M1A2 SEP V2 ABRAMS VOIIO 1/35

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 is in contrast to the dry plastic feeling of the Italian kit. It’s easy to work. It’s amazing that the assembly instruction manual is all color. It seems that CG is used a lot for the 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 well, it 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 quite 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 at all. Even though I used an instant adhesive, I couldn’t get the adhesion strength I expected. I thought the recent belt type is 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 to the caterpillar parts.

I saw a movie called “Under sandet = LAND OF MINE” yesterday. Shortly after the war, young German soldiers are being mobilized to clear mines laid on the Danish coast. It was quite a tragic story, but it made me think a lot and it was an interesting movie. I recommend it.
(2020/07/20)

Applied glue to both sides.

I fixed it with a lot of clips because I want to press it and bond it strongly.

The Abrams tank has quite a big turret, and there is also a rough surface here.

In the end, 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 nice and looks like it is bent at the connection of the track.
(2020/07/22)

When there is a chance, my cat is relaxing 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 on the chassis, so it is difficult 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 on a rail-like gun rack around the loader hatch. It means that the power of small firearms has been increased by the strengthening of urban warfare capability.
(2020/07/24)

For now, the assembly of the M1A2 Abrams has been completed.

If this Combat Identification Panel is attached too low, the turret does not rotate smoothly.

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 a little more convenient. If I’m concerned about this, the plastic separated tracks are convenient.

I like the feeling that modern tanks are really high-tech weapons because this area is messy.
(2020/07/26)

Since equipment such as jerry cans are prepared, I decided to paint as much as I can put on the Abrams.

Because it was a track part that could not be bonded easily, I applied a high-performance primer before painting.

I made a contrast black and white first.

The box painting is cool. 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 of System Enhancement Package.

The SEP is currently considered to be up to version 4, and which 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 the tank number 32 of B company.

I like clear red and orange lights because they give an accent and change.

The draw-bar for quick recovery, 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 it is darkened, making it easy to identify friends and foes. I think the main 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 a monochromatic paint, so I tried not to be too monotonous.

This decal has a clear message for ordinary people that this is an American tank.

The on-board machine gun is remote-controlled and the shield is attached, so the survivability of the crew is improved.

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 took care not to let the metal dry 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 kind of mineral water was included. It’s interesting. The Evian label is also wonderful.

When I put plastic bottles of mineral water on 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 it was interesting painting work.

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 on impulse spending, 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, so I want to make one someday.
(2020/07/31)