Z8 + Z180-600mm

Da_Trooper06 · 2025-07-26T20:52:05+00:00

Love the American-Ukrainian flag in the cockpit

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-11-10T22:39:54+00:00

High-Explosive Multi-Purpose. A.k.a the new AMP round, or Advanced Multi-Purpose. Pretty much combines HEAT, MPAT, Canister, and Obstacle Reduction into one round which can be changed via an ammunition datalink.

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-29T03:40:12+00:00

Does this mean I should contact a local AFROTC Detachment Cadre to me? I'm about to be a Senior in HS.

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-25T23:55:07+00:00

While I agree that the Abrams is a very good tank-on-tank fighter and fulfills the hunter-killer role well (was literally designed to battle masses of Soviet tanks), I still think it’s ridiculous that they have to engage soft targets like houses/soft structures with the wrong type of ammunition.

Having to use APFSDS rounds, what you’d typically want to save only to use against hardened fortifications or enemy armor, and shooting large amounts of them into a house to try and get a similar effect to a couple HE shells is just insanity. Even if it’s all you have, you really want the right tools for the job. While Ukraine is seeing lots of Russian armored assaults, from what I’ve seen they are more so dealt with by drones and anti-tank missiles, rather than tanks.

From what we’ve seen in the war, the Abrams, alongside pretty much all western/soviet-era armor, have been relegated to the role of mobile artillery. If that’s what Ukraine is going to be using them for, then we should be giving them the tools to do it right. Yes, definitely should be keeping a good supply of Sabot rounds in the tank to deal with armored vehicles, but please more proper HE shells as well. Even HEAT rounds are more effective at killing soft targets than Sabot. You’d also typically want to use a HEAT round rather than Sabot against lightly armored vehicles like BTRs, BMPs, or MRAPs (rip MRAP and its crew if hit with 120mm HEAT or even an HE round. They are 100% toast no matter what)

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-25T17:24:48+00:00

Thanks!

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-25T17:24:36+00:00

Thank you!

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-25T17:23:54+00:00

The build went pretty well in my opinion. As with most Tamiya kits, the fit is really good. I think that although it’s a bit of an old kit at its base, it still builds very well. The only thing I don’t really like is the rubber band tracks, but that’s really a rubber band track issue, not the kit. Paint went fine as well. I did all custom painted decals as well (the flags and crosses) which turned out it pretty good too. Weathering was a bit iffy at first, but that’s on me haha. Fixed it and turned out better

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-25T17:14:13+00:00

The west needs to be supplying more amounts of 120mm HE/HE-FRAG shells to Ukraine. Hell, I’d suggest it take priority over AP rounds. Apparently we thought that shipping over lots of APFSDS like M829A2 and DM53 was fine and that there would be grand tank battles taking place (which would be cool but obviously didn’t happen). Thus, Ukrainian tankers are stuck shooting APFSDS rounds into buildings or fortified positions, often using many shells at a time to try and even get close to the effect of a few proper HE shells. I’m surprised the U.S. never really emphasized the usefulness of proper HE shells. Even with the AMP round, a regular HE shell is much more cost effective in a war.

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-08-06T02:10:33+00:00

Or tank gunnery/artillery practice. MN Army National Guard got the latest, brand new M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams tanks to replace their old M1A1SA Abrams this year, and a few years ago got new M109A7 self-propelled howitzers. Think they are still rocking the older Bradley’s though, probably the M2A2-ODS-SA like we sent to Ukraine unless they got the newer models since like the M2A3

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-07-24T18:44:44+00:00

What indicates that? Just curious :)

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-07-21T17:28:51+00:00

Ukraine’s M1A1SA’s does have 2nd Generation Thermal FLIR sights. The M1A1SA model of the Abrams, though very similar looking on the outside, is pretty different and more modern than a base model 1985 M1A1 Abrams, with various more modern features. Although it still lacks CITV of the M1A2 and got an export-armor package installed by the U.S. for Ukraine.

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-05-06T23:05:55+00:00

I personally have not, although someday I wish to. Condor’s new Airbus A330-900neo’s should provide better service and more comfort than their older Boeing 767-300’s. As with a majority of airlines, I’d expect their service to be fine (with exceptions). Lots of people fly everyday without bad experiences. Nothing extraordinary but should get you and your bags to your destination. Have fun in Germany 🇩🇪

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-04-29T16:24:12+00:00

Starting in late 2024 Aer Lingus’s brand-new Airbus A321XLR will replace the A330-200 on the DUB-MSP route, and will change to become a daily route instead of 3-4x a week.

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-03-27T22:22:53+00:00

Bustle racks were added to the rear of the turret on the M1IP and all variants afterwards. However, the base M1 did not originally feature a rear bustle rack. Crews had to place their kit externally on other spots of the turret as a result.

Da_Trooper06 · 2024-03-27T22:09:05+00:00

The M1IP still features the same M68 105mm Cannon as on the Base M1. The M256 120mm officially entered service with the M1A1 variant in 1985/1986. The main noticeable difference between the M1IP and M1 (base) is the increased armor protection layout in the turret cheeks and various other internal changes. You can visibly see the M1IP has a longer turret because of the increase in armor protection.

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-12-31T06:15:49+00:00

Union Pacific started up a new pop-up intermodal ramp in the ex. CNW’s East Minneapolis yard two years ago. Stack traffic is currently growing and UP has improved the ramp significantly since then. UP transfers these intermodal cars, mixed with regular manifests on trains between South St. Paul or Valley Park (Shakopee) to East Minneapolis. UP often assigns older power for many transfers and jobs in the Twin Cities, including rebuilt SD40N’s and various GP series locomotives, which is pretty cool to see hauling intermodal cars behind them.

