M247A1 Desert Storm What-If

[MikeRobinson]

Hey man, great looking kit build so far! Wish I could see it now though, this was an awesome thread and much kudos to you for the unbelievable scratch building. Anyways, don't know the current status of the build but I found something rather interesting, thought you may like to give it a look:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47209/th ... uestion---
I'm currently building my own M247 and I'd love to learn to do a lot of the scratch building you're doing (only my second armor kit I've built so far) such as the interiors, so please if you have photos of the kit post them! I'd love to see it! Absolutely amazing job so far, all the best to you and happy modelling,
~Mike

[MikeRobinson]

https://www.facebook.com/Air-Defense-Ar ... 5926116057

Lots of info to help?

[ForbesHutton]

I've recently picked up a M247 and an pondering a "what if" build, but I'm considering putting the turret on a M1 Abrams, any ideas about the sizes of the two turret rings?

[lucasner]

Mike, like many of my projects, it's been sitting collecting dust while I start 5 other kits...LOL

The scratchbuilding stuff is actually pretty easy...basic tools, lots of styrene, and the patience to build the same thing 5 times over till it looks right.

You're motivating me to crack it back out again!

Let me know if I can help. This... is an awesome walk around (and IN) video I have used ALOT while working on the turret interior.

Dave

[chalkyw]

Awesome scratch building Sir I hope you crack this one open again soon as I would love to see more

[lucasner]

LITERALLY blew the dust off this kit today, deciding that over my Christmas break I was going to make some progress on it. Staying with the build plan of updating the hull while keeping the turret as accurate as period photos allow, I started working on the side skirts. The front half of the hull will have spaced armor skirts, while the rear will not. Using the M2A2 as a guide, here's the start of the armored portion.

Simple .030" plastic. I'm (as always) cheating to get the correct spacing. The semi-detail will only go where you may possibly see it when done.




Marking out the pattern for the spacer bolt heads. Again, used the M2A2 as a guide for the spacing between bolts.


LOTS more Meng bolts. The edges don't look very straight yet, they need some filing and sanding before finish. I am notoriously lazy about lining things up that I can come back later and sand, scrape, file and fill... It's the finished product that counts, right?


Added spacers between the armor plates where it will probably never be seen...the madness...


Going back to work on it after my son and I finish watching our holiday Iron Man 1-3 marathon!

Merry Christmas and comment away, everyone!

Thanks,
Dave

[jjab99]

Great work and great skills on display here.

[MikeRobinson]

Very excited for this! Love that you picked it back up. I've also picked mine back up and I'm starting on the scratch building as well