Heres a 72nd ESCI M-60 that I converted to USMC standard. The dozer blade and reactive armor tiles were made from scratch. I built this at about the same time as my M-113. Tell me what you think, guys.







picture links modified - jeep

Get me those wonderful Xs!

Well that went well. Hmmm? I wonder what went wrong... I guess for now youll just have to visit my gallery guys. Sorry!

All I get is an X mark #:-)

Seriously, I recon it is in your "my gallery" so I searched there.

Its another monster! Very nice! However, I found it a clean build. The dozer blade kinda looks more of rectangular than a curved shape to me. Overall, I found it very nice! Good work my friend! Hope I can do as good as you.

Thanks, Shonen! Ive checked and re-checked the link but couldnt figure out how to iron out the kinks. Well, talagang ganon.

The blade really has a curved shape. Must be the photo angle. Thanks again!

Hey Buck,

Nice one!! Man, it really pays to have good eye-sight and steady hands. The dozer blade is a dooozy!! Congratulations on the clean build.

Question? Is it hard for you to dirty your builds? For me, I find it difficult sometimes to dirty/weather my builds especially when I don't plan to put it in a base or diorama. I'm actually more partial to out of the factory finishes.

Galeng! Looks better than most other 1/35 models. Steady ng kamay mo buck!

Kakainggit! Heavy kasi ako this term kaya di ko maharap models ko. Sana may matapos ulit akong bagong kit.

Impressive! Definitely impressive Buck. You're a master in detailing the Braille scale.

Yeah I remember this one! I saw this at Motorex 2002 along with the other 1/72 armor kits. Sayo pala yan Buck! I didn't know the ERA panels and dozer blade were scratchbuilt. How'd you do the bolts on the ERA? And is the Hoffman device on the bore evacuator scratchbuilt too? I'm going to convert one of my 1/72 Abrams kits into a KVT with MILES II gear. Ikaw din ba ang gumawa ng 1/72 Leopard 2A5 with MILES gear? If so, how'd you do the belts?

As for the curve on the dozer blade, I see it. It's only the sides that gives it an impression that it's rectangular. Look closely SR at the pics and you can see the dozer blade curve inwards.

I don't mind clean builds, and IIRC when I saw this one in the flesh, it didn't look clean, but weathered good IMO. After all, it IS 1/72 and not 1/35, so any weathering at this scale is - should IMO - be quite subtle.

Very good build! Looks even better than 1/35 :-)

Hey Buck.. WOW!!!! it's looks like a 1/35th model.. you even drilled a hole for the barrel of the .50 cal MG!

Thanks fellas! Im glad you liked it.


Bistro,
Good eyesight and steady hands --- two things Im beginning to have less of. Sigh.

I try to be as subtle as I could in weathering. GI's right, there should be some limitations in Braille considering the scale. But I sometimes go to extremes. Sometimes I weather a tank heavily, like it just slushed around a mud pit, and sometimes I build in pristine conditions, just like coming out of the paint shop.

John, Alex & Blitz,
Thank you, my friends, for the kind words.

GI,
The bolts are stretched sprue sliced into discs and glued one by one. The Hoffman device was made from Evergeen styrene rods and sheet styrene. The clamps around the barrel were heat formed and cut to size.

I built the Leo 2 you saw but it was actually the M-1A1 that had the MILES system. The belt was made from Tamiya Pla-Paper and the receivers were again made from sliced up stretched sprue. Very useful yung Pla-Paper, very very thin. Im about to run out of it and I asked Natalie of JMNs if they could order some more.

Interesting that Pla-Paper. What is it exactly? For Armorama's Abrams group build, I'll be doing a 1/72 M1A1 converted to a KVT and I'll be scratchbuilding the MILES components.

Yeah Buck,

Weathering Braille is a lot harder than 1/35th. Sometimes, I build kits to practice my weathering techniques. I wish that I have more time for the hobby. So many projects in mind but not a lot of time to realize it.

Damn, winning the lotto would be nice. Man, I could retire enjoy the hobby.

Wouldnt we all, Bistro. Wouldnt we all.

If I win a ton of money in the lotto I'll build a permanent clubhouse for IPMS-P-BAC and Armorama members. And it will be staffed with Chinitas for all those who love them and they will wear office uniforms with above-knee skirts.