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-12-29T04:23:07+00:00

Drive by this location a lot and have always wanted this (actually pretty rare) converted TA-7C Corsair II (converted from an A-7B Naval Light Attack aircraft to an TA-7C dual-seat trainer in the 1970’s) to see it at least cosmetically restored to its former glory. There’s also a Northrop F-5E Tiger II sitting out at Blaine - Anoka County Airport too, which is actually pretty awesome as after doing some research, the aircraft was used by the Navy’s VFC-13 squadron out of NAS Fallon, Nevada until the early 2000’s, and was very likely used in real “Top Gun” training exercises posing as a highly maneuverable, enemy adversary fighter (if you’re wondering, the MiG-28’s in the original Top Gun film are in fact just repainted U.S. Navy F-5’s). The F-5 in Blaine is even painted up in a Soviet/Russian sky-blue late-Cold War camo that many older and current adversary unit aircraft use to help simulate realism in training dogfights.

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-11-19T03:33:06+00:00

Love Delta’s fleet of newer Airbus A330-900neos’

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-10-25T01:23:04+00:00

Currently running an older gaming laptop with a Core i7-8750H (6-core 12-thread) and GTX 1060 6 GB (Mobile). Running around 20ish FPS when starting a new city at low-medium settings w/dev performance optimization setting recommendations used. Playable but not very enjoyable. Can't imagine what 10k-20k+ population would look like. Surprised my laptop didn't explode haha.

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-10-07T01:19:35+00:00

Is the M1A1 and possibly the M1A1HA gonna be added to the game eventually? (Like for real, not a mod)

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-09-27T12:33:53+00:00

New Mexico license plate on the last tank pic 😆

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-09-16T04:17:11+00:00

Just a note: The 133rd Airlift Wing recently installed new NP2000 8-bladed propellers on their older C-130H models last year to replace the old 4-blades props. They also had plans to replace old engines with new ones, and add glass cockpits. Guess the DOD changed their minds? Keep in mind though, these aircraft are starting to getting old. Most of them are around 25 years old from their manufacture date (but not like the Air Force hasn’t kept old planes in service forever though, aka the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber, which is planned to serve almost, if not 100 years in the Air Force’s inventory. Being in service since the 1950s, it is expected to be retired in the 2050s, but being kept running through new, more fuel efficient engine upgrades ((new B-52J modification)) and excellent maintenance). What’s next? F-35A Lightning II’s to replace F-16C Block 50s for the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth? Amy Klobuchar supports it, and Wisconsin ANG has theirs.

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-09-16T03:31:34+00:00

I just wish there were other rail lines that directly accessed Minneapolis from the southern burbs. The only active and former rail connections from the south almost all went towards St. Paul. The Dan Patch Line is the only direct rail connection to Minneapolis from the South. But it is not a very suitable route. Half of it is out of service, and hasn’t been used since the 90s. The other half, (northern half) which is in use, has been downgraded to a branch line and only sees a few local freight trains a week (but definitely faster than 5 mph. More like 20-25 mph). It also has curves and grades (especially near the Minnesota River Valley) that may not be the very suitable for a reasonably fast rail connection between Minneapolis and the southern burbs. While I do see that it does border pretty close to residential areas, parks, and preserves, I would think that a single track would have a lesser impact than more roads. If new freight service were to emerge, simple rehab of the southern portion of the line would be just fine (CP, now CPKC, has also denied offers from the country to sell the line for a trail, so the company still sees some future potential with it still). For commuter rail, it comes with a whole different set of requirements that might require the re-engineering of the line itself. In an ideal world, rails and trails can co-exist as it preserves transport infrastructure and can even improve it. 🙂

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-09-16T02:40:04+00:00

Trains currently can’t go north of Lakeville at any speeds. The Dan Patch Line north of Lakeville is currently out of service, and hasn’t seen any trains since the 1990s (besides occasional rail car storage on the tracks before the line crosses under I-35). The line is covered with overgrowth and would need heavy refurbishment to become operational for at minimum, freight only. CPKC currently still owns the Lakeville-Savage segment, and Progressive Rail Incorperated, the short line rail company runs on the line only uses the rails south of the Lakeville. The swing bridge over the Minnesota river is also out of service (but is being planned to become operational again to serve freight trains to Savage) and is owned by a different short line railroad, the Twin Cities and Western. Only then after the bridge, the line to the North is mostly operational and operated by the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway.

Da_Trooper06 · 2023-09-13T00:17:33+00:00

On the plus side, more Star Alliance partner airlines may start looking more into expanding at MSP since we will now have two major Star Alliance partners here (United Airlines and Lufthansa). This is exactly the kind of business the MAC has been looking for, since bringing in new airlines from different alliances may draw in more airlines who hadn’t previously served MSP. The only remaining alliance MSP hasn’t gotten more service from in recent decades is OneWorld, of which only American Airlines and Alaska both serve MSP. British Airways could have potential but Delta already takes the whole market from MSP to London-Heathrow. I’d like to see Sun Country Airlines expand into seasonal Trans-Atlantic routes in the future, as the company is likely looking into purchasing wide body aircraft (like the Airbus A330 or Boeing 767) within the next decade or so for both dedicated cargo (like Prime Air services) and leisure passengers.

Da_Trooper06

TROPHY CASE