M1A2 SEP v3 - Australia’s new Abrams (1/16)

[Barry]

Thank you for your kind words!

 

I picked up the mesh at a local craft store, I believe it was Kirkland.

 

 

Keep up the great work!!

 

Barry

[GMK]

Not much progress lately due to a bereavement in the family. Just messing with small, simple parts to keep things moving. 
 

29 February 2024 was the handover of the first M1A2 SEP v3 to the Australian Army. I’m hoping that this’ll shake loose some images. 
 

On the v3, the rearmost skirt, sometimes referred to as #7, can be hinged forward 180 degrees & latched to the #6 skirt. 

When folded, this’ll be the inside part. Note the added dust/weather strip on the top. 

This’ll be the visible bit.

The Tamiya upper hull is molded with the skirts attached, so the #7 on both sides were removed. 

Here’s a comparison between the kit components & the folded replacements. 

 

Time to do the weather strips along the top of the skirts. 
 

Thanks for looking in. 

[Barry]

Fantastic work, 1stb class 3d design work!!

 

Here again are a few shots of mine made out of brass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep up the great work!

 

Barry

[GMK]

Back to the bustle rack - this time for the VCSU (a.k.a. air conditioner) & the Australian-unique refrigerator. 
 

 

Will compete detailing of the fridge & mounting bracket before throwing them on the printer. 
 

Thanks for looking in. 

[GMK]

Printed fit check. 
 

Bit worried that the fridge won’t open!

 

Thanks for looking in. 

[LSP_Ray]

That would be typical army, wouldn't it? Just show the offending part dented so the 'fridge door clears it!

Seriously, looks like a simple CAD change will fix that; assembly looks good!

[GMK]

18 hours ago, LSP_Ray said:

That would be typical army, wouldn't it? Just show the offending part dented so the 'fridge door clears it!

Seriously, looks like a simple CAD change will fix that; assembly looks good!

Thanks, Ray. I’m pretty sure of the dimensions for the 1:1 fridge. I’m just hoping that the SEP v3-specific fitting on the bustle is scaled or located incorrectly, otherwise Army is in for an unpleasant surprise!

 

One thing that has been a bit trickier than anticipated is the angle below the bustle where the bustle rack interfaces. Due to mold release considerations, the overall angles on the kit part aren’t perpendicular where you’d expect them to be. 
 

To resolve the integration piece, I’ve moved up the component tree one level. This part won’t be used on the build itself. 
 

You can see below how the kit bustle rack interfaces with the bustle along the top, horizontal surface, a vertical notch, & into the angled underside. 

 

As can be seen here with the kit bustle rack - this side omitting some parts - the angle I’ve calculated for the lower bustle is incorrect, causing a forward cant. 

 

Here’s the other side - excuse the print support remnants, I was in a bit of a rush - you may be able to see that the incorrect angle imposes fit issues & associated strain on the bustle rack uprights. 

 

 

Need a way to nail down that angle that’s better than trial & error!

 

Thanks for looking in. 

[GMK]

Work travel interrupts progress? But sometimes gives opportunities to collect references in the field. 
 

Here’s some reference pics I took while crawling in & on a SEP v3. The crew were super helpful, with the only caveat that no pictures were permitted inside the tank. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Being front line equipment & at an open day, I wasn’t going to break out the tape measure or take eleventy million pics, but got some helpful pics on this, and another SEP v2 at the Armor & Cavalry Collection open weekend. 
 

Thanks for looking in. 

[LSP_Ray]

Cool!

[GMK]

Getting the angles & dimensions right for the SEP v3 turret fascias is pretty tricky. With improvements to phones & apps, I figured I’d use a scanning app to create a mesh object. 
 

 

That’s a screencap from the app. Only worried about the front face of the turret. Looking promising. Time to import the object into CAD.

 

Hmm. Had a few more goes, but the fidelity wasn’t up to the job. Back to old school. 
 

 

Time to test print for a fit check. 
 

Thanks for looking in. 

[Uncarina]

I have always admired your ingenuity, attention to detail, and perseverance!

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Youngtiger1]

Beautiful work you are doing on this monster of a kit. Love all the 3D designs. It sure gives it a huge upgrade from what’s in the box. 
 

 

[GMK]

On 5/29/2024 at 1:45 PM, Uncarina said:

I have always admired your ingenuity, attention to detail, and perseverance!

 

Cheers,  Tom

Thanks Tom, appreciate that. 
 

On 5/29/2024 at 5:33 PM, Youngtiger1 said:

Beautiful work you are doing on this monster of a kit. Love all the 3D designs. It sure gives it a huge upgrade from what’s in the box. 
 

 

Cheers, Mike. Definitely helps with updates & upgrades!

 

Work continues on the turret fascias. The consideration with modelling current, front-line equipment is that there’s real-world security concerns. With that in mind, I’m judging the changes by eye. 
 

 

The second print went well. 
 

 

Three of the five sides of the RHS turret fascia match the kit. The update to the CAD object will bring that up to four & also incorporate a locating recess. That’ll clear the way for some trickiness to finalise the shape. 
 

 

The overall shapes are approaching correct & should get there inside the next few iterations. 
 

Thanks for looking in. 

[GMK]

Iterative design & manufacturing can be a little dull to watch & frustrating to do. 
 

That said, here’s a representation of the basic turret front. 
 

 

Same view, but with the new fascias applied.  
 

 

I’m up to version 4 of the fascias. Have just realised that I’ll have to model a new gun shield/mantlet.

 

The iteration cycle is design time + print time + post processing time + fit check then repeat.  

 

Thanks for looking in. 

[GMK]

Fifth iteration - printed & awaiting post processing!

 

Same perspective as last time.

 

Front view. 

 

There’s a lot going on with these shapes. Still a bit to go. 
 

Thanks for looking in.