Painting an M1A1 Abrams

I custom-converted this tank with 3d printed details I designed myself as well as many more details. Then I painted the base coat with MENG models US desert tan color modulation set.
Follow me on Instagram: / mattockmodels
Kit:
Dragon models, M1A1 AIM 1/35 Scale
Music:
A Hand In The Dark, By Underbelly & Ty Mayer
Swells, by Underbelly & Ty Mayer

[@LaYarddog]

Reminds me of my tank in Iraq. I was with D co. 2/7 Cav

[@mattockmodels]

That's amazing! Thank you for your service.

[@ktiger1766]

Is it a First CAV 😮😅

[@raptor1856]

Love the details, and your soothing voice! keep it up

[@alantrail7662]

I really enjoyed your video. And that idea of using a wash for the rubber on the road wheels made me smile! Road wheels are a bane for most of us. Great idea! I've never used Meng paints before. I will have to give them a shot. I am currently working on a 1/16 M1A2 Abrams. So while I am working on building and details, I've been watching painting techniques from others. your video is perfect for me. Thanks.

[@mattockmodels]

That's awesome! Good luck with your project, I've always wanted to try something in 1/16. Glad to have been helpful, thanks for watching.

[@kenjohnston8173]

So far, so good

[@amaurythewarrior]

helpful video. i got a small trumpeter abrams abrams as my first tank model, and i'd have felt silly after putting together and realizing maybe i should considered the painting workflow...

[@mattockmodels]

Practice makes progress! Glad I could help.

[@philRminiatures]

Lovely details!

[@johnalecsscalemodeling]

Outstanding!!

[@marzio416]

Di gran lunga il migliore che abbia visto nel creare un'abrams....Bellissimo video

[@mattockmodels]

Thank you so much!

[@rogernichols8150]

Great information....so enjoy your videos 📹 😘 please keep them coming 🙏 😉 and here to help get your videos 📹 😉 out to everyone to enjoy 😉 😀

[@lionel5615]

Nouveau sur la chaine, beau travail j'adore l'abrams, je l'ai au 1/16 c'est une belle machine, beau tutoriel, belle qualité de réalisation, félicitations.......amicalement Lionel France à Provins

[@mattockmodels]

Merci, Lionel!

[@lappin6482]

awesome work 👌

[@JagdeepSingh-sy2mh]

Fabulous details 👌

[@silentumexcubitor6747]

First, YES, I subscribed! The model looks amazing! The 3d printed parts look very nice! I'd like to see the finished piece. BUT, I have to comment!.... That rear hull panel, where it meets the hull top, MY GOD! GAPS!?....And the rear of the side hull panels are as bad. My "trick", is to first glue the rear hull panel to the hull TOP, and not the hull bottom, as you've done here. Glueing the rear hull panel to the bottom first, only SEEMS like a better idea. But when you glue the rear hull panel to the TOP first, you can eliminate the seams before painting, and get a much cleaner, more accurate look. This way, you only have a short seam across the lower rear hull, which is easily ignored, or filled in. Given the amazing work elsewhere on the model, I'm surprised that you seem to have overlooked that glaring "scar" on the rear hull/top, & rear hull/sides! Yes, this is meant as a FRIENDLY comment! From MANY decades of building! Can't wait to see this finished!....and see what you did with painting the stowage! The taped-down shovel on the turret side is a nice touch!....

[@mattockmodels]

Thanks for the constructive comment! And yes the model was completed and is on the channel now. Thanks for watching!

[@HobbyLinkInternational]

Excellent video! I really enjoyed it and I really like the details. But, as an Infantryman myself my heart sank when you called Armor, Infantry lol :) . Great job looking forward to more of your videos!! You have a new sub :)

[@mattockmodels]

So the reference sheet for the model said that the Tanks depicted for the dragon kit were from 3rd and 4th infantry division from Iraq 2003. the tank I'm building is from 1st tanks, sorry if I made that unclear.

[@HobbyLinkInternational]

@@mattockmodels just a little military ribbing. Us infantry guys don't associate our MOS with anyone else lol Really enjoying your channel :)

[@mattockmodels]

@@HobbyLinkInternational Thank you!

[@LaYarddog]

He said it was an infantry division tank. I was stationed at Ft. Riley, which is 1st Infantry Division, but was assigned to B Co. 3/37 AR. So it makes sense and he wasn't wrong. ,

[@HobbyLinkInternational]

@@LaYarddog if you read the comments between him and I, I said I was just teasing him a bit.

[@viperdocwassell84]

Just found this video. Really enjoyed it. Can you tell me where you got the extra stowage gear from?

[@mattockmodels]

They're a combination of MENG, Tamiya and 3D printed stowage. The kits are all labeled as U.S. modern. Hope that helps.

[@MisterMannIndy]

Really enjoyed this video and build. As a 3D printer enthusiast myself, I am very interested in the parts you designed. I am about to build this model myself. Is there any chance you've posted the 3D files somewhere, or might be willing to share? Thank you!

[@mattockmodels]

Thanks for watching! I have an Etsy store where I sell .STL files. I don't have the Abrams ones up yet but they should be in the next week or so. I'll be posting on my Instagram when they are out.

[@Leftfootedpringles]

Is the fitting OK with this model? I'm pretty sure this is the only 1/35 m1a1 aim model kit out

[@mattockmodels]

I didn't encounter any major issues with the build as far as I can remember. The tracks are a little bit fiddly but other than that it went together well.

[@Leftfootedpringles]

@@mattockmodels thx for the reply man ;)

[@ktiger1766]

You say it a Infantry division tank , but it was a Marine version M1A1 😮😅

[@mattockmodels]

The tanks depicted for the dragon kit were from 3rd and 4th infantry division from Iraq 2003. This model is from 1st tanks. Thanks for watching.

[@tebz3002]

What paints do you use?

[@mattockmodels]

I believe I used mostly vallejo for the acrylics and gamblin oils