finished the paint and the decal paste.
M1A2 Abrams is now completed. What is SEP when I first hear it? It is an abbreviation for System Enhancement Package.
The SEP is currently up to version 4 and has been upgraded with advanced electronic equipment and remote control of the machine guns. This kit is version 2.
The markings are for the U.S. Army stationed in Germany in 2017—the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Armored Brigade, the 66th Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. By the way, I think the arrow mark on the side armor is the company mark, and it is tank number 32 of B company.
I like clear red and orange lights because they give an accent and change.
The drawbar is for quick recovery, and the headlights are pretty clear parts, but with this bar, I can barely see them.
It is equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun M240 on the right side of the front of the turret.
The Combat Identification Panels (CIP) on the left, right, and rear are attached with radiant heat-reducing tape. In the thermographic image, the temperature is relatively lower than the surrounding temperature and darkened, making it easy to identify friends and foes. I think the primary way to identify friends and foes is not to rely on visual observation. I suppose it is automatically judged by sending an identification signal.
As for the paint, besides the gradation of light and dark, I wash it with light brown color and dry brush. It’s monochromatic paint, so I tried not to be too monotonous.
This decal clearly conveys to ordinary people that this is an American tank.
The onboard machine gun is remote-controlled, and the shield is attached, improving the crew’s survivability.
They are cans for drinking water and reserve fuel. But I’ve heard that Abrams is a gas turbine engine, and I wonder what these fuels are used for. Is it the fuel for the stove when they cook? But I have an image that the U.S. military always eats the ration.
I did not let the dry metal brush touch the rubber pad part of the tracks and dry-brushed the connecting part with silver. Maybe I did it too much.
This time, a plastic bottle of this mineral water was included. It’s interesting. The Evian label is also excellent.
When I put plastic bottles of mineral water in the tank, I thought Abrams, which is expanding in Iraq, would look better.
The 1/35-scale Abrams tank has a large body and turret, so the painting work was interesting.
VOIIO Abrams is very easy to make. Only the belt caterpillar was a little hard to handle. The picture of the box is so cool that I bought it impulsively, but I’m glad I bought it. Many manufacturers have released the same tanks, so I would like to make and compare them. But there are too many to make. I also have MENG in stock and want to make one someday.
(2020/07/31)
I am interested in models of tanks, airplanes, ships, military figures, I build them little by little when I feel like it. I am also interested in the history of war. My starting is Tamiya’s Military Miniature series in elementary school.
From elementary school through university students repeatedly suspend and restart my modeling, it’s about 25 years of this hobby’s history.
From February 2007 I was quietly doing a site called “Miniature-Arcadia”. It is being transferred to this blog with the same name from December 2016. My update pace is uneven, but please come to see me here occasionally.
