Hello all scratchbuilders,

Some one emailed me an entire forum from this site, so I joined.

I'd like to thank you all for the comments on my models, I finally found a group of people who really enjoy scratchbuilding.

Looking forward to chat with you all.

Happy modeling

Howdy Talal,

Allow me to be the first to wish you a hearty welcome to the site. Indeed, you have found the very best modeling site out there!! Whoever that was that Emailed you the Forum from this site deserves a big "Thanks" from all of us, and from you as well. I'm glad people are 'spreading the news' :-)

Spend some time here, you'll be happy you did. One note of caution tho', this place CAN be habit-forming. #:-)

Tread out.

Hello and welcome to the site! Lot's of people here are great scrathbuilders. Looking forward to seeing your works!

Tatal,
I"m a great admirer of your work. It's a pleasure and an honour to have you on board !
Welcome !
Jan

Welcome to the site Talal... I loved your work on 1/16 Bradley and LAV.. very nice... we even had a discussion here about those beauties and I'm sure there will be lots of questions about your techniques.

Anyway, our own GeneralFailure also made some impressive models in 1/16. Check them out...

Mario M.

Welcome Talal, It is indeed an honor to have you join us here. I am a big fan of your work. Your attention to detail is an insperation to us all.

A warm welcome aboard Talal from one that love to scratchbuild/heavily convert. I'm sure that you will enjoy your stay.
Ciao from Italy

Thank you for the kind words, Maki. But this is comparing a caveman's work with Michelangelo's sistine chapel. I may be a dedicated caveman, but I could only dream of doing what Talal does.

BTW, Talal : I saw your discussion about a picture CD of the LAV progress on another site. Could you let us know when that is available, and what the conditions are ?
Thanks !

Jan

Thank you all for the warm welcome :-), and again thanks for the complements.
I guess some of you have already seen my work, for the others, please, check my web site and don't be shy to critisize my work, that's how I improve on my next project.

All my scrtachbuilding and modeling techniques are learned from modelers like you, I ask a lot of questions and I let other modelers critisize and nit-pick on my models

To answer Generalfailure question reagrading LAV CD, I'm still working on it and I'll let you know
I'm actualy going on travel today and I will return on Saturday, so I'm sorry I won't be able to attend this forum until I return. My job is sending me to a base to measure 8 vehicles which I'm supposed to make models of.

I'll talk to you all when I return

Best, and happy scrtchbuilding

Talal,
That's my biggest problem ! Getting good documentation material. i could do the M35 because I happened to find one here in Belgium to photograph in detail and to measure up. I was even allowed to a US base in Germany to visit an M35 repair shop for the M35's more intimate details. That was back in the 80's, I don't think they'd allow foreigners on their base now in the post 9/11 era....
I'd love to start scratchbuilding the HEMTT, but I've never even seen a real one, let alone take detail pictures of one or measuring it up. I don't have access to decent plans. The only good plans I can find are those in the TB43-0209 manual for camouflage painting reference. They lack detail, or even measurements...

A few days ago, I started to build an M1009 in 1/35, though I'm very short on detailed pictures. We'll see how well that works. The chevvy has a lot of bends and curves, so that will prove to be more complicated than the M35 I did on 1/16 (which you also did on the same scale ). You can find the pics on this site.
I'm not sure the M1009 will all work out well, but I do it for the fun of trying and learning. My eyesight isn't too good, that's why I prefer 1/16 over 1/35.

Anyway, I look forward to reading you soon. I wish I could be there to help you measure...
Fly safely !

Jan

Talal, Loved the 1/16th Abrams (I love anything Abrams). What resources did you use when doing that one. I am not sure how much of the interior you did, but where on earth did you find what you did? I ended up having to go down to a local Armory to get some pics (600 total, let me know if you would like them). I am in the process of scratchbuilding an interior for a 1/35th scale abrams, a complete turret off interior. Do you know of any resources that show the hull interior without the turret? I have some limited stuff, but it's mostly oblique angles.

On the modelling side, how do you start a 1/16th project once you have the resources you need. I am toying with the idea of another full interior 1/16th Abrams later on down the road but wouldn't know how to go about starting it, any pointers?

Rob

PS I also just saw the earlier post about your website where it has a pic of the inside of your LAV. I must say I love the Tamiya and Italeri kits in it. You have a keen sense of humor.

Add mine to the list of welcomes

kevin

welcome to the site, loved your work, your'e a modelling legend in the making!

thanks you forthe inspiration.

John
www.johnneill.com

:O I'll be weeping in the corner....... welcome to armorama! this is the best site on the net!

