1/35 Abrams M1A1 'KFOR' by REVELL - fresh life for a 20yr old build!

[ForTheWatch]

EDIT: Project completed, here is the finished pic:




Meet my nearly 20 year old REVELL Abrams M1A1 Tank in 1/35, slowly brought to life with some weathering effects (I used the kit as a test, since I want to weather my new project, the DAK Tiger).

LInk to full album

This is the first Armor model I made and it has spent more than 15 years in parents basement. I dusted this off few months ago and thought.. why not display it? I couldnt even remember which model of Abrams this was, cue a search on internet, that slowly led me to this place and to scalemates. Turns out it is an old Revell kit, fairly crude in quality and not so well put together (tracks are crooked, since this is what I do - my Tiger also has this issue), and painted free hand in NATO Woodland camo.

box I found on scalemates:


I figured Ill make this into the KFOR dirty tank. Few pics are online - posting them in the end too.

Let me know if I can improve it further, but as such, Im fairly happy with how it is now, especially the contrast on the outside of the rims vs inside, and the whole dust-dirt feel of it.

Things done to it:

• tile grout + acrylic mix for mod effects
  lead pencil on some edges to show wear
  wash with dark and light brown (enamel + thinner)
  glued back broken off machine gun
  crude home made KFOR stencil

to do further:

• add antennas which were broken off
  refine the weathering on rims a bit more
  rethink KFOR letters - either order a decal online or do a proper stencil
  perhaps order a set of extra parts for it
  nigtht visions optics - use film, fix background

Inspiration:



EDIT: See few posts down updated pics after more weathering:

[ForTheWatch]

And just to give you a sense of scale, here it is next to my current WIP Tiger 1. Arguably some of the most iconic tanks of their eras next to each other.

I would like to build an Easy 8 Sherman and source a good Leo 4 models to complete the set. But for now, this will do.

[Sturm]

Love the woodland camo. I like that Tiger I!

[ForTheWatch]

Love the woodland camo. I like that Tiger I!

Thanks! Yes I prefer the woodland as well, my favourite camo today.

[ForTheWatch]

Since this update I have toned down the whole dirt look with a coat of buff, and overall it is in a condition Im happy with it.

I scratchbuilt the coaxial now, as it was missing, added another railing piece that was missing also...

Details:

[ForTheWatch]

I cant do much more to the tank since it would now require buying stowage gear etc and I think id like to leave it in a shape it was build in late 1990s by yours truly. Enjoy the pics, I wish we would get more Arbams tanks here with the NATO woodland camo haha.

[HIghAltitudeScale]

Good job, I've never built any Revell armor was it a nice kit and were there any issues of note?

[ForTheWatch]

Good job, I've never built any Revell armor was it a nice kit and were there any issues of note?

Thanks! The kit is from 1990s, bought in 1990s and built then.... well, the glue still holds everything, so thats good! But nah, quality is so so, detail is so so, thats why it is weather so much. I figured it will hide models imperfections. I think on top of turret is where you will see most of the weaknesses. From what I hear Tamiya for simplicity and accuracy all the way, but MENG makes very good modern armor kits too. Probably better than Tamiya, Dragon, etc.