Hey Brother Treadheads, Does anybody know where I can find an aftermarket barrel for my 1/35 scale M1A1. 105mm gunned Abrams tank. The kit’s barrel is ok but I want to make the model better.
Also does anyone know where I can find a Vietnam style turret for an 113 APC. I had one along time ago but I haven’t seen one since, I want to build my M113 model to represent the Scout vehicle I TC’d in the '70 and '80s.
As the saying goes: “If you ain’t Cav, you ain’t!”
There isn’t an aftermarket barrel for the straight M1 105mm. There are a couple out there for the M60A3TTS, but they look much different.
The ACAV turret is available in a couple of M113 kits, the Tamiya M113 ACAV and the Academy M113A1 & A2 kits both include one. If that’s the style you’re looking for.
I think that AEF does both of them. The one for the M113 (might also be two styles) and the Sheridan.
gary
Stay as far away from AEF Designs as possible. Their quality is horrible and their customer service is even worse. It would be better to buy the Academy M113A2 kit that has the cupola armor included. It also has a bunch of extras and 2 figures. Definitely worth the money. Its much better and more accurate than the old Tamiya kit too.
Ok,
In my experience on Abrams, 1998- Jan. 2002 and Nov. 2003-2005, I never heard of or saw an M1A1 with a 105mm gun. As far as I know from the M1A1 on a 120mm gun was used.
Hey, Rob or Arty I think you guys have been around a lot longer than me, did I miss something?
See ya
Scott
From about 1979-1985 the M1 Abrams (no M1A1 yet) was produced with a 105mm gun. About 3000 of these were built. The 120mm Rheinmetall gun was first used in 1986. The use of a 105mm was a holdover from the aborted MBT-70 program.
Chris
You are correct on the M1 vs. M1A1. We figured he just made a typo.
Which is why I answered using the term “straight M1”.
My ambigious “he” wasn’t referring to you Rob. I know that you know the difference. I was referring to Cavalry SGT’s original post.
Cav i have some info for you on the aftermarket barrel you are looking for. while do some reading on my M60 project last night I read that the M68 gun used on the M60 was the same as used on the first M1 Abrams. This gun was an American version of the British L7. Barrel Depot offers this in 1/35 scale. product number BD35002. They are in stock at The Barrel Store’s website. Barrel Depot lists it as the gun for the M1. also I think Blast Models has a cupola for the M113.
It is the same basic gun, yes, but IIRC, the jacketing on the barrel is quite different.
Whoops, double post.
You are correct. They look nothing alike since the M60 barrel jacketing is totally different.
Original M1 w/thermally jacketed 105mm M68 barrel.
M60A1 w/unjacketed M68 barrel.
M60A3 w/jacketed M68 105mm barrel.
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So, back to the original question, “Is there an AM barrel for the 105mm M1?” Unfortunately, the answer is still no.
the M1 for the first few years used a 105mm main gun. We had a couple of them at work on occassion
gary
Gee, this is basically what I said, although having crewed both the M60A3TTS with its thermal shrouded 105mm and the M1IP with its thermal shrouded 105mm, I commented that the barrels are similar, but very different.
Yup, I hate when people ignore or don’t read the posts that are already there. We’ve both been requoted a couple times in this thraed. Or maybe they don’t believe us. You know, we have only been around and worked on these things for most of our adult lives. What do we know?
I know what’s wrong, I didn’t read it somewhere.
This is the one I am speaking of. Finally found a photo of it. I dont even claim to be an expert on this sort of stuff but this looks like the barrel in the photo of the M1 that heavy arty posted.
Nope, that is the M60A1 barrel and not appropriate for an M1. It has no jacketing at all. Barrel Depot is confused or just trying to sell more of the item by having it listed for an M1 as well.
Sorry, about that guy. Thank for setting me straight, I never served on an M1, just a straight 60 (Dinosaur)as a loader/Gunner. Before that I was just a 19D30 (Cav Scout) and rode around the Desert on an M113A1 than an A2.