Dear Talal good to have u here. It's an honour for us, for such a great modeller to join . i hop we learn from you but also u from everyone else.
Greetings from Greece

Welcome aboard sir, it´s a great honour to us to have you around...
Cheers

Welcome aboard. You'll recognize a few names here from real life. It was good seeing you again at AMPS last week. :-)

Hi all,

I'm back, It was a quite a trip, I got to drive 3 tanks, and I got stuck in one and I almost ran into the wall, but it was fun. Anyway, I really wana thank you guys for the great welcome. I saw Generalfailure work, that is some M-35 you got there, my hat is off for you. I'm honored to be welcomed by you.

I just came back from a work trip where my job sends me to measure the real vehicles so I can make models of, I measured 8 tanks and got to drive 3 of them, I can't say what they are but I can mention one.
I drove the T-55, man... you need to be in a lot of shape to get this monster going. Well... this is how it went, I got a 2 minutes crash course in driving it from the instructor, then they gave me a russian tanker helmet and I jumped in, one important thing the instructor said and I didn't listen because I was so exited, he said once you push down the clutch you have no control of the tank, you have to push the clutch and change gear very quick or you'll end up in the wall. So here I am, started the tank , released brakes, pressed the clutch, put it in first gear, and pressed the gas, then the tank jumbed, it was great, I'm going straight for about 50 yards, now I have to turn to the left, so I pulled on the left handel to turn and I hear on my helmet " Change to 2nd gear before you turn", so I pressed the clutch to change the gear , but the gear wouldn't budg, and my foot still on the clush, suddenly the the tank jumbed and started to go straight, right toward the wall, then I hear " release the clutch, release the clutch" now I have no control of the tank , I'm trying to turn left but the stick won't respond, and I'm trying to change gear but it won't budg. I'm just about 20 ft from the wall and it's going about 10 MPH, and I started to say, I'm going to crash, I'm going to carsh, then on the intercom " BRAKES.... BRAKES" I hit the brakes hard, the whole thing went dead, both tank and engine. what a reliefe...... I looked out and I can see the gun about 2 feets from the wall.....
It was scarry but was fun :-) at least I got feel itt.

Man!!!! I don't know how Russian tankers can fit and drive these suckers, they are hard. I've driven so many tanks before, this is the hardest I've ever been, due to the fact that it's all mechanical linkage and no hydraulic assist, and no automatic gear boxe.
Best, Talal

Glad to have you back... I know how you felt in the T-55; I was able to climb on the Slovenian T-55 last month, entered the turret (I still can't imagine how 3 people could fit in there) but unfortunately no driving for me...

I guess we could soon expect some more models from you. What did you get to measure? BTW, do you sell your measurements?

Mario M.

BroAbrams, I found a lot of books on the M1, some of these books have pics of the vehicle in production without the turret. And I also borrowed a tech manual from a base library. The tech manual had all the internal componnents drawn seperatley and where are they located in the vehicle.


The M1A1 was my first 1/16th scale project, it was a lot of trial and error. There are a lot of ways you can start a scratchbuild project, and there are no set rules. I like to do it exactley like the real one is made "panel by panel". As we all know tanks are made from individual steel panels welded together, so you just make your model the same way, cut every panel and glue it at the exact angel, it's that simple. I took some photos of the model in progress but I could'nt put them all on my site because of space, I'll be more then happy to send you those photos if you'd like.




I had a lot of people asking me the same question. All of you please undersand, I work for the US government, any information I collect under that banner I CAN NOT pass them to any one, they are government property, and if I do I would lose my job and ended up in jail for breach of national security, so PLEASE, PLEASE don't put me in this position.
I will be more then happy to pass any measurment, photos, info, etc... that I collected outside my job on my own personal time.
I hope you guys understand the situation. If 9-11 never happened, the situation would have been different. These days everything is tide to national security.

Best
Talal

Hey Talal-
It ruely is a pleasure to have you with us! I am in absolute awe of your work and am sure that everyone here will benefit from your presence. Slightly off topic but General Failure, What type of HEMMT were you planning on building? The only reason I ask is that there is a small national guard "base" (its area encompasses that of a one story house ) and I might be able to get some measurements for you. They also have M109a6s and the ammo carriers that accompany the Paladins. If you're interested pm me or post a reply with the specifics (eg. type of HEMMT, what measurements, etc.). Once again, welcome aboard Talal and hope you enjoy your stay!
Kyle

Hey Talal... great to have you here (finally!) on board neighbor!