Photos M1A2 SEPv2 w/CROWS II LP - 1/72 scale kitbash

Erik W

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What started out as what I thought would be a quick build has turned into a multi-month project. This is the Flyhawk 1/72 scale M1A2 SEP modified to be a v2 version. One of the best detailed and molded kits I’ve built in any scale. I like the looks of the M1A2 SEPv2 with low profile CROWS II weapons station. I figured I’d kit bash the low profile CROWS station from an aftermarket non-low profile version. That didn’t go according to plan, so I wound up scratch building the whole thing. The funny thing is if I had set out to scratch build the CROWS II LP in 1/72 scale I would have been too intimidated to try it, but by thinking I could kitbash an existing kit, it sort of just happened that way. So I guess you could say I accidentally scratch built it.

I wound up adding a total of 274 additional pieces to the model, mostly styrene, a few pieces of sprue, and .006" and .004" diameter copper wire. The shield on the loaders 7.62mm gun is 36 pieces. And the CROWS II weapons station is 104 individual pieces! No wonder this took me so long. My model is based on this M1A2 pictured below from the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at For Carson, Colorado (just south of where I live). I like that the sand color is broken up by the green bore evacuator and portion of the barrel, and front left fender. I also included a closeup photo of the prototype CROWS II LP, though the tank it sits on is a SEPv3.

Erik

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Thanks for the kind words guys. Yeah, this was a real challenge. I didn't have scale plans of the CROWS II station, so had to use photos for size and shape reference. I basically just eyeballed it. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with the results. Also, a lot of the modern stowage and gear is not available commercially in 1/72 scale, so I scratch built that as well. Here are some more photos.

Erik

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WOW mate....that is some amazing detail and it became a lovely model, nice job!!! (Y) notworthy;
 
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