Andy's Tamiya 1/35 M1A2 Operation Iraqi Freedom

[the Baron]

I like the weathering you've already done on the wheels and lower sides of the hull. You've achieved that dry, dusty, sandy look of a vehicle used the desert. Nicely done!
Best regards,
Brad

 

[Edbert]

Those highlights look to me to be about right. I wouldn't want to overdo it, to avoid the model looking too, well, painted.

I agree, the highlights are done. Maybe put some lowlights in, panel lines do not specifically exist, at least like on aircraft, but shadows and places hidden from the bleaching desert sun do.

 

[Andy the Sheep]

After fiddling with the external loads, trying different colours and shades, but keeping in mind that everything will be heavily covered by dust and sand, obtained with a very thinned wash of Vallejo Iraqi sand in a small size pot I had at the bottom of the paint drawer, a relic from the Merkava Mk1 1/72 I built years ago, here are the results.

Once loaded on the tank they will be weathered accordingly.

Then decals were applied. Finally panel lines with Tamiya panel line accent dark brown.


The "F4" on the CIP to the back of the turret needs a lot of retouching as the transparent film is too visible.


I think I'll try to weather the tank with oils, but I'm still considering the chalks and pastels option.

See you soon and thank you for your attention and support.

Andrea

 

[Andy the Sheep]

An update while the second layer of weathering is drying. This time with a pale yellow oil wash.


Tamiya decals are always thick...

 

[mark2]

An update while the second layer of weathering is drying. This time with a pale yellow oil wash.
View attachment 129436View attachment 129437

Tamiya decals are always thick...

Looking good Andy

 

[Andy the Sheep]

Here's the situation as per today. Towing cables and removal of transparencies masking left.



Thank you for your patience.

Andrea

 

[Modelprofessor]

It looks good . I'm glad to see you didn't chip it all over

 

[Jakko]

That would be fine for a Desert Storm vehicle, but not OIF, I agree. Chipping is usually a very, very much overused (and overdone) thing anyway, IMHO.

 

[Andy the Sheep]

It seems I reached the end of the road; M1A2 OIF is completed, and that's a result in itself, indeed!
Here are some pics. Hope to provide more tomorrow, taken outside, weather permitting.
The last two were taken at 5 pm, almost dark in late november.
The one taken with the flash on looks like, IMHO, that the tank is under an artillery/mortar IL fire.



Thank you for following and for your kind comments.

Andrea

 

[wjbrandel]

Good job!

 

[mark2]

It looks good Andy nice job

 

[Andy the Sheep]

Last set of pics, unless I decide to try to fit the aerials, which usually I don't as they have the despicable habit to fly into oblivion as soon as I try to grab the kit again.


Not a lot of chipping, but some is there anyway.

Andrea

 

[JOHN R]

Very nice indeed Andrea.

 

[Aya]

Andrea,
A great tribute to your late pal. Beginning to take shape. I feel your pain re: lightening a single colour, I am no expert but mine never look contrasty enough. Your Abrams looks fine to me in the picture above.

 

[Andy the Sheep]

Andrea,
A great tribute to your late pal. Beginning to take shape. I feel your pain re: lightening a single colour, I am no expert but mine never look contrasty enough. Your Abrams looks fine to me in the picture above.

Thank you. I highlighted the flat surfaces with the base color + some white then some dark brown Tamiya panel liner followed by an oil pin wash with burnt amber, pale yellow and white and finally an oil wash with a diluted pale yellow+white mix trying to let it flow into the areas I thought the sand would sit. I had the same problem with the contrast. As Jakko suggested, I started with what looked like a too much sharp contrast then blended it gradually with weathering. The external loads were weathered with highly diluted acrilycs.

 

[Andy the Sheep]

The very last pics, with aerials and boxed ready for delivery on tuesday morning.
The purple tape is just for transport, the box can still be disassembled.

 

[Edbert]

Excellent!

How did you make those antennae?

 

[Andy the Sheep]

They are from Aber, Edbert. They are glued to the kit antenna bases, I just bended them using my fingers and painted dark green. The cable securing them to the turret is from stretched sprue. I added a small piece of thermic rubber tube (those used to seal electric cables junctions) to the base as the gluing surface was too small.