If John Smith could share just one piece of advice with his fellow modelers it would be, "Get your references first." Following this advice led John and his 1/35 scale M1 Abrams to a People's Choice: Best of Show award at the AMPS 2001 competition in Maryland. John had wanted to build an Abrams model since training as an M1 gunner at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He held off, though, because he hadn't found the reference photos he wanted. Years later, while in the Vermont National Guard, he arrived on post one day to find an M1 Abrams with its engine in a hoist, and he grabbed His camera. That was the beginning of a labor of love. John knew he wanted his model detailed accurately inside and out, and that meant kitbashing and scratchbuilding were in order. He began by backdating Dragon's M1A1 (kit No. 3516) turret and hull. Then he added the tracks and gun from Tamiya's Ahrams M1 (kit No.35124).
No comments:
Post a Comment