Part let's build, part history lesson! Thought I knew the story of the M1A1's development pretty well, but learned a few new things just watching this model come together. Clear, helpful instruction on building this tank, as well.
Thanks very much Mark! It's a great kit, with the one exception of those turret bustles. Once I got the hang of it they weren't too bad, but a little fiddly at first.
The little boxes on the turret sides are stowage for smoke grenades. I'm currently building 2 of these as 2 tanks that were attached to my infantry battalion during OIF. It has taken some work to set them up as Marine Corps tanks, but it has been fun. Built bustle rack extensions, missile countermeasure devices, external bustle apu's and had to build tube type smoke launchers (obnoxious), Id panels, and added the sprocket ring on one by cutting them off the armor and gluing them together (also obnoxious)..I wanted to see how far I could go with them
Thanks! Yeah, I could tell they were stowage of some kind by the little lids and clasps the kits had on them. But outside of "mailboxes" :P :P :P I had no idea what these were for. The Corps was still using M-601A1/ERA during Desert Storm, which limited my first-hand knowledge of these machines. Thanks again!
Yep, Lock-Tite gel is the best. I like how it comes out of the bottle in, well ... a gel, so it's already "semi-dried" ... no activator usually required. The tip is sometimes a little big for REALLY detailed glue application ... sometimes I use a toothpick or some such when really small precision is required.
Yeah, the "official" load-out is the M2HB .50 on the commander's hatch, and the M240 7.62 GPMG on the loader's hatch. Video and photos from the field show a lot of variations on that, though.
Great tip on glueing the stowage racks together first. Made it so much easier 😀
Thanks very much. Yeah, learned that one the hard way on the first model kit. 😅
Part let's build, part history lesson! Thought I knew the story of the M1A1's development pretty well, but learned a few new things just watching this model come together. Clear, helpful instruction on building this tank, as well.
Thanks very much Mark! It's a great kit, with the one exception of those turret bustles. Once I got the hang of it they weren't too bad, but a little fiddly at first.
1080p playback has finally finished processing. Hope you like the video! :D
Nicely done Jim!
Thanks very much!
The little boxes on the turret sides are stowage for smoke grenades. I'm currently building 2 of these as 2 tanks that were attached to my infantry battalion during OIF. It has taken some work to set them up as Marine Corps tanks, but it has been fun. Built bustle rack extensions, missile countermeasure devices, external bustle apu's and had to build tube type smoke launchers (obnoxious), Id panels, and added the sprocket ring on one by cutting them off the armor and gluing them together (also obnoxious)..I wanted to see how far I could go with them
Thanks! Yeah, I could tell they were stowage of some kind by the little lids and clasps the kits had on them. But outside of "mailboxes" :P :P :P I had no idea what these were for. The Corps was still using M-601A1/ERA during Desert Storm, which limited my first-hand knowledge of these machines. Thanks again!
You used the same glue I do, sweet! Now if I had only seen this before I had put my tanks together.
Loctite gel, the wargamer's friend?
Yep, Lock-Tite gel is the best. I like how it comes out of the bottle in, well ... a gel, so it's already "semi-dried" ... no activator usually required.
The tip is sometimes a little big for REALLY detailed glue application ... sometimes I use a toothpick or some such when really small precision is required.
@@johnsowerby7182 You know this! :D
Thanks for the toothpick hint. Every once in awhile it refuses to stick, probably due to lack of consistency.
@@AchanhiArusa I have noticed it sometimes is much thinner ... and when it does it often has trouble sticking.
Great stuff Jim👍
Thanks very much, Chris! :D
Love the comment on the 50 and 30 cals. What did they have? What did they pinch from elsewhere...
Yeah, the "official" load-out is the M2HB .50 on the commander's hatch, and the M240 7.62 GPMG on the loader's hatch. Video and photos from the field show a lot of variations on that, though.
Colour me a clippers guy. Found a good pair on Amazon, and very happy with them
Cool deal. Whatever works best for each hobbyist. :D