Guys,

Here are a couple of mods Ispied that might be worthy if incorperating into your next M1A1 -or- M1A2 builds. I take absolutely NOCREDIT for these mods, and I spied them on http://www.bombs.nl/subpage.asp?task=tankdump_01

<span class="SubTitle">Building in LSM (Laser Sight Modification): </span>
To equip your tank with Laser targeting sight you need a laser pointer with a small laser diode to ensure a realistic look.

I used an 10 mW, 650 nm Laser pointer powered by 2 AA 1,5 V batteries. First of all, you carefully need to extract the laser module from it's housing, then solder the laser head off (use a very fine solder point). Be very careful it's easy to damage the SMD driver circuit! Don't forget to remember the pinning configuration op the laser diode (there's only one way!)

Now solder 3 colored wires to the laser diode and isolate the wires and contacts of the diode. Remove the turret from your tank and remove the gun barrel by removing the two screws on both sides of the barrel.

I removed the Led inside the coaxial gun as well but this won't be necessary. Drill a 3-4 mm hole 2-3 mm above the coacial gun an pull the wires through. It's verry importand to solder long enough wires to the battery connection on the driver cirquit. Carefully solder the 3 wires of de diode to the driver cirquit and isolate all wires if needed.


Now find a free space in the turret to install the driver, i used normal hot hobby glue, you could also use silicone kit or double sticky foam tape.

Now reassamble the gun barrel and turret and don't forget to pull the battery wires through the turret opening first.

Now install a double batteryholder (2x AA), you can find these in your local hobby or electronnics store. To switch the laser on and off you need a micro switch and drill a 5 mm hole in het bottom of the fuselage in a way that the BB gun won't be blocked while the turret turns, to innstall the switch. If the switch is to long you can saw it off. Connect the red (+) wire from the driver and battery pack to the middle and one of the outer poles of the micro switch, solder and isolate the back wires (-) to each other. Make sure wires won't get stuck while the urret or gun moves!

Finaly you need to outline your laser. To attach the laser to the coaxial gun, i used fast hardening silicone kit. Now your laser sight is ready to operate!


<span class="SubTitle">Building 2nd gen. FLIR Thermal receiver Unit (SGTRU) of Gunner's primary sight: </span>
Take of the Thermal Receiver Untit from the turret. If you can't break it gently loose manualy, take a small screwdriver to push it up little by little on all sides.

Now cut out the two plastic windows with a very sharp knife or scalpel. Be careful, the middle part should be left intact! Now you can sipmly glue two small polarized laser mirrors against the openings and reattach TRU to the turret.

You can find these kind of mirrors in old VLP players (laserdisc players), old counter systems (the early moddels with laserscanner). These devices are equipped with HeNe (Helium Neon) lasers and use polarized mirrors to reflect the right wavelength.

You should look for dicroide mirrors or filters that reflect red wavelength's or laser mirrors with a gold vapor layer. There's no way to get a more realistic look than this!

Good luck!



War and Peace,
GoDOWaR